Four 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 four 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 four 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 cushioning or support, so the shock of dance movement can place a lot of pressure on the knees and back of the dancer. The best way to prevent against potential injury is by choosing a studio with a cushion floor. A cushion floor is a dance floor that rests on a system of soft material such as cork or foam to absorb the shock of jumping. Most floors consist of a wood floor structure built on the regular floor, which does not provide for proper shock absorption. The top layer of a 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. A Marley floor or Matley Paint for the top surface allows dancers to slide, with a degree of "controlled" slip, but is not slippery so there is less of a risk for slips and falls. Very few studios use professional Marley floors because the expense involved, and usually opt for a regular floor tile or wood for a studio 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 smaller class sizes make sure 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 studio limits all our classes (ages 5 and up) to maximum of just 14 students per class. With our "Kinderdance" classes of ages 3-4 we limit our classes to a maximum of just 12 students with a teacher and 1-2 assistants which makes our student to teacher ratio 6 to 1 one in some classes 4 to 1.

3. What are the 'extras' required for the end of the year 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 costume, or pay extra 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 our costumes, and alter them at no extra cost so parents do not have to worry about any costume hassles. Many studios also require parents to pre-sell tickets. For example, parents are sometimes expected to sell 10 tickets at a high price in order for their child to perform in the end of the year recital. Our parents are only responsible for purchasing tickets that they will use. In addition, we distribute our tickets through a "lottery system" which assures immediate family members to the best reserved seats in the theater and avoids long tickets lines.

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 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 service. Furthermore, all classes can be viewed through a one way mirror or closed circuit television which allows the parents to observe their child's dance class at any time without interfering with the instruction.