If your child is enrolled in a ballet class, once they have mastered the basics there are other styles in which to branch out. The most common are character, jazz and contemporary. 

Character: Character dancing is subset of classical ballet, and is treated as a separate skill within the graded examinations syllabus of the Royal Academy of Dance. It features folk dance movements including stereotyped gestures and styles selected to portray the idea of a particular nationality, occupation, or personage. Special shoes are worn and the number and colour of ribbons on skirts indicate skill level.

Contemporary: In Australia, contemporary dance started in the mid 1960s and was developed as a reaction to the more rigid techniques of ballet. It is a style that can be adapted to most music, and choreography often addresses a specific theme and is open to interpretation. Contemporary can involve improvisation and feature staging techniques borrowed from screen.

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Jazz: If your child has ambitions about performing in musicals, a strong foundation in jazz is essential. While there are some similarities to contemporary dance, there are some obvious differences such as the minimal floor work in jazz, movements are more syncopated and with high levels of energy. Body isolations are more important, whereas in contemporary dance is more fluid.

All styles require rigorous training to learn the right techniques and dedication if the aim is to perform on stage.

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