5 Thing Every Parent Should Know Before
Choosing a Dance Studio

If most dance studios seem to have qualified, friendly teachers, experience teaching children and a big show at the end of the year, aren’t they all pretty much the same? Does it really matter which place you decide to enroll at? Yes. There are 5 main things that can make a huge difference in the quality of instruction your child receives, the amount of extra work and hassles the parents must deal with and the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved with a dance program. Here are 5 things that every parent should consider before deciding on a dance studio for their child.

1) What type of dance floor is used?

Dance is a very physical activity that requires a lot of jumping, which can put stress on bones and joints. Most dance footwear does not provide any cushioning or support, so the shock of dance movement can place a lot of pressure on the knees and back of a dancer. The best way to prevent against potential injury is by choosing a studio with a professional “floating floor.” A floating floor is a dance floor that rests on a system of high density foam, to absorb the shock of jumping. A high-density foam base is superior to a ‘sprung’ floor, which usually consist of a wood structure built on the regular floor. Both of our studio floors are equipped with a floating floor. Our special floors help to reduce the risk of injuries and to allow students to dance longer without getting tired.

2) What is the size of the class?

If a dance class has fewer students in it each child will receive more personalized attention, learn more and have more fun. With younger students it is easier for a teacher to maintain control over the class and make sure each student understands the concepts and instructions. Our smaller class sizes make sure that no fundamental concepts are being missed. A smaller class size also allows our teachers to ensure that students are not developing bad habits or improper technique. Our student to teacher ratio for our 2-5 year old classes is 8 to 1 and the student teacher ratio for all our other classes is 12 to 1. When looking at class size, it is important to notice if the teacher has assistants in their classes. If this is the case, larger class sizes are acceptable because students are still getting the individualized attention.

3) What are the best ages to start certain programs?

Dance is the type of activity that can be started at any age, 2 through adult! When starting a young child (ages 2-5) in a dance program, the best option for them is a combination class that involves at least two types of dance. Combination classes are great for younger children because it is a quick moving class that keeps their attention. They are not forced to focus on just one form of dance for one straight hour. We offer several different combination classes for this age level. A lot of children have the dream of becoming a ballerina. Ballet is a very structured and disciplined form of dance, and it is suggested that dancers not begin training in ballet until they enter kindergarten. If younger dancers are interested in ballet, a combination class including creative movement is a great place to start them.

4) Can I get immediate assistance and customer service?

In many studios the teacher or the studio owner conducts classes and does the administration. By trying to do two jobs at once, the class may suffer by the teacher having to us class time for customer service issues, or the studio may have no customer service available if the teacher is in a class. To have a good experience it is important to choose a studio that can assist you with details like costumes or schedules, even if a teacher is occupied in a class. Our studio has office staff available during class times, so you can have immediate assistance for any customer service issues you may have. Our teachers are left free to focus on teaching: the class always get undivided attention.

5) What are the “Extras” required for the year end show?

Most studios put on a year end show in a professional theater. Students that perform in the show must have costumes for their dance numbers. Some studios may require parents to sew their child’s costumes, or pay extra for a professional seamstress to do the sewing. This can be inconvenient and frustrating for parents who are busy or can’t sew. Our studio orders the majority of our costumes from costume companies, where the dancers are measured so the correct size is ordered for them. This minimizes the sewing having to be done by a seamstress or by the parents. If any alterations need to be done, we have someone at the studio who can take care of those needs for you. Our recital is held in June of every year, and the recital process begins in January with choreographing of routines and the ordering of costumes. We choose to begin our routines early so that the dancers do not feel rushed to finish their numbers. The teachers and the students want them to look perfect, for this is a special time for the dancers to “show off” all they’ve learned throughout the year. We also choose to start our numbers early so that dancers may continue to work on technique, which is the most important factor in dance, throughout this time of year. We feel that it is important that parents should not have to put out extra money to attend their child’s dance recital. That is why each family will receive four tickets to the performance. We also encourage our students to practice at home, and to aid them in this, each dancer will receive a CD with a copy of their recital music on it.