American Ballet Theatre is recognized as one of the great dance companies in the world. Since its founding in 1940, ABT has annually toured the United States, now performing for more than 650,000 people each year. The company has made more than 30 international tours to 42 countries, representing American ballet to audiences around the globe. In 2006, ABT was recognized as America’s National Ballet Company® by an act of Congress.

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Question
My child is 3 years old and from watching Angelina Ballerina, she can try (and most of times, complete) some figures such as one-foot turns (like pirouettes on-dedans), passés and some port-de-bras. It is clear to me that she shows interest in ballet, but can it be a clear sign that she should start lessons right away? As a former ballet student I wanted her to wait until 6, when at class they actually do ballet steps. Should I put her into class right away or should I wait, in order to avoid her getting disappointed in class with kids her own age? (for 3-year-olds, schools don't actually teach ballet steps like in the TV show).


Answer
Most children, boys and girls, love to move and mimic anything they see that looks like fun. Showing an interest in ballet at age three is not a real sign that they should start taking classes. The American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum recommends that children start taking the Primary Level no younger than age 5. Younger children need to acquire motor skills in the most natural way, through moving, crawling, walking, running, playing and falling. There are creative movement courses where children learn musical awareness, and these classes can be useful but most importantly lots of fun. Children have a short attention span and their minds and little bodies are going through dramatic changes as they grow. Taking ballet classes should only be done once the child has reached a level of maturity where she/he can truly focus on what they are doing.