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Free Report:
"Five 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 choose? Yes, it does! There are five main things that can make a huge difference in the quality
of instruction your child receives and the amount of extra work and hassles the parents must deal with.
These five things affect the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved with a dance program.
1. What type of floor is used?
Dance is a very physical activity that 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 spine of the dancer. The best way to prevent against potential injury and stress induced fatigue is
by choosing a studio with a professional floating or cushioned dance floor.
A non-slip material, or marley floor allows the 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 provide a non-slip surface because
of the expense involved, and usually settle for regular tile over a concrete surface. Facilities such
as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Riverdance-The Touring Show
use a marley floor as their dance surface. University dance programs also recognize the importance of
a cushioned non-slip surface, and most of the larger schools provide this in their dance studios. At
Dance & Gym USA, we have floating marrley and cushioned dance surfaces, and our gymnasium has a spring floor.
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 small class sizes
make sure that no fundemental concepts are being missed. A smaller class size also allows our instructors
to ensure that students are not developing bad habits, or improper technique.
Dance & Gym USA limits all of our classes ages 3-7 to a maximum of just 8 students. Ages 8 and up are
limited to 12 students per class, with the exception of our showcase and competition groups.
3.What are the "extra" items included with our year end show?
Students performing in recitals at the end of the year must have costumes for the dance performances.
Most studios require 1 costume per class. At Dance & Gym USA, we double up with many of our costumes
so you won't have to purchase as many as you would be required to elsewhere. Many studios require that
parents do the alterations themselves or pay a seamstress to do it. We know this can be frustrating
for parents who are busy and have no sewing ability.
Our studios provide a seamstress free of charge who provides any costume alterations you may need!
Our studios provide parents with 2 free recital tickets!
This way, you don't have to pay to see your
child perform.
Our costume fees are flat rate fees which are based on the age group of the class.
Our prices include
free tights with costumes that require tights.
4. Can I get immediate assistance and customer service?
In most studios, the teacher or the studio owner conducts classes and does the administration. By trying
to do 2 jobs at once, the class may suffer, as the teacher has to use class time for customer service
issues. The studio may have no customer service available if the teacher is in class. Sometimes, even parents
are expected to answer the phone. This can result in a lot of misinformation and frustration.
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 classroom. It is also important to have adult supervision
in the building at all times, so young children can be watched over when they are not in class.
If the parents are not present during class times, often a student will need assistance with remembering
what classroom to go into, or with finding the bathroom facilities, or even with tying their shoes.
Our studios have office staff available during all regular class times so you can get immediate assistance,
and feel confident that an adult supervisor is always present.
5.Does my child get to benefit from at least one recital per year?
A few studios in our area have decided to go to an every other year recital performance. Recitals require
many months of preparation and planning, and some studios just don't want to go through that much work year
after year. By reducing the number of their recital performances, these studios increase costume and
ticket prices for the parents in order to make up the difference for their non-recital years.
Young students find that waiting 2 years to perform is an eternity, and even teen-aged students can't wait
to perform in their recitals. They are so proud of what they have accomplished during the year, and they
deserve the recognition a recital affords them. Yearly recitals give the students a viable goal to
accomplish for themselves and boosts their self-esteem.
At Dance & Gym USA, we do 2 recitals per year for our students. The first show is the Christmas Pageant,
which is performed at the studio building during the students' regular class times in their classrooms.
This is an informal show, but it is a lot of fun. We permit free admission for parents and grandparents.
Students are asked to wear a festive holiday t-shirt or sweatshirt. This is our fun event for the holiday
season.
Our year-end recital is performed in a professional theatre, complete with stage lighting and special effects.
We choose a fun and dramatic theme every year, and all students who remain for the finale are given a free
achievement medal which they wear onstage. We are told that some of our students wear this medal
for weeks afterward!
Our 3 year or more alumni students are presented with a free achievement trophy onstage during the recital.
When a student starts with our classes at age 3, they have the potential to receive 14 medals and 11 trophies
if they remain in class until they are 17 and graduate from high school.
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