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I didn’t realize that there was such a stigma toward competitive dancing until my daughters became involved. I suppose dance competitions are lumped in with pageants, cheerleading, and other events that involve “showcasing” young girls.

It’s not that I don’t understand the thoughts and feelings behind the strong opinions surrounding competitive dance (I held many of them myself before we started), I do. What I want to do is dispel some of the myths. You know the ones. That dance Moms are living vicariously through their children, placing ridiculous amounts of pressure on their child and expecting only the best as a result.

At least one of my daughters has been dancing competitively for two years. Our nine-year old started dancing recreationaly at the age of three, like most dancers. Despite being asked several times, I resisted allowing her to attempt competing. Finally, at age seven, I felt she was ready enough to handle the task. She loved dancing, and being with her teachers and friends, but I still felt a small amount of trepidation that she would be too timid and shy to get up in front of judges to dance. It’s true, Erin tends to be on the shy side, but how she carried herself on stage turned out to be a complete surprise to me. Gone was the girl who twisted her feet into the ground and stared down when people talked to her. What I saw was a girl with a wide smile, confident gaze and a back straight with pride - and that was just being on stage, none of it related to any of the scores or medals she received.

The positive aspects of dance allowed me to be quite a bit more comfortable when it came to including our six-year old daughter this year. Totally opposite her older sister, she seems born to perform. She can’t resist the stage or spotlight and I know she is in her element.

Dance itself doesn’t have to be about competition or exams or hours of preparation. It can be a thirty minute creative movement class, ballet or a recital performance, but the benefits are undeniable.

- Early on, dancers are taught that proper posture is essential to peak performance. Dancers have straight backs and heads held high. I’m amazed when I see my daughter walk into a room with better posture than anyone I’ve seen.

- Focus is essential to dance. I find that after a class or practice my girls listen better and focus on tasks at hand.

- Friends. Our girls have made some awesome friends in their years of dance. Not to mention many of the other mothers I have become close to. I would never hesitate to call one of them for anything and I know they feel the same way. This weekend, I am missing a competition because of an important event in my business and the amount of Moms helping us out moves me.

- Confidence. I’ve said it over and over again, dance itself is not about the scores they receive. They get up on stage, they smile and they perform. That in itself deserves a trophy and it’s the only thing I expect from them, the rest is just bonus.

- Commitment and dependability. Both girls’ teams depend on them to attend practice, participate in their numbers and show encouragement and dedication. They know what it’s like to have people invested in their performance and attendance and vice-versa. They’ve learned not to let others down and that it’s okay to expect the same in return.

This is the time of year when studios are seeking dancers for the next dance year. If you’ve been offered a chance, I would encourage you to open your mind and give it some thought. I’m continually amazed at the strength my daughters have gotten out of their dance experience, both in mind and body.

I’m a Dance Mom and proud of it!

[tags]parenting, kids, dance, competitive, competition, pride, posture, confidence, friends[/tags]
Photo graciously provided by the author