Letter to Duncan
Dear Duncan,
You love dancing, and I think that's great! You could be really good at it if you keep working hard. One thing, though. I think you need to seriously reconsider taking hip-hop and breakdancing. I know you feel like you're the "little kid" in those classes, but the reality is that the other kids there have started too late and should have been learning it when they were your age. You are at a distinct advantage if you learn to dance like that now! And here's why. You really need to be able to dance like these guys:
YouTube video of Michael Jackson's "Bad"
Check out the dance sequence at 2:50. These guys can obviously dance more than just "pop and lock", too. There's evidence of classical dance education in there, but you can't learn all that stuff in ballet class.
I'm restraining myself and not embedding my all-time favorite Michael Jackson video here. You're welcome.
Instead, you have to watch these guys. These are the "now" reasons to learn this stuff:
Flawless, from Britain's Got Talent, 2009
And the guys who actually won this year:
Diversity
Wouldn't it be awesome to be able to dance like that, too?
Love, Mom
4 comments. More please!:
Um. So your letter doesnt make a lot of sense. Is he taking break dancing / hip hop classes and doesnt want to? or is he taking like ballet and you thnk he should take hip hop? or what?
I gotta disagree with ya here a little bit. yeah there is a distinct flow to training in order to be great at something and a very regimented routine of WHAT to take.
But.. He'll figure that out. Let him take what he wants to take and what he finds fun. The great thing about dance is in its expression. Ots a very personal thing. Let him find his own form and style.. maybe its a mash up of ballet and hip hop.. or tapdancing and striptease.. who knows? But for now fun and the ability to enjoy what hes doing should come first, defining of style and specifics should be later.
I dunno.
Don't listen to me. I suck at advice. In fact forget you read this.
He quit hip-hop and breakdancing. I think he should reconsider quitting them. Sorry to be confusing.
Ahh ok.. makes a little more sense then.
So I guess the big question is WHY did he quit? And its an important one. You hin that maybe he was taking some flak from others for being young or something.
If he quit because people are making fun of him.. then yeah he needs to get back in it but maybe not with that group. It wont even matter if they stop, the damage is done there. Take him somewhere else.
If he stopped because he really doesnt want to do it then don't make him go back in. Let him do what he likes.
it is hard to get a kid to admit that they are being made fun of or feel that others don't like them. This I know for 100% certain from my own exp. But try to get him to open up about the reasons he is not doing it.. find the honest truth about why and then work to correct that reason and even nurture the results. If hes making decisions then hes getting to be a big boy who can do that. But make sure he knows one thing:
Do not under any circumstances quit something you love and enjoy becuase a bunch of ass hats are ruining it for you.
There are other groups, and there are LOTS of kids out there just like him who have the same problems. Help him find those groups where he is accepted etc and he will thrive.
Dunno if this helps. I'm probably completely wrong about everything. Its late, Im sick and Im tired.
Send the child to me for a week. I'll fix 'em right.
=)
That would be the best threat ever! Be good or I'll send you to Grobel's house! Muahahahahaha!
I'm sure no one in the class was teasing him. The kids there are totally awesome. He just didn't want to do it. :(
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