If you had told me 10 years ago that I would care so much about the nuances of children’s extracurricular activities, I likely would have laughed at you… politely of course. Then if you had said that dance was going to play such an important role in my future, I would have rolled my eyes and said “we’ll see”. Alas, 6 years ago I married someone who’s fam is in the ballet biz, and own the Bountiful School of Ballet. Then a year later we had a little girl. And now I take all the hypothetical eye rolling and “we’ll see”-ing back.
I have learned a lot these last few years about the ins and outs of what makes a good dance studio, and why you should actually care before blindly signing your child up for lessons somewhere. Because in reality, not all studios are created equal, and not all children are created equal. And if you chose the right activity for your child, it becomes so much more than just “something to do”. It sets the stage for bringing out their full potential in life, even if they are inflexible, flat-footed, rhythmically challenged hot-messes.
So whether or not you’re still deciding if your child is even a good fit for dance lessons, or you’re all in and just need to know how to find the right studio. These tips should help you narrow down, and answer, either question:
1) Ask What the Floor is Made Of – I had no idea this was even a thing, but it makes complete sense. Your child’s developing bodies are jumping up and down on this surface, it needs to be resilient and work with them, not against them. Tile or cement could lead to terrible injury. All the BSOB floors are marley floors. It was a new term to me, but it’s a type of flooring that allows dancers to slide with a certain amount of “controlled slip”, but it’s not slippery so there is less risk of slips and falls. Very few studios use professional marley floors because of the expense involved, but they are much safer for dancer’s bones and joints.
2) Observe the Older Students – Do they appear to have a breadth of levels and seemingly “good” kids at each level? Can you see the progression of what they may have learned after having gone to that studio for a while? There is something to be said for a studio that does not have a high student turnover rate. The students stick around for a reason. And then if they come back to teach, well you know it’s gotta be good.
Original Photo by Timewave Studios
3) Find Out the Teacher Qualifications – Speaking of the teachers… find out what their background is. Are they qualified to be doing what they’re doing? Do they have proper knowledge, and the right balance of teaching technique and skill as well as having fun? Both the owners of BSOB hold a BFA in ballet with a teaching emphasis, as do many of their instructors.
4) Are the Classes by Age or Skill Level – You may want to note if the studio just lumps kids together based on age. It’s important that they consider the skill level of the dancer as well. BSOB seems to have grouped the kids really well. It allows the teachers to really focus on individual strengths and coach on weaknesses, which then makes a much more cohesive class.
Original Photo by Lee Hester Photography
5) When do They Put Kids en Pointe – On a similar note, you want to make sure the studio doesn’t put kids en pointe too soon. According to one of the partners at BSOB, “Students should not go en pointe before the age of 10 – and 10 if and only if they are advanced for their age and strong enough. Certain criteria should be met before they are allowed to enroll in a pre pointe class. In this class special exercises and skills should be taught to prepare students for pointe work. This class should last anywhere from 6 – 12 months. When students start pointe it should be done slowly and carefully for no more than a ½ hour at time. Initially most work will be done at the barre. Careful fitting of pointe shoes should take place at a professional store, all pointe shoes should be checked off with an instructor before sewing and wearing. Pointe shoes cannot be passed down or fitted with room to grow.”
Original Photo by ALC Photography
6) Does the School Participate in Competitions – This may be what you are looking for, and that’s fine… but it’s a whole other world that really becomes less about the art of learning how to dance and everything technical associated with it, and more about learning a dance or series of dances and routines for the sake of a competition.
7) Make Sure it’s About the Students Not the Parents – Are you looking for a fulfilling activity for your child, or an excuse for more drama in your life? Sure, Dance Moms may suck you in with it’s bad reality tv (I’ll admit, I’ve been sucked in before) but it’s not healthy for you our your kid. So don’t look for a studio that looks like it could be a reality show on television. Plus those costumes seem very age inappropriate, and I wouldn’t want my little girl strutting around like that… and I am VERY liberal and non prude-y.
8) Dance Teaches MANY Skills For Even the Worst of Dancers – Dance is not just about the act of dancing. Dance is about discipline, listening, teamwork, confidence, musicality, respect, and appreciation of music and the arts.
Original Photo by Timewave Studios
9) It’s Not Just for Girls – This is kind of a standard cliche, and it drives me nuts. Dance teaches boys all the same amazing values as girls. Why wouldn’t you want them to be taught these things? Are you afraid of him learning confidence, respect, teamwork, and discipline?
Original Photo by Lee Hester Photography
10) You Want There to be a Sense of Regimen and Organization – It’s a reflection of how the studio runs and teaches their classes. You may be annoyed at their requests to have hair and makeup done perfectly, or the idea of a specific “uniform”, or requiring timeliness and attendance. But let me tell you, if they are like that it means they are GOOD. They are like that because they care about your children and want to see them succeed. They are like that because that is what produces amazing results for your child both internally and externally, and your child will dance at that studio for 15 years because of it. That is what comes of a studio that cares.
And when you find that right place, you want to hold on to it. I could not be more thrilled with how much my little girl has progressed both physically and mentally in her three years at the Bountiful School of Ballet. Of all her various activities, that’s the one she is always excited to go to, never wants to give up on, and that she also gets the most out of.
Original Photo by ALC Photography
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