I’m a journalist and author currently writing a book meant to mentor young boys (age 10-17) who dream of becoming professional dancers.
I have a son, Julian, who has been dancing for eleven years. Now 14, he spends six, sometimes seven, days a week in the dance studio practicing mostly ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, tap, and break dancing. He dreams of being an all-around dancer and possibly even becoming a triple threat — singing, acting and dancing his way to stardom on Broadway or in movies. He’s known what he wanted to be since he was quite young; in fact, he asked to dance at age three and hasn’t stopped since.
I realized what a difficult road it was for young male dancers to hoe early on in Julian’s career. So, now I’m interviewing some of the top male dancers out there and asking them to offer their best advice and their worst experiences and their tips for surviving the tough early years so young boys who want to follow in their footsteps will have the strength, inspiration and tools to do so.
This blog is meant to chronicle my struggles, what I have learned and my experiences with my son in the hope that maybe I can mentor some other parents of young boys who want to dance.
PhotographyDegrees.org votes My Son Can Dance #2 of 50 Dance Blogs
obviously can’t wait to read this new issue of Dance Teacher. I am so happy that Denise finally get some of the recognition she deserves. She is a hero, the one with super power, what few people have as an hability, humanism. Thank you Nina for making this story happen. From what I can read on your blog here, I already know I will love reading both the article and hopefully your upcoming book.
Sincerely,
David Benaym,
Editor in Chief,
Movmnt Magazine
you blog is great!! congratulations!
Thank you for creating this blog. I am a mother of a young son who loves to dance, and I had no idea of the egos and other hurdles that existed. At least it is go to know it isn’t in my head, and I am not alone in this sea of pink tutus and stage moms. I just want my child to continue dancing, be a child, and have fun.
Wow!
Thank you! Thank you!I too am dad to a dancing boy. Ballet/Hip-hop/Beyonce loving 7 year old!
Your blog is so comforting!
Really enjoy this blog! I look forward to your book being published. I have taught many boys yet had little communication from them, or parents, during the grueling process of professional training.
Hello ~
I am wondering if you know of any scholarships available for young dancers. My 12 year old daughter, Sky Van Vliet, has been dancing since she was 2 1/2 years old. She has been dancing at M.A. Dance Project of Cedar Park, Texas for almost 6 years. She currently takes ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, contemporary, musical theatre, turns and progressions, ballroom and a choreo class for her dance company. She is a 5th year member of the IMPACT Dance Co. in Cedar Park Texas. She would normally be taking a tumbling class as well, but to her dissappointment we can not afford to enroll her this year. My husband and I have fallen on hard times financially. And while Sky’s studio has been very understanding, we have fallen far behind in dance company fees and tuition. And I just don’t know how we will be able to manage to keep her doing the thing she is so passionate about. On the bright side we can pay in February when we get our tax return but I do not feel that they are willing to wait. Sky will be broken hearted to be kicked off of the dance company she has been with since she was 7 years old. Please inform me of any scholarship programs that you may be aware of. We would even return the favor to someone else in need in the future. Thanks. Kim Osgood-Van Vliet
Kim,
I’ve posted a blog asking for others to comment on your request. I don’t know of any scholarships or grants offhand. Maybe we’ll get a response from someone, though. Keep checking back! Good luck…I know it’s a tough position.
Thank you for just…, you know… I’m really touched. I hope someday, when Sky is a little older, we can put together a scholarship of our own. I think it is so terribly important to keep feeding the passions of our children.
Great blog! I’ve just discovered it and am looking forward to reading through the posts here…
My son is no where near ready for a dance belt yet, he is only 5 1/2. This is his 2nd year of ballet and 4rd year of Jazz. But it is so nice to hear about other families with boys who dance. We live in a small southern town and he is the only boy in most of his classes. Thanks to him though, the studio has managed to get together enough brave little boys with open minded parents to start an all-boys hip-hop class.
Does anyone know where to get dance clothes/costumes for little boys? Our studio is so unprepared for boys that they have me find recital costumes on my own.
Anyway, thanks for making me feel less alone and weird.
http://secure.hostdeziners.com/www_theshoeroom_ca/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4_11_72
Maybe this link will be helpful – give it a look and see. I’ve looked at a few others – in the UK – but this store at NBS may be helpful, you can probably call them too.
My son just got into George Washington University. He is a great dancer although he started late. It is very expensive so I was wondering if you know of scholarships available for male dancers to finance university.
Congratulations! I’m sorry, I don’t know of any…I might need some for Julian in two years, though. Maybe some other people will comment.
Dance Spirit publishes all the colleges with dance departments in at least one issue, and I believe that each listing states whether or not scholarships are available. I cannot remember which issue it was in last year. I know that Queen’s University in Canada can access the sports scholarships for dancers. Perhaps that is something that can be explored in universities in the US….good luck!
Hi, I’d love it if you’d like to contribute an article to my very new men’s dancewear website – you’d be more than welcome to include links to your sites within the article.
I am SOOO happy to have found your site!! (I stumbled across it looking for information on dance belt!
My 9 year old son suddenly decided he wanted to dance this year, and just finished his first semester of ballet and jazz/hip-hop. He thought his interest was primarily in hip-hop and broadway, but signed up for ballet because he felt he needed a foundation in that as well. Mid-semester, he admitted to me that he’d fallen in love with ballet, and now wants to pursue that as well as Modern. Originally he told me he just wanted to mess around with it, but it turns out he’s really pretty GOOD at this, and now he’s saying “Maybe I could be a dancer.”
I have absolutely NO experience with dance — I never danced, my sister and brother never danced. I am finding myself quite overwhelmed with this entire world. Your blog is WONDERFUL, and your links to other “boy dancing” blogs is an absolute life line for me!! Thank you so much for taking the time to put down your thoughts and experiences — and best of luck to your son as he starts his dance career.
Harvest Mom,
I’m so glad you find this blog useful. That’s what it’s meant to be. I hope your son has many happy and successful years dancing. Please feel free to post your questions and concerns here. I do my best to find answers.
Nina
I’d be happy to write a post. Please contact me via my email.
So glad to have found your site. My son is a Scottish Highland Dancer and is dancing ballet for the first time this year. He is 15 and has danced 4 years. He is one of the few males at any given competition or workshop.
Oooh! Scottish Highland Dancer! Lovely. Let me know how he likes ballet!
Hi Nina
I’ve just come across your blog re your son Julian and the apprentice programme in Dresden. My daughter is currently auditioning and we have just returned from her very first audition in Berlin yesterday!
She has been offered an audition next month for the apprentice programme and i wondered if I might ask you a few questions about it. feel free to email me on my hotmail if you prefer. regards, Audrey
for caitengl – I’ve been saving all of my son’s grown-out still in good condition costumes, etc but know of nowhere to give it, etc. My local thrift shop won’t know what the stuff is. And the dance studio already is overloaded with grown-out girls stuff, with few boys in studio not wanting it. Always have thought to save the stuff thinking some studio will have boys in need. Somehow we have to figure this out!
I have a great idea!!! I’ll create a page where you can list what you have and include your email address!
Great idea!! Thanks for doing this. We got help each other as well as help aspiring dancers who may not have the resources.
KatieK.
As always Nina, you rock. It is so comforting to have some who has been through it to calm the fears and share the joys. Your blog as been a great help to me on more than one occasion and I can’t thank you enough. Keep writing!
Thank you so much for your kind words, David. I appreciate your comment and I’m thrilled to be of help in any way I can.