These classes are designed for children 3.5 to 5. Dance training during the formative years prior to Kindergarten, involves exploring natural movement before learning a “foreign” technique such as classical ballet. The focus of the pre-ballet class is to tap into the inherently creative mind of the young child. Most kindergarten ballet schools teach dance steps with a monthly theme like princesses, a particular ballet like Swan Lake, etc. At AAD we tap into something bigger–the child’s physical and creative imagination. Read this article by the Washington Post. Although it is true that young children are great at imitating, they are also great at creating their own movement and love to do so. We give young children a monthly dance concept to explore, create, and discover on their own bodies while still learning dance steps and using their imaginations. For example, if we focus on a monthly dance concept of slow vs. fast movement, children can create and discover a whole genre of dance steps such as gallops, skips, etc. and the different qualities of moving fast vs. slow. This is a translatable skill for sports, and all forms of dance. In this way, they are no longer limited by a just an imitation of the gallop step done like a princess. In the more typical canned approach employed by many kindergarten ballet schools, they will only learn a dance step like gallop like a princess. The gallop step in itself although fun, is not as translatable to all forms of dance, health, and sports as it would be if we can give it other qualities, nor is it as engaging if it is just given one way. The imagination at this young age is wonderful, and we try to tap into that, but we don’t leave them with just a simple princess theme. By discovering, creating, and exploring with a dance concept, the possibilities become limitless and the child becomes fully engaged in choreographing, begins to understand the wide possibilities of how their bodies move, and ultimately become creative, wonderful movers. If you ever watch a child move, you will see that they spend the majority of their time exploring and making up their own movement. They are natural movers and that is what we try to tap into while letting them explore their own movement and dance steps with different qualities. It isn’t enough or as fun to have one free dance song per class, or to even just give them some steps. We want them to enjoy all of what they can discover in their new bodies. This concept is then explored in fun and creative ways using dance games, simple barre exercises, obstacle courses, and simple choreography in the center. Props such as parachutes, beanbags, instruments, and dance wands enhance the child’s experience. Children develop basic concepts used in dance such as an understanding of space or rhythm, as well as, fundamental dance movement like balancing, stretching, jumping, and turning. Lessons often include communal dances where children work in pairs or small groups in order to enhance the child’s sense of cooperative and creative interaction. The emphasis in classes for this age is to foster a love for movement and dance.