Ballet vs Chinese dance

[MummyThreeStreams]

Maybe ballet is like the foundation, and you build other dance types on it?

[Serendipity]

Thanks twilight for joining in our discussion! :welcome:


So ballet does seem to complement other dances.

Btw, does anyone know the difference between Jazz Dance per se and Jazz Ballet? :scratchhead:

[MummyThreeStreams]

It’s hard to explain in words. Maybe you can go do a search on you-tube to see the difference? Jazz has a different beat and different feel because the origins are different (more Carribean, African vs. European for classical ballet). So for example, the hips and pelvis and shoulders can move quite a bit in jazz (so you get quite sexy movements!), but in classical ballet you generally want to keep them still. So when ballet dancers do jazz for the first time, they look very stiff!!


Having said that, there are quite a lot of similar moves because jazz has been influenced by different dance styles including ballet, e.g. pirouettes. So if a dancer has a good technical grounding in ballet, she can do well in jazz (jazz dancers do ballet exercises too). Just need to learn to relax the body a bit! I found jazz really fun, and I think most ballet students do too.

Just want to add a caveat. I’m no professional so these are only my opinions from my own limited exposure to dance! It would be great to hear from someone out there who has studied different dance forms in more depth.

[Serendipity]

Thanks for the explanation, MummyThreeStreams!


I notice most schools offer Jazz programmes only to children 5 or 6 and above. Do you find it more difficult than ballet for young kids to grasp?

[firave]

Serendipity:

:?:


I hear that ballet provides a good dance foundation.
Chinese dance is also good for developing grace and might be good for future DSA application. :lol:

:thankyou:

Hi Serendipity
I share the same sentiment with you & is consider DES too for my gals. The Chinese Dance seem to have some \"practical value\" in the future.. & I have at least couple of friends who used Chinese Dance as DSA. Have you made up your mind, care to share where are you going to enrol ur gal?

thks

[Serendipity]

firave:

Hi Serendipity
I share the same sentiment with you & is consider DES too for my gals. The Chinese Dance seem to have some \"practical value\" in the future.. & I have at least couple of friends who used Chinese Dance as DSA. Have you made up your mind, care to share where are you going to enrol ur gal?

thks

Hi firave,
I actually sent my girl to both a ballet class and a class at DES. She is enjoying the ballet class, but is still apprehensive towards the DES class. I think the child needs to be very independent to attend the 2.5h session at DES. I'll see how things go and if she still doesn't warm up to DES, I might have to stop the sessions there. Think they can learn quite a fair bit at DES though.

[znzyzyzx]

I sent my girl to DES before. Initially was okay , but when change to a different teacher , then she started crying before the class and refuse to go. In the end found out that she was scolded by the teacher. That was the only class that she had refused to attend. All other classes she enjoys very much. I think it is not a very loving , friendly environment. My son was there for about one year and he was not very enthusiastic about going for lesson there too.


Now she is in the Chinese dance class at nafa and she likes it.

[Serendipity]

Yeah, they change teachers and studios for different segments of the class. So the child might act up after one of the changes because of new environment or new teacher. But this is probably more a problem for the younger ones.

[Funx3]

Hi EveryOne,


Just Stumbled into this thread today ....

Just to Share my Experience for My Gal ....
She Requested in Kindy Days to Go For Dance Class, Undecided bet Ballet and Chinese Dance, So attended Both ....

Chinese Dance in NAFA, Ballet in Nearby CC ....
Seeing No Improvement in Ballet in CC, Pull Her out to Join Ballet at NAFA after Grade 1 Exam ....
And She Enjoys Both Classes.

In P1, She is interested in Gym, so Go for this As CCA as Well ....
With Her Dance Background, she's selected to Represent School Team in Early P2, and Competes in inter-sch since then ....

Due to Clash in schedules, she has to choose One Dance Session in P3 ....
And She Has chosen Chinese Dance - Reason Being More \"FUN\" and Variety and She Enjoys It More .... And in Her Opinion, Ballet is Easier But Very \"Boring\" ....

My Gal is in P6 this Year and Doing Well in Both Her Chinese Dance and Gym. Have discussed with her to try for DSA using both Chinese Dance (NYGH) and Gym (RGS) later this year ....

By the Way, DSA thru Ballet is Quite Difficult ....
But will Have Advantage if wish to Enrol to SOTA (which is Largely Ballet Based).

So If Your Gals R still Young, Try Both. Then Let them Decide Later, Go by their Inclinations towards which Dance Form they Most Favoured. Afterall, they R the Ones who actually attend the Classes, they will know Better.
:celebrate: :celebrate:

[Serendipity]

Thanks Funx3 for sharing your experience!


Yeah, tot I’d let her try out both and decide for herself. Unfortunately, she seems to have developed a fear of going back to DES for Chinese Dance. So unless I find an alternative avenue for her to try out Chinese dance again, might have to just stick to ballet for now.

Actually am keen to let her try out jazz too, perhaps when she’s older. Anyone has suggestions on a good place for kids to pick up jazz?