on

To contact us:

Phone: (610) 444-1948

 

4 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 at which place you decide to enroll?  Yes.  There are 4 main things that can make a huge difference in the quality of instruction your child receives, the amount of extra work and hassles the parents face, and the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved with a dance program.  Here are 4 things that every parent should consider before deciding on a dance studio for their child.

 

1.  What is the size of the class?

 

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.  Our smaller class sizes make sure that no fundamental concepts are being missed.  A smaller class size also allows our teachers to ensure that students are not developing bad habits or improper technique.

 

Our studio limits all of our classes (ages 6 and up) to a maximum of just 12 students per class.  With our “kinderdance” classes (ages 2 ½ - 5) we limit all of our classes to a maximum of just 6 students per class.

 

2.  What are the “extras” required for the year end show?

 

Most studios put on a year end show in a professional theatre.  Students that perform in the show must have a costume for their dance number.  Most studios order from costume companies with limited sizes that “fit” a range of sizes.  When the costume arrives it is wrinkled from the packaging, it is usually too large or too long, and often has straps or other pieces that require assembly sewing.  At most studios, the costumes are sent home in this condition, leaving the parents with the responsibility of altering, sewing, and steaming the costumes so that they are ready for the performance.  This can be inconvenient and frustrating for parents who are busy or can’t sew.  Taking it to a tailor is both time consuming and an added expense.  Most studios also require parents to purchase tickets for the recital performance night.  Additionally, some studios require all students to sell a minimum number of tickets to the recital.

 

Our studio uses our own professional seamstress to sew and alter the costumes, so parents do not have to worry about any costume hassles.  After the costumes are tailored to fit your child, we steam them for you, so that you receive them in performance ready condition.  Our studio also gives each family 2 free tickets for our year-end show and there is no minimum ticket purchase.  We also give each family a free DVD of the show so that you can share your child’s performance with anyone who was unable to attend.  We try to eliminate the extra work and hidden expenses for the parents.

 

3.  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 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 studio has office staff on hand during all regular class times, so you can get immediate assistance.

 

4.  Can I watch my child’s classes?

 

Having parents in the classroom is undeniably a big distraction for both students and teachers alike and therefore universally accepted as a bad idea.  However many parents, understandably, want to be able to watch their children learn and grow. In many studios there is no way to monitor your child’s progress from week to week.  They may offer one or two weeks during the year where parents are permitted to observe their children’s class(es).  However observation weeks are infrequent and don’t really give a true sense of the actual class.  Young students become distracted by the presence of the parents and teenage students are often embarrassed.  Other studios have observation windows that allow for frequent viewing, but younger students are easily distracted by the parents all huddling around the window.

 

Our studio has closed circuit TV monitors in the lobby, so that you can monitor your child’s progress each week from the comfort of our couches.  This allows for comfortable observation that does not disrupt the teaching process.

Carousel Performing Arts Center

Kennett Square, PA

Building Confidence Through the Arts!