Free Report Choosing Your Ballet School!
Dear Parent,
If your dancer is between 3 and 6 years old, chances are you are new to the Dance School business.
What follows is a short-list of things to know or at least consider before entering into a commitment
with any Ballet School.
These questions and answers stem from my own 28 years experience as a professional dancer,
coach and instructor in the world of Ballet training. The Dancer's Advantage is dedicated to
excellence in all our dance training TDA teachers are committed to good, safe, and most of all
respectful dance class instruction.
Respectfully,
Brian Bender
Director; The Dancer's Advantage
1. Is an instructor qualified?
Our teachers have Academic Degrees, Academic and Professional Certifications, and or
equivalent professional experience and are mature adults.
If your dancer is Level IV-V-Advanced, and is learning professional variations and repertoire, did the person
instructing them ever professionally dance work they are teaching? Did they perform any variation more than once?
Although valuable, an academic degree, certification or wealth of good intentions is no substitute for a long-term, on
stage, professional career. All TDA students work with instructors who have academic degrees and have been
dancers, some with 28 years professional experience, or are currently Principal Dancers, or have more than 5 years
professional dance experience. At TDA your dancer will not be instructed by someone unqualified to teach them.
2. What is your dancer being taught? Why? Never be afraid to ask pedagogic questions.
All levels of TDA classes employ 12 to 70 complex memory and physical co-ordination exercises. Our teachers have
been instructed to provide any pedagogic information that our parents request.
Watch for signs that a program provides only glorified baby sitting but bills you for dance training.
3. Is the class size appropriate to your dancer's age and cognitive learning level?
If a class is too large, that is 14 or more dancers 4 to 5 years old no real learning occurs.
Is a teachers assistant present?
All Classes with 10 or more dancers, age 4-10 years at The Dancer's Advantage have Teacher's Assistants. The
Dancer's Advantage limits all classes to 12 consistent participants. With our two locations we are able to add classes
to avoid over-crowding.
4. Does a ballet school run a combo, ala-carte system?
Schools promoting easy come, easy go systems with combo classes are most likely to be providing less focused
instruction and high injury rates. It takes 8 years of intensive study for a dancer to be prepared for a career. Even
recreational dance, like the study of music is a complex discipline. As we mentioned above, our classes incorporate
20 to 70 difficult memory exercises. Our students do very well in school.
5. How many performances does a school do?
If a level I - III student is constantly preparing for the next show, or competition, what technique are they learning?
The Dancer's Advantage has one performance in Spring/early Summer. Usually the week of June 11th. Our
advanced dancers have more performance opportunities commiserate to their level of commitment and ability.
6. Is Tuition the cheapest in town?
You get exactly what you pay for!!!
No professional experience, and low standards are always less expensive.
We want your dancer to have the best instruction available.
Call The Dancer's Advantage
Enroll Now
303-320-6659
