Is 3 years old too young to begin tap dancing

areynolds · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 4

My daughter took a combination class last year for the first time. She began dancing at age 2, but I wouldn't call it dance. It was a lot of singing and standing in one place. I want to move her to a more professional school but I do not know which type of dance to concentrate on.They have ballet, tap, jazz and hip hop seperately for 45 minutes. This studio also has a competition team. I saw the younger age competition team and they were great! I just don't know which discipline to concentrate on and if she should just start off with ballet and tap or ballet and jazz. Any opinions are appreciated.

Ande · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 64

In my opinion, and others may disagree with me, dancers should have a strong foundation in Ballet before branching out into other dance types. I think that 3 is a bit young to be concentrating on tap. If I were you (and this is my personal opinion only) I would have her take a year of ballet and see how she does. If you think she's ready, try adding a tap class after her first year is over.

areynolds · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 4

Thanks, I appreciate your response and I will consider your opinion. Just as I stated, she took ballet and tap last year but I think she actually was a better tapper, only because the dance instructor taught them very little ballet. I saw girls her age at the new studio learning technique and terminology. She was just doing whatever in ballet. So, I was just wondering.

angel winns · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 129 Location: Southern CA

Hi ... I'm only 11 but I started dancing when I was 4 and 1/2. I started in a tap / ballet class. 30 minutes of each. I liked the tap because of the sounds the shoes made. I loved ballet too tho. But it was good because it was half and half. Then the next year I started seperate classes for jazz, ballet and tap. and then the next year added hip hop and modern and lyrical. And NOW I love EVERYTHING. LOL :D :D :D

StarDance · Joined: 28 Aug 2006 Posts: 12

I would wait until she has a few years of training before she starts tap. This is just my opinion but ballet and maybe some jazz training would be a better foundation.

areynolds · Joined: 19 Aug 2006 Posts: 4

Thanks for responding. I am taking all responses into consideration

angel winns · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 129 Location: Southern CA

If she starts with tap then definitely take ballet too for the basic fundamentals. It's the core of every genre of dance, my teachers say. I started soloing in tap at age 5 and loved it to death and still do. and I love ballet as well.

iistacieexD · Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 4

of course not!<3 i started to take tap dancing lessons when i was two. :D

primaballerina175 · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 592 Location: On stage.

Start with Ballet. I started Ballet when I was two and a hlaf and have loved it ever since. Ballet is relaxing.

pr · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 1011 Location: Göteborg, Sweden

Welcome iistacieexD! :D

vincent_says · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 67

I too believe that ballet is needed to create a strong foundation of core skills. So, I would highly suggest ballet as one of the styles to concentrate on. Other than that, I would let your daughter choose which other style she likes more. Expose her to as many as possible and let her narrow down the decision based on what she wants to do. Because the more she loves it the better she will do.

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liltapdoll · Joined: 31 Aug 2007 Posts: 22 Location: Somewhere in PA

I definatly think ballet will make your daughter stronger. Maybe after a year or so then start her on tap and some jazz classes, she will decide what she likes best and hopefully stick with it!

pr · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 1011 Location: Göteborg, Sweden

Welcome liltapdoll! :D

dancergirllinetteann19 · Joined: 15 Sep 2007 Posts: 17

I say you ask her what she wants to do... if she really likes tap more let her choose to do that... that way she feels that it is her choice. I believe that when your three years old its all pretty much the same anyway... just different shoes... wait a few years before you try to get her to be to seriious!!!!

pr · Joined: 11 Apr 2005 Posts: 1011 Location: Göteborg, Sweden

Welcome dancergirllinetteann19! :D