How can concerned parents or concerned adults know if their child’s dance studio teaches healthy, educational dance or unhealthy, sexualized dance? The answer to this practical question is clarified in a free ebook that I have written. ‘Healthy or Harmful Children’s Dance’ combines my last 4 DA:NCE blogs into 4 chapters. Look below to see the breakdown.

1. The New Trend in Children’s Dance: In some dance studios around the nation, there has been an increase in sexualized, objectified movement for children under 12. In this article, we explore what concerned parents, grandparents and dance studios can do about it.
2. How to Pick a Healthy Dance Studio: We understand the benefits of healthy dance. So, now, what should parents be looking for to determine whether their child’s dance studio teaches healthy, age-appropriate dance?
3. How to Avoid a Harmful Dance Studio: In the last article, we described what to look for in a healthy, age-appropriate dance studio. In this article, we travel in the other direction and discuss what defines dance that harms children.
4. Hypersexualization: How to Educate a Dance Studio with the Dance Toolkit: While you have probably seen children’s dance that disturbs you, perhaps you didn’t know what you could do about it. This article focuses on providing a solution to this challenge with the hope that you’ll join us in educating dance studio owners and instructors about the harm hypersexualized dance imposes on children.

As you know, my goal is to bring added awareness and education to our culture so that the art of dance and children are protected from hypersexualization. Movement should be a source of joy, especially for our youngest citizens.

DRUM ROLL………… DA:NCE Team, would you please share ‘Healthy or Harmful Children’s Dance’ with your circle of relational influence? If you’d like the  actual link, here it is: https://www.soultosolechoreography.org/ebook/

 Beyond the ebook, below are 2 additional questions that support the information in ‘Healthy or Harmful Children’s Dance.’

What are 5 signs that indicate a dance studio is sexualizing children?

1. They avoid talking to you about hypersexualization when you mention it.
2. They aren’t interested in the research you make available to them.
3. They think you’re making a big deal out of a non-issue.
4. They think putting children in adult costumes, choreography and music is cute.
5. The dance instructors lack an educational base and credentialed training.

 What are simple, proactive steps you can take to protect children and the art of dance?

1. Watch & Share the 4 minute video.
2. Join the Dance Coalition.
3. Sign the National Petition.
4. Educate using the DA:NCE PowerPoint and Indepth Videos.
5. Inform using our Dance Studio Toolkit.
6. Join YPAD (Youth Protection Advocates in Dance).
7. Download the free Ebook on ‘Healthy or Harmful Children’s Dance’.

And now last things. On October 4, I’ll be speaking at the NDEO(National Dance Educator’s Organization) National Conference on this topic. I also have several radio interviews coming up in the next few weeks. DA:NCE Team, keep me in your heart.  I’d welcome your prayers for strength, wisdom and courage.

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer