In the spirit of promoting a healthy, balanced studio which students and their families love to come to, here’s how to be a great dance parent

Be engaged (just not too engaged)

Your child’s emotional and physical health are important so chat with them after classes about how they did and how they are feeling. Dance can be challenging so they need to know they are supported. Self-reflection is essential for growth and it is important to encourage this.

It is not generally expected that parents stay and watch their child’s dance lessons once they reach a certain age. Ask your child to show you what they learned when you’re at home but don’t expect too much as they may be tired after their class and have had enough of dancing for the time being.

Encourage good self-care

In your supporting role as a Dance Parent, you should encourage your child to become more independent. This means taking responsibility for their own shoes, uniform and costumes, having good grooming and being well presented.

As they get older, your child should be able to pack their bag with everything they need for their class, including a spare uniform, water bottle and a snack.

If your child is coming home from dance lessons in a bad mood, talk to them about why. If need be, book an appointment to speak with their teacher (the teacher may not be able to give you their full attention right after a class).

Support your studio as a team player

Good dance parents are proud and supportive of all children at the school and make time (within reason) to help out and help share the load to make things easier for everyone.

To reduce costs, dance schools often ask for help with costumes, ticket sales and supervision during performances. If you can spare a few hours, it would be greatly appreciated.

What’s more, as a good Dance Parent, aim to promote a positive attitude. Your child’s dance studio should be a fun and happy place for students to come to. If you’re not happy, the door is always open for a two-way discussion and the chance to work with the Directors to find a solution. Dance can often be seen as an all-female domain but it doesn’t have to be that way and Dads are always welcome to be just as closely involved with their child’s dance training.

Learning to dance is a long journey. From those early beginnings in the classroom as a child, there can be times when it is a hard slog. Long hours and repetition are the only way to improve technique and it can be disappointing when skills aren’t mastered quickly.

Building your dance skills is all worth it in the end but sometimes you need a little push to get you out of bed and into your dancing shoes.

Here is some inspiration from some amazing people who all knew the value of dancing.

Quotes to get you dancing

“If you hit a wall, climb over it, crawl under it, or dance on top of it.” – Unknown

“Forget your troubles and dance.” – Bob Marley

“Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are great because of their passion.” – Martha Graham

“Dancing is a perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire.” – George Bernard Shaw

“Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.” – Oprah Winfrey

“Any kind of dancing is better than no dancing at all.” – Lynda Barr

“It doesn’t matter if I’m off the beat. It doesn’t matter if I’m snapping to the rhythm. It doesn’t matter if I look like a complete goon when I dance. It is my dance. It is my moment. It is mine. And dance I will. Try and stop me. You’ll probably get kicked in the face.” – Dan Pearce

“I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to to dance better than myself.” – Mikhail Baryshnikov

“Life is short and there will always be dirty dishes, so let’s dance.” – James Howe

“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

“If a man doesn’t know how to dance he doesn’t know how to make love, there I said it!” – Craig Ferguson

“Live like you’ll die tomorrow, work like you don’t need the money, and dance like nobody’s watching.” – Bob Fosse

“The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs.” – Charles Baudelaire

“When you dance, you can enjoy the luxury of being you.” – Paulo Coelho

“The one thing that can solve most of our problems is dancing.” – James Brown

“Some of my happiest moments have been dancing.” – Claire Danes

“Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.” – Kurt Vonnegut

“Dance is the poetic baring of the soul through motion.” – Scott Nilsson

“Dancing – however you do it, even if it’s in your living room – is a great workout.” – Ciara

“Dance is a great way to express yourself.” – Darcey Bussell

“The main thing is dancing, and before it withers away from my body, I will keep dancing till the last moment, the last drop.” – Rudolf Nureyev

“Do it big, do it right, and do it with style.” – Fred Astaire

“You live as long as you dance.” – Rudolf Nureyev

“I try to dress classy and dance cheesy.” – Psy

“I dance. A lot. I work grief and sadness out of my body when I dance, and I bring in joy and rhythm.” – Inga Muscio

“When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It’s to enjoy each step along the way.” – Wayne Dyer

“When I dance, I forget everything else and just feel completely happy.” – Katherine Jenkins

“Dancing is creating a sculpture that is visible only for a moment.” – Erol Ozan

“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” – Jane Austen

“Dance first. Think later. It’s the natural order.” – Samuel Beckett

“To dance, put your hand on your heart and listen to the sound of your soul.” – Eugene Louis (Luigi) Faccuito

“Dancing is silent poetry.” – Simonides

“Dancing’s part of my soul. I enjoy it, it makes people happy, and it makes me happy.” – John Travolta

“There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good.” – Edwin Denby

“The job of feet is walking, but their hobby is dancing.” – Amit Kalantri

“I go with the flow. Whatever music you play for me, I’ll dance.” – Gael Garcia Bernal

“When I have bad days, I just eat lots of chocolate ice cream and dance to the ‘Lion King’ soundtrack. It’s really odd, but it’s true.” – Blake Lively

“Dance is the hidden language of the soul.” – Martha Graham

“You dance love, and you dance joy, and you dance dreams. And I know if I can make you smile by jumping over a couple of couches or running through a rainstorm, then I’ll be very glad to be a song and dance man.” – Gene Kelly

“If you want to release your aggression, get up and dance. That’s what rock and roll is all about.” – Chuck Berry

If these quotes don’t make you want to get up and moving, nothing will! And these can also be helpful if you’re having an off day and need some extra motivation to make it to the studio.

Go on, get dancing!

Dance bags tend to get overfilled, so how much of that stuff is necessary?

Below we have listed items you should have in your ballet bag. Your go-to list of supplies will be different depending on your individual needs and the type of dance you do, however there are a few items that are commonly found throughout dancers of all disciplines and ages.

Please find below the list of must-haves:

1. Reusable water bottle
   Exercise is thirsty work and it’s important to stay hydrated, regardless of your dancers age please check that they bring a full water bottle to class. Staying hydrated throughout class or at a concert to ensure maximum performance and having a water bottle to hand during class minimises interruptions. teachers quickly become frustrated by students who are constantly asking to be excused so they can leave the room or rehearsal space to get a drink!
2. A snack
   While students are encouraged not to eat during lessons, having something in your bag for yourself or your child can be very helpful particularly for younger students. Dancing is a high energy sport and most children are ready for something to eat the moment their class wraps up. Having something healthy to hand will prevent a trip through the drive-through on the way home. It is encouraged to pack a full lunch box for concert rehearsals, so students can snack between dances to keep their energy levels up. Please check with their teachers or read concert communication to confirm foods that should be avoided as trace element’s may affect students with allergies or may not be eaten near or in costumes.
3. Hair ties
   Each style of dance has a different requirement for hair, but keeping hair pulled back is essential so there are never enough hair ties!Please keep extra hair ties and pins as they are easily lost, and it can be very distracting to have to continue a class if one breaks.Similarly, a small can of hairspray kept in your dance bag can be a lifesaver.
4. Spare uniform
   It always helps to have an extra leotard and set of tights handy as they are so important.There is nothing worse than getting ready to step out on stage, only to realise you have a run in your tights from ankle to hip.
5. Deodorant
   Not so much for young dancers… but older dancers need a sports-quality deodorant for top ups during long hours at the studio, especially during summer.
6. The right dance bag and a few extras…
   Stay organised by having a reliable, good quality bag for your dance gear.Keep your spares in it so you can grab it as you rush out the door including band aids, a stretch bandage and a power bar are some good just-in-case supplies to keep in your bag.Place a separate, soft bag inside your dance bag for shoes and one for dirty, sweaty clothes. You may even be able to find a bag with a separate compartment for these. A slightly large pair of tracksuit pants and a hoodie are helpful items for dancers in a hurry. They can be thrown on over a dance uniform before or after class to prevent the need to get changed at the studio. A warm wrap to wear between lessons or turns and a towel will also come in handy for all dancers. In winter, remember to rug up when leaving a warm studio for the Winter weather outdoors. A pair of ‘warm-up’ boots are easy to slip on after class and can even be popped on over shoes for a fast getaway.
   Wash bag
   Please remember dance-wear can be delicate so washing your clothes in a lingerie bag is very helpful. Putting tights securely in a bag like this will help prevent them from getting ladders from the washing machine. As tights aren’t cheap, this investment can get more life from them.