Page 6 How To Guide • Thursday, March 13, 2025
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How to...
Choose a Dance Studio
Dancing is an excellent activity for young and old alike, but choosing an appropriate dance environment can often seem to be an intimidating experience. How do you shop around for the right school? What are some of the questions to be asked? What is available in your community?
Evaluate Your Needs
To begin, you should evaluate your needs and desires. Ask yourself“ what do I want from this experience?”. Are you looking for a purely recreational environment, or are you interested in a program that involves competitive or performance opportunities? Do you think this will be a casual interest, or do you think the future holds a career in dance? Does the studio you are considering support educational opportunities beyond the basics? And, perhaps most importantly, does the studio embrace your own particular standards and values? After evaluating what you want from your dance experience you will be able to find the dance school best suited to your specific needs- ensuring the best chance for a positive experience.
Start on the web.
Most dance schools have websites. Here you should be able to find out general information, pricing, and class information.
Make a Phone Call
Begin your search with a phone call. How long has the school been in business? What are the classes offered and what does the school teach? How often and how long are the classes? Ask about class size. Ask about student / teacher ratio. Is there a dress code? Are their recitals or performances associated with the class? What are the expenses involved with these recitals or performances? Do the dancers need costumes and do I need to know how to sew and rhinestone? How experienced are the instructors and what are their backgrounds? What are the costs associated with this program? Ask about the schools ballet program. A good dance school will have a strong ballet program, and therefore, technically strong dancers.
Visit the Studio
Next you can visit the studio. Just because you saw it on TV does not mean that is what a dance studio is really like. TV shows are designed to have drama. Dance studios are designed to build confidence, self-esteem, coordination, and friendships along with dance skills and techniques. Is the staff courteous and well informed? Are the songs and costumes age appropriate? Watch some of the advanced students. Do they knock your socks off? Do you feel comfortable at the studio? Talk to other parents who are there. Get a feel for the atmosphere at the school. Is it a positive envornament that will nurture your childs dance development?
As you search for the perfect dance experience, please use this article as a starting point. Ask around. Some schools will offer basic classes in different styles ranging from tap, jazz & ballet to hip hop, creative movement and lyrical. Other schools may specialize in ballroom, ballet, ethnic dance, or modern dance. Some exceptional dance schools offer programs in a variety of dance styles, with offerings for the most casual student to the pre-professional student, from young children to adults. Classes offered by these studios range from the most basic of introductory movement classes to intensive individualized programs of coursework designed for students who wish to go on to a professional career in dance. There are many dance schools in the Metro area, catering to a variety of different dance styles and levels of interest- it is almost certain that one will be the perfect match for you.