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| 5
THINGS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW BEFORE
CHOOSING A DANCE STUDIO
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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?
Yes. There are five 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.
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| 1. WHAT
TYPE OF DANCE FLOOR IS USED?
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| 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 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.
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| The top layer of the dance floor
is also an important factor. A vinyl “marley” floor
is accepted worldwide as the best surface layer for recreational
to professional dance. Facilities such as the Joffery Ballet of
New York and Chicago, American Ballet Theater of New York, and
Riverdance all use marley floors as their surface. A marley floor
allows dancers to slide with a degree of “controlled slip,”
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 regular tile for the studio floor. Our studio
has a floating floor under the surface and a marley top surface.
Our special floors help to reduce the risk of injuries and allow
students to dance longer without getting tired.
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| 2. WHAT
IS THE SIZE OF THE CLASS?
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| 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 an Instructor 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
missed. A smaller class size also allows our Instructors to ensure
that students are not developing bad habits or improper techniques.
Our studio limits our classes to approximately 12 to 15 students
per class with one Instructor. For preschool classes we provide
an assistant instructor.
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| 3. WHAT
ARE THE TEACHERS’ & SCHOOL QUAILIFICATIONS?
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| You may think, “Well, if they
are offering dance, music, theater, etc., they must know how to
do it and must be qualified!” Unfortunately, too many dance
schools today do not have qualified Instructors due to the time
it takes to find quality educators and the expense involved in keeping
them. Instead, they opt for the friend who “did it when they
were a kid” or have “dabbled in it for a few years.”
A truly qualified Instructor is one who has either performed or
been trained professionally in the performing arts. This person
will also maintain their knowledge throughout their years of teaching.
This type of Instructor is infinitely more beneficial to the students
and has the anatomy, new techniques, what to teach the students,
when to do it, and most importantly, how to teach children. The
result is a structured class enabling the student to progress at
his or her own pace and ability. Our Instructors are continually
educating themselves and each other through continued learning courses
and conventions. Our students advance as necessary to allow for
maximum progress at his or her individual stages of development.
Highly qualified Instructors with varied training and teaching methods
are available to teach a broad range of dance formats. Our dance
instructors have a variety of backgrounds and teaching styles. Each
instructor provides a unique performing arts experience. We choose
our instructors not only by their qualifications, but for their
ability to relate to the typical needs of our students.
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| Both our preschool program and our
combination classes use a fun and exciting curriculum designed specifically
to familiarize students to all types of dance and knowledge areas.
Many studios’ only concentrate on one specific style of dance
for their classes. Our programs are tailored to give students the
knowledge they need for all types of dance.
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| 4. ARE
THERE CONVENIENT SCHEDULING TIMES FOR A VARIETY OF CLASSES?
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| Students and parents can choose
from a range of Music and Dance programs available at the same
time. Our class schedule is set up for family convenience.
For example, students can attend dance classes at the same time
that their siblings are taking voice and karate lessons. Families
can schedule all of their members to take lessons at the same
time whether they are studying music or dance. This convenience
provides more time for other activities and less driving time
for families.
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| 5. CAN I
RECEIVE QUALITY CUSTOMER SERVICE?
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| Knowledgeable, helpful desk staff
is available to assist students and parents during class times.
We strive to provide good service and take care of all of the
“details” of attending classes so lessons are hassle
free and enjoyable. 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 class. Our studio
has an office staff on hand during all regular class times, so
you can get immediate service.
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WE Offer:
Ballet - Tap - Jazz/Hip-Hop - Modern - Pointe - Liturgical -
African - Etiquette - Salsa/Ballroom - Cheerleading - Gymnastics
- Voice - Karate - Yoga - Modeling - Acting - Aerobics - Chicago
Steppin’ - Belly Dancing - Piano - Viola - String Bass
- Violin - Guitar - Bass Drum - Djembe Drum -
Summer Camps - Daycare Classes - Birthday Parties & More
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