Creative Movement
Yesterday, we took Sydney to a local dance studio to check out a class aptly named "Creative Movement" for 18 months through 4 years old kids. Within 10 minutes of our arrival, we figured out why the class is named as such. Let's start from back to front. The word "Movement" suggests action of some sort, and it was exactly that. Unless the kid is suffering from rigor mortis, any sign of life is considered movement and would qualify as fulfilling 1/2 of the class requirement. The other word "Creative" suggests something unique and not so mundane. We witnessed anything from blowing raspberries at each other to playing chase while screaming during the 50-minute class. We're not sure exactly what dance skills are being honed here but certainly no pirouette or plié was present.
Most of the girls were in leotards and tights. Some were in full ballet outfits, complete with tutus and ballet slippers. The first 10 minutes of the class required students to be in tap shoes. I thought I saw one tap where the dance instructor showed the girls how to tap with their toes. As all the eyes glazed over, the instructor just moved on to another "lesson" and having the kids change into their ballet slippers. Sure seems like a waste of money to require tap shoes. And they are in their 7th or 8th class already. Hmmmmmm. I'm not so sure I'm sold on paying $12.50 for 50 minutes every Saturday plus buying outfits for Sydney to have her tap her toes once.
To be fair, the general idea of the class is to teach kids something fun about dancing by enticing them to dress up in costumes and jump around to various pretty songs. If they show some aptitude for dancing, parents may register the kids for more advanced classes leading to ballet. For parents, it is a chance to let the kids work off some energy for an hour while they brag about how cute or talented their kids are to other parents.
There were parents, mostly moms, milling around inside and outside of the studio. We sat in a corner with Sydney trying to take it all in and coaxing her to join the other students. Of course, she refused and just buried her face against my chest. A couple of times, the instructor tried to take her hands or gave her some of the props from the class. Sydney wouldn't budge, not even when the class was "dancing" to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with all the students changing into their Dorothy outfits. The only time Sydney moved away from me by more than a foot was when the class gathered in the middle of the studio to listen to the dance instructor read a story. I guess asking the kids to sit still for more than 3 minutes is "creative movement" in itself.
My overall impression of the Creative Movement class? It should be renamed to "Feline Rodeo" as it seems that the main event resembles something like herding cats.
Most of the girls were in leotards and tights. Some were in full ballet outfits, complete with tutus and ballet slippers. The first 10 minutes of the class required students to be in tap shoes. I thought I saw one tap where the dance instructor showed the girls how to tap with their toes. As all the eyes glazed over, the instructor just moved on to another "lesson" and having the kids change into their ballet slippers. Sure seems like a waste of money to require tap shoes. And they are in their 7th or 8th class already. Hmmmmmm. I'm not so sure I'm sold on paying $12.50 for 50 minutes every Saturday plus buying outfits for Sydney to have her tap her toes once.
To be fair, the general idea of the class is to teach kids something fun about dancing by enticing them to dress up in costumes and jump around to various pretty songs. If they show some aptitude for dancing, parents may register the kids for more advanced classes leading to ballet. For parents, it is a chance to let the kids work off some energy for an hour while they brag about how cute or talented their kids are to other parents.
There were parents, mostly moms, milling around inside and outside of the studio. We sat in a corner with Sydney trying to take it all in and coaxing her to join the other students. Of course, she refused and just buried her face against my chest. A couple of times, the instructor tried to take her hands or gave her some of the props from the class. Sydney wouldn't budge, not even when the class was "dancing" to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with all the students changing into their Dorothy outfits. The only time Sydney moved away from me by more than a foot was when the class gathered in the middle of the studio to listen to the dance instructor read a story. I guess asking the kids to sit still for more than 3 minutes is "creative movement" in itself.
My overall impression of the Creative Movement class? It should be renamed to "Feline Rodeo" as it seems that the main event resembles something like herding cats.
posted by DaddyEyeduck at 8:37 PM
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