Choosing a Dance Studio - Elan Dance Arts

5 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing A Dance Studio

If most of the dance studios that you’re looking at seem to have qualified, friendly, experience teaching children and adults and have 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? Maybe the closest one to your house should win based on convenience. There are 5 main things that can make a huge difference in the quality of instruction you or your child receives, the amount of extra work and hassles the parents and students must deal with and the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved with a dance program. Here are 5 important things that every parent and student should consider before deciding on a dance studio for you or your child.

1. What type of dance floor is used?
Dance is a very physical activity that requires a lot of jumping, which can put stress on bones and joints. Most dance footwear does not provide any and cushioning or support, so the shock of dance movement can place a lot of pressure on the knees and back of a dancer. The best way to prevent against potential injury is by choosing a studio with a professional “floating floor”. A floating floor is a dance floor that rests on a system of high-density foam, to absorb the shock of jumping and , of course, landing. A high-density foam base is superior to a “sprung” floor, which usually consists of a wood structure built on a regular floor.

The top layer of the dance floor is also a very important factor. A vinyl composite “Marley” floor is accepted worldwide as the best surface layer for recreational to professional dance. Facilities such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Royal Academy of Dance in London, Enlgand, and Riverdance – the Touring Show, all use Marley floors as their dance surface. A Marley floor allows dancers to slide, with degrees of “controlled slip”, but is not slippery so there is less risk of slips and falls resulting in injuries. Few studios use professional Marley floors because of the expense involved, and usually opt for a regular floor tile or laminate for a studio floor.

Our studio has a floating floor with high-density foam blocks under the floor surface and a Marley top surface. These floors help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without getting tired.

2. What is the class size?
If the dance class has fewer students in it then each student 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 that 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 developing bad habits and improper technique.

Our studio limits all of our classes (age 6 and up) to a maximum of just 15 students per class. With our Scooters, Mini and Pre classes (3-5) we limit all of our classes to a maximum of 8 students per class. Adult classes can sometimes be larger as they understand instruction more than children.

3. 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 routine. Some studios may require parents to sew their child’s or their own costumes, or pay extra to find their own seamstress to do the sewing. This can be inconvenient and frustrating for parents who are busy or can’t sew. Most studios also require parents to purchase tickets for the recital performance night.

Our studio uses its own professional seamstress to sew and alter the costumes so that parents and adult students do not have to worry about any costume hassles. Our studio also gives each family 2 free tickets for our end of the year show. This way you as a parent will not be faced with any extra work or expenses and adult students can have support from their friends.

4. Can I get immediate assistance and customer service?
In many studios the teacher or the studio owner is the only person who conducts and does the administration. By trying to do two things 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 lie 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.

5. What type of education and training does the studio owner/director and teachers have?
Ask for a history on the training of the owner, director and instructors, ask about their own personal accomplishments in dancing. A key here is that the ability to TEACH another individual is not inherent in a GOOD DANCER. The top competing couples are not all equal when it comes to teaching others. Competitions do not make you a better dance trainer than someone who is skilled at TRAINING AND TEACHING skills to others.
Ask for some information on the method of teaching that is used in the studio. Ask for the policy they adhere to with respect to outside teachers. Are they certified in their method of teaching? Are they familiar with the well known figures associated with this specific method of teaching and do you get the impression that they have earned the support of these figures?
If competing is a prime objective of your dancing -- check out the ability of the studio to offer choreography and what results they’ve achieved at past competitions. Are they willing to spend money on hiring great outside choreographers in order for their students to gain different types of experience and style?