{"id":8877,"date":"2015-08-14T09:36:41","date_gmt":"2015-08-14T13:36:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/?p=8877"},"modified":"2017-03-01T13:16:43","modified_gmt":"2017-03-01T18:16:43","slug":"picking-a-dance-studio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/14\/picking-a-dance-studio\/","title":{"rendered":"Picking a Dance Studio"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As parents start getting ready for back to school, it\u2019s also the time when many parents start looking at and enrolling in extracurricular activities.\u00a0 I\u2019m not the type of mommy who puts my kids in tons of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/17\/additional-activities\/\">after school activities<\/a>, but I am really particular about where I put my kids.<\/p>\n<p>As a longtime ballet teacher (much longer than I\u2019ve been a mommy), I know the benefits of high quality <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/2013\/10\/17\/additional-activities\/\">after school activities<\/a>.\u00a0 I\u2019ve taught at many, many, many different dance programs all over the country and even abroad.\u00a0 I\u2019ve taught at some really high quality, pre-professional programs and some less than stellar small studios but I gained something from every experience and more importantly, no matter the setting, my students learned how to dance as well as the discipline involved in being a dance student.<\/p>\n<p>Referrals and suggestions from other parents are a great place to start, but remember that everyone has different criteria of what is most important when picking a dance studio.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/14\/picking-a-dance-studio\/picking-a-dance-studio-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11484\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-11484\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio.png\" alt=\"Tips from a ballet teacher on what to consider and look for when picking a dance studio\" width=\"748\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio.png 748w, https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-300x193.png 300w, https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-600x385.png 600w, https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-390x250.png 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 748px) 100vw, 748px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>As a ballet teacher and now Dance Mommy, here\u2019s what I consider\u00a0when picking a dance studio:<\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Look at the schedule<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>How often is each class offered?\u00a0 How many levels are there?\u00a0 Does the studio focus on one dance style or many?\u00a0 How long are the classes?<\/p>\n<p>High Quality studios will generally:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Focus instruction on one dance style with other supplemental styles and will offer many classes a week in the main style for the intermediate and advanced dancers.\u00a0 An emphasis on students taking many different styles and only one or two classes a week of each prohibits students from getting good at anything.\u00a0 It takes many classes a week of a single style to become proficient (especially ballet).<\/li>\n<li>Offer varied levels for each age group.\u00a0 Children should not be placed in a class purely by age, there should be multiple level options for each age group (with the exception of the youngest dancers)<\/li>\n<li>Have classes which are 45-60 minutes for young children and 90 minutes for advanced students.\u00a0 Classes that are too long for little ones can result in behavior problems and classes that are too short for older and advanced students indicate a lack of quality instruction.<\/li>\n<li>Do not offer combo classes, especially after the preschool years.\u00a0 Classes which are single-focused provide better instruction by placing students with the best teacher for each style and giving ample time for each style (by 6 children should be in single-focused classes).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Research the teachers<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>What is their teaching and performing experience?\u00a0 Have they taught anywhere else?\u00a0 Where did they train? \u00a0Did they go to college?<\/p>\n<p>High Quality studios will generally:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Have adult teachers.\u00a0 Teenagers should generally not be teaching alone as they do not have the knowledge to safely teach.\u00a0 Along with a lack of complete training themselves, they also generally do not understand anatomy (especially that of young children who are rapidly growing and changing) or behavior management.<\/li>\n<li>Hire knowledgeable teachers who have varied teaching and performing experience, college dance degrees and\/or are part of professional dance organizations.\u00a0 Just like anything else, the more experience, the better you can expect someone to be.<\/li>\n<li>Use teachers from varied backgrounds.\u00a0 While it may sound great when a studio employs it\u2019s former students but what this really means is that ALL the teachers are going to teach the same.\u00a0 Just like anything in life, variety is good.\u00a0 Dancers these days need to be versatile and the best way to become a versatile dancer is by training with many, many different types of teachers.<\/li>\n<li>Utilize each teacher\u2019s strengths.\u00a0 Most dance teachers are really good at teaching one or two styles and are usually best with a specific age\/ability group.\u00a0 Studios that use a few teachers to teach a lot of things are generally going to be lacking in their instruction somewhere.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Take a tour of the studio<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Are there windows for observing?\u00a0 Is it clean and well-kept?\u00a0 What kind of floors are installed?\u00a0 What kind of sound system do they have?\u00a0 Are there any instruments?<\/p>\n<p>What to look for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A lack of windows for observing classes (or windows that are covered) always make me wonder why they don\u2019t want people watching.\u00a0 Yes, parents crowding around small windows can be distracting for young children, but teachers should be able to manage the class\u2019s attention.\u00a0 For older kids, what are they trying to hide?<\/li>\n<li>Cleanliness is key since dancers often wander around barefoot and in some styles are required to roll around on the floor.<\/li>\n<li>Look for studio floors that are raised above the lobby\/hallways floors indicating a sprung floor which is essential to injury prevention when jumping.\u00a0 Floors should be hardwood or marley (vinyl flooring specifically for dance, usually laid in long panels). Be weary of tile, laminate and concrete floors which can all be dangerous and are not made for dance.<\/li>\n<li>High quality ballet studios will often have pianos in the studios indicating live accompaniment and studios with a good reputation for modern\/contemporary dance may have live drummers.\u00a0 If live accompaniment is not used, a quality sound system is important since it allows the teachers to easily adjust the music as necessary for each class (adjusting tempo, cuing for rehearsals, having ample volume for the open space, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>Show up during class times and take in the atmosphere.\u00a0 Is the front desk staff friendly; are the parents hanging around and what is their behavior like?\u00a0 Do you see yourself fitting in with the other parents and families?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong><br \/>\nWatch a performance, read through the performance program and\/or look at the pictures<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/pixie-e1406928100714.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"370\" height=\"220\" \/><\/h3>\n<p>How many performances are there?\u00a0 How long are the performances?\u00a0 What are the costumes like?\u00a0 What kind of music do they use?\u00a0 Do the teachers dance on stage with the children?\u00a0 How long are the dances?\u00a0 How many dances does each class\/dancer do?<\/p>\n<p>Remember, performing should be fun!\u00a0 Things to keep in mind:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How you feel about the costumes and music selections.\u00a0 How a studio represents their students on stage says a lot about the atmosphere and philosophy of the studio.\u00a0 Studios that use age inappropriate costumes, extremely expensive costumes, vulgar music or music that doesn\u2019t match the dance style may place emphasis on the wrong things (such as the \u201clook\u201d rather than proper technique, teamwork and discipline).<\/li>\n<li>The time commitment at show time.\u00a0 Performances that are extremely long (2 \u00bd hours is okay, anything over 3 is too much); put young children in multiple dances; spread the dancers out throughout the whole show (as in your ballet dance in 2<sup>nd<\/sup> and your tap dance is 2<sup>nd<\/sup> to last); or do too many performances in a short period of time (in addition to run-throughs and dress rehearsals) can all put a strain on your child making them too tired and\/or agitated to enjoy the experience.<\/li>\n<li>Children should know their dance without a teacher doing it with them.\u00a0 If students can\u2019t do their dance without teacher assistance either 1) they are too young to be on stage or 2) the dance is too hard.\u00a0 Even if a teacher isn\u2019t on stage, check for the class looking to the side of the stage indicating they are following a teacher off stage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Look at the total cost<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>How much is tuition? Is there a registration fee?<\/p>\n<p>Other expenses to look at:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Uniforms.\u00a0 Many studios now require their students to buy leotards, tights and sometimes even shoes directly from them.\u00a0 While this is not necessarily a sign of poor quality, it is an added expense since their specific items will almost always be more expensive than buying yourself from a local store or online catalog.<\/li>\n<li>Performance Fees.\u00a0 If you plan to have your child perform, make sure to inquire about the performance fees before committing or you may be in for an unexpected big expense come springtime!\u00a0 Many studios require you to buy expensive costumes (one for each class; sometimes two for preschool combo classes), minimum number of pricey recital tickets and\/or ads in the program all on top of a \u201cperformance fee\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>Other opportunities<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>How many performing opportunities are there each year?\u00a0 Does the studio attend conventions or competitions?\u00a0 Does the studio offer master classes, bring in guest teachers or do workshops?<\/p>\n<p>Things to consider:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Older students should have multiple opportunities a year to perform.\u00a0 And while more than one performance opportunity a year is good for younger children as well, make sure class time is not being used entirely for rehearsals.<\/li>\n<li>Is there a performing company or completion team?\u00a0 A lot of high quality dance programs will offer additional opportunities to their children through participation in a performance company or competition team which is usually by audition or invite only.<\/li>\n<li>Do you want to do competitions?\u00a0 I personally don\u2019t really believe in competitions.\u00a0 While dance is indeed athletic, I believe it\u2019s artistic aspects come first and aside from the extremely prestigious ballet competitions, dance should be about teamwork and sharing the art, not competition or being the best (only an individual best).\u00a0 BUT if you want to participate in competitions, look for studios that offer participating in competitions and research the quality of the competitions attended.<\/li>\n<li>Will your child get the opportunity to work with different teachers through conventions, master classes, workshops and\/or guest teachers?\u00a0 As mentioned before, variety is key to becoming a great dancer as is taking class with great teachers.\u00a0 Working with different teachers also helps students learn the discipline, etiquette and hard work which is required to be successful in the dance world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Ultimately, the decision of picking a dance studio comes down to what you want out of your child\u2019s dance education and what is important to you. \u00a0You and your child should both feel safe and comfortable with the environment (both inside and outside the dancing space).<\/p>\n<p>Read about my journey as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/2015\/08\/14\/dance-mom-moments\/\">Dance Mommy<\/a> (and as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/2014\/01\/31\/dancing-during-pregnancy\/\">Dancing Mommy<\/a>!)<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/532269249694227693\/\">Pin it!<\/a><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/532269249694227693\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-11485\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-11485 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-pin-698x1024.png\" alt=\"Tips from a ballet teacher on what to consider and look for when picking a dance studio\" width=\"698\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-pin-698x1024.png 698w, https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-pin-300x440.png 300w, https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-pin-600x880.png 600w, https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-pin-170x250.png 170w, https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-pin-205x300.png 205w, https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-pin-390x572.png 390w, https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/picking-a-dance-studio-pin.png 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 698px) 100vw, 698px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As parents start getting ready for back to school, it\u2019s also the time when many parents start looking at and enrolling in extracurricular activities.\u00a0 I\u2019m not the type of mommy who puts my kids in tons of after school activities, but I am really particular about where I put my kids. As a longtime ballet [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11484,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,535],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ballerina-mama","category-recently-updated"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8877"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8877\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12594,"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8877\/revisions\/12594"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beyondmommying.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}