Creating Community

A dance studio is more than a space to learn movement. There are so many reasons why we as caregivers enrol our children in dance. Perhaps it is to channel excess energy, or because we see how much they love to groove to “Wheels on the Bus” in the living room, or because we either did/didn’t have access to dance lessons and so we want to give that opportunity to them. 

A reason with a broader scope is socialization. Especially for children who are younger than school age, providing an opportunity for a social experience with their peers can be a welcomed precursor to attending a more formal preschool or school setting. (It can also be a welcomed break for us too!)

A dance studio is a space to build community - A place where we come together through a common interest. Some of this community building occurs through classes themselves, where peer friendships develop through shared goals like learning new choreography. It also occurs in in-between spaces, like the lobby or backstage at a performance where we might talk about things like having a pet, our favourite book, or being in the same grade at school. 

Whether our children pursue dance recreationally or competitively, the friendships made through dance are often long-lasting. Through dance, as we learn new skills, we make ourselves that good kind of growth inspiring vulnerable. We express ourselves and our emotions with our whole selves in a space with other people who are willing to also be that vulnerable. This shared experience can create beautiful friendships that run deep and go beyond what is possible to express in words. 

But the benefits of this community building are not limited to the dancers’ experiences. The small conversations between us caregivers at drop-off and pick-up and longer conversations as a competition day stretches on, give us the chance to find community too. We meet people in our local area with children of a similar age and with at least this one common interest (and probably more). Maybe these conversations extend to carpools, playdates, or a much needed night out to converse with other adults!

There is so much power and potential in participating in community. After all, movement can be defined as both an action with our bodies in space and coming together to create change. 

So, the next time you are at the studio, take the first step and say hello to someone new. Let’s work together to foster and model connection and community.