Luna has been offering family dance classes since we opened in 1992. Our relationship-based dance curriculum allows parents and children opportunities to learn about themselves and one another through movement play. Parent-child dance classes are offered through our Studio Lab program, as well as being at the heart of MPACT.
Studio Lab – Early Childhood
In the Studio Lab, young children begin their dance studies through their attachment to parent or primary caregiver. This environment of safety and support allows parents the chance to learn about their children in a new way—by observing and interpreting their movement. In addition to being a lot of fun, parent-child dance classes are great preparation for very young children to eventually participate in a creative dance class on their own, learning to take direction from a new, adult teacher while staying true to their own ideas. Luna’s relationship-based curriculum allows very young children and their parents to practice the dance of oneness and separateness in developmentally appropriate and engaging ways.
Moving Parents and Children Together (MPACT) was founded in 2001 to bring Luna’s parent-child dance classes to families in the Alameda County Dependency Court and child welfare systems. Luna offers MPACT through partnerships with local social service organizations, and free family dance classes open to the public at local libraries. Parent-child dance classes provide families with a safe, comfortable environment to play and dance together and have proven to be beneficial for families under duress by helping parents gain confidence in their ability to interact physically with their children.