Want to take your little one to a dancing class but don’t know where to start? Angela Beitz speaks to the Arabesque Ballet Center to find out more about the benefits of putting your child in one of their programmes.
If you are looking to put your child into a class then Arabesque Ballet Center promises a fun learning environment where the aim of the professional teachers is to help every student, both children and adults alike, reach their full potential. With an emphasis on self-esteem, confidence and personal achievement, Arabesque Ballet Center strives to bring out the best in all its students. Angela Beitz caught up with instructor Samarra Abu Samrato and quizzed her on all things dance.
Why is it good for kids to learn how to dance?
It engenders self-control, giving students a vital discipline for life and gives them a sense of self-worth and achievement. It strengthens the heart muscles, aids good circulation and enhances muscle tone. It also exposes students to music, so developing musicality, a general awareness of music and a breadth of repertoire for dance. But most importantly it is an excellent form of exercise and it is fun.
Tell us a little bit more about the sort of classes you offer?
We offer many styles of dance for both kids and adults including ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap and contemporary. They are fun yet challenging and do not need to be performed at a high level to obtain results on [the] body. Dance is a wonderful way for young children to gain strength, improve flexibility and stay fit. It teaches them how to stand correctly too.
In your experience what do your young students enjoy most?
The young ones enjoy the imaginative stories that they play [out] during their dance class. From pretending to be a princess in a castle to marching soldiers they are using movement and dance to tell a story. The older ones like the fitness, flexibility and strength aspect of the dance classes. Both the younger and elder students, as well as the parents, also look forward to the many performances they get to participate in.
What is a good age for kids to start dance classes?
The earlier the better. Arabesque takes dancers at the age of two for a ‘Mummy and Me’ class. The younger they start, the more they will benefit and the stronger their bodies will grow.
What are some of the important skills that kids can learn from taking dance classes?
Interacting with other children in this fun environment will also help develop their social skills and greatly improve their confidence. As they learn to hold themselves gracefully and move with purpose, their whole confidence will begin to change. This is particularly good for children who are shy or timid. It is also a great way for them to develop skills such as perception, observation and listening.
What do the kids wear to classes?
For ballet the kids wear tights, a leotard and ballet shoes and each level has a specific colour. They must wear clothing in which they feel comfortable otherwise they will possibly have a hard time concentrating.
What is your advice for kids and parents who want to take dance lessons?
I would really encourage parents not to put your kids in ballet just to keep them occupied or just as another activity to make them do. My advice is to let the child try many different styles of dancing. There is always a style that he or she will love most.
Do you offer any other training?
At Arabesque Ballet Center we offer the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) ballet syllabus and students are able to take their ballet exams with assessors from the UK. The timing for the exams is generally in April/ May each year. The children also have the opportunity to perform in our end of year show. After all their hard work, it is always the highlight of their year to show their parents and friends what they have learned. The choreography, costuming and stage design are spectacular.
Prices are paid on a term basis (consisting of three months). Arabesque Ballet Centre is located off Muroor Road, between 13th and 15th Street in the KMK Express Couriers building (050 845 2314).
Others to try
Turing Pointe
Offers lessons in classical ballet, modern, tap, street jazz, musical theatre and hip hop to children between the ages of 3-18 years.
www.turningpointe.ae (800 32623).
Bodytree Studio
Try jazz, pre-ballet, ballet and creative movement at this modern and fun studio.
Cream Villa directly across the road from the ADNOC station off 11th Street (02 443 4448).
