How to Select a Dance Studio: 5 Items to Consider

Many mothers enroll their young daughters in dance studios at some time in their lives. Dancing can encourage children to stay active, maintain good posture and overcome shyness to interact with classmates while conquering stage fright. However, choosing between dance studios can be a difficult task, especially when deciding between studios offering classes for comparable prices. Even if you are not an experienced dancer, there are still ways to help discover which studio may offer the best quality classes for your child. Consider these tips before choosing a dance studio.

1. Attend a recital. One of the best ways to discover the quality of a dance studio is to attend one of its recitals. Ideally, recitals should be focused on showcasing the “best of the best” of the studio’s dancers’ abilities. This should break down the differences between the dancing levels of beginning and advanced students. While you will most likely be focused on how the dancers closest to your own child’s age perform, be sure to pay attention to how the more advanced dancers perform, as these are examples of how your child could dance someday if he/she is trained in that studio. Also consider factors such as costume and style of dance when viewing the recital.

2. Research the instructor’s credentials. A more professionally focused studio will require their instructors to be certified in whatever method/style of dance that they teach; for example, a ballet studio that claims to teach Cecchetti technique should have Cecchetti certified teachers.

3. Compare class lengths/studio time requirements. When researching dance studios, be sure to carefully examine the required classroom instruction time per week for each dancing level; while some studios may have comparable monthly rates, the commitment time could greatly vary. Consider the amount of time that the more advanced classes require students to commit to them; this is where your child could very well head in the future, and you want to be sure that you are prepared to make such commitments.

4. Inquire about instructors’ experience outside of the studio. Many dance studios fall into the habit of training and hiring teacher’s whose sole dance experience has been in that studio. This often can lead to generations of dancers growing up in studios with improperly taught techniques, because no “outsider” has ever stepped in to correct them. A good studio will have instructors from a variety of backgrounds and experiences with dance companies.

5. Talk with other parents at the studio. Other parents (and students) will most likely give a fairly accurate picture of how the studio works. This can help you discover the studio’s approach to discipline, training, and issues regarding body image-all important factors to consider when choosing a studio. Ask about the studio’s doctrine on all these areas.


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *