Your Child’s First Ballet Class in Bali: What to Expect

If your child has been twirling around the living room and you’re thinking about a real ballet class, the first one can feel like a big step. For your child it means new faces, new music and a new room. For you it means a handful of questions. Will they join in? What should they wear? What actually happens in that hour?

This is a simple guide for parents in Sanur and Canggu, so the first class feels easy for both of you.

What to wear to a first ballet class

You don’t need a full ballet outfit to try a class. Here’s what helps:

• Comfortable clothes they can move in. A t-shirt with leggings or shorts, or a dress that doesn’t restrict their legs. Light, breathable fabric is best for Bali’s warm afternoons.
• Hair tied back. A bun or ponytail keeps it out of their eyes when they turn and bend.
• A water bottle. Little dancers get thirsty fast.
• A few minutes to settle. Arriving 5 to 10 minutes early lets your child look around and get comfortable before the music starts.

If you’re unsure about shoes or anything else, there’s no need to guess. At Eva Scolaro Talent Studio the first class is free, so nothing needs to be bought beforehand, and a quick WhatsApp message is all it takes to find out what to bring on the day.

What happens in a beginner ballet class for kids

Every class runs a little differently, but a beginner class for little ones usually follows a gentle shape:

1. A warm-up. Light stretches and movement to music so bodies and nerves loosen up.
2. First steps and positions. Standing tall, pointing toes and bending the knees (the ballet word is plié), often with a hand on the barre for balance.
3. Movement games. For the youngest, ballet is taught through imagination: floating like a butterfly, tiptoeing like a cat, stretching up like a tree.
4. A calm finish. Children cool down and leave feeling proud, not worn out.

The best beginner classes keep things step by step, so children can see how a move is built before they try it themselves. That slow, patient pace is what makes a first class feel safe.

What if my child only watches?

This is very common, and it’s fine. Some children walk in and dance straight away. Others hold your hand, watch from the side for most of the hour, then ask to come back next week. Watching is a way of joining in, and there is no right way to do ballet at this age. It’s welcome in our trial classes too.

So try not to judge the first class by how many steps your child did. The better question afterwards is simple: did they enjoy it? If they’re humming the music in the car, you have your answer.

What children really learn in ballet

The steps are only part of it. Over a term, ballet quietly builds:

• posture and balance
• coordination and body awareness
• listening and following directions
• patience, practising something until it clicks
• confidence in a group, and friendships

These are the same skills that help at school and at play, which is why many parents choose ballet for confidence as much as for dance. If your child is on the quiet side, our article on whether performing arts helps shy kids goes deeper.

Trying ballet in Sanur and Canggu

If you’re in Sanur or Canggu, you can try ballet close to home. Eva Scolaro Talent Studio welcomes children aged 3 to 16, grouped by age (Tots 3 to 5, Junior 6 to 10, Teens 11 to 16) so your child learns alongside others at the same stage. Little dancers can start with Tots Ballet at both studios, with a Junior class in Canggu and a Junior Teen class in Sanur.

Ballet runs on Tuesday afternoons in Sanur, and on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings in Canggu. Class times can change between terms, so please check the current timetable on our classes page or message us.

And because students take the stage in a showcase concert every few months, ballet here always comes with a little moment to look forward to, not just practice.

A gentle way to start

The easiest way to find out if ballet suits your child is to let them try it. The first class is free, with no sign-up fee, and there’s no pressure to decide afterwards. If your child does enjoy it, the class uniform is part of our packages, so there’s nothing extra to sort out.

Send us your child’s age and whether you’re in Sanur or Canggu, and we’ll help you find a class and time that fits.

• WhatsApp: +62 821-4628-4464
• Instagram: @evascolaro_talent_studio

Quick answers for parents

Every dancer starts with a first class. We’d love to host your child’s.

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Eva Scolaro Talent Studio is Bali’s performing arts studio for kids aged 3 to 16, with locations in Sanur and Canggu.