Don’t Hang Up Your Dance Shoes Yet: Why Sticking It Out Matters (and How Parents Can Help)

Lara Hernandez
Nov 17
4 min read

Every year around mid-season, it happens.

The excitement of the first class has worn off. The new leotard isn’t quite as magical. Homework is piling up. Someone’s tired. Someone’s frustrated. Someone says:

“I don’t want to do dance anymore.”

If that’s your child, you are absolutely not alone. But before you pull them out mid-year, it’s worth looking at what they’ll gain by staying—and how powerful your support for commitment can be.

1. Dance Is More Than Steps – It’s Life Skills in Motion

Yes, dance teaches technique: pointed toes, counts, choreography. But under the surface, it’s teaching something much bigger:

Commitment – “I said yes, so I show up.”
Discipline – Practicing even when it’s not instantly easy or fun.
Resilience – Falling out of a turn, then trying again.
Teamwork – Realizing others are counting on you.

When kids push through the “I don’t feel like it” phase and stick it out, they’re learning how to handle the exact same feelings they’ll have later about school, jobs, and relationships. Quitting the moment things feel hard can accidentally send the message:

“When it gets uncomfortable, you can walk away.”

Staying says:

“You’re strong enough to do hard things.”

2. The Mid-Year Slump Is Normal (and Temporary)

The first weeks are exciting—new friends, new studio, new routines. Then reality sets in:

The choreography gets more complex.
Muscles get tired.
Progress feels slower.
Other activities compete for attention.

This “slump” happens in almost every activity: sports, music, school clubs. It doesn’t mean your child doesn’t love dance anymore; it usually means they’ve hit the point where growth requires effort.

If they stop during this phase, they never get to see what’s on the other side: confidence, mastery, and pride in seeing how far they’ve come.

3. Being Part of a Class Means Others Are Counting on Them

Dance is a team effort, even in “non-team” classes. When one dancer disappears mid-year:

Formations change.
Partners lose their match.
The teacher has to rework choreography.
Friends feel the loss.

This is a chance to teach your child a powerful lesson:

“Your presence matters.”

Knowing that others are relying on them helps kids understand responsibility and respect for other people’s time and work. It’s not just their dance—it’s our dance.

4. The Recital Payoff Is Huge

If you’ve ever watched a child on stage after months of practice, you know the look:

A mix of nerves, concentration, and pure joy.
The moment the music starts and they know what to do.
That proud smile when they take a bow and hear the applause.

That feeling doesn’t come from walking away half-finished. It comes from sticking with it when it was “boring” or “too hard” or “I don’t want to go today.”

Finishing the year and performing on stage gives your dancer:

A tangible sense of achievement
A memory they’ll keep forever
The proof: “I can do something that took months of hard work.”

5. How Parents Can Support Commitment (Without Ignoring Feelings)

You don’t have to be a drill sergeant to teach commitment. You can be loving, understanding, and firm at the same time.

Here are some practical ways to support your dancer:

1. Validate, then reframe. Instead of: “Stop complaining, you’re going. ”Try:“I hear that you’re tired and frustrated. That’s okay. Sometimes we still show up even when it’s not our favorite day, because we made a commitment.”

2. Use “for this season” language. “We’re going to finish this season/class year. When it’s over, we can talk about whether you want to sign up again.”

This teaches that we don’t quit in the middle, but we do have a choice at natural finish lines.

3. Remember: kids don’t always love the hard part. Just like homework, practice isn’t always fun in the moment. That doesn’t mean it isn’t good for them.

4. Celebrate effort, not just performance.

“I’m proud of you for going even when you were tired.”
“You really worked on that turn today—I saw you keep trying.”

5. Keep communication open with the teacher. If your dancer is really struggling:

Let the teacher know.
Ask for feedback: Are they overwhelmed? Bored? Needing encouragement? Sometimes small adjustments (a little extra support, a move to a different level, or just some positive reinforcement) make a big difference.

6. Watch for the deeper reason. Sometimes “I want to quit” is really:

“I feel left out.”
“I’m scared I’m not good enough.”
“I don’t know the steps and I’m embarrassed.”

Talking through this together—and looping in the teacher—can turn a near-quit into a breakthrough.

6. When Is It Okay to Reconsider?

There are a few times when reevaluating mid-year might be necessary, like:

The environment feels unsafe or truly toxic.
A significant medical/mental health concern arises.
The class is clearly not an appropriate level and cannot be adjusted.

Those situations are different than “I’m bored,” “I’m tired,” or “My friends aren’t in this class.” In most cases, the long-term benefits of finishing what they started far outweigh the short-term discomfort.

7. The Message They’ll Remember

One day, your child will face something big: a tough class, a challenging season in life, a job that demands effort and patience. How you handle these “I want to quit” moments now becomes part of their inner voice later.

Sticking it out with dance teaches them: