4 Things Every Parent Should Know
Before Choosing a Dance School:
If most
dance studios seem to have friendly, qualified teachers, convenient
class times, and a big show at the end of the year, aren’t they all
pretty much the same? Does it really matter which place you enroll your
child? The answer is YES! There are 4 main things that can make a huge
difference in the instruction your child receives and the overall
enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved in a dance program.
1. What
type of dance floor is used?
Dance is a very physical activity that requires a great deal of
jumping, which can put stress on bones and joints. Most dance footwear
does not provide any cushioning, so the impact of dance movements can
place a lot of pressure on the knees and back. The best way to assure a
safe dance environment for your child is to choose a school that has a
professional “floating floor”. A floating floor is a dance floor that
rests on a base of high-density foam, to absorb the shock of jumping. A
foam-based floor is superior to a “sprung” floor, which usually consists
of a wood only structure built over a regular floor. The top layer of
the dance floor is also an important factor. A vinyl composite floor is
accepted worldwide as the best surface layer for recreational and
professional dance. Our state of the art floors help reduce the risk of
injuries, and allow our students to dance longer without getting
fatigued.
2. Do students participate in performances?
A very important aspect of dance education is to show what you have
learned in a performance atmosphere. The opportunity to perform in front
of an audience can be an excellent tool in building self- esteem in
young dancers. Performance opportunities should be provided for students
so that they are able to have an artistic and professional experience.
At Collingwood School of Dance, students are provided with a
professional performance experience. Students spend much of their
classroom time focused on proper technique and are then provided with
outstanding choreography to make for the most positive performing
experience possible.
3. Does the school follow a syllabus?
Choosing a dance school that uses a clear syllabus will help your
child learn, understand, and ultimately develop a better appreciation
for dance. Schools that use a syllabus typically produce dancers that go
on to university dance programs, professional dance careers, or become
dance teachers. Collingwood School of Dance will only select teachers
with extensive professional dance training, teaching qualifications and
a commitment to providing safe, professional, quality instruction.
We give individual corrections and encouragement during class. Our
syllabus is based on the Cecchetti method, which is the leading method
used for providing safe, elegant and pure classical ballet training. To
provide the perfect balance of training Collingwood School of Dance
encourages students to participate in Cecchetti Syllabus classes AND
Open Ballet classes. Open Ballet classes give dancers the opportunity to
apply the Cecchetti technique in various ballet exercises, thus ensuring
dancers are able to relate what they have learned in their Cecchetti
Syllabus class to any choreography.
4. Recreational & Company Programs
Because everyone has different reasons for dancing, Collingwood
School of Dance provides a variety of classes and programs. Students
interested in weekly recreational classes can choose from ballet, pointe,
Cecchetti Syllabus, lyrical, flamenco and stretch & strength. Everyone
at Collingwood School of Dance participates in the Year-End Performance
held in June. Our Dance Company gives enthusiastic, dedicated and
talented dancers the opportunity to perform various times throughout the
year. In order to maintain a high caliber and variety in our
performances, dancers are required to participate in ballet, Cecchetti
exams, pointe, stretch & strength, lyrical and flamenco. Class time is
used to develop our dancer’s technique and artistic expression, while
company rehearsals are spent on choreography used in our performances.
