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8/30/2015

How Much Dance Should Your Child Be Taking?

9 Comments

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Your child is busy, taking hours of dance class per week, and you are wondering, “Is all of this money going toward the right things? Is my budding dancer getting what he or she needs for the best value?”

When you have a child in dance, you pledge your own resources to the process and it makes sense that you want to make sure these resources are not going to waste.

Something has value when what you get out is equal to or greater than what you put in. Reward ≥ Dedication (of time, of funds, of spirit, of motivation, of thought, etc.)

The “bad” news?The return on value is not always immediate, particularly in dance. Rewards can come much later so it can be hard to tell if you are getting value. That’s why I think so many parents ask the questions above.

The good news?  Good value is measurable, even in the moment, if you know what your values are.

What is valuable to you? Dance is a treasure chest of riches to be unlocked. Even if your child never steps foot into a dance studio again after high school, it is likely he’ll have received something from the experience. Potentially, these could be valuable life lessons.

Take some time to determine what you and your child want to get out of dance beyond any professional aspirations. Then, reflect on your child’s dance program and schedule based on these standards. For instance, if self-discipline is something you value, assess if the school encourages and expects dancers to focus and make choices. If it’s creativity, make sure your school provides opportunities for dancers to participate in the creative process. Look at the wider scope of rewards in dance when you evaluate and you’ll have a better idea if you are putting your money where it really matters for you.

Quantity – How much is valuable? At a dance studio it is easy to get caught up in quantity.  There are a buffet of different dance styles from which to choose. These have the potential to be enriching experiences for your child, no doubt. But they can begin to accumulate, each one seeming to be crucial (and expensive) pieces to a puzzle.

In this quest for fulfilling every need with more classes, more awards, and more performances, the importance of other rewards is underestimated.  Perhaps sensing a  gap or void, parents begin to wonder how many, or which of these puzzle pieces are really necessary.

But it isn’t about the number really. Nor is about having all the “right” pieces.

What matters is that each piece is considered before it is placed, works toward your child’s current goals and interests, and is supported by a solid foundation of quality training and true enthusiasm for movement and the art of dance.

Quality – What is valuable in dance? Dance parents can get into a mindset in which all the decisions made about a child’s classes are bent on best preparing their young dancer for that maybe, what-if chance that he or she wants a career someday. This too neglects the other valuables dance has to offer.

If your child definitely has aims to become a professional or if you are concerned that they might one day, consider this:

I’ve never heard a college professor or choreographer or critic lament that a dancer just didn’t take enough classes, or win enough awards, or perform enough as a kid.

I have witnessed disappointment in the training and technique a dancer has received. Clearly the focus is on quality not quantity.

Quality vs. Quantity Granted, when we talk about quality dance training, quantity does come up. Standard estimates for what is considered “enough” technique to progress to certain levels of training do exist.   You may have a better understanding of how training (the course of techniques learned) differs from having experiences in a variety of dance styles.

The ability to adapt to many different dance forms comes only when there is good training and technique to build upon.

Denise Wall, studio owner (and mother of Travis Wall and Danny Tidwell) says she never wanted to own her own studio, but after teaching in studios where success was measured more by enrollment and retention than by students’ improvement, she changed her mind. “Unless you own your own studio, you cannot control curriculum,” she says. “I would rather be poor than sacrifice technique.”

That dedication to quality, rather than quantity has helped Denise Wall’s children and students find success in the dance world.

Bottom line: When you make a commitment to quality over quantity and aim for experiences that support your child’s goals and values, you can almost always feel confident that your investment (whatever that is) is going to have great returns for your child.

Find a studio devoted to quality instruction of techniques and training. It may not always be the least expensive option. It may not always be the most expensive option, either. But it will be the most bang for your buck: the better value.

Abide by your own commitment to quality when considering the addition of classes or other expenses (or how much dance your child is taking).


danceadvantage.net

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9 Comments
Alexandria Martinez link
7/10/2018 03:11:09 pm

My brother called me the other day asking for my advice on putting his son in boy dance classes. He wants to better understand the various benefits. It would make him happy to know that the quality will make it worth the effort.

Reply
Marcus link
7/30/2018 09:53:01 pm

I totally agree with you in that it is always a good idea to look for a quality dance class for your kids. It is important to understand that doing some research can help you find the best place where your kids can dance their little hearts away. Personally, I would also want to read online reviews to see if other parents are satisfied with the dance classes in their area.

Reply
Ron Brooker link
7/18/2019 09:32:28 am

I found it interesting when you said that when we talk about quality dance training, quantity does come up. My nephew wants to join dance classes, he just doesn't know what style to choose first. We are going to start looking for a place near us, to get more information about it.

Reply
Callum Palmer link
10/17/2019 09:52:03 pm

My daughter is looking to get into dancing. She is wanting to do it a lot. I'll make sure that she doesn't overdo it but does do it enough.

Reply
Skyler Williams link
11/20/2019 02:20:35 pm

I appreciate that you said a person should focus on the quality, not the quantity of classes. My daughter wants to learn how to dance better. I'll be sure to look for a dance class that has high-quality standards.

Reply
kate hansen link
6/30/2020 02:55:05 pm

It was really helpful when you said to consider what your child can get out of classes. My husband and I are wanting to have our daughter start taking dance classes in a couple of weeks, and we are wanting to make sure that we have her take the right amount of classes. We'll make sure to keep this information in mind as we search for a dance studio for her to go to.

Reply
Charlotte Fleet link
1/25/2021 05:44:06 pm

My husband and I want to enroll our oldest daughter in dance classes to help her stay active. I love how you said that it is important to choose quality over quantity to ensure that your child gets the best results. We will be sure to look into finding a reputable, high-quality dance studio to take our daughter to that is a great fit for her needs.

Reply
Braden Bills link
7/18/2022 10:59:10 am

My daughter wants to learn how to dance, so I'm thinking of signing her up for classes. It makes sense that I would want to find a dance class that has some quality trainers that can focus on the many different benefits of dance. That seems like a good way to ensure that she gets the help that she needs.

Reply
Mia Evans link
8/2/2022 08:36:05 pm

It's interesting to know that a child can have different experiences when entering a dance studio from when they are young and when they are teens. I guess we can let our son join hip-hop dance classes for children this year because he requested it. He is seven years old at the moment, and it seems that it would be a fun experience for him to learn at a young age, and we'll definitely support him if he wants to do it again in high school.

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    • Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Tap & Contemporary
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