Ballet and performing arts can help build your child’s confidence and bring them out of their shell.
At Noodle Performance Arts, one of the things we love the most is seeing a previously shy child thrive in our classes. Not all children will jump into a new activity straight away and some will take a bit longer to feel than others to feel comfortable joining in.
The key with any new class is to give your child a chance to settle in and get used to being in a group setting. Many parents get discouraged if their son or daughter doesn’t get fully involved straight away but this is totally normal.
Some children learn best by quietly observing others and will then gradually become more confident as time goes on.
Our Noodle ballerina Charlotte Rahman, aged nine, is the perfect example of this. When she started Ballet Tots classes with us in Beighton, Sheffield, at just 18 months old, she was so timid, she didn’t join in at all, choosing to watch the other children instead.
However, she slowly began to take a more active part in sessions, starting with small things like returning equipment to her teacher. By the time she took part in her first Ballet Tots show, she was happily waving to her family in the audience.
No pressure in a fun, informal environment
Her mum Emma says: “I feel Charlotte demonstrates what I as a parent think Noodle is all about – a dance and performing arts school that is all about building confidence and enjoyment. If, all those years ago, her teacher had been very pushy with her and forced her to do things, I don’t think she would have stuck it out.
“Right back when she was a very shy ballet tot, she was very gently coaxed to do things – from handing her equipment back in on her own to eventually touching the caterpillar. As a parent, I never felt pressured to push her to do these things and knew she would do it all in her own time.
“I knew she was not a super-confident outgoing child and what I have certainly learnt over the years is Charlotte does things when she is ready to.”
When Charlotte made the move from Ballet Tots classes, where parents accompany their child, to the 3+ ballet classes which children attend independently, she was initially reluctant to perform in the show without her mum. At Noodle, we never put pressure on anyone to take part in performances so the choice was completely up to Charlotte and she decided at the last minute that she wanted to take part after all.
Emma says: “Her ballet teacher Jess was amazing and sorted it all out for her to join in and again, once she was on the stage, she was like a different child. There she was in the finale, right at the very front, giving it her all.
“Charlotte loves doing the Noodle shows and enjoys everything from being with her friends backstage and getting to wear make-up to the actual performance.”
Emma says she is happy she got past Charlotte’s initial shyness and carried on taking her to ballet.
“I feel Noodle has helped her confidence,” she says. “Something this summer seemed to click again with Charlotte and when she did the summer school, she seemed to find a deeper enjoyment of her ballet – she was getting me to practice steps around the house with her and wanting to show us the dance she was doing.
“I just hope that next year Noodle will be allowed to put shows on again. Charlotte can’t wait for the next one!”
- Find out more about Noodle’s ballet and performing arts classes by contacting us