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PARENT GUIDE |
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1. Check the background
and qualifications of the Faculty It’s always important to make sure that your
child’s instructors are qualified. Especially where
dance training is concerned. Ballet and dance instructors are not licensed in
this country - anyone can claim to be able to teach your child to dance! Ask
for information on the instructor’s
background. Look for someone who has professional dance training, holds a
degree in dance or a related field from an accredited college or
university. Any of these is a good indication that the instructor knows
what to teach, when to teach it, and how it should be taught. 2. Ask if combination classes are offered Some studios may offer
classes that combine training in ballet with training in jazz, tap, and/or
acrobatics. All in 60 minutes! Our Early Childhood Pre-Dance Program is the
only level that incorporates multiple disciplines in an hour. At that
young age, we have found it beneficial to allow students to explore movement
and rhythm through the study of creative movement and ballet fundamentals.
When students enter a Level I class, they begin to study one dance discipline
per hour or hour and a half they train. At Valley Dance, we teach
only one dance form in a class at a time.
3. Ask about the Annual Performance An end-of-the year performance
is important! It gives a young dancer valuable stage experience, as well as
the opportunity to use what they’ve
learned during the year. Our year-end performance is designed to compliment
your child’s classroom training - not replace it. 4. Visit the studio In addition to all of the
things you would normally look for (clean, well-appointed, good area, etc.),
check to make sure the studios have barres and mirrors. And most importantly,
look at the floor! Dance should not be taught on surfaces such as
concrete. Jumping on a floor that has no “give” to it can lead to shin splints, knee
injuries, and other problems. Our floors are specially-laid wood floors
designed to give the proper amount of “cushion” that dancers need. We love to have
prospective students and their parents visit us. Just call before you come so
we can be sure to meet you and personally show you around. How can dance, music, or
theatre benefit my child?
Becoming a dancer,
musician, or actor, a lifetime quest, involves more than talent, desire
and discipline. These are the stones for the building of a house. For example, you want to
take your child to ballet class. Where do you go? Because dancers need to be
trained at an early age, the parents' choice of a first teacher is central to
their development over the years. Even if neither the child or the parents
envision dance as a profession but simply are looking for an extracurricular
activity, the choices need to be informed ones.
For human
beings, the arts is as natural as breathing. Performing
Arts give us pleasure. It teaches us good posture and how to become more
graceful. It establishes an awareness of the body, and an appreciation for
what the body can do. It also aids in the physical and mental development of
a child. It teaches discipline and self reliance. Ballet class offers
children the opportunity to become aware of spatial relationships. Through
the art of dancing, we share our sense of well-being through harmony in
motion. Dance is for everyone who
has an interest. Movement as communication is as old as
humanity. It can tell a story, convey an emotion or simply lift our
spirits. Dance as a study has many
benefits:
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