Four Things You Should Know About Choosing A Dance School

1. Teaching Philosophy - All dance schools are not the same. Different studios have different teaching philosophies, which directly impact the classroom atmosphere and the student's learning experience. Over the years we have spoken to many parents who are hesitant to put their children in dance classes, especially ballet classes, because they have had negative experiences at other schools. Some schools will only accept students who have a certain body type, or will ask children to leave as they get older and their bodies develop in ways that are not ideal for serious dance training. At American Youth Dance Theater we do not judge children based on their body types or physical capabilities. We encourage each student to achieve their utmost potential, and set realistic goals for their individual physicality. We do provide serious pre-professional training for students who wish to pursue dance as a career, but we also take great pleasure in teaching dance to students who do not wish to become professionals, but just love to dance. We treat each student as an individual and take great pride in helping them achieve skills which will be of value to them for the rest of their lives. All the faculty members at American Youth Dance Theater are highly trained professional dancers with many years of performing and teaching experience. We use our knowledge and experience to instruct in a caring and nurturing manner and inspire students to achieve their highest potential as individual dancers.

2. Small Classes - Classes at American Youth Dance Theater are kept small to ensure a good student teacher ratio, giving each child the individual attention necessary to help them achieve their personal best. Classes for younger children are usually kept at a maximum of 8-10 students (depending on age) with one teacher, and large classes for older students are often co-taught by two faculty members.

3. Performance as a Vehicle to Increase Self Esteem and Learning - Some schools offer one end of the year recital, while other studios only offer an in-class parents visiting day. Students at American Youth Dance Theater, ages 3 ½ and up have the opportunity to perform in two theatrical productions every year. We believe that there is no greater learning tool than by being involved in live theatrical performances on an ongoing basis. Along with learning new technical material, our students are always working towards a performance. This helps them to directly apply new skills they have learned in class, and keeps them excited about their dancing. Performance is also a great vehicle for increasing self-esteem. Students feel great when they can get on stage and show their families, friends and peers how much they have learned and accomplished. For the teachers it is rewarding to see how much our students love to perform, and it is especially gratifying to see students continue to blossom and gain self-confidence through each performance.

4. Professionally Constructed Studio - Dance training offers many positive rewards for the body including increased posture, balance, muscle tone, flexibility, and body awareness. However, like running, basketball and many other sports, if not done on the proper floor surface, dance can cause repetitive strain injuries due to shock impact on the bones and joints from jumping on a hard surface. That is why it is very important to make sure that the dance studio you chose has a "sprung" floor. This is a floor which rests on a series of foam blocks, allowing the dance floor to float several inches above the sub floor. This type of floor helps to absorb shock impact and ensures healthier training for students as well as longevity for professional dancers. All the studios at American Youth Dance Theater are constructed with sprung floors.