Growing up, sports were never really my thing.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like moving. I loved gymnastics, and I was a physically active kid. But what I really loved was the stage.
My sister Stormy and I grew up with artsy parents rather than sporty ones. We both danced, found our own ways to stay active, and followed our creativity—and it worked out pretty great for both of us. Today Stormy is a professional artist, having work just in the past year at the Saatchi Gallery in London and on the Sphere in Las Vegas.
And now Stormy has found her way back into the dance studio! She’s taking adult dance classes to stay active and keep her mind engaged, and she’s trying an introductory aerial class too. We’ve even been teasing each other about going to an aerial festival in Manchester together next year—because how fun would that be? 💗
When I was a kid, all I needed was tap shoes, a fun song, and a chance to perform, and I was happy. Ballet? That was a different story. If it had been entirely up to me as a little kid, I probably wouldn’t have chosen ballet at all. 😂 Tap and jazz dancing were my gateway into dance.
I started dancing when I was four, and I’ve never stopped. Today dance is my career, but it’s also my passion and one of the ways I stay active. What started with a little girl who loved to perform has become a part of my whole life.
Looking back, though, I think ballet helped save me in a lot of ways.
I have scoliosis, and I believe the strength, body awareness, and movement I developed through dance have made a real difference in my life. I think I would have had a lot more problems if I hadn’t danced. I’m incredibly grateful that something I first discovered because it was fun became something that has stayed with me and supported me throughout my life.
That’s one of the reasons I believe so strongly in giving kids opportunities to move. Dance is so much more than an activity on the calendar. What they learn in the studio can stay with them for life: how to care for their bodies, work with others, keep going when something feels hard, and find joy in being themselves.
We put our kids in dance because we want them to have the tools to find success wherever life takes them—and people to cheer them on along the way.
Not every kid is a sports kid
Some kids love the soccer field or the basketball court. Some love gymnastics. And some can’t wait to get on stage, put on a costume, or learn a dance with their friends.
Some kids are naturally coordinated. Others are still figuring out how to control their bodies—and dance gives them a fun place to practice. Some kids just have energy to burn! They want to dance, stomp their feet in tap, or climb high and drop low in aerial.
Kids need different things, and there are so many ways to move. Dance gives them a place to work hard, be creative, and discover what they can do—all while having fun.
Dancers are athletes—and teammates
Dance builds strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, footwork, and control. Those skills go far beyond the dance studio. There’s a reason football players like Lynn Swann have studied ballet!
Dance is also one of the ultimate team sports. Dancers learn to show up for one another, work toward a shared goal, listen, lead, and keep going when something is hard. Every class and every performance gives them a chance to practice those skills.
An EY survey of women executives found that many had played sports. I see those same opportunities for teamwork and leadership in the dance studio every day.
The arts give kids more than steps
The arts give kids a way to express themselves, use their imaginations, and see what’s possible. They practice learning, listening, problem-solving, and sharing ideas. They get to feel proud of something they worked hard to create.
The National Endowment for the Arts reports that preschoolers who consistently participated in arts activities scored higher on reading, math, and language assessments. Arts participation was also linked with social and emotional strengths among ninth graders. I love that the things kids enjoy creating can be connected to their learning and growth, too.
A love of movement can last a lifetime
Moving our bodies can help us feel better, build strength, and support our brains throughout our lives. What starts as a love of tap, jazz, ballet, hip-hop, or aerial can become a lifelong love of movement.
The research is encouraging, too. A review of studies in adults found that activity equivalent to 2.5 hours of brisk walking a week was associated with a 25% lower risk of depression compared with no activity. In one study of adults over 75, frequent dancing was associated with a 76% lower risk of dementia.
For me, that makes the joy of moving together even more meaningful. I want our dancers to find movement they love and can carry with them through every stage of life.
If you’d like to learn more about the science, I love these Huberman Lab conversations: how exercise supports brain health and Dr. Wendy Suzuki on attention, memory, and movement.
And then there are the people
Some of the best things kids find in dance aren’t things we can measure. They find friends. They laugh together, cheer each other on, and become part of a community.
Some kids love working together to pick each other up—literally! Others need a little encouragement as they learn to believe in themselves. And in a world that can feel so divided, all of us need places where we can come together, support one another, and feel like we belong.
They learn that they can try something new, make mistakes, get back up, and do hard things. And they get to do it with people who are right there beside them.
Put your kid in dance so they know they can do hard things.
So they can find success wherever life takes them.
And so they might just find their people. 💗
Come dance with us—on the ground and in the air!
Winter/spring registration opens November 16.
Explore Weehawken’s dance and aerial classes
—Natasha Pyeatte, Artistic Director
