How to know if your child is ready for Giggles & Wiggles

Giggles & Wiggles is a class, rather than free play. Therefore, in order to

function well and have fun in a G & W or a CD class, our dancers must...

Know their names:

To be ready for Giggles & Wiggles, each child must know their name and respond to it when called - as well as any little one responds...:) If they do not know their name, it is best until this skill has been developed before beginning ballet class.

Understand basic directions:

Understand what the following phrases mean, and be able to respond to these

directions: Sit down, stand up, run, stop, and go to your dot. If they do not understand these phrases, it is best to wait until their comprehension has improved before beginning ballet class. Following these instructions are what makes a class possible, and will help them prepare for school, and allow them to enjoy all the ballet fun!

Exhibit some self-control in speaking (as well as any little one can exhibit self control!):

Each child should have an age-appropriate understanding of when it is time to listen and when it is time to talk. Although young children often naturally talk out of turn, loving reminders from both parents and the instructor will help them develop the self-control and the listening skills needed for both ballet and school.

Exhibit some self control in movement (again, as much as littles can!):

Each child should have an age-appropriate understanding of when they should be standing on the dot (we consider this their home base) and when they should be moving around the room. The instructors will be guiding them, they only need to listen

and respond appropriately. On the rare occasion where a child lacks any semblance of self-control and are simply running around the room, so much so that it is a distraction to the others who are ready to listen, the instructor may either move them to the end, where they are less distracting, have them "sit and be the audience" for a few minutes, to allow re-focus, or take the out to the parent for a re-focus chat, after which time they may enter the studio and try again. They are not at any time being “kicked out of class”, they are being offered a chance to re-focus and try again.

Eventually subdue the crying/wailing:

Our instructors love taking your crying child in their arms and bouncing them to the music as class begins. Often times, the instructor works her magic, and within a minute or two you will see a smile begin to form on your child’s face, and see them join in the fun. Of course, if a child will not stop crying or begins to wail/scream, they must be taken out of the studio to allow the class to proceed with distraction, but are always welcome to return once they have settled down. We do ask if the child has been taken out three times, that you have them sit and watch, to allow the class to proceed without distraction.

Try to keep hands out of mouths and noses:

A child who constantly has their fingers in their mouths and noses will spread germs faster than any other form of contact, especially when using the same props in class,

and holding hands when we have partners, so in the interest of the health of all children in the class, we do remind the children to keep their hands out of their mouths and noses during class. It is amazing how quickly some of them will stop when told they won’t be able to dance with all the pretty props! We know the health of your own family will benefit from this.

Giggles & Wiggles are given directions more slowly and clearly, with more prompting and guidance. They do not perform onstage at the end of the year, as they are simply too young to memorize choreography. In Creative Dance, the class moves more quickly, with less waiting for dancers to be ready, and more dancing. Dancers should be able to readily follow directions- stand in line, go to their dots, follow the leader, etc.

Creative Dance will perform onstage in June, though with this age, it is anyone’s guess whether dancers will actually remember the choreography they were taught, sometimes they do, and sometimes, well not as much, but they always have fun and are always ADORABLE!