How To Choose A Quality School

How To Choose A Quality School
(And a few questions to ask.)

With so many schools offering everything from recreational classes to competition groups to

professional

caliber training, figuring out which one to choose can be a complex and often

confusing

process. From

the

very first class attention to detail is essential to the development of

a student.

Bad habits formed

early

training can be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to

change. When

choosing a school there

are

many

qualities more important than location or

class scheduling; we

believe the following five

questions

are the

most important to ask prior to

enrolling at a school.

Positive answers to these

questions go a long

way to

help ensure that the

training you or your young

one receives is the best it can

be!

1. Look closely at the background of the directors/owners and teachers, were they

professionals

their

fields?

In the United States literally anyone can open a dance school

regardless of their

qualifications.

While a professional background is not a guarantee, it is a good

indicator of

potential

quality. Most good

teachers will have at least some professional performing

experience and will have

training beyond the

local

level. Dance, like most performing arts, is

passed

down from generation to

generation through many

years

of intense study and training.

Just as in

other areas of life, it is difficult to

teach something that you

haven’t

fully experienced

and don’t

completely understand.

2. What is the atmosphere in class like?

Watching class and talking with parents and students at

the

school are great ways to get a sense of the overall atmosphere. A well taught class has a

balance

discipline and fun in a focused, positive atmosphere, never chaotic. Students are

attentive, fully

engaged

and

everyone in class is treated with equal respect and caring

regardless their age, ability or

level of

commitment.

Each exercise is an individual challenge and

students compete not with each

other, but

with themselves to do

their very best. The class ends

with students exhausted but

exhilarated (at least

most

of the time!), proud of

their personal

accomplishments and looking forward

to the next class.

Making sure

their training is as much

inspirational as it is educational will ensure

the students come away

with a

positive experience

and a lifelong

appreciation of dance and the arts.

3. Are the teachers consistent and dedicated to quality training?

A unified approach is vital to

creating

solid foundation in any type of training and dance is no exception. A consistent,

dedicated

staff

working

together

is extremely important. Schools that have teachers coming

and going every

few

months or

classes

that have a variety of teachers throughout the week

create dancers with a

hodgepodge

technical abilities

and no real foundation on which to

grow. With this type of

approach students can

find their class

experience confusing and

frustrating, and certainly will not

develop the strength and skills

needed to excel.

Unfortunately

some careers are over before they

start because of poor training early in

student’s life.

4. Does the school encourage students to seek out additional instruction if it is not offered?

There

are many

reasons a school may recommend a student take classes elsewhere. It may be that

the school

does

not

offer a specific type of training or is not able to offer advanced level

classes. A

good school will

not

only

recognize the need for additional training, they will often be

able to suggest

other schools where

the

student can find the classes they need to achieve their

dreams.

5. Is the school environment safe?

A safe floor is crucial to the well being of dancers’ bodies

young

and

old

alike. To avoid injuries the studio floor should be sprung or cushioned, with either

a non-slip

surface like

Marley* laid on top, or a hardwood floor that is completely free from

nails, screws and

splinters. A

concrete floor is NEVER an acceptable training surface. The injuries

and damage that

can

be caused by

dancing on concrete for periods longer than a day or

two are many and can

potentially be

career

threatening. Also, particular attention should be

given to the type and volume

of music used in

class.

Musical selections should be appropriate

for the students’ age and ability and,

perhaps more

importantly,

played at a safe volume.

Permanent hearing damage can occur in a matter

of moments if the

volume is

too

loud.

Speaker placement is also important. Well placed speakers (in

the upper corners of

the room)

provide

even sound throughout the studio so students all experience

the same volume level

regardless of

where they

are standing.

*A brand name for a type of vinyl floor covering that is the mainstay of professional dance

schools

and

companies around the world.

A note about “Competition Schools”.

A plethora of trophies on display is a certain sign that you

have

found a school that participates in dance competitions/conventions. Throughout the

professional dance

world the phrase “Competition School” generally refers to a school whose

primary

focus is on its

competition program (often called “Company” or “Team”). The

director/owner will

say they attend in

order

to further the training of their instructors and

students. The problem is that

while there are a few

legitimate

organizations that conduct

competitions/conventions, most do little,

if anything, to help

students grow and

are really just

thinly veiled fronts designed to make money

handing out cheap plastic

trophies to all who pay

the entrance fees. The focus at a “Competition

School” is predominantly on

winning the next

event rather

than creating well rounded dancers.

Students from these types of schools

can

often do a few amazing steps

that wow the judges, but

unfortunately will also have large gaps

their

overall technique and possess limited

artistic ability.

Which is why, despite claims to the

contrary,

the

truth is that very few professional dancers

receive

the bulk of their training from a

“Competition

School”. A “Competition School” can be a fun place

to make friends, learn a few

dance steps and travel

a bit but it is almost never a place to discover the

true

wonder of the

performing arts.

And lastly

parents and students should trust their intuition!

As they advance students will spend

untold

hours in the studio; it is important to be sure the studio is a healthy, safe and comfortable

place for them

grow and mature, both physically and emotionally. If the school just doesn't

feel

right or does not offer

the

type of training you are looking for, look a little further before

registering.

Making sure the school is

the

right fit will, in the long run, be the best choice for both

student and

school.