What type of dance?

[mogs]

Hi. My ds (just turned 14) is getting more and more serious about applying to do musical thatre when he is older. Obviously, he is going to need dance. He started tap and ballet last year in order to prepare himself for the role of Billy Elliot in a local production and has continued with these classes since. Problem is, he can no longer attend as it clashes with something else. Before i look for another class, what type of dance would he need to do? Should he stick with the ballet and tap or does he need Jazz/something else. Thanks

[STEFFYSMUM]

i would say stick with the ballet and find some jaz or modern class too x

[Katymac]

I agree

My DD also 14 worked out at the start of the last summer holidays she needed Ballet & Musical theory for her career in Musical theatre; so she arranged classes for herself

Contemporary, Tap & Modern have followed very soon after

It's so annoying when they change class times & mess everything up; my DD lost her Arts Award due to a change of class

[Welsh Mum]

Ballet jazz and tap would be the best combination, though any dance is better than none. The dance ability will definitely give him and edge while applying. Music theory is a good idea as well. Hope you find other classes.

[riverdancefan]

I think ballet is a must - In my experience those who did not formally study ballet have had a really struggle to keep up with those that do and they certainly have the edge ...
I know of two 16 year olds who never really studied ballet properly but instead concentrated on disco and street, and one is at urdang and one elsewhere, both struggling with the ballet and having to do extra to catch up, a high standard is expected and ballet is certainly expected, and everyone needs that edge.
My son has found modern very helpful, I certainly think his movements are more polished and his spotting and turning is fantastic now

[Caroline A-C]

Definitely ballet. My ds never did tap prior to going to study Musical Theatre and it has not been a problem. However, he has found that doing ballet previously (even for the short time he did) has helped him significantly. You are not asked to tap at audition - it is more modern/jazz/commercial style and they were looking for "trainability" rather than perfected technique. Hope that helps a bit.

[jesajo]

Hi mogs S has been doing tap , jazz and modern since the age of 2 , he is now just taken up ballet and contempary dance . I think ballet is a must .

[GEORGIEROSE]

Ballet,it really helps

[2dancersmum]

I would agree with the other posters - definately ballet and I would have thought modern jazz rather than tap, given that he already has some tap training. Jazz is such a broad genre and he will learn in his grades a little bit of lots of styles ie lyrical, commercial that will help with Musical theatre.

[francescasmum]

My dd (age 9) had not done any dance training until last summer but, having decided that she probably needed some formal training in the dance area if she was considering musical theatre (she was very reluctant), I talked to several dance teachers and they all said that ballet was the one to do especially if it wasn't her main focus in the three disciplines (acting, singing, dancing). Many of the children (especially girls) we come across in this business have started their career by doing shows at their dance class and moved into acting, my dd is doing it the other way round and after less than one 2 hour lesson a week over 3 months (she had several acting commitments over that time) gained her Grade 1 in ballet and modern. She was very nervous before her exams, which we found interesting as she is never nervous when acting or siniging in front of others (just embarassed about siniging in front of family - you know what grandparents are like!), now she has these under her belt she is far more confident and fluid in her movement, but far more importantly is enjoying dancing and asking how long to next lesson. If someone had told me 5 months ago that she would be making up dance routines and doing impromptu dances in the kitchen I would not have believed them.

[mogs]

Thanks everyone for your posts. I spoke to his old dance teacher yesterday and she has volunteered to take him for individual lessons as we were struggling to fit classes in around everything else. She's going to continue with the ballet but will also teach him jazz which is great. Thanks for that suggestion. He took to tap really easy and loves it so it'ssomething they will continue but not focus on too much. He passed his grade 1 music theory last year-his singing teacher recommended that he do it-i never realised how useful studying that would be.Thanks again for your help.