Here is some advice to take into consideration when choosing a performing arts facility.
Whether you’re a beginner or partially trained, a parent of a talented child or a young adult looking for a performing arts career, choosing the appropriate classes and instructors to nurture your talents is crucial.
Before seeking out a dance class for yourself or your child, consider the following:
1. Why do I want to take dancing?
For many parents, dance lessons are a logical choice for active children who enjoy moving to music. Young children may even express the desire to become ballerinas; taking classes will introduce them to the world of dance. For others, dance classes may provide physical activity, an outlet for creativity, and a social environment (especially for those not yet in school). Dance classes for children should, first and foremost, be fun. If a child displays a level of excellence above the expectations for their age, teachers may suggest competitions or other more “serious” means of study.
For older students, dance classes may be necessary to successfully audition for post high-school, performing arts programs. Anyone looking at a career in the musical theatre industry (or many other entertainment aspects) should seriously consider taking some dance classes.
The benefits include:
*** Physical: flexibility/toning/cardiovascular
*** Rhythmic: ability to move the body to music
*** Creative: a way to express oneself
*** Teamwork: learning to work as part of a group
*** Confidence: posture/comfort in being in front of others/performing
*** Social: friendships with others who enjoy the same activity/friendships outside of school
2. What type of dance interests me?
For little ones, there are programs specifically for young children that incorporate creative movement to music. Young children also enjoy tap and jazz classes geared to their age levels. Ballet is wonderful for posture, technique and building a sound foundation, but it must be done correctly for these benefits to take place.
Older students who are choosing a dance class for fun should pick something that is of interest to them. Hip hop/street dance is very popular with teens as well as jazz.
Students considering a career in musical theatre should take as many different dance disciplines as possible.
DANCE DISCIPLINES TO CHOOSE FROM: These are the main ones:
Tap, Jazz, Ballet/Pointe, Lyrical, Modern, Hip hop/street, Musical theatre, National (Celtic/Italian/Ukrainian/Scottish etc)
3. What do I hope to achieve by taking the class?
When signing up young children, consider that dance should be fun for them. If they are not enjoying taking the classes, they shouldn’t be forced to continue (even if they are very talented).
For more serious students, consider the following reasons for taking classes:
*** Learn the particular dance discipline(s)
*** Develop skills for a future career
*** Performance opportunities
*** Physical benefits
4. What are my financial obligations?
Be aware of studio policies before committing to any classes. Tuitions can be charged in many different ways including:
a) All due at registration
b) A down-payment due at registration and the balance due shortly after
c) A down-payment due at registration and a payment plan for future installments
What are the cancellation conditions? For many programs, refunds are not available after programs start. Find out what is expected of you, the student, in terms of commitment.
5. Besides the cost of the class itself, what else will I need to purchase?
It is important to realize that the cost of the dance class is NOT the only cost involved. Specific clothing (usually a bodysuit and tights or other such appropriate dancewear) and specific shoes (i.e. tap shoes, ballet slippers, and hip hop sneakers) will be required and are a cost beyond the tuition fee. Also, a costume will be required for a recital. Make sure you’re aware of all these “other” costs before you commit to the class.
6. Do the tuition fees commensurate with teaching credentials/experience?
This is an important point! CHEAPER ISN’T necessarily BETTER!
ADVICE: When looking for the “right” dance classes, call around, ask for information and know what to ask. A reputable studio WILL give you information regarding qualifications and fees.
If you have any questions or concerns about a studio, ask to speak with the director. The bottom line is this: not every studio will be right for you (or your child), so an informed decision is your best bet to picking the right class.
| With competition season starting shortly it might be really helpful to hear from the judges on what they look for in a routine. What sets apart a winning number from the rest, solo or group? How important is the choreography, the costumes and the stage presence? What do you find the most appealing in judging and what drives you crazy?
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What drives me crazy is bad technique disguised in a glitzy costume. Unimaginitive choreography. (If I see one more leg catch I will barf)Random fouettes in every routine. As a matter of fact I would now like to institute a DEDUCTION for fouettes! (hee hee hee)
"Trends" that run rampant in cities...(eg...lets all glue rhinestones on our face, lets all wear regular clothes instead of costumes, lets dance barefoot in a gorgeous rhinestone encrusted dress).
Be an individual who focuses on technique and dances from the heart.....show me what you are REALLY feeling on you face instead of choreographing one(what emotion in life would it be that you portray by squeezing your lips together and pull them as far to one side as you can? An enema maybe?)
I will think of more stuff...just give me time | |
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Besides good, clean technique for age and level, and appropriate moves, costumes and music, I like to be entertained!
Be creative, be different and don't try to look like all the other schools, winning or not! Just because ninety-two other schools do a step in every dance, doesn't mean you have to do that, too.
If they can't do it well, don't put it in the dance. I have given kids some moves they needed to work on, and by the time they got to their first comp, they could do it, but if not, I go to something that they can do. Why pull down their score for something they have no control over.
RHINESTONES are NOT mandatory! I love them, too, but in EVERY dance? Also, these trendy hairpieces, nice for some dances but hair should fit the dance. If you don't have time for lots of hair changes, then pick a style that fits them all.
I remember the curly ponytail phase! UGH.
Well-groomed, personality that fits the theme of the dance, age appropriate, no sexual moves, costumes that don't start above the pubic bone and just below the breasts!
I find that competition pieces from most schools all look alike. I am thrilled when someone is orginal and will score a lower level, cleanly done dance over a higher level one with sloppy work.
It's like choosing lobster over McDonalds! LOL.
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Clean technique is very important. Only tricks that have been mastered by the dancer should really be in the routine. I don't like to see dancers executing a trick that number one they are no where ready for and number two should not be doing. I'd rather see clean singles and doubles rather than a quad on a flat foot.
Stage presence is also very important. A genuine smile is better than those ooh ahh facial expressions. Eye contact shows confidence. I think that really makes a difference.
I've come to find that some competitions do not have judges qualified for the job. It's wonderful to be on Broadway, in movies, or a back up concert dancer but judges need to keep in mind that these are just kids. Most of them don't want to make a career out of this and do this for fun. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying everyone has to win. Most of the time it's not the fault of the dancer thats on stage wearing a tony pony with a really bad routine, it's the teachers.
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I agree with everything above. I like clean entertaining routines. Something that has a wow or 2 but if the dancers cant do it then leave it out.
My other pet peeve is unity, please work hard to have your dancers together, if they are unable to stay together in tap make the routine easier, if the lyrical music doesnt have a way to count and the dancers cant stay together find another piece of music this is to hard.
Second, this is huge and I see it ALOT please make sure when doing chasse or walks the students lead with the toe and I have seen this with even the best studios. Of course there is the occasional walk with flexed on purpose.
Lastly, I like the bare leg look on some dancers with some costumes but PLEASE do not have your dancers come front and center in a light colored leotard with no tights and do a pitched developpe. I saw this many times and it is not pleasent.
I dont mean to sound rude and would never be this blunt when judging but these are the things that make me go huh? what was the teacher thinking and may lose a small amount of value when there is another dancer doing the same amount of difficulty and is the same age not doing the above items.
I score high for real emotion be it happy or sad, if the routine looks well polished, has a level of difficulty for the dancer not the age (some kids cant turn, some cant leap etc), and is family oriented because that is your audience at comps.
I hope all of this helps and I look forward to seeing some great routines this year.
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CLEAN TECHNIQUE, age appropriate costumes, music and choreography. Everything written above, I agree with. Let me add a few things....I love to see original choreography, but also, I love to be entertained. Every number doesn't have to be gimmicky just to make it original. Example: Student using props but not really dancing. Just changing patterns and acting. Maybe it is original, but I think some teachers use it to cover up technique and leave out difficulty.
I like to see a routine that has a mixture of dance and tricks (only things they do well). I am also a sucker for anyne who can pull off a lyrical where I feel like I am drawn into the song from their facial and body movements. I once saw a beautiful dancer who did a lyrical to "I Hope You Dance". that was 4 years ago and I can still see that dancer in my mind and I was blown away. She had everything..technique, feeling, grace and tricks that fit the music perfectly. that song is still my favorite (love the lyrics) and I would never use it because to me, nobody can come close to this dancers version.
Things that drive me crazy: flexed feet, leading with the heel on chasses, bent standing legs on turns and pirouettes, arched backs and open rib cages, no personality, laziness, no dynamics, never looking at the audience or judges, walking off the stage like you were walking down the street and exhausted, arms flying behind you in your turns, rhinestones all over the eyes (this is not Vegas), not staying with the music. I could go on, but i hope this helps.
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I agree with the above and would like to add:
pirouette preparation with a turned in supporting leg. I judged a competition last year where this was just about in every routine. I started looking at my own kids after that and have decided to use a turned out prep just to make sure. This drives me crazy!
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OH GOSH!! I hate that so much and see it on almost everyone! I commented on that on almost every dance at one competition. 3 days of it and I said on the tape at one point, "You must be tired of hearing this but...".
GAG!
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OMG! I was the same way last year with those preps! I began being so nice, and saying that it just needed to be clear, if it was parallel, fine, but try not to turn in. But after seeing it over and over, and even when a pas de bourree would finish in a turned out 4th, they would plie deeper and BAM- there went the toe- in like a pigeon! Drives me crazy. Also turning on a flat foot. I saw so many dancers do a number of turns and after the 2nd one, the rest were on a completely flat foot. JUST DO 2! Big pet peeve also is the heel slap ( I call them Farmer Jack) Chasse's...UGH!!
What I love is an entertaining, clean piece with tight tech. I don't need to see tricks, if there are cool tricks that are cleanly executed, great, but just going from trick to trick drives me nuts- JUST DANCE!! When a dance is done from the soul- you got me- even if the difficulty isn't there. If the technique is there, and I can tell a dancer is just on stage feeling it, living, loving to dance. I love it!
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