Dance Like Nobody’s Watching
…and sing like nobody’s listening. It truly takes a child to master this adage with confidence and gusto.
Summer Wonder sparks self-expression, so let’s foster the movement and music that intuitively comes to young people. Engaging in dance has many benefits such as spatial awareness and muscle building, but most of all the happy endorphins that it creates. If kids can't move their entire body, maybe they can dance their hands. Practicing music has been shown to increase memory, confidence, social skills and other areas. Both singing and dancing are healthy ways for kids to share emotions, often without any words at all.
In books, even giraffes can jive and bears can play concertos. Stories show us that dancing is for everyone and to find the music that makes our hearts sing. These TD Summer Reading Club recommended reads invite positive relationships to song and dance:
The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfied (Ages 4-7)
Frances Dean Who Loved to Dance and Dance by Birgitta Sif (Ages 4-7)
The Dance of the Violin by Kathy Stinson (Ages 5-8)
Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Ballerina by Michaela and Elaine dePrince (Ages 6-8)
He Who Dreams by Melanie Florence (Ages 11-12)
Don't sit still and be silent at the library this summer:
- Pirouette to a Ballet 101 workshop led by Ballet Jörgen at branches around the city
- Find a sing-along film screening and belt out tracks together at Sanderson Branch
- Make instruments and bop to the beat of your own drum, for ages 5-12 at Parkdale Branch
- Discover the instrument lending library
6 thoughts on “Dance Like Nobody’s Watching”
“You can dance! You can sing, too!” said the alcohol.
I remember falling in love with Michaela DePrince’s personality and dancing when I saw the documentary “First Position” where she was one of the contestants for the Youth America Grand Prix (if you haven’t seen it, please do – it’s fantastic!!! https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2925199&R=2925199).
So awesome to see she has her own book to inspire young ballet hopefuls!
“Giraffes Can’t Dance” is one of my favourite picture books 😀
Sorry, I ruined the link with my end bracket:
https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2925199&R=2925199
Hold = placed. Thanks for a great recco. I had a teacher asking about screening Mad Hot Ballroom for her class. That’s another film on my list: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM152591&R=152591
I love “Giraffes Can’t Dance” too!
Great post Jennifer…definitely one worth singing about!
Thanks, K. Tra la laaa