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CathinCoffeland
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| Posted: Oct 14 2010 at 10:44pm | IP Logged
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I did something i never imagined i would, enrolled my son in ballet today.
he is thrilled -he has been asking for a long time.
it felt weird- we are not a "macho" family by any means nor do we have any athletic ability by nature to compare it with. but still it seemed strange.
but it seemed odd watching all the moms drop off their daughters on the way to dropping off sons at soccer.
he is so happy im not going to kill his joy by being unsupportive- though i could tell dh felt a little unsettled too but honestly we are not sure why- im mean ive been too lots of ballets and yes men do dance :)
anyone else with boys who dance?
love to hear your thoughts!
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-Maggie Annie
http://craftyincoffeeland.blogspot.com/
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Oct 14 2010 at 11:25pm | IP Logged
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I don't have anyone in ballet.. but I have a friend who's son was in ballet through high school and had lots of opportunity for dance scholarships for college.. not near as competitive as for the girls 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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Grace&Chaos
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| Posted: Oct 15 2010 at 9:31am | IP Logged
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I can honestly say you are inspiring. My ds 5 is very artistic. Is always flowing, dancing, etc through out the day. My dh, however, really doesn't want him enrolled in a dance class  . He is insisting that the boys try sports (he himself was a sports kid). And honestly with six kids this isn't a battle I want to fight since it does mean one more thing to run around too.
I know ds would love it. I've encouraged other arts like drawing, painting, and playing with silks while listening to classical music. We also go to shows like the Nutcracker every year.
 
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Jenny
Mom to dds(00,03) and dss(05,06,08,09)
Grace in Loving Chaos
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mom2mpr
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| Posted: Oct 15 2010 at 9:48am | IP Logged
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My ds took ballet. He really enjoyed it. He was about 11 and it was somewhat awkward due to his age. While he is all caught up in sports now, he still remembers it as a positive thing.
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Anne, married to dh 16 years!, ds,(97), Little One (02), and dd (02).
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Lara Sauer
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| Posted: Oct 15 2010 at 4:43pm | IP Logged
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My boys didn't do ballet, but they did Scottish Country Dancing.
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MichelleW
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| Posted: Oct 15 2010 at 8:05pm | IP Logged
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Both of my sons did ballet and tap for 2 years. They did well and enjoyed it. Now they are in TaeKwonDo, which is so very similar to me. My middle son, who really enjoys moving to music, has become an outstanding drummer.
My only thought is that you have to check out the teacher really closely. A good teacher makes all the difference. A bad teacher will do a lot of damage.
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Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Oct 15 2010 at 8:23pm | IP Logged
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Ballet is great training for athletes. Football players take it to increase flexibility.
And I know several boys who do Irish dance - an amazingly demanding art/sport - amazing aerobic and flexibility training.
If he's enjoying it, I say, "Yay!" He'll always have an appreciation for dance...an excellent attribute in a husband and father!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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Anastasia
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| Posted: Nov 23 2010 at 2:38pm | IP Logged
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My 6.5 year old son just started Irish dancing, and he loves it! His teacher is a man, so that helps, too. All the little girls in his class flirt shamelessly with him. 
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pmeilaen
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| Posted: Nov 23 2010 at 8:51pm | IP Logged
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My son has been doing ballet for six years now. He just started his seventh year. There are a few other boys in his ballet school, but not in his class. He enjoys it very much and works hard at it. He also attends a P.E. class for homeschoolers, plays baseball in the summer, and takes gymnastics.
Three of his sisters are also taking ballet lessons. It teaches all of them confidence, good posture, social skills, and performance skills in front of many people. It's also quite demanding as a sport.
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Eva
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herdingkittens
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Came across this in a search, so I am a little late in responding, but my son does ballet. He is a new 7 and this is is 2nd year. He takes a boys class (he is usually the only one - ha ha!) with our male dance teacher, and also takes the regular class which is co-ed. His co-ed class is taught by our resident prima-ballerina, but she does oodles of partnering work so knows to teach my son differently from the girls. So far, he has not had any issues with teasing, etc., but we are also blessed to go to a ballet academy where there is a strong male dancer and respect for the art.
My husband and I talked this over at length before letting him take classes (what will he have to endure hearing from other boys? will it feminize him? will the training be masculine, rather than learning more feminine movements? etc.). It was a tough one, going against what the world could think, but in the end, we see it as part of a balance. It is a wonderful classical form of art and we see many fruits from them learning ballet (coordination, posture, strength, not to mention the artistic outlet - being creative with movement uses a whole different part of your brain and just feels plain wonderful!). My son also did football that fall, and we plan on letting him do that again next year if he is interested (part of the "balance").
Our oldest 3 all became interested in ballet when i started dancing again, so it was a natural progression for them, so now they are all dancing and it is a real pleasure to see. He has the support of his sisters and quite honestly, is a real hit at the academy because he is the only little boy there. Now my main concern is not that he will be seen as a "sissy", but that all the female attention will go to his head!
Hope that helps, and no, you are not alone. 
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CathinCoffeland
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| Posted: Dec 14 2010 at 10:48pm | IP Logged
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Hey I forgot about this post. Well ds has had 2 months of lessons now, and is still over the moon.
Today was parent day and I just posted up some pics:)
http://craftyincoffeeland.blogspot.com/2010/12/ballet.htmlballet!
its been fun, 3 of the 8 kids are boys and he has a favorite girl to dance with and there are 2 other hs'ing families at that time.
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http://craftyincoffeeland.blogspot.com/
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Elena
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| Posted: Dec 15 2010 at 8:31pm | IP Logged
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If he keeps at it he shouldn't have any problem finding work when he is older. If could supplement later with voice and maybe a little acting he could be a very in-demand performer, either professionally or on the regional theater circuit.
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Elena
Wife to Peter, mom of many!
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dolorsofmary
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| Posted: Jan 06 2011 at 7:12am | IP Logged
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My son was in ballet/tap last year but he was only 4. we had shown him the nutcracker on video and he loved it so much that we enrolled him. He loved being in class and it was a great for his music education and so so close to the house. he was the only boy in the class but that was ok. he asked to go back again this spring. we try to change things up every season until he finds a forte
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: boys in ballet anyone?
