Is the teacher teaching my child qualified to be teaching that class?
A qualified dance instructuor should have training from a professional academy, university, and possibly, professional performance experience. Good dancers are not always good teachers. Make sure the teacher is not just the star student in that particular studio. Ask to see a résumé of your child's teacher. The studios with the best faculty will often have biographies of their teachers posted in the studio and on their websites.
Why is the education of instructors so important?
A complete dance education, either through a professional academy or a university, is going to equip that teacher with knowledge in child development... not just dance steps! You should expect the same understanding of cognitive development from your dance teacher as you would of their educational teachers. Learning to dance can be fun, but if the teacher uses intimidation and harsh discipline, it could be damaging. Discipline is incredibly important in dance training because it prevents students from injuring themselves and others, but knowing how to provide that discipline is where the education of the teacher matters most. An educated teacher also knows how to teach dance that is age and level appropriate.
What is the class size and teacher to student ratio?
The younger the child, the fewer students should be in their class. In a typical 3 year old class, there should be no more than 10 students. These numbers provide for the best dance experience and the safest. It is important socially that children learn to interact in structured settings like dance classes because they learn valuable life skills like getting along with others and social courtesies like waiting their turn. For older, more advanced students, class size can vary more as students are much more disciplined, but the studio size should be able to accommodate the students safely.
What is the owner's philosophy of student advancement?
Placement in classes should be based on age and ability. Every child is different and develops at their own pace. A student should not be placed in a class that is above their level to accommodate car-pooling needs or siblings' schedules. This could lead to frustration for the student. It is important to listen to the advice of the teachers on this matter as they are the ones implementing the syllabus and are trained to assess student capabilities. |
