Choosing the right ballet school can seem like a challenging task, especially if you are located in a large city full of many options. If your child is interested in pursuing ballet, finding the right studio can be crucial to their successful development. With so many options to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. In this guide, we will explore what to look for in choosing the best ballet studio for young beginning
Research the Studio's Reputation
The first thing to do when looking for a ballet studio is to research the studio's reputation. Look for reviews online and ask other dancers and families in your community for recommendations. A good studio will have a positive reputation and track record of producing skilled and accomplished dancers.
Studio Expectations
Next, set an appointment to explore the building the studio is located in. It is very important to inspect the conditions of the studio and to check that classes will take place in a safe environment. The dance floors should consist of a sprung-like floor to help lower impact damage of jumps. The dance space should also be covered with Marley, which is a dance floor layer that provides a safe, controlled, and durable surface specifically suited for ballet and pointe shoes. Some studios may still use wood floors, but that is not preferable. The floor should look flat with no lumps or debits in the surface. The dance room should have mirrors in front of the room and barres either attached to the walls along the sides or portable barres that can be used. The studio should have easy access to changing rooms, bathrooms, and a water fountain. The front desk reception area should also be manned with an employee to help assist families' needs while classes are occurring.
Teacher Qualifications
There are no requirements to open a ballet school apart from having the cash to do so, and additionally there are no requirements apart from what the studio itself sets for hiring teachers. Therefor a teacher's qualification will really tell you a lot about the studios you are analyzing. When looking for the right teacher, you will want to see that they either have a college degree in dance or a certificate of training in the curriculum they are instructing. To be honest though, a lot of instructors will not have these, but that doesn't necessarily make them a bad teacher. Read their bio and look at their own training experience as a guideline. The instructor should have trained at an advanced level themselves either in their youth or as an adult.
Observe a Class
You've done your homework and found a great studio with a teacher who has a fantastic background as a former ballet dancer. It's still important to ask if you can observe the class you're hoping to sign your child up for. Every studio will have it's own policies on if observation is allowed or not, so you may told that observation is not allowed. If you are able to observe, watch the teacher's body language towards their students. Their attitude should be warm and invited, and they should be giving equal attention to everyone in class. The instructor should be dancing with the students so that they have guidance and can watch the steps. The class should flow naturally from one combination to the other, and the teacher should not have a lot of downtime in between combinations. Thirty seconds to switch the music is fine, but three minutes to talk in-between each combination really starts to add up. Studio schedules will differ too, but the teacher should be open to talking with parents too about progress and updates.
Curriculum and Dancer Development
A well established school will have a curriculum they follow throughout all of the ballet levels, and a developed program to promote dancers from one level to the next. Most schools will operate on the same calendar as a school year (September-May). Students will stay in one level the entire school year, and then, assuming that students have learned and can execute the desired material, will progress to the next level in the following school calendar. Therefor schools should have a sufficient number of levels (or plans to expand) that supports students throughout their school-aged years. A school that advertises that it trains ages 4 to 18+ but only offers four levels of classes will most likely cap at an intermediate training level.
Performance Opportunities
Performing is an important part of ballet training. Look for studios that offer performance opportunities at least twice a year. For most schools, these opportunities will be the Nutcracker in the winter, and a Spring Recital at the end of the year. Performance opportunities are very important because they allow your child to showcase their skills and to gain valuable experience about performing onstage in front of an audience. During the lead up to and performance time, there should also be clear communication between the studio and it's dancers/parents about what the expectations of for participating.
Choosing the right ballet studio can seem like a daunting task, but with a little extra research and time in the beginning, you will be able to choose a studio that your family will call home for their entire training!
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