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 which dance studio you choose? Yes, it does. 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 must deal with. 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. 

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 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 top layer of the dance floor is also an important factor. A vinyl composite “marley” floor is accepted worldwide as the best surface for both recreational and professional dance. Facilities such as the New York City Ballet, The Joffery Ballet, and Broadway Dance Center, in New York City, and the Royal Academy of Dance in London, England, all use marley floors as their dance surface. A marley floor allows dancers to slide, with a degree of “controlled slip,” but is not slippery so there is less risk of slips and falls. Very few studios use professional marley floors because of the expense involved, and usually opt for a regular floor tile for a studio floor. 

All of the dance studios at Progressive Dance have floating floors that have over 700 high density foam blocks under the floor surface and a marley top surface that was purchased from a top quality dance floor manufacturer. Our special floors help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without getting tired. 

If the 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. 

At Progressive Dance Studio class sizes vary depending upon the type of dance class, as well as the age and level of the students in the class. Please call for specifics.

Many schools hire their older past students to teach the younger children. Usually, these past students have not had a previous career in their dance craft. Thus, the dance school pays the teacher a much lower salary to teach the class, which can maximize the school’s profit. Unfortunately, having an inexperienced instructor teach class has a negative impact on the children. The students don’t receive proper training, and over time, the children can develop poor dance technique. A teacher must be a seasoned professional in their craft and have a good background in performing and teaching. Only by having this personal professional experience will the teacher understand how to “see” the mistakes a student is making and have the knowledge to correct them. 

At Progressive Dance Studio, we adhere to this philosophy and only hire elite teachers in their chosen dance specialty. All of our teachers have a professional background. 

In many studios the teacher or the studio owner conducts classes and also handles all of the administration responsibilities as well. 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 dance studio that can assist you with details like schedules or costumes, even if a teacher is occupied in a class. At Progressive, our studio has customer service and office staff on hand during all regular class times, so you can get immediate assistance.