SAFETY Dance

As I mentioned in this previous blog post, my 7-year-old son loves dancing. I thought it would be much more accepted now than it actually is. People like to pretend that it is. Dance academies like to advertise that it is. But, it’s not. Not by parents, peers, or dance schools—at least not the ones I’ve dealt with.

I don’t want him to lose this love. I don’t want him to question whether he should be doing this. For one thing, he is damn good at it. For another, he enjoys it. I want both my kids to feel comfortable and self-confident. I want them to feel "safe" doing whatever it is that makes them happy.

Just for fun, I like to show him cool actors and famous people (boys) who can dance. This is one of his favorites. And mine, too. Silly? Yes. Scrubs is a comedy. But that guy has had some serious training.

Incidentally, this video has helped my 9-year-old soccer, basketball, baseball, football fan to think dancing is cool.

Boys in Teal Tutus and Pale Pink Ballet Shoes?

When I was growing up, little boys went to little league baseball and little girls went to dance class. Boys got uniforms and mitts, girls got tutus and tights.

Now, thirty years later, we are not stereotyping kids anymore. Right? We are not discriminating. Right? Here’s something interesting (or maybe not). My little boy loves dancing. And he’s damn good at it too. Here’s something else. He hates sports. He’s tried t-ball, soccer, basketball, and skating. He hates them. All of them. He watches his brother, who loves sports, at practices and games and thinks it’s great but doesn’t want to participate.

So, after being the only boy in his class at a horrific dance school last year, we started looking for somewhere else to take him. He kicked ass during the recital. He has an incredible ear for music and can move like no one’s business. Whenever I call a studio, I’ve always been told that “Why of course he is welcome!” but that welcome ends when I hang up the phone.

I just stumbled on the website for our local recreation department which is advertising their newest dance classes. They are one of the ones who spoke with me and told me how bloody welcome my little boy was. I mentioned their constant use of “her” and “she” in the write-up. They changed it. They changed it! How awesome is that? Now, they are careful to use the words “children” and “dancers” and “students” just to undermine their boys-are-welcome theme with the required dance attire which is as follows:

Ages 3-5 Dance attire required: black leotard, white tights, pink ballet shoes, black tap shoes

Ages 6-7 Dance attire required: black leotard, black shorts, pink/white tights, pink ballet shoes, and black tap shoes

And, if that weren’t enough, here’s the picture advertising their boys-are-welcome! dance class:  

I have to say if this stupid site was advertising co-ed soccer for kids and the required attire was Adidas Boys Shorts, Nike Arsenal Boys Jersey, Adidas Boys Metro Socks, and a jock strap, and their picture was this...

...they wouldn't have that page up longer than an hour.