Irish Step Dancing--what age to start?

Subject: Irish Step Dancing--what age to start?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 08:37 PM

I am interested in finding out your views as to what is a good age for a child to start learning Irish Step Dancing.

Mary

Subject: RE: Irish Step Dancing--what age to start?
From: Brendy
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 09:00 PM

There's nothing 'damaging' to the child if He/She starts at 4 or 5, as long as the child doesn't feel forced to do it.
That's why the choice of teacher is very important. The teacher must have good communication skills, patience, as well as good dancing technique; for it is in the early years that good and bad habits are formed.
Bren.

Subject: RE: Irish Step Dancing--what age to start?
From: Big Mick
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 10:22 PM

I don't believe it is a good idea to start them much before age 7 or so. While there are some kids who have the attention span to absorb the discipline involved at a younger age, the facts are that most do not. I started my daughter at 7. It seems as though it was the right age. We have an exceptional teacher who is just the right blend of teacher, friend and taskmaster. She feels that 7 or 8 is about the right age, as well.

Mick

Subject: RE: Irish Step Dancing--what age to start?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 10:54 PM

I agree with Mick and maybe the child should be older still. Whats too old? A man in my band began dancing at 54. He can't sing or play very well but he moves real nice.

Don

Subject: RE: Irish Step Dancing--what age to start?
From: radriano
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 11:33 AM

I agree with Brendy. My daughter started when she was three and a half (she's fourteen now and still dancing). I don't remember exactly how it came about that she was taken to a class but I remember that the teacher (Patricia Kennelly in San Francisco) demonstrated a simple step and then asked my daughter to try and do it. She made the attempt and did it pretty well because the other kids started applauding her effort. From then on she was hooked.

My advice to parents is: don't push your child too much. Just be supportive. In our case both my daughter's mother and I played Irish music so she had been around it all her life. I suppose that helped a lot.

Regards
radriano

Subject: RE: Irish Step Dancing--what age to start?
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 12:14 PM

I'd suggest starting at 95......Slow things down a lot and I could still avoid this particular masochistic exercise for 45 more years.

Just a thought......(:<)) Love ya' Mick....

Spaw

Subject: RE: Irish Step Dancing--what age to start?
From: astupidbodhranplayerwhodoesn'tknowanybetter
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 06:08 PM

Now,if the child wants to learn. Never, if it's the parent who wants the child to learn. You see some really little kids at festivals who are obviously enjoying themselves. But just as often you see some kids be pushed out in front of a stage,when they clearly want no part of it. It's not fair to be cool through your kids. Finally, unless your child is invited to dance at a musical performance,please don't encourage them to do a loud hard-shoe dance slightly out of time with the music. It's annoying to people who are listening, and it most likely will only earn the poor kid scowls rather than cheers.

Subject: RE: Irish Step Dancing--what age to start?
From: marnie
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 09:56 AM

children should not begin to learn the 'rocks' whilst very young as it can cause damage to the feet in a child whose bones are still soft- as happened to my own daughter - so i would say about 7-8 years of age. They are also old enough then to understand the discipline involved but, i must say, i agree with bodhran player never if its the parents who want the child to learn, because music/dance is there primarily nto be enjoyed.. not endured.

Subject: RE: Irish Step Dancing--what age to start?
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 02 Dec 99 - 03:01 PM

Thanks for everyone's insite. I very much agree re not pushing the child (ie it being the parents want and not the child's). When my son is older, I shall hopefully be able to introduce him to Step Dance and see if he likes it then go from there.

Mary