How to Choose A Dance School

With so many studios out there, it can be overwhelming for a parent to decide where they should enroll their child. One way to make sure that you make the best informed decision, is to empower yourself with the knowledge of what questions to ask. This can prevent disappointments over the course of the year and ensure that you and your child have the best possible dancing experience.

1)What is the studio’s philosophy and what teaching methods do they use?
It is important that the studio philosophy be clearly outlined for prospective clients and that you are in agreement with the studio philosophy. There are many different approaches to the teaching of dance, from the purely recreational through to the tough pre-professional training. Be sure that the goals you have for your child are in balance with the outlook and focus of the studio.

Be sure that you are clear on how your child will be treated and taught. All children have different needs and different learning styles. It is important that your child is taught with the skills and flexibility required to reach all types of learners. Please see our information on the website at about the theory of Multiple Intelligences.

2) Are the facilities appropriate and is the location convenient?

Ideally have a studio tour to see that the facilities are sufficient, safe and comfortable. Check to see that the floors are proper dance floors, including being a sprung or floating floor and a proper dance surface. The only proper surface that allows a necessary degree of slidability required in dance, but not slippage, is a Marley floor. Typical linoleum and tile is an unsafe dance surface as it is too slippery. Also check to see if there is sufficient room for you, the parent, to comfortably be in the lobby while class is running and that there is a private and comfortable changing room for the dancers. Is there an area and supplies (crayons and colouring,etc. ) for young dancers/siblings. Check that there is sufficient parking and don’t forget the convenience factor of location.

3) What qualifications do the teaching staff have?

The teacher your child has will have a great influence on the experience your child has and the skills that he/she will acquire. Teachers should be qualified and have experience teaching a variety of ages. Older teenage dancers may become good teachers in time, but should not be in charge of molding young dancers’ minds and bodies. There are many respected training methods that dance teachers can go through that will help lend credibility to their teaching skills, such as the Royal Academy of Dance. Ask to see the teaching philosophy of the studio and the individual teachers.

4)How is class placement achieved?

The studio should have the availability within the schedule to accommodate all ages and abilities. It is imperative that a student be in a class of appropriate level, so that learning can be easily facilitated. A student placed in too low a level is not being challenged sufficiently and time will feel wasted. Conversely, a student overly- challenged will become frustrated and demoralized.

5) How do students perform in festivals and exams?

If the studio does exams and competitions, how well do they do? Exam results are a good gauge of the quality of instruction. Dance festivals ideally should be entered by those students who can be prepared in time. Festivals are valuable tools to gain performance experience and set goals. However, be wary of a studio full of trophies. This can be an indication that class time is spent primarily on the learning and polishing of a single dance for competition, rather than the overall learning of dance.

6) What sort of customer service will you be provided with and how are services priced?

As a dance parent you will have many questions and many interactions with the studio, especially around recital time. Be sure to see whether there is a reception/office staff available during the regular class times to handle all of your questions. Ask the studio what sort of communication with parents is used. Is it up to the parents to be informed or is there a monthly newsletter? How will you know how your child is progressing? Are watching days scheduled or report cards given out each term? As for pricing, ask the studio all questions you have. They should be able to clear and transparent in all the answers. Fees should be easy to figure out and fully disclosed. Ask whether you pay for holidays? Is there a different amount paid because of all the missed classes on a holiday Monday for example? If they tell you that it all balances out in the end, they are incorrect: it does not. What are the methods of payment? Is it easy to pay? Do they have options like debit, VISA and MasterCard? What is the policy on withdrawal from classes?