4 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, are they not all pretty much the same? Does it really matter which place you decide to enroll at? Yes. There are 4 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 4 things that every parent should consider before deciding on a dance studio for their child. 1. What is the size of the class? If the dance class has fewer students in it each child will receive more personalized attention, learn more and have more fun. With younger students it is easier for a teacher to maintain control over the class and make sure each student understands the concepts and instructions. Our smaller class sizes make 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 school limits all of our classes (ages 6 and up) to a maximum of just 15 students per class. With our “kinder dance” classes (ages 3 – 5) we limit all of our classes to a maximum of just 8 students per class. 2. 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. 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 a the Royal Academy of Dance in London, England, The American Ballet, and River Dance - the Touring Show, all use Marley floors as their dance surface. A Marley floor allows dancers to side, with a degree of “controlled slip”, but is not slippery so there is less risk of slips and falls. Very few studios use professional Marley floors because of the expensive involved, and usually opt for a regular floor tile for a studio floor. Our school has professional floors in all of our rooms. 3. What are the “extras” required for the year end show? Most studios put on a year end show in an out of town high school theater. Students that perform in the show must have a costume for their dance number. Some studios may require parents to sew/alter their child’s costumes, or pay extra and the parents must find their own seamstress to do the sewing. This can be inconvenient and frustrating for parents who are busy or can’t sew. Driving to an out of town destination for dress rehearsals and shows adds a lot of additional travel time which in turn puts additional stress on already busy schedules. Our school keeps costs controlled and uses a flat fee costume pricing systems. Our parents know what their dancer's costume is going to cost at the time of enrollment. Our school also uses our own professional seamstress to sew and alter the costumes, so parents do not have to worry about any costumes hassles. We have our dress rehearsal and year end showcases at the luxurious, professional, Cherry Hill Village Theater just minutes from our studio. 4. Can I get immediate assistance and customer service? In many studios the teacher or the studio owner conducts classes and does the administrative work. By trying to do two jobs at once, the class may suffer as the teacher has to use class time for customer service issues, or the studio may have no customer service available if the teacher is in a class. To have a good experience it is important to choose a studio that can assist you with details like costumes or schedules, even if a teacher is occupied in a class. Our school owners, unlike other studio owners, do not teach the classes. This leaves them free to get to know parents and check in on teachers and class progress. The owners or staff are on hand during all peak class times, so you can get immediate assistance. MESSAGE TO PARENTS As a parent, we realize you have a choice between several different studios. All studios are not the same. We constantly renovate and improve our facilities and provide ongoing training to our staff to ensure we are always providing our students and parents with the best experience possible. |
| Canton Premiere Dance & Performing Arts School |
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| Canton Premiere Dance & Performing Arts School Canton Ford Crossing (1/8 mi. North of Ford Road on East side) 5860 Canton Center Road, #325 Canton, Mi 48187 734-207-9774 LOOK for the "RED" Door! |