Six Things to Consider Before Choosing a Dance School
If most dance schools seem to have qualified, friendly teachers with 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 six key things that can make a huge difference in the quality of instruction your child receives, the costs and the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved with a dance program. Here are six things that you should consider before deciding on a dance school.
1-What is the size of the class?
If the dance classes have fewer students in it, each student will receive more personalized attention, learn more effectively and have more fun. By offering classes with a limited number of students, California DanceArts makes sure that each student thoroughly understands the concepts and instruction given to them. Our smaller class sizes ensure that students do not miss fundamental concepts. A smaller class size allows our teachers to ensure that students avoid the development of poor habits and improper technique. Rather than trying to generate as much revenue as possible by crowding 20, or even 30 students in a class, we place limits on our enrollment. Our academy restricts student enrollment (at ages 7 and up) to a maximum of just 10-12 students per class. Our Primary and Pre-level classes, where students are typically 3 to 6 years of age, are limited to a maximum of only 6 students per class.
2. Are parents allowed to observe their child in class?
Many dance schools do not offer parents the opportunity to observe their child in class. Instead, they are forced to wait until the annual parent viewing day or a lengthy recital, at the end of the year, to see their child’s progress. Parents are often required to wait in the school’s lobby while their child takes class behind closed doors. Select a school that values parent interest by permitting parents to view classes. California DanceArts welcomes the chance to educate parents who can then assist in the nurturing support needed for significant student development. Our classes are open by offering viewing windows so that parents can observe without interruption to the class. There are occasions when a student appears to be distracted by an observer, in which case we simply ask the parent to refrain from visiting until the student is more confident.
3. What type of floor and facilities does the school offer?
Dance is a physically demanding activity that requires a considerable amount of jumping, an action that can put stress on bones and joints. Slippery floors can cause students to slide or fall, another source of injury to dancers. A good way to prevent the potential for injury is to select a school with sprung floors covered by a specific latex mat called Marley which provides the best no-slip surface. California DanceArts houses three studios with a total of more than 4,000 square feet of sprung floor, constructed with space below their surfaces to provide our dancers with spring and bounce! All our studio surfaces are covered with this slip-resistant, antibacterial latex Marley material. Our academy also features 20-foot high ceilings for jumping, wall mirrors, air conditioning, and the space can also be converted into a theater for intimate performances, utilizing our drop-down backdrops, theater lights, state of the art sound system and more. Our facilities also feature a student center, complete with internet-connected computers, where students have the opportunity to complete homework between classes and where parents can work or shop on-line.
4-What type of customer service does the school provide?
Parents should look for a school that has a professional, friendly staff that is available to offer accurate, useful and knowledgeable customer service, thereby saving you time, money and hassles. A school with sound customer service practices also allows teachers to stay focused on their students without fear of disruptions. A well-trained office staff should provide support to teachers by dealing with telephone inquiries and billing issues which might otherwise create undue stress on students and the learning process. At California DanceArts, we are constantly working to offer and improve our customer service by providing (i) support to our teachers, students and their parents, (ii) easy and secure methods for enrollment and tuition payment, (iii) personal, viewable online client accounts, (iv) online information, (v) easy online class registration, and (vi) longer office and phone hours for personal assistance. These types of services afford students the opportunity to maintain attention on their dance training and offer students and their families a more pleasurable, satisfying experience.
5. What type of performance opportunities does the school provide?
The type of performance opportunities offered by a school can vary, depending on the school’s philosophies. Performances can sometimes be focused on a specific style of dance and often, an emphasis might be placed on the school’s participation in dance competitions, where winning is stressed. Beware that studio competitions require several expensive costumes in addition to pricey competition and participation fees, ultimately adding to your overall costs. At California DanceArts, our philosophy is to encourage our students to reap personal reward through hard work and dedication to one’s art, not by means of a trophy. We base our performance philosophy on the achievement of technical and artistic skill, encouraging our students to focus on the development of performance artistry and the participation in theatrical performances with our school’s affiliated ballet company, California Contemporary Ballet (CCB). CCB provides a youth division called California Contemporary Youth Ballet (CCYB), offering students the opportunity to audition for membership entitling them to be cast in several theater performances throughout the year. The company’s most popular production is our annual Snow Queen ballet, and participation in this production give our young members of CCYB the opportunity to work alongside with, and be mentored by, the professional company dancers of CCB. This production offers handmade costumes (saving you money) and features elaborate scenery, lighting design and choreography set to originally composed music. Through our affiliation with CCB, many of our students benefit from superior artistic experiences, resulting in a sense of accomplishment, stronger self worth, a solid work ethic, an appreciation of the arts and valuable preparation for those dancers who may eventually desire a career in dance.
6. What type of instruction is offered?
What can I expect as a result of training at the school?
Nearly every dance school, including California DanceArts, offers a program that includes classical ballet, jazz dance and hip-hop. However, the caliber of instruction may vary greatly from school to school. We believe that you, as a parent, should be able to see some results from the money you invest in your child’s dance education. That being the case, our instructors are dance education specialists, each of whom has achieved either a successful professional career or who has been awarded teaching certifications or degrees in dance by colleges and universities. By encouraging our staff to read, attend workshops, continue their own dance education or collaborate with other dance education specialists internationally, our academy constantly strives to develop the most current and effective training methods for use in our classrooms. By providing fundamental core training in classical ballet, enhanced by all major styles of dance and giving attention to important attributes such as musicality, rhythm and dramatic skills, students are given the tools with which to achieve their goals and to pursue their passion and dreams. While every child may not possess the desire to become a professional dancer, we believe that quality dance training of a superior caliber will ultimately benefit students of any skill level and at any age. California DanceArts has established affiliations internationally and offers its students many international experiences. What are the results? Current as well as former students have secured scholarship awards for dance and theater. Other alumni have succeeded in landing roles in Broadway-style musicals and theater as dancers, choreographers and directors, while others have used their training to develop their acting and television careers. Some students have entered performing arts schools and universities to fulfill their dreams. California DanceArts students have been accepted to, and have secured international opportunities or positions with, Cirque du Soleil, Universal Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Kaatsbaan, Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, Salzburg International Ballet of Austria, Ostrava Ballet of Czech Republic and more.
California DanceArts offers classes for all ages and skill levels, whether your child is a new student, only seeking one class per week, or you wish to get set on a path to a professional career.
