Boys Dance Too

Historically, dance has been a “girl” thing. Parents put pink tutus on their little girls before they can even walk and boys are brought to soccer practice. As most parents quickly realize, the preconceived ideas of what they think their children will like, and that child’s own preferences are often times different. Your daughter may end up being a fierce basketball player, and your son may prefer a paintbrush to a hockey stick. But what if your son wants to dance? More and more boys are showing interest in dance and the old stereotypes you may have worried about are greatly decreasing.

With the popularity of shows like So You Think You Can Dance? and America’s Got Talent male dancers have been in the spotlight, and boy do the look cool! Not only are ballet and lyrical dancers featured, viewers see hyper masculine hip-hop and break dancing routines. Dance is so much more than pink tutus and Tchaikovsky (although we love those, too!). Here are some great reasons to encourage dance for boys:

1. Diversity – Not everyone is the same so having your son do something outside the norm makes him special. How boring would the world be if we all had the same interests? When your son gets the opportunity to show off his athletic prowess as a strong dancer, he stands out by showing people he can do something that most men can’t. Also, having more boys in dance companies makes that company more diverse.

2. Physical Benefits – Dance builds flexibility, endurance, and coordination, which affect many other areas. They have more muscle mass and even perform better in sports. If you ever see the body of a professional male dancer, you see an athlete who epitomizes strength and peak physical condition

3. Love – If your son shows an interest in dance, by all means support him. There is no greater joy than watching your child immerse themselves in something that fills them with happiness. When they excel in something that fills them with happiness, it builds strong self-esteem. How great is it to jump out of bed each morning and do what you love?

4. Success – If he does pursue a professional career in dance, since there is a lack of male dancers, he’ll have better chances to succeed. Male dancers have more job opportunities and less competition than women, which gives them a better chance at a lasting career.

5. Self-Confidence – When a person succeeds at something they love, their confidence goes way up. You often hear about a “performer’s high” that happens when a dancer is in front of an audience. Not only does the act of dance feel great, the accolades that follow are wonderful for building a positive self-image.

6. Modern Role Models – Whether its Derek Hough, Twitch, Adam Shankman, or Jason Derulo…the list goes on! There are so many male dancers for young boys to look up to. They can watch anything from Dancing With The Stars to an Usher video on YouTube and see positive role models. Not only do these celebrity dancers have amazing moves, but the exemplify athletes who have committed a lifetime of dedication to their craft.