4
Things 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 enrol at? Yes!
There are 4 main factors 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 4 things every parent should consider before deciding 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 consists of a wood structure built on the regular floor.
The top layer of the dance floor is also an important factor. A vinyl composite shock absorbing flooring is accepted world wide as the best surface layer for recreational to professional dance. Facilities such as the Royal Academy of “Dance in London, England, and Riverdance-the Touring Show, all use these floors as their dance surface. This shock-absorbing floor allows dancers to slide, with a degree of “controlled” slip, but is not slippery so there is less risk of slips and falls. Very few studios use professional floors because of the expense involved, and usually opt for a regular floor tile for a studio floor.
All of our studio rooms have floating floors that have over 1000 high-density foam blocks under the floor surface and shock absorbing vinyl composite surface. Our special floors help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without getting tired.
2. What is the size of the class?
If the 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 techniques.
Our studio limits our younger student classes (ages 3-5 years) to a maximum of 12-13 students per class and the teacher has the benefit of the help of one or more assistants in the class. All other classes (ages 6 and up) are limited to a maximum of 15 students per class.
3. What are the “extras” required for the year-end show?
Most studios put on a year-end show in a professional theatre. Students that perform in the show must have a costume for their dance number. Some studios may require parents to sew their child’s costumes, or pay extra and the parents must find their own seamstress to do the sewing. Some studios that purchase the costumes for the parents leave the cost of the alterations to the parents to take care of. This can be inconvenient and frustrating for the parents who are busy or can’t sew.
Our studio, on behalf of the parents, purchases the costumes for the student and takes care of all alterations that are needed, so parents do not have to worry about any costume hassles. This way you as a parent will not be faced with any extra work or expenses.
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 as the teacher has to use 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 on hand during regular office and class times, so you can get immediate assistance.