Help!! My 5 year old just started ballet and tap lessons and I'm out of my e

Question:

Help!! My 5 year old just started ballet and tap lessons and I'm out of my element!?

I played softball for nine years and know very little about ballet and tap. I know I'll probably learn along the way but there are always the little things like: are they supposed to wear underwear under their leotards? What is basic ballet lingo? (She tells me she learned how to do something and I have no idea what she said! it's pretty foreign to me) At what point will she be eligible to join the performing company? Any other insights for a newbie would be greatly appreciated!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: On the undies... little girls wear them under thier leotards. The bikini type are nice because they won't hang out. I've noticed a lot of the older girls switch to thong undies. You have years before worrying about that, though!

There are great illustrative books out there which show how to correctly perform basic steps and thier names. A terrific one available on Amazon is the "Royal Academy Dancing Step by Step Ballet Class" (see link below) There are also lots and lots of dvd's out there which have some basic instruction on them for kids to watch to practice with or to just have fun with. You can both learn together!

I don't know what kind of children's dance companies you have where you live. We have several here, some affiliated with schools and some not. Most don't start auditioning kids for roles until they're eight. If your daughter seems very interested by then ask her instructor for info about local opportunities.

If your daughter seems really keen, install a barre in her bedroom or playroom. We simply bought railing and brackets at Home Depot et viola! Our daughter really does use it to stretch and practice, it cost us practically nothing, and it made her feel like we were supportive of her endeavors. Her friends also think it's the coolest thing they ever saw...

http://www.amazon.com/royal-academy-danc... why dont you talk to her ballet teacher. im sure she will be able to help you with any questions you have and help you understand the terminology youtube it Make it about your 5 years old and enjoy her in her element. And if its something you do not understand ask her (dont worry, I know your the adult) or ask the teacher. put her in softball
its way better to start young
do both?????? 1. If they are going to be performing, they should wear underwear that won't show. But yes, underwear is advisable. 2. Here is a good, simple dictionary of ballet terms. http://www.messiah.edu/org/acclamation/b...
3. She can perform as soon as she is good enough (per her teacher), able to take turns, get out there onstage by herself, feel confident onstage, and if performing as a group, know what to do and when to do it. i also played softball my whole life (this was my 31st yr straight without missing a season) and was always a tomboy.... no dancing or cheerleading for me.
anywho... my daughter also just started dance. talk to the instructor as to attire. my daughter's school was very specific on what they were to wear (and actually it stated no underwear under tights and leotard) right down to the color of her leotard, tights and shoes.
if she's 5 and just started, i wouldn't be looking for a performing company at this point (except for the recitals that they all do at the end of the season)... i think you're jumping the gun unless her teacher said she was some kind of prodigy.
If she tells you about some kind of new move she learned, ask her to show it to you and then you will know what it is or google it for the definition.
one thing i can tell you about the lingo is that the leotard is the body suit they wear (not the tights).
just have fun and enjoy watching her love something that makes her feel good about herself. Welcome to girly world. It is a whole new ballgame (no pun intended - ha ha ha)

At my daughter's studio they have the girls wear a solid color leotard with white or light pink tights & underwear. They can wear short dance skirts (a lot of leotards have them attached) as long as the don't interfere, and their hair needs to up - or at least back off their face.

The age of eligablity for the performing company depends on the studio - our studio has a Jr. company (ages 4- 6) and they can audition at age 7 - but you can just ask. If she shows talent, they will most likely ask you about having her audition.

Check and see if your studio has a website - if there is, it may tell you what you need.

And don't worry about the lingo - as long as she knows it you don't have to :). But this is great website because it includes video images that actually show what the word means. http://www.abt.org/education/dictionary/...

Enjoy!! At my studio you are not supposed to wear underwear because tights are considered that for girls. As the mother of a 20 year old dance major, the feeling of being out of my element never goes away. But I am happy to pass along what worked for me when my daughter was little.

I would highly recommend the latest book by Angela Whitehall: "The Parents Book of Ballet: Answers to Critical Questions About the Care and Development of the Young Dancer."
http://www.amazon.com/parents-book-balle...

Next, I would encourage you to check out the "Ballet Talk for Dancers" message board, which has several sub-forums for us parents.
http://dancers.invisionzone.com/index.ph...
Know in advance, however, that they are strictly for ballet and won't discuss other styles in isolation; only in terms of how they complement ballet or not.

Then, if you're ready to shell out at bit more money, I learned a lot by subscribing to "Dance Spirit" and later "Dance" magazines, but I don't think I started until my daughter was about 10. However, you can never start learning about the dance world too soon.

I would also encourage you to start becoming a regular patron of every dance performance that comes your way. You would be amazed by what the two of you can learn now that one of you is involved in learning to dance from the very beginning. Seeing dancers perform is very different when you no longer take what they're doing for granted. Be sure to read the programs and dancer bios thoroughly to further your education.

Too many other insights to share for now. Just: watch out for the Dark Side in this biz; be careful what you say to other Dance Moms and dancers (the dance world is much smaller than you think and gossip will come back to bite you); and get lucky in the stock market or win the lottery if your child gets serious with dance. undies are a GIANT no no for dancers. a lot of parents make their kid wear them, but its considered kinda trashy and just makes the little ones uncomfy as it traps a lot fo moisture. for ballet terms, i seriously suggest buying a heap ballet dictionary and paying attention to what your daughter demonstrates and what she calls the move. Company is in the far future. youre studio probably has an age requirement and will let you know when she has reached that level of proficiency. she may be invited, however, to start competition earlier on.