"I recognised the signs straight away: the twirling, the mirror glances, the obsession with her music box. I didn't need my daughter to ask if I wanted to see her magic dance show to confirm it she was a dance kid. Despite efforts to offer trucks and tutus, sports with sparkles, I was quietly thrilled. I'd been a dedicated dance kid (and later an unhinged ballet teen) and was excited to see her join the tribe."
"Before founding Awaken Dance & Fitness Academy in the northern suburbs of Wollongong, Australia, Amy Graham danced professionally, worked in childcare, and held roles supporting at-risk youth and children with additional needs. These experiences inspired her to open a studio focused on inclusivity, confidence-building and student comfort. With that philosophy, she joined a growing wave of studios that don't require uniforms, hair in buns, competitions or performance makeup."
A parent recognises a child's clear interest in dance and feels excited, while the partner worries about pressure, body image, gender stereotypes and performance makeup. Wearing makeup for competitions was once a minor, fun part of dance culture, but concerns now focus on whether preteens should be encouraged into cosmetics. A growing number of studios are dropping uniform, hairstyle and performance-makeup requirements to reduce cost and pressure on families. Amy Graham founded a studio shaped by professional dance and childcare experience, prioritising inclusivity, confidence-building and student comfort. Dance is framed as joy, movement, self-expression and belonging rather than appearance.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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