With so many activities for children out there, many parents
are eager to take advantage of all that their community has to offer for their
kids. Dance classes are one of the best activities young children can get
involved in, but with so many dance studios available and parents with little
knowledge of the dance world, choosing the right dance studio can be a
difficult task. Look through these tips and things to look for when picking the
dance studio for your child and for your family.
1. Highly Qualified and Trained Owner and
Instructors- While the owner of the dance studio may not teach all of the dance
classes or even teach any of the dance classes, the owner is where it all
begins. Instructors are hired based on the vision the owner has for the studio,
instructors are often trained by the owner, the overall feel and professionalism
of the studio will all come from the owner as well. Make sure the owner has
experience and knowledge in the dance world- look for things such as college
degrees in dance, certified from a major dance organization such as Dance
Educators of America or Dance Masters of America, experience in the performing
world- look for dance company experience and other notable performing experiences.
Next, look at the instructors- do they have some of the same attributes the
owner has as far as experience and education? Usually if the instructor is in
high school, they have no experience managing a class full of young children
and they have no higher education regarding dance education.
2. Class Sizes- Ask about the size of the classes.
Some studios may be successful and very large, but if they pack 20+ kids in a
class (especially with younger ones) this may not be the best learning
environment. Usually smaller classes are better, but not always. As long as
classes are of a manageable size (under 15) a well educated, highly
trained/experienced instructor can handle a larger class and have highly
educational classes more so than less experienced instructor. Find out what the
class size is as well as the instructor’s experience to get a good feel for the
situation.
3.
Communication & Management Skills- It is
hard to find professionally managed dance studios. Whenever you are enrolling
your child in a dance class there will be many other things that go along with
these classes including performances, costumes, rehearsals, special events,
etc. Make sure the studio you choose has a high level of communication among
the studio and the parents. To do this send them an email or call the studio
and see how quickly and effectively your questions are answered or your call is
returned. If it is hard to get a hold of someone when trying to sign up for
classes, it will undoubtedly be difficult to get a hold of them if you have
future questions about performances, costumes, etc.
4.
Well-Maintained Facility- Although dance studios
do not need to be massive in size to be effective they do need to be well
maintained. Visit the studio to see what it is like. Is it clean and welcoming?
Is the studio a place you feel comfortable dropping your child off for an hour
or so? You can get the best feel for a business by visiting it in person and
talking to someone there. Ask about the dance room- what features it has, are
the floors sprung or floating or resting on a concrete surface? “Sprung” or
floating floors are the best option for dance studios- these floors reduce
fatigue and reduce the risk of injury. Find out what the studios in your area
have before signing up.
5.
Other Features- talk to someone at the studio to
find out what other benefits they may have at the studio. Look for things like
viewing windows or closed circuit televisions that allow parents to watch class
while in session. Ask about dancewear- many studios will sell dancewear in
studio making it easier to get everything done at once. Ask about recitals and
performances and what else goes along with their weekly classes.
Doing a little bit of homework when choosing a dance studio,
can go a long way and help parents to make a decision that will be the right
one from the start. Finding the dance studio that fits your family’s needs will
make for a better experience for the dancer as well as the parents.
If you are near the Wylie, TX area check our our dance studio for more information.
303 S Hwy 78 #100, Wylie TX 75098
(972) 836-6733
www.DanceRedDoor.com
www.DanceRedDoor.com
