4 Things Every Parent Should Know
When Choosing a Dance School

There are many things to consider when selecting an appropriate dance school for your child. The quality of instruction differs from school to school, as does your overall experience as a parent. Here are 4 Things to look for when selecting your child’s dance program!

• Are the Instructors Qualified?
  
  It is important to know that dance schools in Ontario are not regulated. That means that anyone with the desire can open a dance school and instruct classes. This not only affects your child’s development as a dancer, but also increases the risk of dance related injuries. Many studios choose not to invest the money in quality teachers by hiring senior students, or teachers lacking professional standard credentials. Some studios find it too expensive and time consuming to hire qualified dance educators. These practices can lead to poorly trained dancers, that may develop injuries over time.
  
  At Vision Dance Academy all of our friendly instructors are fully qualified in the genres that they teach. Credentials include Dance Specific University Education, Dance Specific College Education, and The National Ballet School of Canada’s Teacher Training Program. In addition, we host our own in house injury prevention training for all faculty members, and all faculty are certified in Emergency First Aid and CPR.



• What Type of Floor will my child dance on?
  
  As with many other sports, dance is a very physical activity, and the type of flooring used for dance varies greatly among dance studios. Proper flooring is sprung. That means it has more “Give” than a floor laid directly on concrete. This allows the joints to absorb less impact when landing from jumps etc. Many dance schools choose not to invest the money into a proper dance surface, therefore leading to various dance injuries.
  
  At Vision Dance Academy, we promote an injury-free environment. Proper Sprung Flooring is one of the tools we employ to dramatically decrease dance related injuries.



• What if my child does not enjoy the class?
  
  Enrolling your child in an extra-curricular activity can be a gamble. What if they change their mind? What if they decide they would like to take Tap instead of Hip Hop?
  
  At Vision Dance Academy we are flexible. We understand your challenges as parents, and we will do our best to accommodate your individual needs. Space permitting, we are happy to transfer your child to another class at their level. Also, if your child decides that dance is not for them after the first class, we will refund all of your term fees. No hassle!



• What if my Child’s Recital Costume does not fit?
  
  We all know how much children can grow in a short period of time! So what do we do when they were measured for a costume in January, and it doesn’t fit in June?
  
  At Vision Dance Academy we are happy to assist you with your costume sizing difficulties. If your child has grown out of their costume, we will be happy to exchange it for you. No charge. No hassle.