BRAND NEW TO DANCE CLASSES? PLEASE READ FOR HELPFUL INFORMATION:
5 Things Every Parent Should Know Before Choosing A Dance 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 at? 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 hassles the parent 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 studio for their child.
1. Can I get immediate assistance and customer service?
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 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 the teacher is occupied in a class. Our studio has a receptionist on hand during most regular class times so you can get immediate assistance.
2. What are the "extras" required for the year end show?
We have our show in an auditorium complete with air-conditioning, convenient dressing areas, plenty of seating, and adequate parking Students that perform in this show must have a costume for their dance routine. Some studios may require parents to sew their child's costume or pay extra and the parents must find their own seamstress to do the sewing or alterations. This can be frustrating for parents who are too busy or can't sew.
Our studio does all alterations for our customers FREE OF CHARGE so parents do not have to worry about costume hassles. Each account holder with dancer's participating in the recital will also receives a free DVD of the 2008 show.
3. How are the facilities set up?
Physical Attitude Ltd occupies a large, air-conditioned facility which separates the dance room from the office and waiting area. Many studios are set up so the customer walks directly into the dance room upon entering the studio. This can cause unnecessary distractions, and greatly hinder the progress of a dance lesson. At our studio, we offer surveillance cameras and monitors so parents can view a lesson from the waiting area without disrupting it. All business can be handled in the office area without interfering with class progress. Also a small dance shop is located at the facility to add the convenience of being able to purchase necessary dancewear right on the premises.
4. Are the teachers really qualified to teach?
Did you know that it takes absolutely no certification or proof of education for a person to open a dance studio in RI? It is imperative that you look into the qualifications of the dance instructors. Many studios are operated by teachers who have no certification, no formal education, have not been tested in any subjects of dance, and do no further training.
At Physical Attitude, all teachers have to complete three years of classes with the Dance Teachers' Club of Boston Teachers' Training School to get their certification.We do not hire "student teachers". You will not find a 16 year old in charge of teaching their own classes. Classes are run only by adults.
LOOK FOR PROGRESS! If your child has been dancing for many years and really works hard, you should see progress. You should see improvement. We get many students who come from different studios. They have several years of training in their background but still have not mastered steps that are considered part of our basic repertoire. If the teacher seems disorganized, it's a good bet he or she has no syllabus or lesson plan. At Physical Attitude, every teacher has a very specific lesson plan to follow and skill sheet to mark for every student to ensure EACH AND EVERY child gets the training they deserve.
All teacher's are also required to complete at least 20 hours each year of outside dance training to further their dance education, as well as to stay up to date on all new dance trends. Dance is a constantly changing art form. Keeping on top of all trends and keeping in strong physical condition is essential for all great dance teachers. Each teacher and all staff members are also certified in CPR and trained for any medical emergencies that may occur.
5. Is there any effort to keep parents notified of all studio news?
At Physical Attitude, each family will have their own individual mailbox that will hold all newsletters, flyers, and other necessary information each dancer/parent will need for the year. Newsletters are also e-mailed out to anyone who provides us with an e-mail address. A telephone message system will leave messages to each student regarding an important event. We post cancellations due to weather conditions on WPRO Operation Snowball, our website, by e-mail, on our answering machine, and on www.cancellations.com . We also post information weekly on our bulletin boards. Our yearly calendar is sent home with our registration package and postings continue regularly on our website. We understand the busy lifestyle of today's family and make every effort possible to keep our clients informed.
