5 Things Every Parent Should Know
When Choosing a Dance Studio
If most dance studios seem to have qualified friendly
teachers, who are experienced 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 and the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of
being involved with a dance program.
1. Who is teaching your children?
Many dance studios use dancers who have
moved up the ranks of the studio to teach entry level classes. Sometimes
these teachers are teenagers and even though they may be wonderful
dancers and great kids they are too inexperienced to be in charge
of children.
At Dance Dynamics all of the teachers are
adults. Even our entry level classes are taught by teachers with years
of experience. At Dance Dynamics we have teachers who are certified
through professional dance associations like Dance Masters of California
and teachers who are university trained. You can be sure your child
will be taught by qualified and experienced teachers.
2. What type of 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.
At Dance Dynamics your dancer's health
and safety is the highest priority. We have professional floating
wood floors, directly out of the gym at Santa Clara University! Our
special floors help reduce the risk of injury and allow students to
dance longer without getting tired.
3. 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.
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 classes 7
and older to a maximum of 10 students per class. Our classes for dancers
2-6 the maximum class size is 8.
4. What are the "extras" required for the year end show?
Most studios put on a year end show in a professional style theater.
Students that perform in the show must have a costume for their dance
number. Some studios "mark-up" costumes to make a profit.
Our studio does not need to profit on costumes.
The only fees added to costumes cover tax, shipping, and staff time
it takes to place the orders. Costume prices are set and parents are
notified of these fees at the time of registration so there are no
surprises.
5. Can I get immediate customer service?
In many studios the teacher or the studio owner conducts classes
and does the administration. They are so busy that they can have problems
returning phone calls in a timely fashion or at all. To have a good
experience it is important to choose a studio that can assist you
with customer service issues. We have an office staff on hand during
prime class hours, 2:30 to 6:30 Monday through Friday.