Dance

Looking for new ways to entertain your toddler and meet other moms? Consider enrolling you and your youngster in one of these 6 popular "mommy and me" classes, all of which have earned glowing reviews from other Circle of Moms members.

1. Gymnastics/Tumbling

Jumping, balancing, climbing, crawling—numerous physical skills are encouraged by gymnastics and tumbling classes. And as moms like Moni S. share, toddlers can't get enough: “My DD, 20 months old, is in her first gymnastics class through a rec center and she loves it!” April D. agrees: “My son takes baby gymnastics classes...he will be 2 this month. He loves his ‘jumping class’ as he calls it.” In addition to helping children develop motor skills, mommy and me gymnastics and tumbling classes are a great social opportunity for toddlers and moms alike.

2. Music

Growing weary of your little composer's pots-and-pans symphony? Moms like Lesli F. rave about music classes such as Kindermusik: “I love love love love love Kindermusik and so does my 3 year-old!!! If you have a good teacher it is so worth it.” As Bethany H. explains, such classes teach toddlers “about rhythm, music, instruments, singing, story time, listening, distinguishing different beats/sounds, etc.” Keep in mind however, that these classes may require a longer attention-span than some toddlers have. As Beth M. shared: “My other daughter did not like Kindermusik...she had too much energy to sit still.” Consider doing a trial class to see how your toddler responds.

3. Yoga

Um, toddler yoga? Yes, it exists! Increasingly popular in recent years, mommy and me yoga classes benefit moms and children alike. As Tanya D. shares: “It's relaxing and a little bit of exercise for me… it's also a good way to get him out and seeing other children, as well as a few stretches and songs for him in a happy, fun environment.” Yoga classes for moms and children often incorporate music and stories, and of course teach a handful of standing and sitting poses. Not surprisingly, toddlers get a kick out of imitating familiar animals in poses like Cat and Cow.

4. Swimming

Solo swim lessons are usually offered for children age three and older, but toddler mommy and me swimming classes help children become comfortable in the water even sooner. Brandy F. explains: “It’s not so much as swim lessons, but to prepare them for the first level of swimming…I got her comfortable in the water, hold her to float, kick, and stroke.” The classes are a great experience for moms too, says Samantha L.: “It was a lot of fun. It is a fantastic bonding experience between you and your baby. I would recommend it to anyone!”

5. Dance

Many moms are eager for their children to learn dance fundamentals. But since classes for ballet, tap and other traditional dance genres are generally offered only for children who are at least 3-4 years old, consider a class that's just for toddlers. As Nicole K. recommends: “I would look for something called a Creative Movement class. It’s less structured then dance, but focuses on moving one’s body in different ways to different types of music.”

6. Storytime

Weekly storytime sessions are one of the most common mommy-and-me activities. “Check the local public library for toddler reading groups” suggests Jenna B., while Nicole R. recommends also checking bookstores: “The Barnes and Noble bookstore near me offers free storytimes… for various age groups throughout the week. This is where I take my 14-month-old daughter.” A bonus of storytime? They're usually free!

Image Source: hoyasmeg via Flickr/Creative Commons

Dancers in Urumqi, China, rehearsed an ethnic minority dance today. They're part of an all-out effort to accelerate development in the northwest region of the country.

Hold on to your frijoles, there's a new bar in Las Vegas that isn't just offering tequila on tap, but some digital entertainment as well. Called Lolita's Cantina, this bar serves up food and liqueur, an in-house DJ to spin tunes while you grub, along with go-go dancers — real and holographic — to keep the party going. That's right — holographic dancers.

The holograms, which were created using the same technology utilized by The Gorrillaz during their 2006 Grammy performance, are made up of state of the art polymers and high definition video (and apparently look amazingly lifelike). The holograms are controlled by the DJ from his booth above the cantina, and are positioned to be the centerpiece of the club at all times of day.

I'm actually taking a trip to Vegas next month — you know I'll be stopping in to see this!

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A staff member at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London admires a giant cloth designed by Pablo Picasso. The larger-than-life piece of art appeared in the Ballets Russes performance of "Le Train Bleu" in 1924.

Ava Baraket, 2, and her mom wait in Central Park to participate in an attempt to break a world record. The group of 230 dancers from all over the US succeeded by setting the record yesterday for "Most Ballerinas En Pointe," keeping the position for 1 minute and 7 seconds.

To celebrate its 35th anniversary, all-male ballet group Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, also known as "The Trocks," has taken a trip to Australia. The talented group, founded in New York City in 1974, performs parodies of classical ballet in drag. During their 35-year run, the dancers have put on productions around the world, even doing a show for Prince Charles. I'd love to see one!

Whether it's a game, a movie, or a TV show, whenever I hear the word "dance," I instantly get excited. Details are still sparse, but Ubisoft has just announced a new game for the Wii called Just Dance. It appears to be quite the crowd-pleaser with real dance moves set to classic and modern songs like "U Can't Touch This" and "Groove Is in the Heart." I like to think of it as having your very own Paula Abdul choreographer right in the comfort of your living room. No word on a price or release date just yet.