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Sofia the First Activites - A to Z Kids Stuff

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Dancing like a princess is bound <strong>to</strong> be fun for kids.<br />

Denny Newell, Senior Show Direc<strong>to</strong>r for <strong>the</strong> Disneyland<br />

Resort, also believes dance holds oodles of benefits for<br />

<strong>the</strong> girls who want <strong>to</strong> learn some ballroom moves.<br />

Ballroom Dance<br />

You can ballroom dance like <strong>Sofia</strong>!<br />

“It’s wonderful cardio because it doesn’t feel like exercise when you’re having fun and<br />

pretending you’re a princess,” says Newell. “You don’t realize you’re becoming more fit<br />

and developing strength and flexibility.”<br />

There are also social benefits for kids as <strong>the</strong>y learn <strong>to</strong> dance. “You really learn <strong>to</strong><br />

communicate and have fun with o<strong>the</strong>r people through dancing,” says Newell. “There’s a<br />

long his<strong>to</strong>ry of people coming <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r at social occasions and dancing.”<br />

Studying some dance steps can prepare children for dancing in <strong>the</strong> future as well. “Just<br />

having some exposure <strong>to</strong> this kind of dancing can help children feel more confident in <strong>the</strong><br />

future when <strong>the</strong>y’re at a social event like a prom or formal ga<strong>the</strong>ring or even someday in<br />

<strong>the</strong> future at <strong>the</strong>ir own wedding.”<br />

With <strong>the</strong>se three tips from Newell, parents<br />

can help <strong>the</strong>ir little ones learn <strong>to</strong> take <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

ballroom just like a princess:<br />

Tip 1<br />

Tip 2<br />

Tip 3<br />

Encourage kids <strong>to</strong> find <strong>the</strong> rhythm in a song. “Put on <strong>the</strong>ir favorite piece<br />

of music and let <strong>the</strong>m move around,” says Newell. “Usually <strong>the</strong>y find <strong>the</strong><br />

rhythm on <strong>the</strong>ir own pretty quickly.<br />

Inspire kids <strong>to</strong> use <strong>the</strong>ir own creativity when <strong>the</strong>y’re first learning <strong>to</strong> dance.<br />

“For children this can be ano<strong>the</strong>r wonderful way for <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> pretend and use<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir imagination,” says Newell. “Dressing up in a princess costume can add<br />

<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir wonderful fantasy.”<br />

Reassure <strong>the</strong>m <strong>to</strong> keep moving even if finding <strong>the</strong><br />

perfect steps right away is a little challenging. “It<br />

doesn’t matter if <strong>the</strong> steps are exact because it’s all<br />

really about having fun,” says Newell. “Just give <strong>the</strong>m<br />

<strong>to</strong>ns of positive reinforcement for being out <strong>the</strong>re and<br />

moving <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> music.”<br />

DISNEY JUNIOR’S FULL LENGTH<br />

MOVIE ARRIVES ON DVD<br />

MARCH 5<br />

© 2013 Disney

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