My 2.5yr old seems OBSESSED with dancing. We recently played a video of a ballroom/latin dance competition, and now we have to play it for her everyday....she keeps trying to imitate the patterns and steps. My question is: If a child appears interested, and shows a marked ability to remember and follow dance steps, what would be a good age to offer her the opportunity to start taking classes?

Hi, Laura:

My son started at 10 and his partner, Teresa started at 6. They had competed many times with great results. I am not saying your daughter can't start earlier. I would guess a 4 years old should be ready for ballroom classes. Keep her interested, you have a young talent in the your family.

Keh Gough

You might be interested to know that at the Country dance world competition last January, there was a featured dancer who was 3 years old! She is fortunate that her father is an upper level dancer (not competing that year because mom was working on baby #2). She did the absolutely cutest west coast swing (spins and all) and loved every second, smiled big for the camera even .

There's nothing worse than holding a child back from something it desperately wants to do. Yet many a child has fallen for an overambitiousness of his parents.
If you would like to support your daughter's interest in dancing, let her take things at her pace. Fostering the interest is more important than getting quick results.

I'm sure you would anyway.

Laura- It looks like she has all ready started. See if other dance videos (non instructional) gives her the same response. Maybe in a year or so, she'll be able to start ballroom and or a type of performing arts. At least she'll have knowledge of rhythm. Good luck to the both of you.

I truly believe there is no age too young to learn - look at Tiger Woods who wanted to hit golf balls about the same age as your child. He was encouraged as a small child and look at him now.
I would imagine it would be difficult to find a ballroom dance studio or private instructor to teach a child before pre-school age. Young children seem to have short attention spans and the partner dances would be difficult. And I think at such a young age you don't want to teach alot of heavy techiques and strict stepping. It's so easy for children to loose interest when it becomes much more than fun.
However, there are many studios which specialize in teaching children of all ages to dance - maybe not ballroom - but ballet, jazz, gymnastics, tap, baton. All these can be fun classes and help your child learn basic balance and coordination needed for all dancing.
The important bottom line - As long as your child is learning and it is fun for her, she will grow-up loving to dance. And isn't that what it's all about!
Best of Luck.

I've only started ballroom relatively recently, and although my scores for footwork need work, I nail expression and presentation everytime. I don't know why, but my friends firmly beleive it's because I've been obsessed with old movies and musicals all my life and havesubconciously absorded thestyles, mannerisms and flavor. I've only had brief stints of lessons in other dance forms throughout my life and now wish I had paid more attention, since so much of all techniques carry over in to ballroom. Starting your child in any movement class to encourage her desires will only help build her self confidence, love of her own body and personality and social skills. I'd find a basic movement/dance group for pre-schoolers, there will not be a lot of technique for a while at that age, but there's plenty time for that later. I'd also use this as a great oppertunity to keep music and dance alive in your house, renting musicals, dressing up and dancing around the living room etc... Have fun!