Music for Children's Dance: Selection Tips for Every Age

Every dance is performed to a specific piece of music. But it's important that the music suits both the style and its performers. In children's dance, you need to consider not only the rhythm but also the age group.

For example, there is a junior dance group. These are very young children who haven't started school yet. They usually perform dances with active movements, not in pairs but as a group. A children's song sung by another child would work well for them.

It's important that it looks and sounds fun, because such dances evoke not only adoration but also harmless laughter from adults. Little kids dance clumsily and awkwardly, and often various mishaps occur during the performance.

In older groups, there are specific dance styles. For ballroom dancing, smooth music works well, but not classical. A great choice is the song "Once upon a December" from the famous animated film "Anastasia." It's a wonderful song that suits both adults and children.

For such a group, it's advisable to choose songs with lyrics rather than just instrumental music. This makes dancing more fun for children, and helps them remember the movements and the moments when they need to take a step or wave their arm.

For Russian folk dances, of course, Russian folk songs are appropriate. For example, "Kalinka-Malinka." These songs are well-known to children. There's no other alternative for folk dances.

Of course, modern songs shouldn't be excluded. Children today often know better than adults what songs are popular among youth. Dancing to a favorite track is double the pleasure. The key is that it matches the rhythm. Modern songs are often used by dance groups, but they can also be used in energetic partner dances.

A musical mix also works well for children's performances. For example, start with a slow track where kids move slowly, then switch to a fast, energetic one. This helps them quickly adapt to a different tempo and even a different dance style.

It also allows them to learn more movements. This always looks impressive. Moreover, children love variety, so "slow tempo + fast tempo" is the perfect formula for a children's dance.

Oriental dances, like Russian folk dances, can only be performed to one type of music: Oriental. They involve smooth, graceful movements, so you need to choose equally smooth music. Of course, there are also energetic belly dances where you need to move quickly, so you can't use a slow track.

But here it's important to consider that very young girls dance on stage with adults. The child must understand the music and rhythm. An adult will have an easier time learning the moves, but a child may struggle, so choosing music for Oriental dances requires careful consideration.

Older children can already dance to music without lyrics, especially if they've been attending dance classes for several years. They easily learn to orient themselves, catch the rhythm, and remember the movements.

It's important to understand which song makes it easiest for children to learn the moves. Also, you shouldn't mix music, for example, using a song from an older group for a younger one. Don't confuse styles, otherwise it will be impossible to choreograph a dance with one rhythm to music of a completely different rhythm.