| Dance Works Performing Arts Center |
| What to Know |
| 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 which place you decide to enroll 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 and hassles 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. 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 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. A high-density foam base is superior to a "sprung" floor, which usually consists of a wood structure built on the regular floor. The dance floors in Both Studio’s A and B have this system with a professional “Marley” floor covering Our special floors help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without getting tired. 2. 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 7 to 12 are limited to a maximum of just 12 students per class. Our Teen classes are limited to a maximum of just 15 students per class. And with our younger classes (ages 3-6) we limit all of our classes to a maximum of just 8 students per class. 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 number. Our staff will take each individual dancer's measurements and will order your child's costume(s). Any major alterations will be handled by Dance Works (smaller alterations, like the hemming of pants will be up to the parents). Our studio also gives each parent 2 free tickets for our year-end show. This way you as a parent will not be faced with any overwhelming work or over the top expenses for the year-end show. By the way, Dance Works will not be charging any kind of "Recital Fees" again this school year, many dance studios do charge recital fees. 4. 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 studios have office staff on hand during all regular class times, so you can get immediate assistance. In striving to bring you a superior dance product, we must insist that all questions/concerns be directed to the studio receptionist, Jayme (Assistant Studio Director), and/or Tim (Studio Director). This way the teachers will not be interrupted from instructing the dance students. 5. How does the studio feel in terms of dance competition teams? Many dance studios pride themselves on being an "award winning" competition dance school. Yes, we do as well. Our teachers and staff believe in the competition scene as it allows children to develop their “performance” skills more quickly. “Performance” skills improve with repetitive practice in front of a live audience. The studio’s primary focus in teaching your child is for your child to succeed in every way possible, whether that be with competition classes or recreational classes. Auditions are held mid August for all of the competitions lines offered at Dance Works. 6. Who is teaching my child? Dance Works prides itself on bringing some of the best dance teachers together in Central Ohio. Our staff has a combined history of professional dance training on the university level, show credits in New York and Chicago, theme park and cruise line credits (as performers and choreographers), a long history of dance conventions and master classes with some of the industry's leading teachers and celebrities (Debbie Allen, Ben Vereen) and professional ballet credits, both in the United States (company members) and with the Vaganova Academy of Russia (master classes). Our backgrounds have taken us many years of study with true dedication to develop our level of dancing to the high standards that we have come to expect from ourselves. All of the teachers at Dance Works are contracted, professional adults. You will not find a student teacher, or high school student that is growing up in our studio, as the primary teacher for your child. |
| 6 Things Every Parent Should Know Before Choosing A Dance Studio |