Now that school has started and fall sports are wrapping up… it could be the perfect time for your child to pick up a dance class! Whether your child is brand new to dance, or you’re joining back in after some time away from the studio, we welcome you to check our 2020/2021 Dance Schedule!

Today we are sharing some of our time-tested tips for easing back into dance this school year. Many of our dancers are returning to the studio after months at home, and many of them are building their dance skills for the first time. Whatever the circumstance, it is important for our dance families to practice self-care and patience while returning to the studio!

4 Tips for Easing Back Into Fall Dance Classes:

1. Create a weekly routine and post it somewhere at home

Growing up as a young dancer, it was always SO exciting to sit down with mom, pick out dance classes for the year, and choose what other fun activities to sign up for. When kids take an active role in picking their own activities, they are more likely to be excited about their schedule and committing to a new routine!

Penciling in your child’s dance classes on your family calendar, or even allowing them to create their own calendar is a great way to ease into Fall. Put it up on your fridge or in your child’s bedroom, serving as a daily reminder of their weekly routine! 

2. Establish a consistent bedtime routine

This is something that always gets a little relaxed in the summer when kids don’t have school, but it is SO important once their days get busy again. Heading to bed at the same time each night and encouraging screen-free time to wind down will make all the difference this Fall!

P.S. This one isn’t just for the kiddos! Parents, we know this time of year is busy for YOU too! One of the best self-care tasks you can do for yourself is prioritizing your sleep. Put those phones down and catch some well-deserved Zs! 

3. Stretch at home

This one is important for ALL of our dancers, but especially for those who have had months off of dance during the summer months or during quarantine. Jumping in with no time to recondition your body will be shocking for those tight muscles, causing soreness and stiffness that no dancer ever wants! 

We encourage our dancers to take 5-10 minutes at home, a couple days each week to stretch out. Taking some time to stretch before and after heading to class is also a great way to reduce the risk of injury as you ease back into dance. 

4. Don’t forget to pencil in some down-time! 

As your child’s schedule gets busier and activities are finally happening after months of cancellations, it’s easy to want to do it ALL! But without taking breaks, burnout and exhaustion becomes likely. Use the weekend to recharge and be sure to encourage your child to rest! This will make their new dance schedule sustainable, bringing them joy ALL year round! 

We hope this list helps our dance families ease back into our awesome Fall Dance Classes. We are aiming for no stress, and all smiles this Fall after a chaotic end to last year! 

It’s not too late to join us as we return to dance for our 2020/2021 Season! We still have openings in select classes. Check out our class schedule and register online today! 

The post 4 Tips to Ease Back Into The Dance Year appeared first on Dance Unlimited, LLC.

Want to know three things that make us smile over here at Dance Unlimited? Our students, our supportive parents, and… yep, you guessed it… DANCE! Dancing releases endorphins. So even though it may seem harder than ever before, now is the MOST important time to make sure our students KEEP dancing. 

We’ve been hard at work these past couple of weeks, rolling out an AMAZING set of resources for our dance families. Our Virtual Classroom is packed with videos, live classes, and extra fun. Have you checked it out yet?

We have also been busy running FREE community dance classes on our Facebook page. Grab your kiddos, clear some space, and jump on in! Feel free to revisit these classes as often as you like and share with anyone that may need a little movement in their life.

On TOP of what WE’VE put together, we have been totally thrilled by the number of professional dance companies, studios, and individual dancers who have banded together to create virtual resources for dancers. From live online classes, to at-home workouts, we’ve compiled a list of amazing resources! We also threw in some general resources for our parents who are suddenly expected to be teachers AND parents! We’ve got you.

Check out these awesome resources for dancers and parents during COVID-19:

Exclusively for Dance Unlimited Families:

DU’s Virtual Classroom – Divided up by class levels, our virtual hub has everything you need to bring DU’s AMAZING class right to your home. What’s inside?

• • Class Schedule for DU’s Live Zoom Classes
  • Exclusive Access to CLI Studios
  • Links to Pre-Recorded Classes
  • Links to Recital Videos
  • Extra Fun!

I think it’s safe to say that we’ve thought of it ALL! For the safety of our dancers and staff, our classrooms are password protected. Be sure to check your email to gain access to the passwords! 

General Dance Training:

Ballet Class with Elite Classical Coaching – Be sure to follow Elite Classical Coaching on Facebook as they live stream daily ballet class!

Ballet Class with the Pros – A list of professional Ballet dancers that are offering virtual classes via Instagram/Facebook Live.

CLI Studios – The industries leading online class outlet is offering FREE classes during this time with your favorite choreographers. Visit the website for a complete schedule and get moving!

DANCIO – Take class with the stars of dance from the comfort of your own home. They are offering a free 2-week trial!

Dancing Alone Together – A day-by-day guide to all the live classes happening around the world! You will also find creative prompts and videos.

@FreeDanceTraining – Instagram account of free dance classes organized by @DoctorsForDancers

Flexibility and Stability Classes – Follow Acrobatic Arts on Instagram to take advantage of their live classes and other resources for dancers. 

GAGA classes – Donation based Gaga classes through Zoom multiple times a day!

STEEZY – Explore different urban dance styles like house, breaking, and popping. Free 7-day trial!

Sugarfoot Therapy – Injury prevention workouts for dancers designed by a physical therapist

Staying Active:

BOKS – Free online fitness program for kids.

CorePower Yoga On Demand – Parents this is for you! CorePower has released their online classes for free.

Cosmic Kids Yoga – Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed especially for kids aged 3+

GoNoodle – Keep your tiny dancer moving with these fun, free dance videos for the whole family!

LES MILLS On Demand – Another great resource for parents to experience over 800+ workouts from home. They’re offering free trials!

Exploring Art:

BroadwayHD – You can experience the magic of Broadway from home! They offer a 7-day free trial!

Google Arts & Culture – Google has partnered with over 500 museums and galleries around the world!

Met Opera – Every evening enjoy a FREE night at the opera from your couch! 

Virtual Learning:

ABC Mouse – Reading, math, science, and art for ages 2-8.

Kahn Academy – Free online learning and lesson plans for kids of ALL ages.

LUNCH DOODLES with Mo Willems – Mo welcomes you into his studio at home and guides you through drawing activities using one of his favorite characters as inspiration!

Raddish Kids – Healthy meal prep activities for families

Scholastic Learn at Home – Day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking, and growing.

Wild, FREE & Crafty – Free art lessons for kids and adults.

Stay informed:

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Stay updated and informed! The CDC recommends also following your local and state health agencies for additional information.

Whether you’re homeschooling kids, trying to work from home, or doing your best to keep your dancer active, we hope that you find these links helpful! 

Have anything to add to the list? Let us know! We are always looking for more resources for dancers.

From all of us here at Dance Unlimited, we are sending you warm and healthy thoughts. Together we will make it through this time, and we can’t wait to see you all back at the studio. Happy living room dancing to all of our students! 

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