by Dianne Buxton

Created on: January 17, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

Things to consider: What Do You Want For Your Child?

What does your child want from ballet? Would tap dancing, karate, or jazz be a satisfying alternative, or does it have to be ballet? Ballet is a traditional, technical form requiring commitment and discipline. Sometimes it isn't fun! But many fall in love with it.

What are your needs? Must the studio be close to home, near the public school, within walking distance, or could you go to the best ballet studio you can find? What will you look for if there are several studios you can check out? The following discussion of the most basic requirements to good, safe, ballet teaching, will be helpful to parents searching for a good studio.

A ballet regimen can be used for a weight loss plan, a childcare outlet, health maintenance, or relief for a troubled teenager. It takes a special love, and can fulfill many requirements of the soul. Many ballet teachers, in glamorous and famous settings, or small and out of the way regions, work just to provide an outlet for this broad spectrum of our needs.

Locations and appearances: professional dance studios tend to be in older buildings, which have large rooms with undivided spaces, and sprung wooden floors instead of floors set over concrete. A teacher trained in a professional school would choose such a place over a newer facility in a fashionable district with smaller rooms and a concrete floor. If the neighborhood is safe, don't judge a a studio by its lack of "chic". A teacher who chooses an older, low-rent district studio may be providing pupils with safer flooring, better musical accompianment, and the luxury of smaller classes. If premises have been built especially for dance studios, the best amenities are likely in place.

Music: today's economy will not allow all teachers to have live piano accompaniment. While definitely preferable, it will be reflected in the fees you pay. Recorded music for classes does not necessarily mean lower teaching standards.

Size of classes: for the beginning levels (i.e., younger children) there should not be classes over approximately 15 students without a teacher's assistant, or the students will not get much individual attention.

Hard Floors: floors set directly over concrete have no give, thus creating the potential for injury from falls or repeated hard landings from jumps. This creates stress and wear and tear on on delicate developing joints and soft tissues. Sprung floors are the best, which is wood on wood supports.

Body style favoritism

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