.Join GroovaRoo Babywearing Dance class, now every even Thursday of the month, in the meeting room.

Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early, especially if it is your first time in the class. If you are bringing a stroller, you may park it outside on the patio by the meeting room (if the weather is bad you may bring it inside). Enter through the main library door, if possible, as the instructor may not always be available at the side door, especially if you're arriving close to or after the start time.

Space is limited to 20 people (infants included) in our meeting room to ensure socially distant programs. Class may move to the village green if participants prefer and weather is nice, in which case, registration will not be required to participate.

* New mothers should have approval from their physician to resume light-moderate postnatal exercise.
* Children, toddlers and additional caregivers welcome to join. For younger children, it is expected that parents supervise them during class to ensure safety and minimize disruption. All abilities welcome. Modifications available for prenatal dancers / expectant mother (no carrier needed).
* Babies will face in during class for a heart to heart connection.

How to prepare for class:

* Please wear comfy, athletic clothing and supportive shoes. Dress your baby lightly during class - you will both heat up!

* Bring a water bottle and your favorite baby carrier (stretchy wrap, mei dai or soft-structured carriers recommmended; feel free to email or speak with the instructor if you are unsure what you have or if you would like a recommendation). 

More about babywearing dance:

Dancing with your baby has many important benefits for baby such as improved muscle tone, increased bone density, enhanced spatial awareness and needed discharge of excess energy that cannot release prior to crawling. Socially, your infant has the opportunity to interact other caregivers as well as observe your interactions with other babies and caregivers, cultivating a deep sense of “family” and social bonding that last long beyond their babywearing dance days.

Once your child reaches toddlerhood, they won’t want to stay in the carrier for the whole class. Your toddler has a natural desire to walk, talk and play with the other babies and adults around them. So in our classes, we invite a blend of on-the-body babywearing dancing with off-the-body toddler-adult dancing. After Year One, your toddler has enough head and neck control that you can dance and sing more exuberantly with baby in carrier. Toddlers are able to identify the songs they have been groovin’ to and begin to mimic the dance movements purely from observing caregivers dance in class. 

More about Ms. Sam, a certified GroovaRoo Babywearing Dance Instructor affiliated with GroovaRoo NYC

.Samantha is a children's librarian. Inspired by experimental babywearing dance programs happening in a library nearby, she found GroovaRoo at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and became a certified teacher with the support of a professional development award from the Westchester Library System. Growing up, she danced for 10+ years in a studio setting where the sense of connection to body, music and community kept her coming back. Now, a mom herself, she looks forward to bringing and growing this sense of connection in her surrounding community.