Music Hip Hop, Utah and Tap Dance Lessons

Once you’ve taken the plunge into wanting to take some Ballroom Dancing Lessons – the first questions will be where, and how? There are several types of studios in the US. Most of them are “independent” and offer a variety of dances per a large accreditation organization. Or, the studio may be part of a franchise system such as Fred Astaire Dance Studio or Arthur Murray Dance studio. Some studios are very into competitions while others just focus on the social aspects of dance instruction – be it for an upcoming wedding, a social event or just for entertainment. Some studios even teach Wheel Chair Dancing!

Before you search out a Dance Studio, ask yourself some good soul searching questions: Why do you want to learn Ballroom dancing? Do you have a partner? Must you have a partner? Do you like to Compete? How much can you afford to spend per month? Does the studio offer group lessons as well as privates? How long have the teachers been there? Is the Owner active in the studio as an actual dancer/instructor? Must I wear Ballroom shoes?

Once you’ve asked and answered these questions of yourself, you are then ready to look at studios in your area. Don’t be afraid to travel a little since the studio choice will be very important.

Some questions for the Studio?

Ok, you’ve done your research and found several studios in your area (you’re lucky!) All of the above questions will help you determine what questions to ask the studio. Personally, I feel an “independent studio” will have more to offer and won’t be quite so expensive? Why? They aren’t tied into a National Franchise that takes a percentage of the receipts, can be very competition oriented, yet not “over the top” with that and usually are well established in the community.

If you are getting into Ballroom to enjoy the social aspects, several items are key. Do they offer group lessons? Even if you have a partner, this is a great way to learn all the different steps and rhythms. Group lessons are much easier on the wallet! Plus, group lessons are more social by their very nature – you will switch dance partners throughout the lessons. If you are a single person, group lessons are a great way to learn about it, meet lots of great people and perhaps someone special!

A very important financial question is how they want to be paid! AVOID a studio that wants large amounts of money at a so called discount – especially from a teacher itself! There are too many horror stories from people all over going in for a lesson to find the studio has closed or the “teacher” is no longer with the studio and has your money!! If you want to pay lots of money up front, be sure it is with the STUDIO and not the teacher – course, still no guarantees on that either. Good studios will work very well with you on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Just avoid any long term contracts! Do they have competition costume rentals available? Do they have dance shoes available? How large is their dance floor for “socials and parties”?

What kind or type of dancing?

There are all kinds of reasons to start Ballroom Lessons – your wedding is coming up and you want to actually dance with your new spouse, you like the social aspect of dancing, you want to compete, or perhaps, you want to become a teacher?

If it is for your wedding – just learn a nice easy basic dance that both of you can handle – a swing dance is always good and fun! Wedding plans are enough stress on both of you already – don’t add dancing to the mix – make it something you both will enjoy and easy – your guests will still be impressed!

Group lessons typically start as a “sampler”. That’s a six week one night a week class with a different dance each time – Waltz, Foxtrot, Swing, Cha Cha, Rumba and perhaps a Salsa? It really won’t matter. You’ll know by the end of the 6 weeks how you like dancing. First things first though – we ALL started with the classic “2 Left Feet”. Do NOT let that hamper your enthusiasm to learn and enjoy dancing. Once you get past the 6 week sampler, then they typically will do a month of each dance to start expanding your steps, rhythm and knowledge so you start to look good out there! Your group lessons will just progress from there. Salsa dancing is becoming extremely popular.

Private Lessons are great because you get 100% attention from a dedicated instructor, just for you and your partner (you can take privates as a “single also”). Privates can advance you quicker into the mainstream of dancing – but will cost considerable more also! Some instructors are very strict on form, posture and steps; others are more into the steps itself. Here’s where we start to get particular. If you feel you want to compete more than social dance, you must have an instructor that knows all the fine points of competitive dancing and can teach it well. If you are interested in the social area of dancing, the “steps” will become more important to you. However, once you have memorized and learned the steps, you will want and need to learn the finer points of form, styling, posture, etc.

Ok – I’ve learned some dances – now what?

Most of your larger metropolitan areas will have a good size ballroom dance hall that everyone goes to. Since New York is a huge Ballroom Dance Area, there are plenty of large dance halls for social dancing. If you are in Philadelphia, there is a huge dance hall called “Stardust Ballroom”, just across the river into NJ in Bellmawr. The best night there is Friday. Get a free group lesson from 7:30 to 8:15 and then dance the night away until midnight for only $12 a person.

A large dance floor is a must! The more you enjoy dancing, the better you’ll get. Then you’ll find you like to actually take LARGE steps! Small dance halls won’t cut it! Usually members of your group class can be encouraged to go out for a weekend night of social dancing – after all, isn’t that why you dance!? Basic rule at a dance hall – if you are asked to dance – you DO (unless you don’t honestly know the steps). It is a great atmosphere to just dance! Feel free to ask any one sitting if they want to dance. The same goes for you, if you are sitting and asked to dance – get up and dance as though you know someone is watching – you’ll dance better!

Incoming search terms:

• tap & switch dance \partners

Opening your own dance studio is an exciting process, but there are certain steps that need to take place to insure success. Sharing your love of dance will take you a long way, but a dance studio is a business, and like any other business, you will need to plan and design diligently, get the word out, and keep things running smoothly once you have opened the doors and are living your dream. The following steps will help you strategize your way to a profitable new dance business venture:

1. Prepare your plan. First, you will need to pick the right location. Naturally, you will want to find a place that is in the commercial center of town, with ample parking. If your studio is located on a busy street in the center of town, you can capitalize on foot traffic, because people will see it when they walk or drive by, especially if you have an eye-catching sign and a nice-looking studio. Consider how much space you will need for dancing, and make sure your studio has good natural light, a restroom, and enough space to create a dressing room and waiting area.

Decide what type of classes you will want to offer, to which age group(s), and how often, which will help you begin to sketch out a class schedule. Another option is a dance studio franchise, because they can save lots of time and energy by offering their valuable expertise in choosing a location, marketing, and name brand recognition.

2. Design your studio. What sort of look and feel do you want for the dance studio? If you have decided to specialize in teaching ballet classes to young girls, you might paint the studio in feminine pastel colors that young girls adore, like pink or lilac, and decorate with murals, ballet costumes, or inspiring, beautiful dance posters. Whatever your theme, the end goal is to make the studio a place where people will feel comfortable and want to return over and over.

The physical layout of the studio is also important. Most studios have a reception area, where students check in and pay for classes, a changing area, a restroom, and a waiting area for friends and family members to sit and watch class, if they desire. Many studio owners create an area for a boutique that sells dance apparel, dance videos and music, dance equipment and supplies, and dance-related gift items.

A well-planned dance studio requires the proper dance equipment, such as sprung wood flooring, mirrors, and a sound system. If the studio is not already fitted with a dance floor, you will want a spring wood floor. This is a special type of floor that has cushioning to protect dancer’s joints, and can be purchased as a kit or professionally installed. Most studios also have floor to ceiling mirrors installed along the front wall of the studio. If you need ballet barres, you can either attach them to the walls or purchase freestanding ballet barres. Your sound system needs to have enough power to fill the space. It should also have a port for instructors to hook in mp3 players or computers that contain playlists for class.

3. Marketing and promotion. Getting the word out is a vital part of getting students. You will need an appealing logo to put on all of your print marketing materials, including business cards, letterhead, brochures and flyers. Be sure to offer new student incentives on all of your marketing materials. New students are much more likely to come to your studio if you offer the first class for free, or give them special discounts.

Be sure to promote online, too. Your studio should definitely have a website with class schedules, pricing, your bio and photos. Consider listing your business with local business directories, schools, and in dance-related directories.

4. Network to increase visibility. A successful dance studio owner knows that a big part of their business involves creating good relationships with their students and the public. Creating community will always help you to find students and help students find out about you. Joining a business network group can add to your business. Other groups, such as parenting groups or church groups can also helpful.

A grand opening with free demonstrations, lectures, and giveaways can help draw attention to your studio. Some instructors offer workshops at community centers, or perform at local events.

5. Keep up with the business of your business. There are several administrative duties for every studio owner. Obviously, bookkeeping is mandatory. Mailing lists, class schedules, and information management can be time-consuming, and many studio owners opt for studio management software to keep track of it all efficiently.

Your music collection is the inspiration that drives your classes, so you will need to keep looking for new music often. Add new songs by searching online for options. Listen carefully to each song before you decide to download the music, and then arrange your songs for each class by creating a playlist on your MP3 player, iPod, or computer.

What are you looking for in a dance studio?

To begin, parents looking to enroll their children in a dance studio should first think about what they would like to get out of the studio experience. Not all studios are a good fit for every type of dancer. For instance, some studios only offer a competitive dancing curriculum, while others are recreational and better suited for those enrolling for fun and social interactions. Finding a dance studio with a good balance between competitive dancing and technique training is also something very important to consider, and speak with the owner about.

Ask your friends for recommendations.

It is best for a parent to ask friends who have children enrolled in dance studios for recommendations. Friends can offer solid information that can not be gathered from the schools themselves. Ask parents of dancers attending the schools what they think about the studio. Other parents will be honest about their experiences, as they have nothing to lose by offering positive or negative criticism.

Visit the studio and get to know the staff.

Parents looking to pick out a dance studio also need to visit different studios and speak with the instructors and staff at the different studios. Ask the staff what their philosophies on dance are, how many kids are in each class, do you let the kids out on time or five minutes late every week? Parents need to get a feel for the potential schools where their children will be dancing. It is ideal to take children along and let them (if they are old enough) ask their own questions as well. Also, the child may want to try a class, many schools offer free trial classes which is great for your child!

Attend year end recitals.

Parents should attend dance recitals at each of the schools that they are considering enrolling their child in. A studios recital tells a lot about the studio. Take note of how skillful the dance students are, what types of costumes they are wearing, the musical selections chosen, whether or not it looks like the kids are having fun and overall professionalism. Parents should definitely bring a note pad and write down any information or questions they may have while viewing the performance.

Compare prices.

After going to each studios recitals, parents should then take careful note of the prices that the various studios charge. Dance lessons can be expensive, and with costumes, shoes, tights, leotards, hair supplies, and makeup. Costs can quickly escalate and it is important to ask about any other hidden fees or contracts.

After gathering all of the relevant information, parents can then pick out a school that suits their child. However, they should continue to monitor how their children are enjoying the dance studio experience once they are enrolled in a school. If a child is not happy and/or things are not going well overall, a parent should speak with the teacher to find out if there are any behavioral issues, or personality conflicts from the student, or towards the student in class. The most important aspects while looking for a dance studio is that the teachers are providing quality education and that the child is finding success and happiness in their environment.