5 Things Every Parent Should Know
Before Choosing a Performing Arts 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? 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 hassle 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 school for their child.
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” or a suspended floor. A floating floor is a dance floor that rests on a system of foam, to absorb the shock of jumping.
All of our studio dance floors are either suspended (not resting on any hard surface) or floating. Our floors help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without getting tired.
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 studio limits all of our class (Kindergarten and up) to a maximum of 16 students with 8-10 students being a more common class size. Pre-Combo classes (ages 3-5) are limited to 8 students and creative movement to a maximum of 6 students per class. Many of our classes also have teaching assistants as well the qualified instructor.
Can I get immediate assistance and customer service?
In many studios the teacher or studio owner conducts classes and does the administration. 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 studio has office staff on hand during regular class times, so you can get immediate assistance.
Where can I purchase necessary dance shoes?
Many studios may request certain styles of dance shoes that require you to travel to a dancewear store in the city to purchase these products at retail costs. For the convenience of our students we sell dance shoes at our studio. We’ve already taken the time to find the most economical, highest quality dance shoes available.
What type of training and experience do the instructors have?
It is common for studio owners or dance instructors to begin teaching and then quit seeking training for themselves. Dance is an ever-evolving art form. To stay up to date on new steps and teaching techniques, dance teachers should be continuing their education much like a school teacher.
Our instructors receive further training through performance experience and regular attendance of dance conferences.
| Center Stage Academy of the Performing Arts | ||
| 349 SE DD Highway Warrensburg, MO 64093 660.747.6133 |
2400 South Limit Suite G Sedalia, MO 65301 660.826.3811 |
|
| info@centerstageacademy.org | ||
|
site by andesigns
|