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"Little boys in ballet/tap?" asks CafeMom hanksmom0207 in the Advice for Moms group. "Is that okay for little boys?"
I'm probably about as "pro" boys in dance classes as they come, but I'd love to hear what you have to say.
I say if a boy is a dance enthusiast or even simply interested in taking a dance class, then by all means, sign him up.
My oldest took a hip hop class when he was about four, and it really helped with his coordination, his ability to listen and follow direction, and his energy overload too. We loved it. I think ballet and tap would be great at teaching boys restraint and grace.
Most the moms responding to hanksmom0207's question didn't see a problem with boys taking ballet and tap. In fact, several referenced ballet being used to help professional football players, which I've heard about before.
I understand hanksmom0207's worry though. Even though most of us claim "it's no problem" to send a boy to ballet class, very few of us boy moms are actually doing it. Unless you live in a really progressive city, the ballet classes in your neighborhood probably have very few boys, if any, in the class. So in a way, you'd have to be willing to push the social norms to sign your son up.
I'd have no problem doing this if my boys showed outward interest or talent in dance, but so far, we just sign up for sports because that's what the other boys are doing. We just stick with the norm, which always leads me to questions like, "Do boys really not like ballet or do we not offer them ballet in any sort of way that would allow them to like it?"
Have you signed your son up for ballet or tap class? Will you?
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Comments 28
My husband always says that he wishes his mom signed him up for dance classes when he was little, because when you grow a bit older, you are like the only boy among throngs of girls. And how awesome is that for a tween/teen boy?!
If he wants to do it, more power too him. For tap dancing, I keep thinking of Richard Gere in Chicago. That was awesome.
Both of my brothers did ballet, and I think my oldest brother actually did tap. Guess what? They had FUN! It didn't affect their masculinity (is that a word?), and it hasn't affected the rest of their lives in any way.
If my son shows intrest in it (he's only 2) I wont hesitate to enroll him.
My boys love to dance.... my 6 year old boy has expressed he'd like to take lessons...
I'm all for kids doing what interests them and entertains them.
I really hate when kids are pushed into things by their parents...especially if it's lead by gender stereotyping.
My boys and my girl can do whatever makes them happy as far as interests are concerned!
If my boy wants to take it, then absolutely! I'll even try to expose him to both so he can decide whether or not he likes it...right now, his dancing consists of a lot of side stepping and a series of jumps. Too cute.
I'll be honest tho, if he was a little older and the only boy in a class, I'd think twice about it. If he wanted it, I'd do it in a heartbeat, but if he was the only boy and only a little interested, I don't know that I'd follow through. Does that make sense?
My son loves to dance, if I thought he was at a point where he could actually understand and follow dance instruction I would totally enroll him in a class, ballet or otherwise.
My son is enrolled in a toddler ballet class. He is the only boy, but the studio supports parents by giving boys a 50% tuition reduction. He loves it and I will continue to support him as long as he wants to go! My daughter has been dancing for 4 years, and once you're in the "dance community," you are surrounded with nonjudgemental parents who wish there were more boys available for lifts & spins!
I dont like it for a boy. My opinion.
I have known 5 guys do took different dance classes and as they got older loved the fact they were the only guys doing it. They got to do the lifts and hang out with girls with hot bodies, their words not mine! My oldest was doing Irish dance before getting hooked on Martial Arts.
BTW of all the guys I know none of the dancers are gay if that is your worry. I know more Rugby players that are gay! Don't be so phobic.
I would let my sons if they showed interest . Some of the best football players use this as a form of training thier bodies. There are some really good male dancers like Patrick Swayze who loved too dance and he played football.