july / august 2024
16
The Importance of Dance Through The Years
From preschoolers taking their first steps to high schoolers mastering intricate moves , dance offers a wealth of benefits that can enhance the physical , emotional , and social development of children of all ages . At The Dance Centre , we see these benefits and realize that there is more to dance than adorable tutus and award-winning competition routines . We also see that dance plays a different role in each phase of childhood all the way into young adulthood .
Preschool parent and former dancer , Carrie Laney , shared with us , “ Dance has been a part of my life since I can remember . I learned hard work , dedication , and confidence through dance that helped me in my career and all throughout my life . It ’ s been so special to see my little girl fall in love with dance , but it ’ s even more important to me that she is also learning to be confident , meet new friends and have amazing role models to look up to .” From a dance educator ’ s perspective , the major successes can even be found in the tiny moments , like watching a timid preschooler gain enough confidence to stand in front of an audience and smile during their recital dance .
From a parent who is an educator , Haley McGee offers her experience on how dance has influenced her elementary aged daughter . “ Dance has defined the meaning of commitment ,