What to Look for When Selecting a Dance Company
If you’re thinking of taking up dance lessons, you’re going to want to put some thought and effort into finding one that fits! After all, a dance studio is a dancer’s second home. Growing as a dancer is all about how well you train, and that responsibility falls heavy on the shoulders of the trainers. How you train and where you train depends on that. Finding yourself the right dance company is crucial because it will provide you the resources and instructions to learn the right way while providing you with a community of dancers you can connect with. Therefore finding your ideal dance company goes beyond the usual dance companies near me Google search: you’re going to have to sift through the list of 100+ searches. How does one go about that? What should one look for when going about selecting the right dance company?
The Qualification of Trainers
You know one thing you cannot find the answer to when you’re Googling “dance companies near me?” The Qualification of your dance teachers! You need to do a little digging and find out whether your potential future teacher has adequate dance experience, especially in the dance form you want to perfect (be it ballet or street dancing). You want to find teachers that have years of training and experience working with all kinds of students. Give brownie points to teachers that attend conferences, seminars, and shows, because you know they want to adapt and keep learning!
Instructors & Choreographers
A rookie mistake most people make while narrowing down their list of “best dance companies near me” is researching the teachers as choreographers alone: remember that a great choreographer does not equate to a good teacher, and that’s what you’re looking for. Go through their websites and check out testimonials to get a sense of their teaching strategies and how they intend to teach first-time dancers. Once you find a dancer that you like or aspire to be like, you know you’d do well in their class!
It Should Be Age-Appropriate
Oftentimes you (as an adult) find yourself in a dance company that specializes in children, or vice versa. This is the result of a lack of thorough research on the dance company’s background and area of specialization. Note that when you’re signing up your children for dance lessons, they are the healthiest when they are allowed to be as is. Training children with strict discipline is important, but the reigns can be loosened during a dance class (unless it’s professional training). Also, you want to make sure that the studio does not introduce children to mature music with inappropriate lyrics or even dance moves, for that matter.
Finding the Right Class Placement
It’s not enough that the dance company is dignified and has ample reviews: you have to make sure they place you correctly. What this means is that being placed in the right class depending on your experience is key. This is often prioritized overage. This helps you mingle with other age groups looking to perfect the form of dance you’re working on yourself and adds a new level of socializing. Don’t be afraid if your teacher moves you to another class: it’s simply because they feel you would thrive better in a more improved environment. Take up the challenge and don’t be shy if you’re the only adult in a group full of children.
The Size of Your Class
If you feel like the dance company is assigning you to a class that has way too many members already, you might want to reconsider. A dance class is intended for you to move around, stretch, and do more without worrying about bumping into the person right next to you. Additionally, you want to make sure you get enough attention from your dance teacher, so ideally, the smaller the group the better.
The Safety Factor
While you’re on your hunt for the right dance company, dig deeper beyond the “dance companies around me,” and find out what the company does to prevent injury. As with any other physical activity, there is a certain risk for injury with dance. But a responsible dance studio ensures that you’re not exposed directly to the concrete floor (as this can send a shock through a dancer’s knees and ankles, creating injuries). Make sure they a special vinyl mat.
