Proudly serving Shawnee and Overland Park, Kansas

Registrations are still being accepted.

Convenient after school class times are still available.

 

Shawnee 913-441-5575

Overland Park, 913-851-2020

 

 

Five Things Every Parent Should Know Before Choosing a Performing Arts Center

If most studios seem to have qualified, friendly teachers, experience teaching children and a big show at the end of the year, aren’t they all pretty much the same? Does it really matter which place you decide to enroll at? Yes. There are five main things that can make a huge difference in the quality of instruction your child receives, the amount of extra work and hassles the parents must deal with, and the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved with a performing arts program. Here are the five things that every parent should consider before deciding on a studio for their child.

 

What type of dance floor is used?

Dance is a very physical activity that requires a lot of jumping, which can put stress on bones and joints. Most dance footwear does not provide any cushioning or support, so the shock of dance movement can place a lot of pressure on the knees and the back of a dancer. The best way to prevent against a potential injury is by choosing a studio with a professional “sprung” or “floating” floor. This type of floor is raised to absorb the shock of jumping. All of the dance studio floors at the Academy of the Arts have this type of floating floor to help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without getting tired.

The top layer of the dance floor is also an important factor. A vinyl composite “Marley” floor is accepted worldwide as the best surface layer for recreational to professional dance for ballet, modern, lyrical and jazz. Facilities such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the Kansas City Ballet, and the Royal Academy of Dance in London, England, all use Marley floors as their dance surface. A Marley floor allows dancers to slide, with a degree of “controlled” slip, but is not slippery, so there is less risk of slips and falls. Many studios choose not to use professional Marley floors because of the expense involved, and usually opt for a regular floor tile for a studio floor.

For tap dancing, however, Marley is not the best choice, but a tongue and groove wood floor works best. This allows for the best percussive sound and clarity of the taps. At the Academy of the Arts, we have eight dance studios, five of which are tongue and groove wood top layer and three, which have Marley surfaces.

 

What is the size of the class?

If the class has fewer students in it, each child will receive more personalized attention, learn more and have more fun. With younger students it is easier for a teacher to maintain control of the classroom and make sure that each student is learning the concepts and following instructions. This makes learning a much more enjoyable experience. Our smaller class sizes make sure that no fundamental concepts are missed and students are not developing bad habits or improper technique.

Our studio limits our children’s classes to a maximum of just 8 students per class. In most of these classes, there is also a teaching assistant. Even our adult classes (except Ballroom) have a maximum of 12 students per class.

 

What are the performance requirements and costs?

Most studios put on a year end show in a professional theatre. Students are usually required to purchase a costume and/or pay a separate recital fee in order to participate. Some studios may require parents to sew their child’s costumes, or pay extra and the parents find their own seamstress to do the sewing. This can be inconvenient and frustrating for parents who are busy or can’t sew. Most studios also require parents to purchase tickets for the recital performance night and a video or DVD of the performance if they would like to have a record of the event. At some studios participation is even mandatory. Although we feel that participation in the big show is a wonderful experience, it is not a requirement. Those students who do participate, however, are issued two free tickets and a costume with their recital fee. Also included in the fee is a professionally produced DVD of the recital.

At the Academy of the Arts, however, this is not the only opportunity students have to perform. We usually participate in 3 or 4 additional optional events annually often re-using the same costume or wearing studio t-shirts.

Our competitive students perform even more often at local and/or national competitions.

Can I get immediate assistance when needed?

In many studios, the teacher or the studio owner conducts classes and does the administration. By trying to do two jobs at once, the class may suffer as the teacher has to use valuable class time for customer service issues, or the studio may have no customer service available at all if the teacher is in a class. To have a good experience, it is important to choose a studio that can assist you with details like costumes or schedules, even if the teacher is occupied in a class. At the Academy of the Arts we have an office staff on hand during all regular class times, so you can get immediate assistance. We also have a very thorough website and prompt email response to questions after hours.

 

Does the Studio care about their students? Does it focus on them and show them they appreciate them?

At the Academy of the Arts, we have many extra events to show our students that we are pleased that each and every one of them is a part of our school. Some of these events are Movie Nights, Glow in the Dark Party, and our Open House.

Regardless of how much experience a studio has in teaching students, if they are unable to present the training in a caring and patient way, the student will not develop an appreciation for the art form. The student should never be yelled at or made to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable in a classroom. If the class is not enjoyable then something is wrong. Either the child is simply not ready or the environment is not a relaxed and caring one.

At the Academy of the Arts, we really care about our students. We have a camera in each studio and a monitor in our lobby area which allows parents to observe the classroom without disruption each week.

In conclusion, it is always a good idea to visit the studio you are considering sending your child to. Look around. Does the environment look like one your child could flourish in? Do the students coming out of the classrooms look happy? Do the parents in the lobby seem to be happy with their choice or are they indicating that they are dissatisfied. If it is near recital time, go to the recital of the studio you are considering. Talk to the other parents. An informed decision is always the best decision.