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As a mother of two boys, ages 7 and 8, one thing I know for sure is that boys are definitely active! While sports are a great avenue to channel their energy productively, I have found that the activities are also competitive and potentially damaging to self-esteem without constant parental guidance and motivation. I have watched some children on the sidelines of football games who get discouraged quickly if they are not the fastest, most agile players. Youth sports are wonderful, but some children may find them difficult until they have a better sense of body awareness and movement.
I taught dance for many years in a very structured environment. Typically, a few male students would inevitably drop out around the second or third grade due to the peer pressure of being a male dancer. However, with more television shows bringing to light the value of dance in boys’ lives and more male singers dancing in music videos, one style of dance seems to be above the peer pressure of the “male dancer” stigma. Hip-hop classes for “boys only” are becoming popular and are one of the only dance classes that recreation centers can implement easily.
No Tights, No Dance Clothes
One of the best aspects of hip-hop class is its non-dance appeal. Parents and young boys are typically afraid dancers will have to wear tights and dance clothes like the male dancers on television. However, hip-hop is geared to the non-dancer. Street clothes are acceptable attire, as are hats and other “security blankets” boys may need to feel more comfortable. In a dance studio, hip-hop shoes are typically required to keep uniformity and protect the dance floor from the dirt on regular shoes, but these are not required in a recreation center.