Parent Guide
Why Choose Us For Dance Classes?
If most dance studios seem to have 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
enrol at? Yes. There are 6 main things that can make a huge difference
in the quality of instruction your child receives, the amount of extra
work the parents must deal with and the overall enjoyment and
satisfaction of being involved with a dance program. Here are 6 things
that every parent should consider before deciding on a dance studio for
their child.
1. THE SCHOOL'S PHILOSOPHY
What is the Artistic director's vision? Everything comes down from
the top. What are the principles behind the teaching methods employed in
the studio? What are the goals of the studio?
Our school’s
main goal is to help students develop a love for dance and a
self-confidence that lasts them for a lifetime. Director Janielle
Scott’s mission for the school is “to provide excellent, quality
instruction in a safe and nurturing environment. We want to develop in
students a love of dance while improving their self image, perseverance
and concentration.”
2. FACILITIES
The overall environment of a dance studio is key to your child's
success. The dance studio should be warm and inviting, as well as the
staff. The studio should be clean and well-maintained. The dancing room
should be well-ventilated and spacious, with mirrors covering at least
one entire wall. Your child should be provided with adequate space to
change clothes and easy access to washroom facilities. Certain styles of
dance can put stress on young bones and joints, especially ballet, with
its many leaps and jumps. Look for a professional floor that is
well-cushioned to absorb the shock of jumping. Never allow your child to
attend a dance class on a concrete floor.
Exisdance has a
sprung dance floor, which is very important for dancers. This type of
floor helps absorb the impact of dancing and helps keep teachers and
dancers more energized, while greatly aiding in injury prevention. There
are full mirrors throughout the studio to help students observe their
movements while learning and two levels of ballet barres to accommodate
the differing heights of the dancers. The studio is a bright and
spacious place to learn. Our studio also offers viewing times for
parents and there is a comfortable waiting area which is used by parents
and young siblings during class times. There are also plenty of
off-street parking spaces.
3. RECITALS
A formal late spring recital is recommended for all children and
should be a satisfying, informative experience for the child and the
families. For all children a chance to perform can be an important and
exhilarating experience.
Our annual year-end recital is held
before a full-house at the Yates Theatre, giving our students the
opportunity to perform publicly with family and friends present. Some
studios may require parents to sew their child’s costumes. This can be
inconvenient and frustrating for parents who are busy or can’t sew. Our
studio orders or sews costumes for you, so parents do not have to worry
about costume hassles.
4. DIVISION AND SIZE OF CLASSES
How are classes divided--by age or technical ability? Division by age
means that the class is composed of students with different degrees of
ability. 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.
At Exisdance we feel class size is extremely
important. For 3- 5 year olds our classes have a maximum of 10 children
per class. For ages 6 and up we have a maximum of 12 students per class.
Our classes are divided by both age and technical ability. Our smaller
class sizes make sure that no fundamental concepts are being missed. Our
smaller class size also allows teachers to ensure that students are not
developing bad habits or improper technique.
5. QUALIFIED TEACHERS
A dance class should be disciplined, encouraging, and nurturing. Just
as all dance studios are not alike, neither are all dance instructors.
Your choice of dance instructor is crucial to your child's future
success as a dancer. Bad habits learned at a young age are extremely
hard to break. Make a point to check the dance instructor’s
qualifications. Make sure he or she holds a diploma or degree in dance,
is certified to teach dance, or has danced with a professional company.
Exisdance
only hires instructors with professional experience as well as post
secondary education and or certification in dance or
kinesiology/movement.
Click here to see our instructors page. What do I look for in a teacher? (Click here)
6. 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 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 weekly class times, so you can get immediate assistance.
Footnotes
*Dance Magazine, Sept 1994 by Yasuko Tokunaga, Emiko Tokunaga
*Dance Masters of America website