How to Choose a Dance Studio
Whether
it is piano, figure skating, gymnastics, sports, or dance, all parents want
their child to learn, succeed and most of all have fun in their extra
curricular activities. If dance is the
activity of choice, how can one be certain that you choose the dance school
that suits your child’s needs? What
classes should they enrol in and at what age should one begin?
In order to assure parents that their children
are getting proper training, certification of the school and their teachers is
what is most important. There are many
organizations with different styles of training and certification, but all
maintain a high level of technical strength.
Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), Canadian Dance Teachers Association
(CDTA), Associated Dance Arts for Professional
Teachers (ADAPT), and Cecchetti are found in many Saskatchewan dance
studios. Each have a set syllabus and
guidelines for the proper teaching of children. Workshops are held throughout the year for teachers to upgrade and
maintain their knowledge in teaching proper dance technique to the students.
All of the abovementioned associations have
various teaching accreditation methods.
Parents are encouraged to ask whether their child’s instructor and/or
studio is fully qualified and certified.
Continuous on-going teacher training is important and whether at a
competitive or non-competitive studio, proper training of dance technique must
be taught to avoid injury.
In the CDTA, different levels of certification
are offered. Examinations are offered
to students throughout their training years; however, this is not a teaching
qualification. Affiliate memberships
are available for individuals wishing to pursue accredited teaching
certification. This membership would
give an individual access to additional workshops and training seminars. After completing an Associate Teaching Membership exam (age 18+), members would be
certified at a junior grades level. The
next level of certification would be the Full Membership examination which is
available to those 21 years of age and older with a minimum of 2 years of
teaching experience. Upon successful
completion, it means that a teacher has completed all levels of teaching and is
fully accredited.
The atmosphere and environment where the child
will study dance should also be given consideration. Is the studio clean and tidy?
Is there a sense of professionalism offered by the teachers and studio
owner? Are the studio director and
teachers friendly and approachable?
The dance studio should possess an environment whereby a child develops
self-discipline, and confidence as well as being able to handle constructive
criticism and correction. Many of these
characteristics carry through the lives of children who dance.
