My child used to love their dance classes and started when they were only 3, they used to go into class so confidently and happy and didn't even wave goodbye to me. Now since starting reception Im really struggling to get them to go and they say they don't want to leave me.

Does this sound familiar - if so Keep reading! 

First of all I would like to start off by saying you are doing a great job so don't worry this is totally normal.

Lots of our dancers start with us prior to starting reception and it is perfectly normal to see a bit of a wobble when they start full time school. It’s also the same as we see when a child starts senior school. I have just been through this with my little girl so I completely empathise with you and understand how you are feeling. 

Talk to their teacher and check that they are enjoying classes when they are there.  This will help their teacher to work with you and to give them some extra support in class if its needed, they might even send you some photos of them while they are in class, this is great not only for your peace of mind but I also had to do this with my little one with her school, and it helped to show her photos as it reminded her how much she was enjoying it. 
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Providing your child’s dance teacher says they are happy at dance class then it is really beneficial to persevere for a few weeks and to maintain the routine and consistency of taking your child to dance class. 

If during this time you let them miss class it can make it even more difficult to re-establish the routine of going to their dance class. 

A little trick I use is to tell my daughter I'm going to do something really dull which she doesn't like so that she doesn't feel like she is missing something exciting. You have likely just been doing some wonderful things together over the summer holidays and it’s normal for a child to feel like they might be missing something fun with you. I tell my little girl that I'm going shopping, she hates doing that and it gives me chance to shop in peace, lets face it we have all been there and dragging a child around the shop that doesn't want to be there is no fun for anybody! 


Keep talking to their teacher, where possible this is better done away from the child. Check that they have been OK and find out which parts of class they really enjoyed.  The more you can talk about the enjoyment of dance with your child the better.
 
If your child’s dance teacher thinks that the child is distressed at classes and would benefit from a break I am sure that they will let you know, but in most instances consistency is key, like when you are trying to establish any sort of new habit or routine.  Please be aware this blog is advice for children who have previously loved dance class and have only started saying they don't want to go since starting a new school class or routine, we will cover advice for others in a separate blog. 

Within a few weeks your child will most likely be settled into their new “big school” and dance routine and they will be skipping in without so much as a goodbye.  

From our experience the first 3-4 weeks when a child starts a new school, or year group can be the time where they have a wobble and if you can continue through that wobble you have taught your children so much about perseverance and commitment and also shown them that something that can feel hard at first soon feels easy or normal.  Many of our dance coaches and even one of our teachers had a wobble when they started school and it was through open communication between parent and dance teacher and some perseverance that those dancers have now been with us for in excess of 10+ years and are a hugely valued part of the Leivers Dance team. 

Don’t worry though and always talk to the teacher, however ultimately you know your child best and you have to do what you feel is right for them and for you. ​

At Leivers Dance  School (LDS) Our classes are high energy and fun packed with a real emphasis on building children’s confidence in a safe and positive environment.  We teach Ballet, Tap, Acrobatics and Modern Dance, following the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) and Acrobatic Arts Syllabi. 

Our classes follow both syllabus work and choreography set by the teachers.. Additionally we give dancers the opportunity to work on their own choreography as this helps to develop their creativity. 

We give weekly superstar awards to help build children’s confidence. These are given to dancers who work hard, show kindness to other dancers or perseverance to learn a new skill. 

We also work towards inter school assessments. These are a reward for dancers hard work and dedication in working towards a set of skills set by directors which are appropriate for their level of exam. 

It is our mission  "To use the Art of Dance to Build Confidence in a Safe and Positive Environment, Embracing Individual Needs and Celebrating Individual Achievements"

If this sounds like something you would be interested in or perhaps you know someone who may be interested 
 you can join one of our classes here https://leivers-dance.class4kids.co.uk
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•Now more than ever it is essential to have up to date information for our dancers and to monitor numbers in class therefore all Dancers must book onto a class, and complete the updated membership form, this can be done via https://leivers-dance.class4kids.co.uk If you are unable to do this prior to arrival just give us a call or send an email and we will be more than happy to help you on arrival. charlotte@leiversdance.co.uk 

 •We will be greeting dancers at the door to take them in to class and will call dancers out to you individually when you collect, (one way systems are also in place at venues which allow for this). We will still be available if you need to chat to us about anything at drop off or collection times. 

•We have simplified our uniform to reduce changing between classes. Dancers do not currently need their skirt or tap shoes. We will continue to review this. 

 •At the moment dancers Must wear shoes at all times. We have decided on Ballet shoes for under 5’s  and Jazz shoes for over 5's. If you do not have these yet please wear trainers but please try to get some as soon as possible - they are available via Online Store

 • Please arrive ready -  wearing your Leotard, shorts and shoes.  Please do arrive ready as we aren't allowed to help at the moment, which feels very very strange!! 
 
 • Hand sanitiser is available to use on entry and exit. You can also use it throughout class if you wish. If you prefer to bring your own, that is absolutely fine.
 
• We have staggered our start times to give you all a bit more space when dropping off and picking up,  Please follow social distancing while waiting.

•Teachers may be wearing visors when they are letting people into and out of the building, depending on space etc available.  
    
• We will be cleaning touch points, toilets and mats between all groups. If you arrive a little early please bare with us while we prepare the room for your group - we will let you in as soon as we can safely do so. 

 •Dancers do not need to wear a mask but we know some people prefer to, if you want to wear a mask when moving around the building you should be able to take it on and off by yourself and should bring a zip up container to put it into when you are dancing. Adults taking class with us should bring a mask to wear when moving around the building. It is recommended to not wear a mask when exercising. 

• Dancers should not attend if they are showing any symptoms of Coronavirus.

Below is a diagram of what to do if you have symptoms, if a member of your household has symptoms or if you are contacted by track and trace.  

​If you haven't already booked your class please go to 
https://leivers-dance.class4kids.co.uk 

if you require any uniform items these are available at Online Store
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1. Down Time - As adults when were feeling stressed or overwhelmed we try to make “me time” to recharge our batteries and were told that giving ourselves some “down time” will help us to do our best when we are working in stressful situations. 

​This is equally important for children. They need some time to do the things that they love and to have a release for the stresses and worries of their school exams. This will help to clear their minds and will help them to concentrate on their school work. 

2. Learning life skills - Its a known fact that as adults we have to juggle what can sometimes feel like a million things. We have deadlines, workloads and households to run. 

Children need to learn those life skills too. 

For instance learning that if they have homework due on a Friday morning and they have dance on a Thursday to make sure they do the homework before hand. 

Believe me I know this is much easier said than done - There were many times that I would be frantically trying to do homework in the morning before school because I had gone to dance and had forgotten that I had homework due. 

If ever children need to bring some homework with them and concentrate on getting it done before they start their class we will always accommodate this. 

3. Continuity - Often dancers leave class for a period of time in the run up to their exams or they miss several classes. 

From my experience dancers who do this then struggle to return to dance classes because they have missed the choreography or steps which have been taught while they were off. 

If a dancer feels like they are trying to play catch up this can really take the enjoyment out of dance and dancers can lose confidence, which can lead to dancers leaving all together. This is such a shame, particularly for dancers who have devoted so many years to classes and who have thoroughly enjoyed it. 

4. Stress relief - We all know that we feel better after exercise, we are better able to concentrate, and our mood is generally lifted. 

Also after spending time with our friends we feel better. There are times that dancers arrive at class feeling stressed and worried about things but after seeing their friends, talking through some of the things that are worrying them, exercising and having some down time they feel much better about things. 

5. Confidence - We are not all the same! not everybody is academic and not everybody is creative. Some people may find school and exams difficult. Dance may be their space where they can express themselves and can do something which they are great at. Performing and dancing well may help to keep their confidence up and to see that everybody has different strengths. 

Children need to see the things that they are good at to help keep their confidence. If they are struggling with their exams and comparing themselves to people at school who are all doing well in their exams then they may need their time at dance where they can do well and do their best. 



There are a few things that we can do at class to help your dancer still attend during their exams. 

1. If they come straight from school but need to spend a bit more time doing homework, we can get them to do this rather than joining in stretch squad. 

2. If they do multiple days or additional classes, we would recommend that they reduce to their core classes and pick one day to attend class for that time - this will help with the continuity. 
 We will always help and support where we can and we totally respect your decisions on what to do during exam times. Some children will need the time out from dance to concentrate and you know what is best to do in your family. 

 If you wish to have a chat at dance about your dancers progress please don't hesitate to do so. ​​

Commercial Dance is the strong, sexy, professional, style of dance you often see in music videos, shows, concerts and  commercials.  

It can incorporate many styles of dance such as Hip hop, Jazz, Street and many others. Commercial style dance is usually very entertaining to watch and also to learn to dance. Commercial dance give choreographers and dancers the opportunity to be creative in their expression. 

​Commercial style is great fun and classes are a great way to keep fit, build confidence and meet friends. 

“Commercial refers to dancing done in concerts, live shows, music videos, movies, industrials, and, obviously, commercials. There are many different styles of dance that can be worked into the commercial category, such as hip hop, jazz, locking, popping, breakdancing, krumping, and more. Sometimes, you’ll find ballet and ballroom thrown into the mix, although “street dance” is more common.”
Nigel Lythgoe – So you Think You Can Dance
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We have added an adult commercial class to our timetable -
To join this class follow this link leivers-dance.class4kisa.co.uk/info/42w ​

What to put on first, the shorts, the skirt or the leotard? 

Getting your dancer ready for the first time in their dance uniform can be quite confusing, with shorts a leotard and and skirt lots of people are unsure on the order to wear these clothes. 
For dance (at LDS classes) the first thing is the shorts! Dance clothes are very fitting so that teachers can see children’s hips, knees and ankles to check their alignment to avoid injury. 

Some dancers feel more comfortable with more coverage than is offered with just a leotard. We want our dancers to feel comfortable but also to keep them safe which is why we have shorts as an important part of our uniform. 

The shorts are then covered with the leotard (think superhero with their pants on top) 

At Leivers Dance we use shorts as a replacement to the tights which would traditionally be worn underneath the dancers leotard in classical ballet and this is the reason for the shorts being put on first. 

For ballet the skirt is worn on the top.  The skirt helps dancers (particularly very young dancers) with their “port de bras”. No this isn’t another item of clothing but is the dancers arm placement. Holding out their skirt will create the correct arm line for young dancers. 

The skirt will be removed for Acrobatics. Dancers can become very disoriented when they are upside down and having a skirt obscure their vision only adds to the confusion. In addition to this a teacher cannot safely spot a dancer who has a skirt on as they can be unable to get a safe grip on the dancer. 

So to recap at Leivers Dance school we ask for dancers to wear their shorts first, followed by their leotard with the skirt on top. 

Hopefully this will help with understanding the order of clothing. Our older dancers will be allowed to wear leggings in the place of shorts if they wish to. 

If you require any additional uniform please pop to the online store and find your child’s group. All uniform is available here. 

The sea bed sloped gradually without ledges so we didn't have to worry about suddenly finding ourselves out of our depth. At one end of the beach a shallow pool was created as the tide went out which was perfect for our 1 year old to paddle in. The sun also warmed the water in this a little (well I think it was the sun). 

The beach also has rock pools at either end so there was something to do when we got tired of being sat in one place. The beach also has a beach shop and a cafe which served lovely food, we even had breakfast down there on our last day, so that we didn't have any washing up. Unfortunately there weren't any toilets on the beach, but a walk back up the slope and there are toilets at the bar. ( I think the bar is why Lee was happy to take the children up to the toilet). The slope down to the beach is quite steep but we managed to get ourselves and all of our beach stuff up and down quite happily each day. 

Our evenings were often spent on site, watching the sunset over the runway or with an evening stroll along the beach followed by a couple of drinks at the Nab bar on the adjacent site. One evening a week there was an open air cinema on the green overlooking the sea. This was just in front of the bar so we could get drinks while watching. This was great fun, they even toasted marshmallows for the children. All we had to do was take chairs....and blankets as it did get a bit chilly.
​https://www.hoseasons.co.uk/holiday-parks/whitecliff-bay-holiday-park-whcb/?gclid=CjwKCAjwyrvaBRACEiwAcyuzRI8GpnICu-kCCXvZlufBfGBIpd_ASl0lR_919wbhdR_b841354sbzBoCCdQQAvD_BwE&clickcd=50124&s_kwcid=AL!2504!3!224486056684!e!!g!!whitecliff%20bay&ef_id=W1Au7gAAANFC7dNr:20180719062550:s

We found so much to do nearby. 

​We were really lucky to be on the island at the time when you can walk out to the fort at St Helens. This is an absolutely amazing thing to do as you walk out through the sea (ankle Deep) at low tide. There are only a couple of points where you can do this and there are thousands of people who go. It is truly an amazing experience. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/st-helens-duver/features/st-helens-fort We loved this and it is something I will remember for a long time. 
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There was also an open day at Bembridge lifeboat Station with a display where they launched the lifeboat. the station was open for visitors to take a look around.http://www.bembridgelifeboat.org.uk/ The girls loved watching the lifeboat as it came down the ramp into the sea. We then watched as the two lifeboats worked together to carry out a rescue demonstration. 

We also went to the zoo on the island in Sandown, this was about a 10 minute drive from the site but can also be walked if you wish to follow the coastal path.I have done this walk in previous years but didn't fancy it with two small children in tow.  Sandown has places to eat, a lovely long beach as well as the zoo and Dinosaur isle. It’s also not far from there to Amazon world where you can find all sorts of animals as you walk around their enclosures. If you do take the coastal path you walk up to Culver Down, there is also a pub up there, surrounded by the sea and stunning views on both sides. 
 http://www.isleofwightzoo.com/     http://www.amazonworld.co.uk/
http://www.dinosaurisle.com/newhomepage.aspx

The Isle of Wight is only approximately 23 x 13 miles but is jam packed full of places to visit. One of our favourite places on the island was Blackgang Chine. I've been going here since I was a child and now love taking my children here too. Its such an adventure through dinosaurs, fairies, under the sea and we even encountered some scary goblins and pirates. It is a place of mystery and magic and the children can play on nearly all of the displays, especially in the wild Wild West.
https://blackgangchine.com
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During the summer one evening a week Blackgang chine did a firework display. we chose not to watch this in the park but instead went up to the viewpoint where they set the fireworks off from.  

Blackgang chine now has a sister company on the Island called Robin Hill. This seems to be more about picturesque walks and climbing activities for the children. We found Robin hill to be a bit more suited to older children due to the rides and games but there was still plenty for the little ones. They also do an electric woods in the summer evenings where the trees are all lit up and they put on a performance in their amphitheatre. Our children loved this and it was well worth the later night. 

https://robin-hill.com/

We followed this road out past Chale to the Needles. The iconic Cliffs on the Isle of Wight. Here you could watch glass making, go in the arcade or make a sand figourine with the multicoloured sands that are collected from the cliffs here. There was also a chair lift down to the beach however this was closed when we went due to the wind. 
http://www.theneedles.co.uk

One place that we stumbled across and have come to love is Calbourne water mill. Not only is it a beautiful location but you can go in the Mill to see it working. There are stunning walks as well as pedalos and boats along the river. They also had a 1950s event on and had lots of old military vehicles and some entertainment. My favourite bit was that you can feed the birds, ducks and fish here, if we kept really still they would come along and land on our hands. http://www.calbournewatermill.co.uk/

Yesterday my Daughter won the superstar award at dance and my mum said to her "Keep it Safe or Mummy will give it to someone else" We often joke about things like this because my mum was my dance teacher and now I teach my daughter. So me and my sister got chatting about our childhood and what it was like growing up as the daughters of a dance teacher.

We thought we would share a few of them with you... You might be surprised what you find out. 

1. You will have no medals or awards from growing up.. Your's would have been given out to anybody who had lost theirs if there were no spares left. 

2. You will have a never ending supply of costumes - and will always be putting on shows. This means that you have the biggest dressing up box ever which as a child is pretty amazing

3. If your friends want to do something out of the norm at class they will always prompt you to ask your mum!  "We really want to do extra acro not our ballet dance.. Go an ask your mum" 

4. You will know how to set up for classes before your 5 and will be asked to help in class from around this point too. You will be the one who looks after anyone who is upset and dances with them while they settle in. 

5. Your mum tap dances while driving.. Yes thats right tap dancing and driving, apparently she has her best ideas while driving. 

6. The Seniors make the best babysitters. They will look after you at class when your little and you will look up to them so much. 

7. Parents of dancers could phone at any point... Even christmas day. 

8.You will have to do your homework on a crash mat at dance while mum is teaching.. At least for 5 minutes then you will probably sneak into the back of the class and join in anyway. 

9. Your house will have a constant supply of glitter/sequins and material. 
If ever you have a school craft project you can guaruntee yours will be the shiniest. 

10. You will be responsible for a second hand dance uniform stall before the age of 9. 
​It will be your responsibility for running the swap shop and you will feel very grown up doing this.

And lastly 

if you go and do the food shop in your mum's car you will end up with shopping on your lap and all around you because the car boot is always full of Pom Poms, Tutus and mats! 

Hope you enjoyed this little insight, feel free to share it and let others know what its like being the daughter of a dance teacher. Both me and Harriet loved our childhood and spending lots of time at dance. We wouldn't change a thing and I hope my girls look back in 20 odd years and have the same fond memories xx

People often wonder what benefits there are to their child dancing. After all you are spending your hard earned money on an activity so it would be nice to know it has benefits.

Now I could go on about bio-mechanics and the benefits to the muscular skeletal system and cognitive development but I think I'll leave that for another day. Instead I have chosen some benefits which I feel develop life long skills.


Let's talk about Confidence, Creativity, Social development and Fitness.

Confidence - You want a happy confident child right?  What parent doesn't. 

Dance should build your children's confidence. They should be able to achieve new things in an environment where it is safe for them to make mistakes.

Children may be asked at the start of class if they have any "news". This is an opportunity for children to stand in front of their friends and tell them something. This builds confidence in public speaking, a life skill required through to adulthood and the world of employment.

Getting up and doing something infront of others is often difficult whatever your age. Within dance classes children are often asked to perform in small groups or individually, it may only be 4 steps but it gets them used to being in front of people, again this is something many of us as adults have to do in the workplace. 
 
Rewards will be given for progress. Every child is different and will achieve at a different pace, we firmly believe that the individual achievements of each child should be celebrated.


Creativity - We live in a world full of structure and it is important to develop and enhance people's creativity and ability to think for themselves without being told "what to do and when to do it".

In class there will often be a time for Free Expressive Movement. During this section music will be put on and children  will be given freedom to express themselves. Now I'm aware this might sound a bit wishy washy but how many times do you wonder "why can't that person think for themselves or just see what needs doing and do it" these are the skills we are trying to work on.  

Children will initially want more guidance asking questions such as

Q"well can we skip"
A"yes if that's what you would like to do"

Q "can I use ribbons"
A "Yes of course"

Q "can we do bends"
A "yes anything you want to"

This part of the class takes some getting used to, but it is great to see childrens creativity develop and see them coming up with their own ideas. 

Social Development - Making friends and learning about friendship groups is always a challenge. Dance gives children the chance to be within a social yet structured setting.

Children who aren't as confident can dance individually while remaining part of the group. They are still doing exactly what all of the other dancers are doing, but can do it on their own. 

Gradually as their confidence grows they will mix more with the group. Children will work out the dynamics and create social circles within the class. They will learn to work out small disagreements and how to empathise with others. Perhaps they don't achieve the superstar award but they still praise the person that did. This shows great understanding of their emotions. Again these are all skills which we carry through life with us. 

Fitness -Possibly the most obvious.  As parents we keep being told our children aren't active enough and need to be doing more. Well here's a perfect opportunity for them to get some exercise.If your child enjoys their dance class they will be exercising without even realising.

Though there is the obvious - dance Is movement therefore exercise there is also the warmup, maybe races or a cardio circuit disguised as a competition.

Strength work hidden in games, crawling through tunnels and sliding along benches.  

The entire class is exercise.  

Many of these benefits all link together in developing skills required throughout life and the world of employment which is why I chose these for today's blog. However they are only some of the benefits of dance. I could go on forever! 

Oh and here's another little benefit for the busy parents out there.... while your child is having a great time dancing, building their confidence and fitness in a creative social environment you can have some well deserved peace, even if it is only to do your food shop! 

If you have found this useful please share and if your thinking of trying out a class why not get in touch with Charlotte at LDS Charlotte@leiversdance.co.uk to book a totally Free trial!! 

It is advisable to check with the dance teacher what your child is required to wear however here is a brief guide based on our requirements at LDS. All uniform requirements and recommendations are based around safety, therefore it is important to ensure that your child is dressed appropriately.

Attending your 1st Class

• Children should wear something comfortable that they are able to move easily and freely in, such as leggings or shorts with a T-shirt
• Children should wear trainers or pumps but be able to take these off and have bare feet if required, Where possible avoid tights. 
• Jewellery and accessories should be avoided as these can become tangled and cause injury.
• Hair should be tied back neatly so that this does not get into the children’s eyes, this is particularly important if your child is just starting out in an Acro class.

Once your child has joined a dance school and is attending regular classes you will most likely be expected to buy the uniform. Its worth checking this out prior to class so that you are not hit with any sudden bills. At LDS we understand that children can change their mind when it comes to hobbies and as such try to keep requirements to a minimum. We also do not expect uniform to be purchased within the first few months of training as we like the children to have chance to settle before you spend money on uniform and shoes.

There's no rush - Check they like it before you buy it! 

Here's some basics of what you can expect to need, this is based on our uniform at LDS where all dancers cover all the below disciplines. This can be a little confusing particularly with the shoes so if your ever unsure speak with your teacher. 

• Basics - Leotard, leggings and a T-shirt (specific to dance school)

• Ballet - Ballet shoes and Ballet socks or tights, Ballet skirt. Hair may need to be in a bun with bun net and grips.  When children are much older and have several years dance training they may also go onto Pointe shoes however this is something which should be discussed at the time and should not be done without correct training and supervision. 
• Tap - These are usually the childens favourite so a good 1st purchase!  Tap shoes with heel and toe taps . These come with a warning though..... They are Noisy! 
• Jazz - Jazz shoes or Jazz sneakers - We usually recommend Jazz shoes as we can see the dancers feet better in these but an added bonus to you is that these are usually the cheaper option, therefore its a win win! 
• Acro - usually no additional clothing requirements, though dancers may be asked to provide their own yoga blocks. 

When buying uniform your dance teacher should be able to point you in the direction on a reputable supplier who can advise on your needs. Our recommended suppliers are Katz in Nuneaton and Suzie From GlitznBlitz. 

This might all sound like an awful lot but talk to your teacher. At LDS we recommend parents to stagger their purchases so that children do not grow out of everything in one go. We also have a swap shop where dancers can swap uniform for no charge when they grow out of things. There are also usually Facebook groups etc for "Dancing items for sale in....." which can give you a cheaper alternative. 

So now you have a rough idea what your child will need for dance you can go and enrol them in a dance class and watch their confidence grow as they develop their skills while making friends and keeping fit. 

Please share this post if you have found it useful and feel free to get in touch if we can help you in any way. 
Thanks LDS x 

I have been asked a lot lately why we do what we do. I hadn't really thought about it a great deal as it is just part of us and something we have always done. Then I got thinking and, well here it is... Here's our Why? 

30+ years ago Mrs Leivers at the age of 17 decided to set up her own dance school. (I can't give exact figures because you will work out how old she is, and then I'll be in trouble).  She had started off helping her dance teacher and sweeping the floor after classes and progressed to teaching and doing her qualifications. 

The dance school started with 1 student at St Giles church hall but Michelle persevered, word spread and the dance school grew. Michelle then had two daughters who went along, from birth and were looked after by some of the seniors. Claire, Sally and Liz, all of whom are still close to the Leivers family and the dance school. 

Charlotte and Harriet grew up attending the dance school and sometimes got into trouble at school for late homework but they loved the classes, the friendships they were making and it was keeping them fit. They then progressed within the school and started teaching. 

Now I think it's probably fair for me to say that none of the Leivers ladies have ever been the shape of your "typical dancer" and always heard things outside of their classes about what dancers should look like. This led to a passion within Michelle, Charlotte and Harriet that dance should not be about what you look like,  your size or even your ability. It should be accessible for all. It should be fun, build lasting friendships and enhance fitness.  

LDS has always had a positive approach to teaching dance and making it accessible.  

We absolutely love what we do and love tailoring our classes around mixed abilities

We love seeing the children thrive and nurturing their development

We love seeing the progress that they can all make at their own pace

We love getting to know the children and the families around them as well as letting you into our family. 

We love spreading a passion for dance, fitness, fun and friendships and making it accessible to all. 

And that is why we run Leivers Dance School (LDS)

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This is my first ever blog, I'd love you to let us know what you think or give it a share for us. 
Thanks xxx ​