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Five Things Every Parent Should Know
Before Choosing a Dance Studio
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 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
in a dance program. Here are five 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?
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 a potential injury is by choosing
a studio with a professional “floating” floor. A floating
floor is a dance sub-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 the regular floor. 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. Facilities
such as the Canton Ballet, Ballet Metropolitan, and
Riverdance-the touring show, all use Marley floors
as their dance surface. A Marley floor allows dancers
to slide with a degree of “controlled slip,” but is
not slippery. There is much less risk of slips and
falls than with a standard hard-wood floor or tile
floor. Very few studios use professional floors because
of the expensed involved, and usually opt for a regular
tile or wood floor. The Newcomerstown Dance Center’s
location includes a studio room with a floating sub-floor
and a Marley top surface. We pride ourselves in providing
a safe learning environment for our students.
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2. Is there a limit on 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 the younger students
it is easier for a teacher to maintain control of
the class and make sure each student understands the
concepts and instructions. Our smaller class size
makes 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 pre-dance
and K-combo to seven students. All other classes are
limited to ten students.
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3. What is the extra cost involved
for the year-end show?
Most studios put on a recital or some type of
show at the end of the year. Students who perform
in the show must have a costume for their dance number.
Some studios require parents to sew their own costumes
or are left to find their own seamstress at their
own time and expense. Also, many studios charge an
admission fee for their show, which also applies to
parents who have paid for classes. Our studio custom
orders costumes from a professional costume company.
Most costumes cost between $60 and $80. Hairpieces
and tights are included in the costume price. Students
must have dance tights that are the appropriate color.
No additional fees or extra cost is involved. All
students are given two free tickets to the recital
so that their parents can enjoy the show without additional
cost.
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4. Are parents allowed to watch
the dance classes?
In many studios a “parent watch day” or an “observation
day” happens once a month or every other month. This
is a very common practice and one that our studio
has done in the past. However, as we have watched
the difference in the behavior and attentiveness in
the students on “observation day” as opposed to regular
class days, we have found that this is an ineffective
way for parents to actually see what happens in a
normal class. When extra people are in watching the
class, the students generally do not learn as much
and are very easily distracted by their audience.
Our studio facility is equipped with a video camera
which is running during all classes. The television
in the waiting room can be tuned in to the class at
any time. This addition will keep a consistent level
of learning without distractions, but also allows
parents to watch class without being seen by the students.
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5. What kind of shoes and clothes
are required for class every week? Where do I get
them?
All reputable dance studios have some kind of
dress code for their weekly classes. Many studios
give parents a list of the required dress and expect
that the items will be found at a local dance store,
or that they can be ordered online. Dance shoes and
apparel are difficult to fit and the sizes are not
the same as regular kid shoes and clothing, usually
resulting in costly mistakes. On the “Classes” page
of our website, there is a list of required dress
for each class. All of the items required for our
students are available to order through our studio
including tights, leotards, jazz pants, dance skirts,
& dance bags. We order all of our dance shoes for
our students to insure proper fit and style. We stock
shoe sizers at the studio so that students can be
fitted correctly without the hassle of driving to
a dance store.
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