Ballet room at Zion Arts Center - Manchester
Any parent looking for a new dance studio is sure of one thing: there is by no means any shortage of dance schools in this country. But they are all so different in the way they teach and operate that it can be tricky to categorize them sometimes. Studio owners always have a vision of what they want their studio to be like. And normally, it's that way or no way. But what a lot of owners often forget is that they are running a business - and the customers are the parents. So what do the parents want? After speaking with numerous dance parents, one of the recurring themes was cost: while parents don't mind paying a little more fore quality instruction, they still have a budget to stick to. 'It would be nice to have a fundraiser from time to time' says Natasha Colonero (MA), to help with competition or costume fees.
Another major theme was the quality of instructors - parents want qualified instructors teaching classes, people who care about the students, who are strict, but also can have fun in class. 'Personality is a huge issue for me.' says Paula Oliverio of WV. An overwhelming amount of parents would like it if the staff were more personable and got to know parents better.
Facilities are important to parents. They want children learning in clean, up to date studios with large spaces and lots of mirrors. Seeing that their children are having fun, even while working their butts off, is also extremely important for most parents. They want to see progress in their child, that's what their paying after all!
Parents like innovative and avant guarde studios as well. Unique choreography, choreography that plays to strengths while still challenging dancers is a key factor is deciding where to take their children.
A personable studio is the most valued asset a parent can find. Being able to call the studio office any time of day with questions and get answers is a must. It's also great when studios realize parents time is valuable as well. Melissa Richardson of MA likes 'being able to order shoes and other stuff through studio', so she doesn't have to make an extra trip to the dance store.
In short, the top checks for parents when it comes to dance studios are quality instruction, affordable costs, and a fun atmosphere for kids to learn.
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keri.stan@yahoo.com
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