What questions to ask a dance studio?

[Jenn Lynn]

I am going to call around to 3 dance studios tomorrow and I want to be prepared with the questions I should ask. It is for DD who will be 3 next week.

I know there are a lot of dance Moms (and Dads) here who can help me out.

Thanks!

 

[Nancy]

Besides cost for classes find out registration/insurance fees. If there will be a recital find out about max costume fees....ours ran over $55.00 per costume.

How many kids per class, can you watch or are lessons closed (we had a studio with closed lessons and 2 "watch weeks" per yr.) How many yrs experience do the teachers have, are there class assistants. What about make up lessons if a child misses a class due to illness. If your child decides they don't like lessons what are the policies on receiving refunds.

I'm sure I can come up with more, but my brain is fuzzy from work right now.

 

[Auggietina]

I would also ask if you are required to buy a certain dance shoe and/or dress code (ie only black leotards, etc)

I know a dance studio that you have to buy a certain brand and a certain color tap shoe. Its not the normal black so its a lot more than going to payless and picking up a pair.

Our dance studio just implemented only black leotards this year.

When dd started dance at 3 I choose a studio that had what was called creative movement. It was just moving the body, doing story dances, and some basic moves. She really enjoyed it.

 

[dizagain]

Ditto on the above. If you care what type of clothing your daughter wears, I'd ask about their recital costumes and music choices. All studios are different - some select some pretty raunchy music and costumes for their dancers....probably won't effect your DD at her age, though. Just somehting you might or might not want to consider! Hope your DD has fun - mine loves it still at 10.

 

[Nancy]

Good one on the dance attire...I forgot about that. we had to have black leotards and tights and white tap shoes and pink ballet slippers.

Also for costumes...ask if you will be required to add the trim (sequins) Some costumes come in very basic and require alot of work to make them look good. our studio has "costume Moms" that do all the sewing and alterations. My best freind had to do all of her DD's herself...so of course she came to me for help...I was a "costume Mom"

 

[Luckymommyx2]

I think everyone already covered everything. I don't know what type of studio you're looking at but it is very wise to observe a lesson or two before signing up. We started with a place that was good with the children but very lax on dress codes and controlling the younger ones. More and more children showed up during the year so apparently no cut-off on the number of students.

Now we're at a pre-professional ballet school. Black leotards, pink tights, girls' hair in a neat bun, boys in white t-shirt and black dance pants/shorts. No more than 10 children to the ballet mistress. No recitals but chances to audition for the company ballets in the winter (always Nutcracker) and a spring performance such as Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, etc. It is strict and serious but still fun. My daughter has improved 'leaps and bounds' just within the past two years. The hardest thing to adjust to was not being able to watch every week. This studio has one parent observation per year, that's it. I've learned to adjust since my DD puts on a mini-class for me almost every evening so I can see what she's learned.

When checking with studios you may want to see what types of classes are offered: strictly ballet, all forms, emphasis on a certain discipline, etc. I know with ballet alone there are several different styles taught so if that's important to you, check that out as well. Hope this helps!!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Originally posted by Luckymommyx2

When checking with studios you may want to see what types of classes are offered: strictly ballet, all forms, emphasis on a certain discipline, etc. I know with ballet alone there are several different styles taught so if that's important to you, check that out as well. Hope this helps!!

Can I say that I know NOTHING about dance? Nothing about ballet, tap, jazz, etc. I *think* I want a school that offers a couple of different types of classes. Is ballet/tap a good one to start little ones with? The creative movement class mentioned above also sounds interesting.

Nancy-I hope no one asks me to sew anything because I can't! LOL!

Much to learn in the world of dance.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Well, you need to concentrate on the now--what she needs to wear, do you need to buy shoes(believe it or not, my nieces go to a studio where they provide shoes, kind of like bowling shoes, go get a size 10...I think it's icky but it's cheaper), and everything covered here. Where we are I needed to buy tap shoes from the studio (white), but I could get the little ballet shoes at Payless.
My DDs started in a 'combination' class for 3 years where they did tap, ballet and a little tumbling. They would do one recital number.
When you see if she likes it, see what the studio does for the older girls. My girls are both in "company" at different levels, which means 3 dances EACH in the recital, tap, jazz and lyrical...but they've only done one competition. My neighbor goes to a studio where the girls practice twice as much and have 4 or 5 competitions to go to each year. At another studio in town if a girl makes their company, she has to sign something to the effect that she is not doing any other extracurriculars--meaning at age 9 a girl might be swearing off sports, plays, etc. I like my girls to have a little more leeway.
And are the lessons right after school (fine for teacher's kids and stay-at-home moms, but few other parents) or at 5,6,7PM?
Robin M.

 

[poochie]

All good points to remember, also keep in mind:

* Do you want Ballet only, or do you want a mixture of tap/jazz/ballet/acro/hiphop.

* Do you want your child in a non preforming studio. Meaning there will be no recital, just a few mini shows put on in the classroom. Or do you want one who puts on a show at the end of the year.

* Be aware of all costs involved, registration, tuition, recital fee, pictures, costumes. Payment options, monthly, year paid in advance. Do they accept cash, checks, and or credit cards. Most studios offer a brochure with this information.

* See if they have a calendar already mapped out with recital dates, picture dates, rehersals dates. If Recital falls on the week you are taking a family vacation, you need to check into another studio. Why pay so much time and $ and not be able to enjoy the fruits of your childs hard work.

* Make an effort to visit each of the studios to meet the instructors and view the classrooms. Many studios have open houses.

* When meeting the instuctors and their assistants, watch how they interact with your child. Do they ignore them and only talk to you. After all it is your child who is taking class. They should feel comfortable, even though many are nervous as this is a first experience for them.

* Ask to see if they have a copy of the previous years recital so you can see the children preforming from her age group.

* During open house do not hesitate to ask questions of other parents who have had their children dance the previous year,they also can provide you with information.

* Ask about dress code, many studios have a set uniform, and hair in bun, no exceptions. Then you also have the studios who with the younger children have a not so stringent code. Any leotard in any color, with just their hair pulled back.

* Ask if your child can just attend the first few classes in sneakers some children are not ready yet for this and drop after 2 classes.

****MOST IMPORTANT, NO QUESTION IS SILLY. ASK AWAY*****

This I learned from 20 years at the studio with my daughter who is now an instructor and I work reception. I know my daughter was nervous for the first few weeks, then she never looked back. Not bad considering she was clutching my leg the first day.

I wish many happy memories for you and your child. She will make many new friends in dance.

 

[janette]

Although your DD is pretty young check to see what they offer for serious dancers. My only regret with my DD is that I didn't keep her at the studio she is with now since she started at 3. There were a couple of years when she was 4/5 that a class was offered at her daycare and it was just easier and she didn't care that much so I did that instead.

It seems like it wouldn't matter but when she decided to be more serious about dance in the last couple of years I realized that it did set her behind some of the other dancers. The studio is very professional, has many rules and costs more than many of the other smaller schools but they do develop professional calibur dancers. If your DD wants to get serious about dance later it is to her benefit to be at a high calibur studio from the beginning.

Ask about how they do in competions and how many of their dancers have gone been able to make a career out of dance.