With men dancing on television and in the movies, it is easier to get boys to sign up for classes. With former football and basketball players and racecar drivers dancing on prime time TV, guys are starting to learn the truth about dance. Dancing is athletic, challenging and fun! Every year during registration it is exciting when boys show up to register. If you would like to increase your male enrollment, try creating an all boys class. The key is not to identify it by any genre. This way you can incorporate all dance forms into the class, increasing their dance knowledge and overall training. I have written articles on teaching boys and this article will focus on an all boys class!

This year my all boys class has 12 students ranging in age from 9 to 12 years old. Some of the boys have some dance training, but on the whole they are raw. The good news is that they are eager to try just about anything. What’s matter most now is that you keep them motivated so that they will continue.

Remember that boys like to jump, spin and go for it full out. Make the movements big and strong with an emphasis on power moves. Use various styles of movement and music to keep it fresh and fun. One class use rock, then age-appropriate hip hop, then some world music. You may be surprised at what they like and how they interpret the music. Boys love to use many dimensions. Try combinations that have them dropping into a squat and then jumping back up again. Just be careful that their knees and toes are in alignment as they will want to go full tilt!

Structuring Class To Get The Boys Moving

After a warm up and stretching period I will have them do some simple strengthening exercises like low front developes, pushups, triceps, pushups and crunches. There will be some moaning and groaning, but they will really love it when you push them a bit. Next I will teach some technique like placement of passé or relevé and balance exercises. Once they are warmed up and stretched out, you can start to work on power moves.

1. Teach those pliés and how it will impact their jumps! I will teach basic pliés in jazz 1^st, ballet 1^st and 2^nd position as well. Go slow and have them understand what demi-pliés are and how to keep their heels on the floor. Once you tell them that if they practice and master the movement that it will increase their vertical jump you will have a room full of eager demi and grand pliérs!
2. Get them jumping. With the above paragraph in mind you can have them show you their vertical jump. Start off just jumping and then you can add 1^st position. To get them really going, bring in a tall stick—at Home Depot you can get one with a 1-inch circumference and up to 8 feet tall when held upright. Have them jump up and touch the pole at the peak of the jump. Mark where they put their finger tip to and put their initial under the line. Every couple of weeks let them see if they are increasing their height.
3. Get them leaping. I have found that when teaching leaps, it is best to go slow. First I will have them learn how to leap from one foot to the other with their backs to the barre, weight on one foot and the other leg in back. Then I will have them kick the back leg forward and push off the supporting leg, landing on the foot of the leg that they are kicking. Once they have mastered this movement, have them try it across the floor with 4 runs and then a leap. Next you can add a prop. Use a mat for them to leap over. First have them go over the narrow width of the mat, then expand to the full length of the mat. Boys love imagery, so you can have them pretend they are leaping from one tall building ledge to another. Tell them that if they don’t get over, they will fall 100 feet down onto a net below. They will be eager to show you they can fly!
4. Teaching them basic turns. After they learn how to balance, how to stretch their legs and the difference between flat feet and up on the balls of their feet, you can start to teach them turns. I recommend starting with three step turns. Show it first without the turn, just the three steps—two up on relevé and the third step down, then reverse. You can add a turn, then speed it up on them for a good laugh! Boys really love to turn. You can then start to teach them a basic single pirouette en dehors. They will want to show you that they can do several turns, so you will need to keep reeling them in!

Now get them dancing! You may find that boys have a lot of energy and need to burn some off by doing the above sections of power moves before they are ready to listen and learn steps. I find that it is best to teach them short combinations of 2 to 3 counts of 8. You can keep building each week for several weeks before you change gears and do something else. Teaching the boys various styles and techniques will give them a chance to see what it is that they really like. Once you know that, you can direct them to try additional classes in a selected dance form.

Create an all boys class and you will have a blast when it comes time to choreograph for this group in your yearend showcase! Don’t be concerned if you are a female teaching this class. Just make sure that your movements are big and strong, but I recommend that you do not dress like a ballerina for this class. Sweats or jazz pants with a colorful top will work wonders. Then, once you get them hooked, you will have laid the groundwork for a great group of male dancers!