How does performance develop a young dancer?

I am a big believer in getting children performing at an early age.  Of course it helps to develop their performance skills as they grow and develop into stronger dancers but more than that, I think performance is an opportunity to develop life-skills.

A dance recital is a fun experience that creates memories for a lifetime and is a wonderful chance for family and friends to see what the dancer has learned in class.  The preparation for a recital is important because as the dancer is working on their recital dance, they are developing memorization skills, rhythm, technique, teamwork, and much more.  Dancers learn to be proud of what they have learned and accomplished with their dances. It’s important for children to understand that when you work hard at something, you are rewarded with a great experience, some fun, and pride in your work.  

A recital also gives the dancer a opportunity to be on a stage and to perform in front of an audience.  This is a truly needed life-skill.  Being able to get up in front of a group will prepare them for group projects in school and public speaking their entire life.  Performance increases a child’s comfort level and confidence in all that they do as they are learning it’s good to try things in front of people and even okay if we mess up...the show must go on and life must go on.

I know many parents who are hesitant to have their child perform because of one reason or another.  I encourage parents to have their children perform and to ensure it is not their own insecurities keeping the child from going on a stage.  The earlier a child begins performing on some level, the better.  With that said, a performance can bring on some nerves or different emotions but that is both normal and okay.  Unfortunately I see a lot of dance studios or teachers putting unnecessary stress on the children when it comes to the recital so be sure you are comfortable with the studio’s philosophy on performance.  Also check to see if the teacher will be dancing with their younger classes or not as this makes a huge difference for the little ones.  Ask how long the show will be so you understand how long the kids will be backstage. Some studios, like Dance To EvOLvE, even allow volunteer class moms to be backstage. Knowing that you could stay with your dancer might ease some anxious feelings. 

When a parent is hesitant to enroll their child in recital because they are shy, I always tell them, “you never know what we will get on show day.  I have had my stars of the class freeze up on stage and I have had my shyest students in class be the stars on show day...it is all okay and a part of the experience.”

How can a good dance class for children prepare your dancer for school?

A good dance teacher should go way beyond simply teaching dance in a dance class.  A good dance teacher not only develops technique, imagination, and artistry but also teaches skills such as social, listening, coordination, memorization and math.  They should also introduce class structure which is imperative when starting school.  Good dance teachers see the importance of developing little humans versus just developing a dancer.  They create a perfect environment in their dance class for a young dancer to start learning the skills that will benefit them in all their school years.

Quality children’s dance lessons will involve the dancers understanding that they need to listen to the teacher and follow the rules of the class and directions of the teacher.  The young dancers will also learn to make lines, wait their turn, dance together, share, listen and repeat or listen and follow, and also count.  As I like to say with my students, ‘the magic number is 8’ and we do a lot of counting forwards and backwards to 8.  Putting dance moves with counts (or numbers) is the starting blocks of all the research that shows that dance helps mathematic scores.   

In addition to all the skills the young dancers learn, they are also becoming comfortable with participating in a class without mom and dad.  This helps with separation anxiety that is often a problem for the parent and child when beginning school.  

Dance To EvOLvE’s tag line is ‘Dance Today For Your Life Tomorrow‘ and outlines the philosophy of EvOLvE and the EvOLvE teachers.  As a team, we believe in teaching more than dance and take our role as a teacher seriously to develop our students in all aspects.

Brittany White, Dance To EvOLvE Director

Dance Classes Do Not Have To Be Expensive

One of the reasons that I started my own dance company is because after working at many dance studios over the years, I was always surprised by all the fees involved.  Of course any type of class has associated costs and therefore participant fees are necessary, but with many classes or activities, including dance classes, there are numerous additional fees.  There is a pressure on families to stay involved which can lead to more expenses.  The pressure often comes from the dance studio itself or other parents at the studio to wear a specific color or brand of clothing, take multiple classes a week, and/or participate in expensive competitions, conventions and performances throughout the year.  Some of these things are necessary for an older and advanced dancer.  Multiple classes a week is a necessity to develop a dancer’s body and conventions or extra workshops can be very beneficial to a dancer’s training.  With that said, a dancer can receive high quality instruction without mounting fees.

It is important for you to decide what your priorities are when taking a dance class.  This way, you will not get caught up in the pressure that can bring the extra fees.  If you are looking for a dance class for fun and recreation, then find a dance studio that does not have a strict dance code (saving money on buying dance attire) and that does not put pressure on the dancers to take lots of classes a week or to attend conventions.  

If you are looking for a dance studio to provide a higher level of training, then go for a good studio that is not a ‘competition studio’.  Participating in competitions are very expensive between the entry, travel and costume costs involved.  Competition studios do not always bring quality instruction so do your research and find the studio that believes in developing their dancers technique and artistry.

At many studios, participating in the recital can also be required or sold with a package that includes things you may not need.  (For example, many dance studios have a recital package between $100 and $200 that will include the costume, 2 tickets, a DVD and sometime pictures.)   It is also important to research different dance studios and check out the companies that offer a free trial class.  Be sure to ask if they have an annual registration fee, what the recital policies and dress code is, and other fees throughout the year.  (They are often not forth coming about this so ask other parents.)  If you are looking for affordability, I would also not be distracted with fancy studios.  Fancy studios bring expensive upkeep which brings high fees.  One of the wonderful things about dance is that there is no expensive equipment involved…the only true requirement is an open room  Of course you want a professionally run company to ensure high quality instruction and good management (bad management can increase prices due to inefficiencies) but you don’t need all the ‘bells and whistles’ to have a great dance class.

Brittany White, Dance To EvOLvE Director

Have you ever considered taking a dance class?

I teach a lot of school dance programs where the class includes boys and girls who do and do not want to be there.  Within the school programs, dance class is not optional..everyone must participate.  Knowing that, I start every new program by saying, “Everyone likes to do different things.  My favorite thing to do is dance and I know it may or may not be your favorite thing to do and that is okay.  All I ask is that we all participate and try because I have a feeling we will have some fun if we just give it a go.”  Well, I say something similar to that at least but I am sure in a much more eloquent and motivating way.   My point is that I want the kids to become comfortable with me as a teacher and to not feel daunted by dance if they have never done it before or if it isn’t their thing.  I really believe that dance is great for everyone and should be experienced by all in some form or another.  This blog is really about how dance is good for the non-dancers, the individuals who may not be choosing to take a structured class, or those who have never considered taking a dance class. 

One great thing about dance is the amount of styles out there to choose from. There is something out there for everyone!  There are your traditional styles such as ballet, tap and jazz.  Hip hop has taken dance classes by storm over the last decade and is a great option for kids and adults or anyone who is just looking for a fun recreational activity or great workout (cardio hip hop classes have become all the hype in gyms).  Further, there are partner dance styles such as salsa, tango, swing, waltz... just to name a few.  Salsa is probably the most popular and has a great social aspect as well as being a great workout.  For any of these styles, you do not need a partner so don’t be intimidated or shy.  Often there are open free classes (especially for salsa) held at clubs or hotels where the teacher rotates the men and women.  You can also sign up for a class and they will probably have a similar structure.  Another dance form that is a bit less formal is line dancing, which has various styles within it.  The simplest form is how it sounds...the dancers dance in lines with the movements being easy to learn and follow.  One of the latest crazes is Zumba, which is not technically a dance style but I think it appeals to so many people because it is a mixture of dance and fitness that includes various world rhythms.  Zumba can be found at most local gyms. 

No matter what dance style you decide to explore (and don’t be afraid to try more than one if your first attempt wasn’t a success), the important thing is to get out there and actually try it.  Remember that it will take a couple of times to get the hang of it so stay with it for at least 4-5 classes before you decide if you like it or not.  It also takes awhile to get the feel of the choreography and the music, which is definitely a learned skill.  Any form of dance will increase confidence, coordination, agility, rhythm, grace, balance, flexibility, musicality, strength and cardio.  So get out there and enjoy life...try dancing!

Brittany White, Dance To EvOLvE Director

What makes a good dance teacher?

There is a real difference between being a dancer and a dance teacher.  Too often, people think that because they are a good dancer, they will be a good teacher.  That is not necessarily the case and is why I often see average teachers leading classes.  It is important for a dance studio to choose their teachers based on a wide set of criteria and every studio will have different ideas about what that is.  The teachers are what differentiate or ‘make’ a studio so it is important that you trust the studio to choose great ones.  I believe that Dance To EvOLvE has some of the best teachers around but since they are all different and have different teaching methods, it is also important to find the right teacher for your dancer.  If the fit isn’t right maybe try a different class.  Some teachers are higher energy and louder and some have a much calmer quality to them.  Neither of these types are bad but just different and can have different effects on your dancer.

Obviously the criteria for a teacher will depend on the studio’s philosophy and age group that they are teaching but in general, here are some key qualities that I think are imperative to any dance teacher and I look for when hiring and mentoring our Dance To EvOLvE teachers. 

• Professionalism: Teachers need to be able to answer parents’ questions and communicate important information.  They need to be reliable to be at class consistently and to be on time.
• Good Mentors: Teachers are mentors to their students and need to set a great example with how they dress, the music and language that they use, and the positive encouragement they incorporate into their classes.
• Knowledgable About Dance Development: Teachers need to know when students are ready to advance.  It is crucial that they do not teach above the student’s age or level if their muscles and strength are not ready.
• Truly Passionate: Teaching should not be just a second part time job for extra money but rather, a true delight to teach.
• Good Class Management: One of the biggest qualities that I see missing in a lot of teachers is the ability to manage a class.  Dancers need to stay engaged and focused in a way that makes class fun while keeping them safe. Class management is imperative to a successful, efficient and productive class.  This is an acquired skill and should definitely be continually watched so the teacher can improve.
• Good Preparation: A unique thing that Dance To EvOLvE teachers are required to do in order to maintain high quality classes is a lesson plan to ensure that teachers are not just ‘winging’ it week to week.  All our teachers, for all ages and levels, also must complete teacher shadowing and a teacher development workshop once a year.  Teachers can learn so much from each other and it is important to watch others to keep those creative juices flowing.

Overall, a dancer already has passion about the art of dance...a dance teacher guides others in a highly skilled way to grow the same passion that they have already found. 

Brittany White, Dance To EvOLvE Director