5 Reasons Your Child Should Participate in a Dance Recital

Recitals are always a highlight of a dancer's experience each year! Through the preparation leading up to the performance, students learn so much. Participation in our recitals is an incredible opportunity that provides many benefits for our dancers!

Though there are many, here are 5 reasons your child should participate in a recital!

1. Recitals give children the clear goal to apply what they have learned in class

The weeks (or months) spent preparing for a recital is helpful in teaching students how to work towards a goal! Dancers take pride in learning new steps and being able to show off their moves at their recital gives them motivation to work hard! Preparing for a recital is also a way for dancers to work on skill retention and memorization, as well as rhythm and technique.

2. Performing builds confidence to get in front of others

At South Coast Conservatory, when students find out that they will be showing off their skills in a recital, we see a huge rise in student confidence that begins in the classroom. Our students begin learning new steps and choreography, and as they make the effort to execute those skills, their confidence builds. With compliments and corrections from the teacher, each dancer becomes more determined to improve.

In some dancers this confidence boost comes easily over time, but in others it can be more daunting. For example, sometimes there is a student who feels down on themselves when they aren't learning a step or concept fast enough. We teach them that everyone learns at their own pace, and with their continued practice and perseverance, they'll make progress. And when that student begins to see their effort paying off, their confidence soars! Overcoming that temporary "slump" actually helped them see that they can rely on themselves and be stronger for it.

3. Dancing together builds teamwork

A recital dance is a wonderful demonstration of cooperation. By working with their fellow dancers on a group performance, dancers learn all the positive benefits of working together to create a masterpiece! They develop camaraderie and friendships, which can last a lifetime! Recitals provide a wonderful opportunity for dancers to learn that there is no "I" in TEAM. Working as a team with one's classmates also makes it easier for dancers to celebrate the accomplishments of others, a skill that will be beneficial as they go through school, future careers, and life!

4. Recitals create lifelong memories

Recital costumes become keepsakes, pictures become the highlights of photo albums and scrapbooks, and the lessons learned are remembered for years to come! All of the South Coast Conservatory faculty and alumni who grew up dancing still have such fond memories of their recital performances throughout the years.

5. Makes your child feel appreciated and celebrated

One of the most magical confidence-boosting moments for a performer is hearing the audience applaud, knowing that family and friends are there! It tells the dancers they are appreciated for dancing their hearts out. It is such a rewarding feeling to realize that your hard work has paid off, and that the audience loved your performance.

The pride our students feel in themselves at that moment is well-earned. The sense of accomplishment after getting out there and performing is a triumphant feeling like no other, and it's not an exaggeration to say we've seen it transform lives. The confidence our students develop is truly one of the most valuable benefits there is when it comes to the recital!

Our program focuses on developing the whole person - their self esteem, problem solving skills, teamwork, self awareness, and the realization that hard work can not only be fun but it helps our students achieve results. Our motto is to create dancers that are strong, smart, and kind. And we want all of our dancers to have the strength to do great things.

Thank you to our amazing community for the honor of teaching your children and giving us the opportunity to CHANGE LIVES THROUGH DANCE!

Laguna Niguel, CA