“Thank you for being my teacher. I liked making ice-creams and I enjoyed ponies and farmers and frogs!” Just Dance 3 year old Student
Develops good posture, balance and self-awareness
Builds confidence
Develops focus and concentration
Provides exercise for a healthy body
Develops social skills
Enhances thinking skills
Just Dance Pre School Ballet
Our classes
Our classes capture the incredible imagination of your two to four year olds, engaging them with exciting themes and props. We have a tailor-made syllabus for your little one created by the Principal of Just Dance, Alice Burren. Each class has a clear structure to introduce the children to the basic steps of dance with the beginnings of ballet technique.
Around the lesson framework are 5 themes that are rotated between the classes every half a term. This allows enough time for your child to master the steps, whilst being met with the new challenges each theme offers.
Under the Sea
Put on sun cream, swim around the room, be a crab, collect shells and dance in the sea with blue sparkly pompoms.
Outer Space
Take a ride in a spaceship, walk in space and land on the moon.
Unicorns and Rainbows
Go over the rainbow, dance in the clouds, put on bells and trot like a unicorn and dance with pom poms.
In the Garden
Grow flowers, jump like a frog, water the garden and fly like a butterfly.
At the Farm
Jump like a rabbit, swim with the ducks, trot like a horse and be a scarecrow.
What to Expect
- Children and parents arrive and wait outside the studio until the teacher invites the group in.
- The children should be in uniform, with their hair tied up, carrying their favourite teddy or doll (they rock the baby to sleep at the end of every class).
- Ideally parents say goodbye at the door unless a little one is new and needs settling.
- When the children come into the room they will see a circle of ballet books. They sit down and look at the books while the other children arrive and the register is taken on an iPad or iPhone.
- The books are cleared away and a piece of coloured tape is put on the floor for each child so they know their spot in the room to stand on.
- The class starts by sitting down in a circle with claps, good toes and stretches. Using the chosen theme to engage the children’s imaginations, they stand up to work on first position, pliés and points before travelling around the room working on travelling, timing, expression, confidence and much more.
- At the end of the class the children rock their teddy or baby to sleep and do their curtsy or bow whilst thanking the teacher (and the music!).
- Once the children have collected their teddy or baby and tape from the floor, they line up at the door sitting in a train and wait for the teacher to call their name ready to go home.
Settling in
If your child is new to Just Dance and a little unsure of the new surroundings you are welcome to bring them into the room and settle them by the ballet books. Ideally you will try to leave the room as soon as possible so they don’t become used to you being in the Ballet class, plus it is less disruptive to the rest of the class. Once the music is on and the exciting props are being handed out the children are usually distracted and happy to be left. You know your child best, but we find it often works well to then slip out and wait outside the room out of sight. If they do cry, which is rare, it is often for less than a minute and they are then usually happy to sit with the teacher and join in with the fun Ballet exercises. Please be assured we want your child to be happy and enjoy their first experience of Ballet so if we feel it would be best you are back in the room we would come and get you immediately from the corridor/foyer.
Peace of mind
All the Just Dance teachers are qualified with the ISTD, hold a DBS check, along with 2 references, have First Aid Training and Child Protection Training. Our teachers are young, enthusiastic and perfect at meeting the different needs of pre-school children.
When is my child ready to move up?
The classes described above are tailor made for pre-school children (aged two and a half to four and a half years old). They sit in a circle which, at a young age, is an easier way to see the teacher. It also helps them to be more aware of the other children in the class and learn to take turns. The class uses a large number of props and imagery to engage the children.
The next class on from Pre-School Dance is Pre-Primary Ballet designed for children who have started Reception at school. The class is structured around the ISTD Pre-Primary syllabus. The class is a little more formal as the children are placed in rows facing the front. The class still uses imagery and is fun, but it is working towards a higher level of technique. As the children have started school they are familiar working within a class situation whereas for younger pre-school children this element might be rather overwhelming. It is also important to mention there are age restrictions on taking the first exam in Ballet, therefore if your child moves up to Pre-Primary Ballet early they may find themselves repeating the year or spending longer in the following grade, Primary Ballet, as they need to be nearly 6 years old to take the exam.
Our teachers are always looking closely at the children during their classes. We always ensure the children are reaching their full potential. Therefore, if the teacher feels your child may benefit and cope with the next class before starting school, we will approach you about moving up to Pre-Primary Ballet earlier. Similarly, if you feel they might be ready for this next move, please do contact us to discuss further at info@jdance.co.uk
