Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
Whether you've danced before, have no experience in dance, or are a parent looking for a school for your child to dance at; there are many things to keep in mind when selecting a good dance studio. Here are just a few tips, and things to think about when considering different schools.
1) A good dance studio should be spacious, well ventilated, have "sprung" floors (meaning there is air space underneath the floors) high ceilings, and plenty of mirrors. It should be tidy, especially in the dressing rooms and there should be no pipes or pillars obstructing view in the dance room.
2) Don't let a teacher's impressive performing experience lead you to assume that they would necessarily be someone great to learn from. The ability to dance glamorously is much different from the ability to break down excersizes, to explain, and inspire. Keep in mind that it is essential to study at a school with teachers certified with R.A.D. (Royal Academy of Dance) which is a highly respected training syllabus that is not REQUIRED of ballet teachers, however, if they are certified you can be sure they have been trained through a well-established syllabus, proved to provide safe, sold, classical dance training. There are other insitutions of training syllabuses as well, so don't be shy to ask your teacher about their background!
3) Does the studio offer R.A.D examinations? Studios that offer exams are more likely to teach ballet in a way that correct, effective and consistent with health and safety regulations.
4) Your ballet studio should be a nurturing, caring learning environment. Your teacher should be strict in that they correct you, show you ways to improve, etc. But they should be approachable, warm and willing to help you when you can't get those pirouettes down. The studio should NOT sacrifice training time for performance rehersals and/or competitions.
5) Bad ballet training can have a negative effect on your self esteem and performance. Avoid a teacher who blows off health and injury prevention. She may have a history of injured students for all you know! Also remember that seeing a lot of very young girls in pointe shoes is a red flag. Premature pointe can lead to injuries, stunt in foot growth, as well as arthritus.
