Ballet Boys

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I know I'm about to open myself up for criticism (hopefully just playful criticism), so I'm gonna just put it out there.  This afternoon I signed the boys up for ballet class.  Yup- ballet class!  I know our friends and family- our friends especially- are going to make fun of us.  And that's okay with me, because I'm truly proud that the boys are taking ballet.  And I'm proud that when I came running home and burst through the front door excitedly shouting that the boys were going to take dance classes- my wonderful husband agreed without even hearing my rationale.  But in case you're interested, here's my rationale:

About a month ago a handful of my gymnasts attended a training camp and at that camp they had a session of dance class each day.  The young woman teaching the class was the most wonderful teacher I have ever seen in my life.  Especially with the littlest ones.  She was just magical.  And while I was supposed to be out on the floor coaching, I just sat there for an entire hour mesmerized by this woman- how she interacted with the kids, how she taught them to move while they thought they were just having fun, how she just brightened their lives by being a small part of it.  I can't even describe how wonderfully she worked with children- except to say that she was truly magical. I knew right away that I wanted her to be a part of our boys lives.  I don't care what she teaches them- how to tie a knot or how to climb a tree or how to point their toes and spin in circles- I just want her to be a part of their lives, of their development.  A person who truly understands young children- their development, their needs, their sense of humor- is a rare gem.  I had just stumbled upon this rarity and I wasn't going to let her pass me by!

So when I went to check out the schedule at her dance studio (which is about 40 minutes from us)- I was looking for something high energy that the boys might enjoy...  jazz, tap, hip-hop (do they even teach hip-hop to preschoolers?!  and if so, is that even appropriate?!).  Of course the only thing that fit our schedule was ballet- Fairy Tale Ballet nonetheless  :)  So ballet it will be.  The boys don't have to wear pink.  Or tutus.  Or even ballet slippers.  Its preschool for goodness sake.  They don't have to learn a dance and wear a ridiculous costume for a recital that we won't pay $20 a ticket for.  They just get to go to dance class with Miss Gina for 45 minutes on Monday mornings and experience her wonderfulness.  Maybe they will love it.  Maybe they will want to keep dancing and someday I will have to buy them ballet slippers and explain to them how to stand up for themselves when ignorant people make fun of them for being boy dancers.  Or maybe they will just enjoy playing with a wonderful person- an amazing teacher who will help them learn to listen and follow directions and respect others and love themselves- someone who will help them learn to enjoy exercise and how to love their bodies and move their bodies and how to have fun and smile from deep inside- someone who will show them that its okay to step outside of the gender roles set by society and that its okay to do something, anything, if you truly enjoy it, despite whether you are a boy or a girl.  And if you want to make fun of me for wanting that for my boys, I encourage you to go right ahead  :)