When selecting a dance school it is very important to ensure that the dance teachers are suitably qualified. See our article addressing this important subject. However, that is not the end of the story. Another significant factor is the location of the classes. Ideally, lessons should be held in a dedicated facility featuring a clean floor free from obstructions and tripping hazards. The room should be equipped with a mirror wall and correctly-positioned barres to support the students. Concrete church-hall floors are solid and unforgiving, and not ideal. A room where furniture has been temporarily moved to one side, and carpeted areas remain, is not really suitable for dance training. Such obstacles increase the chance of tripping and consequent injury.
Mirrors provide dance students with helpful and immediate visual feedback that encourages self-correction. They make it much easier for dancers to evaluate the line, height and form of their movements, and to adjust immediately their placement. Dancers see themselves in the mirrors much as an audience might see them. Dance mirrors also help groups with positioning and placement when dancing in formation. Consequently, many dancers feel that mirrors serve as an important tool for the development of technique, and are an essential requirement for their success.
A dance studio should also be equipped with correctly-positioned barres. These should be designed with stability, robustness and durability in mind and either adjustable or suitably positioned to support the students who use them. Flooring should be suitable for both high-impact and low-impact activities and offer appropriate shock-absorption. Dancing on solid, unforgiving flooring such as concrete is not recommended because it increases the chances of injuries being sustained.
Another consideration when selecting a dance school is progression. Very few parents sending their child to a first dance class expect them to become a professional dancer. However, it is important to look into development paths and possibilities from the outset. If a young student is serious about developing his or her expertise, and take dance to the next level by training at college or university, it is important that appropriate development paths are available.
Dance examinations with a regulated association give students the qualifications they need to apply for dance courses at further-education level. They also help to prepare for standard and higher grades by giving students the experience of performing under examination conditions. In this way, young dancers can demonstrate progression and develop greater discipline. It is worth noting that not all dance teachers, even among those who are suitably qualified and registered with an association, enter students for examinations. Ask before enrolling!
Performing is a great way to develop the confidence and team work of young people, and it is also great fun. Even those who are naturally shy or retiring soon come out of their shadows when they find themselves on the stage with the support of family and friends. A good dance school should encourage backstage camaraderie and the involvement of every student. It is important, therefore, that a dance school offers a range of opportunities to participate not only in the typical annual shows but also in fetes, pop-up events, theatre shows etc. Each type of event poses new challenges and broadens the experience of participants.
Finally, all dance students should be encouraged to make new friends. Given a first-class, qualified teacher, a dedicated dance studio and well-organized timetables and terms with a scattering of different, fun events like parties or trips to the ballet, it should be easy for a student to settle in and enjoy their dance classes.
