4 Things

Every Parent Should Know Before Choosing a Dance Studio

Does it really matter which place you decide to enroll at? 

Yes, it does !!!

If most dance studios seem to have qualified, friendly teachers, experience in teaching children and a big show at the end of the year, aren’t they all pretty much the same? 

There are 4 very important aspects to consider that can make a major difference in the quality of instruction your child receives, the amount of extra work and problems the parents must deal with and overall enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved in a dance program. 

1.   The Dance Floor

Dance is a very physical activity that requires a lot 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 sprung floor.  A sprung floor which usually consists of a structure built on the regular floor that helps absorb the shock of jumping. 

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.  Professional dance company’s such as the New York City Ballet, the Kirov Ballet, Royal Academy of Dance in London; England, the Pacific Northwest Ballet, Les Grands Ballet Canaadiens, Riverdance-the Touring Show all use the same “marley” flooring as CDT.  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 quality Marley floors because of the expense involved, and usually opt for a regular floor tile for a studio floor. 

All of our studios have sprung floors and a Marley top surface that is imported from England.  Our special floors help reduce the risk of injuries & allow students to dance longer without getting tired.

 2.   Class size

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 also allows our teachers to ensure that students are not developing bad habits or improper technique.

Our studio limits 8 students (ages 3-4yrs), 10 students (ages 5-8yrs), 12 students (8-10yrs), & 14 students (11yrs and up). 

3.   Stage experience

Most dance studios offer every other year recital or one show at the end of the year.  CDT offers 2 large full scale productions each year. In December, our spectacular  “Holiday Concert” Presented by the Southeastern Ballet Company where CDT students and guest artists participate in. Also, a            "Spring Concert" at the end of the school year presented by CDT in which all students participate in. 

Performing on stage gives a young dancer the opportunity to express themselves in front of a live audience and become more comfortable.  The more experience & exposure they are given to perform the more the young dancer is able to develop her personal strength & personality of in front of an audience. 

Along with the exposure on stage the dancer at CDT learns how to perform in a profession level show.  The dancer learns what is expected of them when they are back stage or in the wings, they learn how to conduct themselves on stage & off stage in a professional manner.  They learn how to prepare themselves to dance well, through a proper warm-up one hour before the show.  They learn what is expected of them for hair, make-up, dance shoes to achieve the professional look along with their dancing. 

4.   Quality Training

Most young dancers will start anywhere from ages 3 to 10yrs.  Therefore most young dancers will invest anywhere from 5 – 15years in one dance studio.  That adds up to a big investment of time & money for the parent over the years.  What is surprising is that a parent will take more time planning for a vacation then picking a long term dance studio for their child. A parent needs to put equal time in choosing a dance studio as they would select a doctor or a dentist.  So how does one know if one's child is receiving good training? 

With so many schools from which  to choose, all appearing to be equally qualified through a wealth of information with technology today, how does a parent know if the training is as good as the information acquired?

One of the best ways to see what results a good school is accomplishing with their dancers is to go & review one of their shows (like a recital or Christmas show). Or, observe their most recent video.  A performance allows you to see the quality & level of dancing performed & executed by the students.  From this observation the parent is more able to make a responsible selection.  And isn’t our children's means of expression in the arts, whether it be goal oriented or for the pure joy of dance, of paramount importance?