Ballet is a beautiful art form that requires incredible strength and skill. Essentially, every professional ballet dancer began when they were a toddler and perfected their craft over the years to get to the level they currently are at. It is truly amazing to hear about the discipline and dedication it takes to reach such high levels of performance. Seeing these productions in person is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. I’m not a dancer at all (like, at all…) but I’ve always appreciated ballet as a spectator.
Out of the endless types of dance styles there are, I don’t think anything compares to ballet. The foundations of this particular dance are ones that every talented dancer should carry. Another great thing that learning ballet teaches is discipline. In other words, in order to be successful at ballet, you need to work on your skill set. And the only way to build your skills is to practice and stay focused. Ballet is a wonderful art form, and something worth considering introducing to your little ones.
If you are considering enrolling your kid in ballet for the first time, I would recommend the Tutu School. With locations in both Beaverton and Lake Oswego, it is a great way to introduce this art form to your child. It is also a perfect way for them to have a ton of fun and make new friends.
My wife and I enrolled our daughter in the Tutu School when she was 2 years old, and she immediately fell in love with it. She enjoys putting on her tutu and ballet slippers and dancing ballet every class. In fact, she enjoys it so much that she even practices ballet on her own throughout the week.
Our daughter has not only learned introductory ballet techniques, but she has also made friends along the way. As a parent, nothing beats seeing your kid learn something new and have fun.
I spoke with the owner, Ashley, and she provided great insight into the Tutu School’s model. First, it is an age-appropriate introduction to ballet. Ballet is a particularly difficult dance to do and takes many years to perfect. However, the Tutu School focuses on the fundamentals that anyone, even very young children, can master. Their curriculum also centers on safety and reflects children’s developmental stages.
The Tutu School is specifically designed for ages 18 months to 8 years of age. So, if your child has sparked an interest in dance, now is a great time to sign them up.
While the youngest age category requires parental participation, Ashley shared that it is not required for the other age categories. This allows the dancers to learn to follow along with their instructor as well as to collaborate with their fellow ballerinas.
A core part of the curriculum is not to tell the ballerinas what to do. Ashley shared that everything is based on a narrative instead. So, rather than telling the little ballerinas to “Show me five tendus,” the instructor would instead say, “Put sparkle on your toes! Tendu!” This adds rhythmic fun and keeps the class from feeling like a chore. Every class is filled with whimsy that lingers long after class ends.
Another intentional aspect of the Tutu School is when Ashley pointed out to me that there are no mirrors on the wall. This helps minimize distractions and keep the environment low-pressure. The entire point of the Tutu School is to help create a love for ballet and remove intimidating barriers. They are quite successful at this concept.
Ashley ended our conversation by saying that ballet is simply magical. Every day she gets to watch her students build confidence while opening up new spaces for their imagination to grow. For her, ballet makes you feel strong, powerful, and beautiful. I have to say, seeing my own kid learn certain choreographed ballet routines really proves her point.
The Tutu School also offers more than just introductory ballet classes. They also host fun events for members, including themed birthday parties. So, not only can your child enjoy going to ballet class every week, but they can also take part in events and birthday parties.
Ballet is a beautiful art form that has been around for hundreds of years. One of the only downsides is that some people think starting your child in this art form is intimidating. The Tutu School breaks down those preconceived notions and offers a space for creativity, friendship, and maybe even a little bit of magic.
Alex is a devoted husband and father born and raised in Portland, Oregon. He is a professional artist, author, and advisor for both Yale and Harvard University’s arts departments. His books, ‘Selling Leonardo: The Art World’s Greatest Scandal’ and ‘Holy Ghost: Decoding Leonardo da Vinci’s Final Painting’ are available wherever books are sold.