| What kind of classes should I take? | | | | preparing for competitions. |
| Most experts agree that Classical Ballet is the most | | | | What about recitals? |
| effective method of training a dancer. Broadway | | | | Most studios have an end-of-the-year recital. Most |
| auditions start with a ballet class. The best dancers | | | | studios spend a great deal of class time rehearsing |
| you see on "So You Think You Can Dance" and | | | | the recital dance. This takes away from the training |
| other TV shows trained in ballet. Other styles like | | | | that should be going on in class. Sometimes half the |
| jazz and tap are based on ballet, so you have to | | | | year's class time is spent rehearsing one recital dance. |
| learn your A-B-C's before you can go further. Even if | | | | At more serious studios, several classes per week will |
| you prefer or aspire to other dance forms, good | | | | be devoted solely to the technical training needed to |
| ballet training will help you to be the best. Avoid | | | | produce a better dancer. Try to determine how |
| "combination classes" where students study Tap, | | | | much "training" time there is compared to "rehearsal" |
| Jazz, Ballet, Baton, Clogging, etc. all in one hour per | | | | time. It would be better if rehearsals for productions |
| week. Even beginning students should have a | | | | were in addition to training rather than instead of it. |
| minimum of one hour per week of ballet, and older | | | | How many students should be in the class? |
| students (who study pointe for example) should take | | | | Ideally, between 10 and 20. This depends on the size |
| three or more classes per week (usually 90 minutes | | | | of the studio room. Larger rooms may accommodate |
| each). Pointe work should only be done after several | | | | more dancers. In an advanced level 25 can |
| years of serious training and after the student is at | | | | sometimes be accommodated if the space is large |
| least 11 years old. | | | | enough (see above). An experienced teacher may be |
| Who should be teaching my child? | | | | able to handle 20 students, whereas a novice or |
| Anyone can hang up a shingle and teach dance. | | | | teenager may not be able to handle 12! |
| There are no governmental regulations or licensing. | | | | What should my child be wearing? |
| Therefore, it is very important that you investigate | | | | Good dance training requires that the teacher be able |
| the qualifications of teachers. It's best if dance | | | | to see the entire body and what is going on. Tights |
| teachers have been experienced professional | | | | and a leotard are the accepted uniform. If T-shirts, |
| dancers. They have usually had the best training and | | | | sweatpants, or other loose clothing is worn, the |
| experience and, through teacher training, experience, | | | | teacher may not be able to see that stomach |
| or talent, can pass that on to the next generation. | | | | sticking out or that bent knee and make a correction. |
| Some teachers who have college degrees in dance | | | | Hair can also be in the way or prevent a student |
| may be good teachers despite not having been | | | | from seeing well enough to learn how to turn, for |
| successful enough as dancers to have performed | | | | example. Hair is usually worn in a bun to see the neck |
| professionally. Other teachers may have studied at | | | | alignment and allow full use of the head. If a studio |
| local studios but never studied in a professional | | | | allows students to wear whatever they want or |
| situation, and are not qualified to take your child very | | | | have their hair down, this will limit what can be |
| far. Many studios have classes taught by teenage | | | | learned. |
| students. Make sure you know who will be teaching | | | | How can I tell if these things are being done? |
| your child. | | | | Try to observe a class at your child's level before |
| What should the facility be like? | | | | enrolling. See how attentive the teacher is, if the |
| Dance studios should have plenty of space for | | | | class is well disciplined, and evaluate the studio on the |
| moving: high ceilings for jumping, mirrors to see | | | | criteria discussed here. Studios should welcome |
| yourself, and specially built sprung wooden floors | | | | parents to stay there in sufficient lobby areas and |
| several inches off the concrete with an appropriate | | | | observe classes through windows or doors. If you |
| surface covering (wood or special vinyl). Studios | | | | are unwelcome or discouraged from seeing what is |
| should not have concrete floors or wood floors that | | | | going on, that could be a bad sign. |
| are sitting directly on concrete. This is too hard a | | | | Recreational or Professional? |
| surface and may lead to injury. Low ceilings and small | | | | Many dance studios are what is referred to as |
| spaces limit what you can do. Studios should be 1,000 | | | | "recreational" studios. They are big businesses trying |
| square feet or more and have 60 square feet of | | | | to make money, retain students, and make it all fun |
| space or more per student in the class. | | | | and games. They may have little concern for the |
| What about competitions, and conventions? | | | | safety, training, and quality described herein. Other |
| Most studios participate in competitions and | | | | more "professional" studios are concerned with |
| conventions. These can be fun and exciting ways to | | | | training dancers who might go on to professional |
| show off your skills and have a performing | | | | careers. A good dance education in a safe |
| experience. Extra classes or rehearsals should be | | | | environment can be fun too. Even if your children |
| dedicated to preparing for competitions, and | | | | don't want to or aren't talented enough to be a |
| technique classes in all disciplines should come first. | | | | dance professionals, wouldn't you want them to have |
| You can't stop training and expect to compete! | | | | the same quality training and experience that the |
| Serious ballet students need to have at least one | | | | professionals get? |
| daily technique class before spending time on | | | | |