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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 six 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 six 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 knees and backs
of dancers. 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 a 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 no 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 studio has floating
floors that have over 700 high density foam blocks under the floor surface
and a marley top surface that is imported from England. Our special floor
surface and a marley top surface that is imported from England. Our
special floor surface reduces the risk of injuries and allows 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 size also
allows our teachers to ensure that students are not developing bad habits
or improper technique.
Our studio limits all or
our classes (ages 6 and up) to a maximum of just 12 students per class.
With our “Combo Classes (ages 3-5) we limit all of our classes to a
maximum of just 8 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 theater. 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, and their 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 measures all students
and orders professional made costumes. All costumes are hung and covered
with plastic and recital ready. professional seamstress is available for
any additional alterations. Parents do not have to worry about any
costume hassles.
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 studios have office staff on hand during all regular class
times, so you can get immediate assistance.
5.
Professional
instructors
Students have fun while
learning from our instructors that hold DMA certification,
BFA and MFA dance degrees
and CPR certification. Instructors have performance experience in NY
Broadway shows such as The Rockette Christmas Spectacular and have made
appearances in music videos on MTV, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon.
6.
Convenient class
times
We will open a class of
your choice at a time that is convenient to you when you have 4 or more
friends that enroll in the class with you.
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