Baby Dance

Our Baby Dance Sessions

Reconnect with your body, dance to great music with other new parents, and move with your baby in a fun and supportive class designed to awaken creativity.

Our Baby Dance sessions are for parents and their young babies, aged 2-12 months. (For older children, see Toddler Dance). These classes incorporate playful interactions with your baby, allowing you to tune into your body, explore different dance styles, and discover new ways of moving together. The aim is to spark creativity and joy for you, providing more energy and responsiveness to your child’s needs.

In our sessions, we explore developmental movement stages as your baby learns to roll, sit, and crawl. We dance both with and without carrying the baby, adapting the movements to suit you. The atmosphere is relaxed and social, making it a perfect environment for both you and your baby to thrive.

Benefits of Baby Dance

For Parents: Provides a creative outlet, supports bonding through attunement and playfulness, and helps alleviate feelings of isolation and loss of self
For Babies: Offers a sensory-rich experience, enhancing their development through music and movement
For Both: Encourages mutual engagement and understanding, fostering a deeper connection

Baby Dance Curriculum

Each week, we focus on one of the six patterns of total body connectivity:

Breath: Connecting breath with movement to enhance relaxation and awareness
Core-Distal: Exploring movements that extend from the core to the extremities
Head-Tail: Encouraging fluidity and coordination along the spine
Upper-Lower: Balancing movements between the upper and lower body
Body Halves: Coordinating movements that involve the left and right sides of the body
Cross-Lateral: Integrating movements that cross the midline of the body, promoting brain development and coordination

Each session incorporates a variety of music and dance styles, encouraging reflections on preferences and experiences.

What to Expect in a Session

Check-In: Begin with a group check-in
Warm-Up: A gentle warm-up around the baby
Parent and Child Dance: Engage in activities like peekaboo, mirroring, and dancing with the baby in arms
Group Dance: Participate in themed group dances and fun dance games
Cuddle Dance: Conclude with a duet between parent and baby, followed by relaxation
Check-Out: Reflect on the session and share experiences

See FAQs below for more info.

Where and When

Book the term for a discounted price, or buy flexible drop-in sessions that can be used at any time. Read when and where below.

The Green Nunhead Community Centre
5 Nunhead Green, Nunhead, SE15 3QQ

Current Term: Apr 24th to May 22nd 2025

Thursdays 11:00 to 11:45

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I join if I’m not a dancer?

Yes! The class is open for all levels. This is for you to move as you want.

Can I join if I’m injured or disabled?

Yes, this class is inclusive and open, and accommodating for those working through post-natal recovery. The class is for you to enjoy and move as you feel comfortable, and all movements can be adapted to suit. As a guide, we usually sit on the floor to be close to baby, and then dance with and without carrying baby. Please contact me if you have any concerns and we can adjust the format to work for you.

What type of dance is it?

We try different dance styles with the goal to be inspired to move in different ways. We also work on body awareness and some good old ‘living room dancing’ – move as you want!

What if my baby cries during class?

This is a friendly and welcoming group. Please feel free to feed, change and soothe your baby. This is for you to enjoy together, so there is no right or wrong. The babies tend to find the movement very stimulating and enjoy watching you.

What else we offer:

Toddler Dance

Family Events

Family Dance