5 Tips When Searching for a New Dance School

Let’s face it, finding a new dance program for your child can be completely overwhelming. Each dance season, parents ask me what they should look for when considering a dance school for their child. Below, find my top five tips on what to look for when conducting your search.

· Atmosphere

· Teaching Credentials

· Health and Safety

· Class Size

· Progression Path

1. Atmosphere: Research shows that within the first 7 seconds of meeting someone new, they will have a solid impression of who you are. Some research suggests a tenth of a second is all it takes to determine traits like trustworthiness.[1] So the next time you walk into a new school, listen to your gut. If it doesn’t feel right, continue your search. Ideally, it’s best to find a place where you feel comfortable leaving your child, and the atmosphere feels familiar – a bit like home, and the staff and other families are welcoming and friendly.
   

2. Teaching credentials: It’s essential to do your research on this one.  Just because someone had a career as a professional dancer doesn’t automatically make them a great educator, especially when working with children. There is no national certification board for dance education in the U. That means anyone can teach your child dance regardless of their education and experience. Scary right?! Research has proven that many people working with children damage their growing bodies due to a lack of education and by continuing to use harmful methods. Dance educators should continue their education throughout their teaching career to stay current with what research warrants as safe.
   

3. Health and Safety: Your child’s body and mind are growing, and during times of growth, dance educators need to take the proper steps to nurture a child’s development correctly. Good training should constantly improve your child’s body placement and self-esteem. I have seen countless physical injuries (bone fractures, tears, sprains, inflammation) that can cause long-term damage. Many times a teacher can avoid these senseless injuries with proper training. In addition, it’s essential to look at the floor your child will be jumping on. If the floors aren’t adequately sprung* your child will have a higher risk of injury
   
   **A good indication of sprung floors is if you see a step up or ramp in the floor (ADA compliant). Suppose you see what looks like potholes in the floor; that’s a clear sign that the floors haven’t been adequately maintained or aren’t correctly sprung. To save money, many schools will install DIY basketweave floors that may not be properly installed and thoroughly effective. It is also vital to maintain the surface integrity of the top layer of the floor. This part of the flooring system is called marley, and If it’s too sticky or slick, students will be at greater risk for injury.
   

4. Class size: Your child will receive general and individual feedback to help them improve in dance class. A class with a 50:1 ratio (50 students to 1 teacher) will allow for much less personal attention than a class that’s 15:1. Teachers may say they have eyes in the back of their heads, but one person can only see so much! Because everyone’s body and mind differ, training in smaller-sized classes is more effective for beneficial dance education.
   

5. Progression Path: Have you ever gone to a dance school and asked, “May I see a student that has progressed through the complete training program?” A good school will have an age-appropriate and progressive curriculum that can educate a child from age 3 to 18. I used to tell parents, “look at the older students. If they don’t seem to have good training then you know the progression path gets lost somewhere.” But I don’t feel that statement is accurate anymore. Anyone can take a trained student and claim their program generated their success. What matters most is a consistent program and that most students in the higher levels have been there for 5 to 10 years.
   
   The progression should reflect a pathway similar to academics. For example, you can’t solve a calculus equation if you haven’t learned simple addition and subtraction. Similarly, a child should not be placed en pointe if they don’t clearly understand placement or have the strength and mental fortitude.

The most convenient dance studio may not be the best-fit long-term. Be sure you can trust your child will be well taken care of and protected from their first steps to adulthood. So it’s essential to do your homework. Happy searching!

Post by Chelsea Segrete, Owner of Ballet East

[1] Gibbons, S. (2019) You and your Business have 7 Seconds to Make a First Impression, Forbes.com