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| 4
THINGS EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW BEFORE
CHOOSING A DANCE STUDIO
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| 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 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.
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| 1. WHAT
TYPE OF DANCE FLOOR IS USED?
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| 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.
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| 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 as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet,
the Royal Academy of Dance in London, England, and Riverdance
- The Touring Show, all use marley floors as their dance surface.
A marley floor allows dancers to slide, 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
expense involved, and usually opt for a regular floor tile for
a studio floor.
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| Each of our floating floors have over 8000 high density foam blocks
under the floor surface and a marley top surface. Our special
floors help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to
dance longer without getting tired.
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| 2. WHAT
IS THE SIZE OF THE CLASS?
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| 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.
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| Our studio limits all of our classes
(ages 6 and up) to a maximum of just 14 students per class. With
our kinder dance classes (ages 3 - 5) we limit all of our classes
to a maximum of just 10 students per class.
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| 3. WHAT
ARE THE “EXTRAS” REQUIRED FOR THE YEAR END SHOW?
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| Most studios put on a year end show
in a professional theatre. Students that perform in the show must
have a costume for their dance number. Some studios may require
parents to sew 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. Most studios also require parents to purchase tickets for the
recital performance night.
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| Our studios use our own professional
venders to supply the costumes. If necessary, we will alter the
costumes so parents do not have to worry about any costume hassles.
Our studio also gives each parent 4 free tickets for our year-end
show. This way you as a parent will not be faced with any extra
work or expenses.
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| 4. CAN
I GET IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE AND CUSTOMER SERVICE?
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In many studios the teacher
or the 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 studios have office
staff on hand during all regular class times, so you can get immediate
assistance.
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