Before you sign your child up for dance class, there are a few things you should know. For starters, it’s a good idea to visit the studio before enrolling your child to make sure it is a good fit. Here are some questions to ask:

What types of dance classes are offered?

At Joy of Dance, we have a variety of different dance classes that you can take. These include ballet, jazz, tap dancing, hip hop and more. What kind of dance do you think your child would enjoy?

What is the cost?

At Joy of Dance, our prices start at $10 per class. There are also registration fees which are only $10 for the year. Find out about costs for individual classes as well as costs for multiple classes if your child decides to take more than one kind of dance class.

What is the age range for students?

At Joy of Dance, we accept students from ages 2 and up! Make sure you find out about the age range for students in the classes you’re thinking about signing up for. You don’t want to get stuck with an expensive class that isn’t suitable for your child.

How long are the classes?

At Joy of Dance all

If you’re looking for a fun way for your child to spend their free time, you may want to consider enrolling them in dance class. Dance classes are a great way for kids to learn new skills and meet friends, but there are some things that parents should know before they sign up their child.

Consider the Cost

One of the first things that parents should consider before signing their child up for dance class is the cost. Most dance classes will require a monthly fee and then you will need to purchase a costume for each recital. Parents should also consider how many times per week their child will attend dance class and how long each class is before determining how much it will cost. Some dance classes may even require the purchase of specific items like tap shoes or ballet slippers, so be sure to ask about supply costs when researching local studios.

Choose the Right Class

Another important consideration for parents who are enrolling their children in dance classes is choosing the right class. Most studios offer a variety of options, from ballet and tap to jazz and hip-hop, so parents should choose a style that interests their child. It’s also important to consider age groups when choosing a class because it’s best if your child is able to keep up with their peers.

Find

“Many parents are surprised to find out that not all dance studios are created equal,” says Lisa M. Greenleaf, a dance instructor and author of Ballet for Dummies. “As a parent, you should visit a studio before you enroll your child and make sure it’s the right fit.”

Having taught dance to hundreds of students, I’ve learned what works in a classroom, what doesn’t and what parents expect. Here’s what you need to know before signing your kid up for class.

1. Ask about the Teacher’s Qualifications

2. Know What Styles of Dance Are Offered

3. Make Sure the Studio is Clean

4. Ask About Tuition Policies

5. Beware of Recital Fees

Throughout my 12 years of dance training, I took classes at many different studios. My advice to parents is that you should consider the following things before signing your child up for dance class.

Is the studio a positive, welcoming environment for both parents and dancers?

Does the studio value their dancers?

Does the studio offer a wide variety of classes so dancers can try different styles of dance?

Does the studio have a positive rapport with their dancers?

Does the studio provide opportunities for dancers to perform in front of an audience?

After considering these questions, my hope is that you will be able to find a great dance studio for your child!

I’m a parent of a dancer, but I’m also a dance teacher and I spend my days watching other parents drop their kids off in the lobby. I’ve seen them get frustrated and I’ve heard the things they say.

The dance studio can be an intimidating place for new parents so I put together this list of things you should know before dropping your kid off at dance class.

1. It gets hot: We keep our studios hot to keep muscles warm and prevent injury. The heat helps dancers safely stretch deeper, work harder, and move faster with less risk of injury. Put on some shorts or leggings and a tank top if you plan on sitting in the lobby during class. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

2. Our shoes are expensive: Your child may outgrow their shoes before they wear them out but $40 is actually pretty cheap for a pair of ballet slippers or tap shoes. The cost goes up from there when it comes to jazz shoes, character shoes, and pointe shoes. Make sure you know what kind of dance your child is doing before buying anything because all kinds of dance require different shoes and some require more than one type of shoe for class.

Starting dance lessons at a young age is a great way to instill a love of movement, rhythm and music in your kids. It also gives them an opportunity to explore their talents and develop their coordination, flexibility, strength and balance.

Before you sign up for classes, however, there are a few things you should know about different styles of dance and what to look for in a studio.

Types of dance class: Ballet is the basis for most other styles of dance. If your child is new to dance, this is a great place to start! You’ll often see ballet technique incorporated into jazz or lyrical/contemporary classes as well as musical theatre. Other popular styles include tap, hip-hop and acro/gymnastics.

Benefits of dance class: Learning to dance can help improve focus and attention span while teaching discipline, self-confidence and goal setting skills. Dance also offers many physical benefits including improved posture, balance, strength, flexibility and coordination.

Spend any time hanging around a dance studio and you’ll hear the same thing over and over: “I tell everyone thinking about putting their child in dance to take a trial class.”

It’s good advice. Dance is an incredibly rewarding activity for kids, but it’s also really different from other activities. It helps to have a little preview of what life in the studio is like before you sign up for a year or more of classes.

But what should you do if your child’s trial class is coming up and you’re feeling a little nervous? We’ve got three things to keep in mind as you prepare for her first dance class.

First, relax! Remember that this is just an introduction to the world of dance. If she doesn’t love it right away, she may still love it later on down the road — especially if she takes another class or two with a different teacher.

Second, let her explore. If your child’s been taking ballet lessons at Studio A for a few months and the teacher there tells her to try tap at Studio B, don’t freak out! She might discover that there are lots of different kinds of dance out there, and one might be much more rewarding than another.

Third, trust your instincts. If you notice