5 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 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 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 “marley” floor is accepted worldwide as the best surface layer for recreational to professional dance. Facilities such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Royal Academy of Dance in London, England, and Riverdance- The Touring Show, all use Marley floors as their dance surface. A Marley 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 Marley floors because of the expense involved, and usually opt for a regular floor tile for a studio floor.
Our rooms have floating floors that have over 600 high-density foam blocks under the floor surface. One room has a Marley top surface that is imported from California. The other has wood for our tappers so they can hear how tap sounds all year long and not just at the recital. Our third and newest room has a state of the art floor with a layer of foam to absorb shock covered with a controlled-slip surface for stability. These 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 allows our teachers to ensure that students are not developing bad habits or improper technique. Our studio limits all of our classes (ages 6 and up) to a maximum of just 15 students per class. With our TBC (Tap, Ballet, Creative) dance classes (ages 3-5) we limit all of our classes to a maximum of just 12 students per class.
3. WHAT ARE THE “EXTRAS” REQUIRED FOR THE YEAR END SHOW?
Most studios put on a year end show in a theater. Students who perform in the show must have a costume for their dance number. Some studios may require parents to sew their child’s costumes, and the parents must find their own seamstress to do the sewing. This can be inconvenient and frustrating for parents who are busy or can’t sew. Our studio uses our own professional seamstress to sew and alter the costumes and we color all shoes on site when needed so that parents do not have to worry about any costume hassles. This way you, as a parent, will not be faced with any extra work.
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 all regular class times, so you can get immediate assistance.
5. DO THE CHILDREN LOOK LIKE THEY ARE HAVING A GOOD TIME?
Do you ever notice how some dancers fall flat on stage or seem too serious in class? There are two parts to dancing: to technique AND performance quality or stage presence. It’s much harder to teach performance quality to a child. If you get a student at 3 or 4 to fall in love with the artform, they develop their own passion for dance that eventually resonates on stage or in the classroom. If you are too strict with them at a young age, you can kill the spark and passion that drives them to be the best they can be. Parents should look for a program that has combination classes at a young age and smiling students in class. Buy tickets to the recital of a school and check out the dancers, are they having fun? Our studio has classes specially designed for ages 3, 4 and 5 that follow early child development skills and how to bring out their creativity and imagination. Our older students are trained in dancing from the “neck-up”, building on the classes they took as a youngster. Non-dance related events at our studio help build community and friendships that you can feel from the stage. Our dancers are always having a good time.
Norwalk Dance Academy . 22 High Street . Norwalk, CT 06851 . 203-857-4445 ndafrontdesk@yahoo.com