Dancer Health Handbook

In choosing a dance studio, you will find a wide variety of studios. Here are some thoughts on what to look for in a dance studio:

1. General Direction. Determine what purpose the dance lessons serve. If you or your child are planning on becoming a professional dancer or getting into a college dance program, you will benefit from being in an environment with lots of performance opportunities, a resident professional company, and classmates who take their dancing as seriously as you do.
2. Good Teachers. Teachers for children over the age of nine should be experienced professionals who tell students what they need to hear to improve. They should not shred a student's self confidence, but they should also give the student accurate feedback.
3. Focus on Health. Teachers and training programs should always put the health of students first. Teachers should encourage students to turn out from the hip and emphasize good technique before high kicks and multiple turns. Floors should be sprung. Dancers should be encouraged to eat healthily.
4. Education. Students should have access to scientific information about health, fitness, diet, and anatomy. Teachers should know about these subjects.
5. Performance Opportunities. This is important for students who want to go on to be performers or get into a good dance college. It also indicates the atmosphere and seriousness of the students. The focus of the performance should always be on development as an artist, without reference to other performers.
6. Small Classes. As with academics, the larger the class size, the less individual attention, the slower the development of the dancer. Fewer than ten students is best.
7. General Atmosphere. The people, place, and attitude should be comfortable. This is somewhere where you and/or your child may spend a lot of time.