If your child is interested in taking a dance class, great! Dance classes are not only fun, but they will teach discipline, provide a way for your child to get exercise, and they can make new friends. How, though, to find the best classes? Here are ten ways to ensure that you are placing your child in the best classes.
* Observe.
Find the studio’s schedule, and go watch the class. If this is not permitted, you want to stop right there. You are entrusting your child with this adult, so transparency shouldn’t be an issue. How does the teacher engage with the children? Do they all seem to be getting equal attention? In dance, a teacher will “correct” posture. Is this done in a gentle, yet firm way? Does the teacher smile, and encourage? Or, is there more of an “authoritarian” atmosphere? Ballet, in particular, can be very exacting, but if your child doesn’t respond to that type of instruction, keep looking, or it will not be a positive experience.
* Talk to other parents.
Hopefully, you can connect with parents via school or other activities who have their children in dance classes. What do they like about particular studios? What do they dislike? Are their children enjoying the classes, or is attending something they dread? Does the studio seem to foster a fun experience? Have they had any problems with instructors? Do your homework before placing your child in a class that they don’t enjoy.
* Try before you buy.
Hopefully, studios in your area will allow your child to take a class to see how things go. During this time, you will want to observe how the children treat each other. Are they respectful, friendly, and welcoming? Or, are there established cliques in place, that are unwelcoming, or have the feel of bullying? These can be unhealthy situations and will quickly turn what can be a fun experience into something your child dreads.
* Expertise.
f your child loves dance and has a gift for it, you will want to find a studio where there is an instructor qualified to nurture that gift. Do they have actual professional experience? What are their dance credits? Do they still have connections to the dance world?
* Parent involvement.
The experience for your child, and you, will be more fun if there is an element of parent involvement. Most studios will put on an annual recital or production; this is a time when parents are needed to sew costumes, make sets, run the lights, sell tickets, etc. Again, this opportunity to work together should be one where all hands are on deck, not a select group of parents. Ask the studio about what its expectations are, and what its opportunities are to support the studio.
* Ratings.
Like it or not, the internet does provide an opportunity for people to rate (publicly or anonymously) businesses, including dance studios. Check to see what others are saying, but temper that information with what you are hearing from other parents.
* Better Business Bureau.
You can do a quick check to make sure there are no financial issues surrounding the studio.
* Variety.
Kids have fun trying different types of dance classes — i.e., ballet, tap, modern, jazz, aerial, etc. The more types of dance that are offered, the more fun your child may have. They may start with one and progress to others, which will eventually make them more well-rounded dancers.
* Pricing.
Like it or not, you need to factor in affordability to dance lessons, especially if your child loves them. Are there discounts offered for any reasons, like paying for classes in advance, or enrolling multiple children? Can parents receive discounts by doing some of the administrative work? It never hurts to ask, because lessons can be expensive.
* Productions.
A great way to see what the studio produces is to go to their annual productions. Even if it is simply a recital and not a production (for instance, Sleeping Beauty or The Nutcracker) this is a perfect opportunity to see if the children are having fun and if the instructor has done a good job of teaching them. By all means, take your child to the recital or production to see if they think it looks like fun.
We hope this helps you in your search for dance lessons for your child!
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