Finding the right dance studio for your child is a big decision! You want to feel confident that in return for your time and financial investment, the experience provides value to your family, and enriches your child’s life. As you research options for your child’s dance class education, I suggest asking yourself these four questions:
1. There are countless extra-curricular children’s activities available in our area, why choose dance classes for my child?
2. How do I know which dance classes are best for my child?
3. How can I tell if a children’s dance program is a “good” one?
4. Are there growth opportunities outside of weekly dance classes that my dancer can take advantage of?
Still with me? Great! Let me provide additional information to help answer each of these questions….
1. There are so many choices in activities for children, why choose dance classes for my child?
A dance education will provide your child with physical activity and an appreciation for the arts, but more importantly, a dance education provides important life skills that can carry over into other areas of your child’s development. Dance students grow in the areas of social development, character development, emotional development, self-motivation, collaboration skills when working with others, respect for other people’s differences, critical thinking skills, and intellectual development. Dance class also allows children to learn discipline, classroom structure, spatial awareness, and self-control. These are just a few of the many benefits of dance classes that can set a child up for success in future endeavors, even if they pursue passions outside of the performing arts.
Research by the National Endowment for the Arts shows that students with an arts education hold higher GPAs, score higher on tests, have excellent attendance records and are 4 times more likely to hold leadership positions among their peers, and are 3 times more likely to earn a Bachelors degree than students who do not participate in the arts. The same study also shows that students involved in an arts education are 44% less likely to use drugs, are more likely to spend leisure time in community service, and are more likely to vote than their non-arts educated peers. A dance education can contribute to the development of your child into a well-rounded and successful adult.
2. How do I know which dance classes are best for my child?
Making sure that the class is developmentally appropriate for your dancer is key. You want to be sure that your child is able to learn and engage in an environment that allows them to try new things and have fun while learning and developing new skills. Age ranges and limited class sizes allow dancers to grow and explore in an environment that they will feel confident in. Young dancers should primarily focus on learning fundamental Ballet technique, since Ballet is the foundation of every other dance style. Some dancers choose to supplement their dance training with tumbling or yoga to increase strength, flexibility and provide a broader range of skills. Young students (6 and under) learn best in a Ballet class that teaches vocabulary and technical skills using games, props and songs that engage the imagination. Younger students also do well when Ballet is combined with another dance genre so that they are exposed to multiple genres within one class period. Although beginner dance students who are age 7 and older can always benefit from Ballet class, they may do best in a Jazz Hip Hop class where they can develop a foundation in Jazz technique that will transfer to other dance genres as well.
As a dancers grows, they may wish to explore introductory level jazz, tap, or hip hop and take multiple classes each week in order to receive a well-rounded dance education. When a dancer has reached an intermediate level in their training, they may wish to add lyrical, pom, musical theater or performance teams to their experience. A variety of dance styles offered at a studio will appeal to the different interests and unique personality of your child.
3. How can I tell if a children’s dance program is a “good” one?
One of the most important things to recognize when researching dance programs is that the dance industry is unregulated in the United States. While there are organizations that dance instructors can affiliate with professionally, there is not one governing organization holding dance studios or dance teachers accountable for safe and effective dance training. That means that there are no legal or formal education requirements, certifications, degrees, or licenses required to open a dance studio and present yourself as a dance teacher. Literally, any person (whether qualified or not) has the ability to open a dance studio and/or teach dance in the US! Parents must therefore do research to ensure that their children are learning from qualified dance professionals who hold themselves accountable to governing organizations.
Given that parents are faced with evaluating the qualifications of dance instructors who will work with their children, here are some questions to consider asking: Are the instructors formally educated in both dance technique and dance instruction? Does the studio use a proven curriculum to help students progress? Do the instructors hold dance education degrees or educator certifications? Does the studio provide continuing education for their teachers? Does the studio require CPR certification and annual national background checks for their staff? Does the studio have policies and standards to keep children’s developing minds and bodies safe? Does the studio offer performance opportunities? In general, do you get a good vibe when you walk into the facility? Are other parents in the lobby happy? Is the information on the website helpful? Do the details provided reflect a program that is organized and well-planned? Do the students seem to be learning and having fun? Is the environment cheerful and encouraging? Is the dance studio an educationally focused environment or just “babysitting”?
Many of these questions are applicable to just about any extra-curricular activity, but with dance, it is particularly important to be sure that instructors are trained in dance education rather than just performers or former dancers themselves. Many dance skills require years of training, and it is critical that specific fundamental skills are developed during the early years, accentuating the critical difference between a “dance educator” and a “dancer” in the field of dance studio training.
4. Are there growth opportunities outside of weekly dance classes that my dancer can take advantage of?
Opportunities outside of weekly dance classes can provide additional life experiences as well as provide important training that complements a dancer’s education. As your dancer grows in both passion and experience, being part of a performance team may offer experience in more focused technical training, more frequent performance opportunities, and leadership experiences that can benefit them in all areas. Evaluating a dance program’s future opportunities may prove worthwhile at the onset of their dance education so that they can form relationships with staff and peers at an early age and grow together in pursuit of a shared passion.
There is more than one way to identify a good dance program, but asking these questions can lead you to find the right fit for your family! Below is a brief summary of the programs, philosophies, and practices at 3-D Dance for you to review as you consider enrollment for your student.
Values:
At 3-D Dance, our values encourage our dancers to grow as individuals, not just as dancers. We have Five Core Values that guide everything we do, and you can read about them HERE.
We are conscientious about the messages our children are learning from the world around them. We are a Y.P.A.D. Member studio and we follow the guidelines, standards, and recommendations set forth by the Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (www.ypad4change.org/standards) for the selection of music, attire/dress code, dance movement/choreography, social media/internet presence, and hiring of dance professionals. We have been granted a 2018 Y.P.A.D. Studio Certification Scholarship for upholding the Y.P.A.D. guidelines to the highest standard, which means that in mid-2018, 3-D Dance became one of the very first Y.P.A.D. Certified Dance Studios in the nation. No position, trophy, accolade or financial gain will take precedence over the protection and well-being of our students.
Curriculum:
Our programs use a structured curriculum so that you can be assured that no matter what class your child is in, they are receiving consistent quality training. Our dance program curriculum uses progressions that build upon each other throughout a student’s dance training in a developmentally appropriate way while preventing injury and prioritizing a firm technical foundation. 3-D Dance implements the Acrobatic Arts Curriculum into all of our tumbling and acro classes. The Acrobatic Arts program is based on safe and effective progressions with proven results in the areas of Flexibility, Strength, Balancing, Limbering and Tumbling. The Princess Ballerinas Curriculum is utilized in all of our age 6 and under dance classes. Each Princess Ballerinas class is based on monthly themes such as Fairy Garden Adventure or Winter Wonderland in order to engage the active imaginations of our young dancers and make learning to dance fun and exciting. Princess Ballerinas learn and practice french ballet vocabulary such as relevé, plié, and jeté and work to master the learning targets set for them at each level. Our Creative Arts Preschool Program offers preschoolers a unique opportunity to learn important preschool learning targets through an arts-focused curriculum infused with Ballet, Tap, Tumbling, Visual Art, Musical Arts, and Drama. As a student at 3-D Dance, your child will receive formal written evaluations twice each year (fall and spring) which will allow you to measure their progress as well as develop a more detailed understanding of class goals and specific skills taught at each level.
Community Involvement:
3-D Dance is honored to be a Best of Denton County 2017 Top 3 Finalist and Best of Aubrey 2016 Award recipient. These particular awards are given to small businesses that enhance the positive image of small businesses through service to their customers and our community and have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate long-term value in the community. Our studio is proud to offer donations at community and local school events, performances at community events, presentations at school career days and special events, and classes at nearby elementary schools and childcare centers. We enjoy sponsoring a studio-wide community service project each Fall to share our love for community service with our entire 3-D Dance family.
Opportunities outside of weekly classes are offered to all students and include a December Winter Showcase, Ballerina Brunch at the studio, workshops from outside professional dancers several times each year, and our Annual Dance Recital each May. In addition, performing company opportunities are available and include teams of various ages and levels.
3-D Dance is more than just a local dance studio. 3-D Dance is a culture that fosters confidence and creativity that benefits students in many other areas of their lives. We offer great financial value for families, including multi-class and sibling discounts. Our staff’s commitment to integrity in all areas keeps dancers happy healthy and safe and sets us apart from other dance studios – providing parents with family-friendly dance studio experience they are looking for.
We are always happy to answer any questions you may have about finding the best class fit for your child. At 3-D Dance, every child is loved and valued!
Visit our website https://www.3-Ddance.com for more information, and to decide if 3-D Dance is the right choice for your child’s dance education.
