| |
|
|
|
| 5
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 decide to enroll
at? Yes. There are 5 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 with a dance program.
Here are 5 things that every parent should consider before deciding
on a dance studio for their child.
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| 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 against
potential injury is by choosing a studio with a professional “floating
floor”. A floating floor is a dance 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 and rubber
composite “harlequin” floor is accepted worldwide as
the best surface layer for recreational to professional dance.
Facilities such as the Joffery Ballet of New York and Chicago,
American Ballet Theater of New York, and Riverdance all use harlequin
floors as their dance surface. A harlequin floor allows dancers
to slide with a degree of “controlled slip," so there
is less risk of slips and falls. Very few studios use professional
harlequin floors because of the expense involved and usually opt
for regular wood or tile. Our studio has a floating floor under
the surface and a harlequin top surface imported from England.
Our special floors help to reduce the risk of injuries and allow
students to dance longer without getting tired.
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| 2. WHAT
ARE THE TEACHERS' AND SCHOOLS QUALIFICATIONS?
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| You may think, "Well,
if they are offering dance, music, theatre, etc., they must know
how to do it and must be qualified!" Unfortunately, too many
dance schools today do not have certified or qualified teachers
due to the time it takes to find quality educators and the expense
involved in keeping them. Instead, they opt for the friend who
"did it when they were a kid" or have "dabbled
in it for a few years." A truly qualified teacher is one
who has attended university classes, is certified, and maintains
their knowledge throughout their years of teaching. This teacher
is infinitely more beneficial to the students. This teacher has
the anatomy, new techniques, what to teach the students, when
to do it, and most importantly, how to teach children. This results
in a structured, graded class enabling the student to progress
at his or her own pace and ability. All of our teachers have undergone
some sort of certification and education courses. We are continually
educating ourselves through continued learning courses and conventions.
All of our classes are carefully graded by physical ability and
technical strength. the student is advanced as necessary to allow
for maximum progress at his or her own stage of development.
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| 3. CAN
I GET IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE?
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| In many studios
the teacher or the studio owner conducts classes in addition to
handling all of the administrative work. By trying to do two jobs
at once, the classes will suffer. The teacher may have to use
class time for customer service issues or the studio may have
no customer service available while the teacher is in a class.
It is important to choose a studio that can assist you with all
the details during all business hours. Our studio has office staff
available throughout the day and during class times, so you can
have immediate assistance for any customer service issues you
may have. Our teachers are left free to focus on teaching. The
class always gets undivided attention. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| 4. WHAT
IS THE SIZE OF THE CLASS?
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| In a smaller dance class,
each student will receive more personalized attention, learn more,
and have more fun. With younger students, it is easier for a teacher
to maintain control over a small class and make sure each student
understands the concepts and instruction. Our smaller class sizes
also ensure that every student understands the fundamental concepts
of dance and allows our teachers to catch early on any bad habits
or improper technique. In addition, most of our classes include
a teaching assistant, making two teachers available for the students.
Our studio limits all of our classes (ages 7 and up) to a maximum
of 16 students per class. our preschool and kindergarten classes
(ages 3-6) are limited to 12 students per class.
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
| 5. WHAT
DOES THE END OF THE YEAR SHOW ENTAIL?
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
| At Academy of the Performing
Arts, we take pride in putting on a full-scale professional show.
This show is not your typical recital produced by most dance studios.
We have professional lighting and sound brought in. Backdrops and
props are purchased from all over the nation. We pay attention to
every detail from the flow of the show to the quality of the programs.
The dancers who participate in this event are in professionally
made costumes, completely the look of the production. All of our
dancers, not just the company members, experience what dancing on
stage is really like. A show of this caliber takes a tremendous
amount of work including a full year's planning and an incredible
amount of expense. Because of this, most studios opt for a push-button
recital featuring simple leotards, skirts, and a boom box. Our annual
Dance Extravaganza is a memorable event for all involved, especially
the dancer.
| |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
