A Must Read Guide for Parents

Choosing a dance school or teacher for your child can be overwhelming. There are hundreds of studios and classes to choose from.

A well-managed school will keep parents and students informed about events, student progress, etc. and will make it easy for students and parents to ask questions. Ask the teacher plenty of questions and try to get testimonials or recommendations from other parents or professionals.

Here’s the top 10 things to look out for when choosing a dance school for your child…

• What is the culture of the school?
• What training and experience do the teachers have?
• Does the school follow Safe Dance procedures?
• How many students are in each class?
• What is the school’s policy on exams, competitions and performance opportunities for students? Does the school teach a recognised syllabus?
• What is the school’s policy regarding parents/friends observing classes?
• What is the school’s policy regarding missed classes?
• Is the school covered by public liability insurance and its teaching staff covered by professional indemnity insurance?
• What is the school’s policy regarding uniform or other dress requirements?
• How regularly is the studio cleaned?

 

Keep reading to find more about on each point on the checklist –

 

1. What is the culture of the school?

An indication of a successful dance studio or student can be seen through the way your child participates: if your child enjoys his or her lessons, looks forward to the next one, smiles and is happy in class, is rarely injured and seems to be learning or consolidating new skills regularly, the chances are that the school is meeting your child’s needs.

TSDA provides a positive, joyful and nurturing learning environment for students. Catering for students interested in fitness and recreation to students wanting to prepare for a career. Individuality, unique skills, different body types, creativity, musicality and excellence is celebrated.

 

2. What training and experience do the teachers have?

Students benefit greatly from experiencing a variety of dance styles and teachers. Young students easily pick up both good and poor attitudes and technique from their teachers. Poor technique can ultimately lead to injury and take many years to “unlearn”, it is important that a child’s dance training is correct from the get go. Good teachers are continually participating in professional development courses and activities.

The TSDA Teaching Team

• TSDA Director Caroline White trained full time with Christine Walsh at the Australian Conservatoire of Ballet and Brian Nolan at the Australian International School of Coaching. She then completed her VCE at the Victorian College of the Arts studying dance full time. Since then Caroline has taught for over 10 years to all ages over Melbourne and regional Victoria before opening her first Two Shoes Dance studio.
• TSDA Vice Principal Alicia Melilli studied dance and drama under Alsa Lewis. Alicia also trained as a ballroom dancer and as an artistic roller skater from the age of three years onwards. She is a qualified make up artist and hairdresser and it is her 4^th year with TSDA.
• Kate Barrett received her full time dance training from both Dance World Studio and Patrick Studios Australia. Kate went on to have an international career as a dancer. She is now back in Melbourne teaching dance and acro whilst studying her Bachelor of Education at Victoria University.
• Tessa Barrett also received her full time dance training from Dance World Studio and Patrick Studios Australia. Tessa is in her 9^th year of teaching dance and vocals to all ages all over Australia, previously she was coordinator at Ritz Performing Arts in Brisbane and is she is now head of TSDA Westmeadows.
• For 15 years, Natalie Philippe owned and ran a successful performing arts school in Romsey, previously known as Dance Station. Natalie is fully accredited with the Southern Federation of Dance and currently she is studying her Bachelor of Law at Victoria University.
• Julia Potter has danced since the age of six, commencing her dance training at the Progress Theatre. Julia has attended various Melbourne dance schools such as Jason Coleman’s Ministry of Dance, Dance Partners and Ballet Theatre of Australia. Currently, she is studying Piano and Music Composition at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, whilst teaching dance and private tutoring piano and singing from home.

 

3. Does the school follow Safe Dance procedures?

Safe Dance procedures create a safe dance environment, increasing student’s awareness of the body and how it functions, and minimises risk of both accident and injury. Teachers must know the correct stretching techniques, how to warm up and cool down so that students avoid pain or injury.

Floors that you dance on need to be sprung, semi-sprung or cushioned and, if possible, specifically designed for dance. Floors with a stable surface deck and an underlying cushion, spring or elastic suspension system on which the deck floats absorbing the impact of a dancer’s landing. The deck provides a stable surface on which to balance, slide, move and turn while spreading the load more widely onto the underlying suspension layers. Most regular wooden floors have adequate shock absorption. ‘Shock absorption’ characteristics of a floor are particularly relevant and provide the protective component in floors for dance.

Even in the short-term, dancing or exercising on concrete floors will potentially cause injury, pain and/or irreversible damage to not only your feet and legs, but your entire body. A concrete floor has a shock absorption value of 0%, leaving the full 100% shock of impact to jar the person landing.

Two Shoes Dance Ascot Vale has brand new fully sprung floors with high quality dance vinyl finish designed specifically for dance. The Essendon and Westmeadows studios have well maintained floor boards.

 

4. How many students are in each class?

Be wary of dance schools with 25 kids in the class, the children get neglected and as a result their development suffers.

Two Shoes Dance only offers small class sizes with a maximum of 7 – 12 dancers depending on the venue. With smaller class sizes children get the attention they need to flourish.

 

5. What is the school’s policy on exams, competitions and performance opportunities for students? Does the school teach a recognised syllabus?

Performing provides a place for children to develop their skills and confidence can be a valuable and joyful learning experience; exams or competitions can be stimulating and motivating.

There are two main performance events at TSDA throughout the year giving students opportunities to perform in different environments. The Christmas in July Cabaret Show & Luncheon and the Annual End of Year Production.

Natalie Philippe has implemented the SFD syllabus throughout ballet classes for students ages 5 years and over in 2016.

Competitions are optional and available for students who are looking to further their study.

 

6. What is the school’s policy regarding parents/friends observing classes?

Having parents or friends in the studio can be distracting for students. It is important that students can concentrate and focus. Look for a school with an observation window.

Two Shoes Dance allows parents in for trials and has observation windows at both the Ascot Vale and Essendon studios. It is not uncommon for younger students to have attachment to their mothers – TSDA works with every individual child and their family to overcome any anxieties they may face.

 

7. What is the school’s policy regarding missed classes?

If your child is away due to illness, family holiday etc. It is important that your child can make up the missed class. Attendance is the key for your child’s development and confidence. Starting late in the year or missing classes doesn’t do anyone any favors. It is essential that training is consistent.

There are a lot of class options at TSDA in 2016 meaning that classes can be easily made up by attending another session on another day or at another venue.

 

8. Is the school covered by public liability insurance and its teaching staff covered by professional indemnity insurance?

TSDA has an enrolment levy that covers the cost of insurance for each family at the school.

 

9. What is the school’s policy regarding uniform or other dress requirements?

Uniforms and grooming is an important for the discipline of dance. Students must have dance tights, their hair in a slick pony tail or a bun, correct footwear must be worn at all times with no jewelry for safety reasons.

TSDA is currently implementing a customised uniform throughout the school.

 

10. How regularly is the studio cleaned?

It sounds so simple but it says a lot about a studio if it is not regularly cleaned. It is important for health and general cleanliness and hygiene reasons that the dance studio you choose is regularly cleaned.

To book your child in for a FREE trial class at Two Shoes Dance –

Call Us // 1300 3 DANCE

Email Us // info@twoshoesdance.com.au