Figure 1.--These American boys in 1982 are participating in an Irish feis, a traditional dancing competition. There were separate competitions for the boys and girls. After "River Dance" the boys stopped wearing the kilts so commonly.

Boys have been involved in the fine arts from an early age. Here there were great differences. Some artistic disciplines were uniquely suitable for boys at a young age, especially choral inging because of the phusical characteristics of a youthful age. Many countries of Western and Central Europe have a long tradition of church boys' choirs dating back to the medieval era. Boys often at mom's urging have participated in various dance programs. Many American boys somewhere between 10 and 13 take dancing lessons. The European tradition involves teaching music comprehensively. Individual instrumental skill training is combined with history and theory study, solfeggio, and ear training. Skill in other were acjieved only after years of study and practice. Here we are talking out perforance art such as music and dance. While only a rare number of prodigies were able to achieve competence as children, for many of these desciplines, especially dance, it was important to begin at a youthful age. Another important performance art was drama, but here beginning early seems to have been of little importance. In fact we notice that few child stars are successful as adult actors.

Choir

Many countries of Western and Central Europe have a long tradition of church boys' choirs dating back to the early years of the church. Some of the first European schools after the fall of the Roman Empire were formed by the church at monestaries to educate young choristers. The choirs were primarily associated with the Catholic Church, but choirs were also formed by some Protestant churches. The Orthodox Church was less interested in boy choirs. The choral tradition was to a large part lost in the disorders and wars following the Reformation and relious wars of the 17th century. It was further weakened as a result of the anti-clerical direction of the French Revolution. Choirs survived in England and scattered other various locations in Germany and Austria. The boy choral tradition was revived in the 20th century, especially in England, France, Germany, and America. Although there are now many girls' and mixed choirs, until recently the church choirs were all boy choirs.

Dance

Dance is a series of artistically rhymetic movements of the body expressing emotions. People are born with an inate need to move. Children in particular are not only able but eager to move. This is a basic instinct; we all take a natural joy in movement. Dancers take this instinct along with another basic human instinct--to excel--and impose upon themselves the discipline of dance training. Boys often at mom's urging have participated in various dance programs. Many American boys somewhere between 10 and 13 take dancing lessons. For some it is an escrutingly painful experience requiring that he dress up in his best suit. Other boys are involved in various ethnic dance programs. It is usually, however, not the boys themselves who chose to pursue dance--although some boys themselves are enthusiastic. There are some national differences here. Russian boys seem eager from an early age. American boys may need considerable urging--often from mother. Dance training is available through various dance programs. Younger boys often participated in school dance programs. Older boys had the ritual of learning social dancing. Other boys participated in ethnic dance while some pursued various forms of clasical dance such as ballet or tap.

Drama

Drama is one of the fine arts. Most children including both boys and girls enjoy participating in dramatics. Both the costuming and the acting appeal to many children. Of course mos children are involved in school or other amateur dramatics. Most schools put on plays and skits. At some schools, the annual play is a mnajor event. Often for the younger children all the class is involved in one way or another. By the secondary level it is the youths that have a real interest in drama. There are many other opportunuities for amateur dramatics, including community, camp, church and other possibilities. A much smaller number of children get involved in professional dramatics.

Music

The European tradition involves teaching music comprehensively. Individual instrumental skill training is combined with history and theory study, solfeggio, and ear training. Many children of modes abilities pursued musical instruments. Some hated it, some found it made possible a life-long appreciation of music. Modern boys often at mom's urging have participated in various fine arts programs. Some boys have decided on their own to pursue interests in the fine arts, but this is probably a minority. Most boys have other things on their mind. Most are much more interested in sports. There are varying interests in different disciplines. Many boys do decide on their own to learn to play musical instruments. In many other cases, especially learing dancing, the choice is promoted by the parents.

Recitations

A popular activity in the 19th and and early 20th century was reciatations, although that is now seldom done. There was no uniform of course for such reciations, but boys often were dressed up in their finest outfits as mother wanted to ensure a good impression. Most children did these reciations. I think that they were more common for boys than girls who might instead play a piece of music. This requires further research. Some reciataions were also done in school classrooms and chosen children might do them at school asseemblies or presentations for parents. There were also competitions prganized by schools and civic organizations.

Created: August 1, 2002
Last updated: May 18, 2004