<p>A couple of comments:</p>
<p>Dance -whether school or outside company - helps girls develop great organizational skills. My D has been keeping track of multiple costumes and multiple costume pieces (earrings! gloves! hats! chokers! tights! shoes!) since 4th grade. She’s the one child in the family who never has to be reminded to bring homework, permission slips, etc. to school.</p>
<p>As for the “10,000” hours…probably too late for that. To get in your 10,000 hours by 14 or 15, you need to practice like gymnasts do - 30-36 hours a week. Shawn Johnson managed this while attending regular high school, but most kids who practice anything that many hours are homeschooled, or attend private academies. (Note that at Nationals last year we chatted with parents of awesome dancers from Canada whose Ds go to regular school and then dance from 4 pm to 10 pm six days a week. I wouldn’t recommend that, but they sure were good!)</p>