subject: Questions to Ask When Choosing a Dance Studio [print this page] Questions to Ask When Choosing a Dance Studio
Dance studios can be a dime a dozen in our dance-focused world. Of course, the popularity of dance is a great thing for many parents and children because dance has physical, mental and social benefits. The trick is in choosing the right dance studio that will best fit your needs, preferences and budget. Each aspiring dancer and professional dancer will have different requirements in a dance studio and in a dance teacher so it always pays to consider a choice of dance studio carefully.
The first question to ask of yourself is what style of dance you're most interested in. For example, if you are enrolling in a dance studio to harness your talents in a particular style of dancing, say, ballet, then a ballet school is likely the right one for you. But if you want to learn dance for the exercise, camaraderie and fun, then go for a dance studio offering a wide variety of styles from jazz to hip hop. The teachers should be able to address your particular needs in dance, be it for amateur or professional purposes.
And speaking of money, you must look into the membership fees of the dance studio. In fact, you probably want to have a certain range of prices in your head before scouting for the dance studio lest you find yourself paying outside of your comfortable range.
You should also ask about the dance philosophy of the dance studio's teachers. You want to make sure that their philosophy complements your own approach to dance, whatever it may be. You should ask questions of the teachers, watch them at work and just generally observe how well their style of teaching might fit into your own purposes for looking into a dance studio. And of course, you'll likely want ask about the teachers' education, training and work experience as dancers for obvious reasons. Yes, a dancer may have won hundreds of awards in dancing competitions but if he/she is not willing or able to share his/her knowledge with the students, then you are well advised to find another teacher.
Last but not least, you must determine if the physical and social atmosphere of the dance studio is to your liking. Keep in mind that dancing in itself can be a stressful activity and, hence, you want the studio to be comfortable on the mind and body. Choosing your dance studio carefully can result in a great experience.
