Our FACILITY
The Type of Dance Floor Used
Dance is a very physical activity that requires a lot of jumping, which can put stress on bones and joints. Most dance footwear does not provide any cushioning or support, so the shock of dance movement can place a lot of pressure on the knees, and back of a dancer. The best way to prevent against potential injury is by choosing a studio with a professional “floating floor”. A floating floor is a dance floor that rests on a system of high-density foam, to absorb the shock of jumping. A high-density foam base is superior to a “sprung” floor, which usually consists of a wood structure built on the regular floor.
The top layer of the dance floor is also an important factor. A vinyl composite “marley” floor is accepted worldwide as the best surface layer for recreational to professional dance. A marley floor allows dancers to slide, with a degree of “controlled slip”, but is not slippery so there is less risk of slips and falls.
At DanceArt Studio, all of our studios have floating floors that have high density foam blocks under the floor surface. Our Studios use a Marley floor surface, surface that is coated with Slip No More, a liquid rosin to provide the right amount of traction. Our special floors help to reduce the risk of injuries and to allow students to dance longer without getting tired.
The “Extras” Required For the Year End Show
Most studios put on a year end show in a professional auditorium. Students that perform in the show must have a costume for their dance number. Some studios may require parents to sew their child’s costumes, or pay extra for a professional seamstress to do the sewing. This can be inconvenient and frustrating for parents who are busy or can’t sew. DanceArt Studio uses a seamstress for any extra add-ons that dancers may need for a recital costume. So parents do not have to worry about any costume hassles. However, if parents like to sew we do not require them use our seamstress.
We do NOT charge a performance fee to participate in our recitals. You will find that some studios charge a performance fee to participate.
Our costumes for the end of year recital are reasonably priced as well. We keep costume prices between $65-$75 for our end of season recital.
The ability to track your dancer’s progress and know what they are learning.
It is very important to know if the dance teacher is guiding students through a structured program with clear goals and desired outcomes, or if they are just random giving students exercises. Many studios allow teachers to teach random steps, just “filling up” the class time. These schools also have no way of tracking when a student is ready to move up to the next level, or what areas they need to work on. This can put students at risk of injury and hold the more experienced and advanced students back in an attempt to keep everyone at the same level.
At DanceArt Studio, all of our teachers follow the same structured curriculum and guidelines for their classes to ensure that every student receives an excellent education. As a team we can track progress and place students accordingly. This allows students and parents to know exactly what is required of the students, what they are learning, and enables them to track the dancer’s progress. Students are treated fairly and are truly placed according to their skill level and ability; mastering one level before moving onto the next which keeps dancers healthy and safe.
The Ability to Get Immediate Assistance and Customer Service
In many studios, the teacher or the studio owner conducts classes and does the administration. By trying to do two jobs at once, the class may suffer by the teacher having to use class time for customer service issues, or the studio may have no customer service available if the teacher is in a class. To have a good experience it is important to choose a studio that can assist you with details like costumes or schedules, even if a teacher is occupied in a class.
DanceArt Studio has desk staff available during all class times, so you can have immediate assistance for any customer service issues you may have. Our teachers are left free to focus on teaching so the class can always have their undivided attention.
Appropriate costuming, content, and music
Many studios put young girls on stage in revealing costumes, with movement and music that is inappropriate for children. This does not teach young girls to respect themselves and often leaves fathers and audience members feeling very uncomfortable.
DanceArt Studio places a high priority on modesty and clean music. All of our costumes are well covering, and we go beyond just choosing “clean” music and choreography to show students that the art of dance can be kept clean and classy while touching the hearts of those watching.