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Parent Guide What you Need to Know

How can dance, music, or theatre benefit my child?

Becoming a dancer, musician, or actor, a lifetime quest, involves more than talent, desire and discipline. These are the stones for the building of a house. They remain only that unless there is a structure, and that cannot be accomplished without design.

For example, you want to take your child to ballet class. Where do you go? Because dancers need to be trained at an early age, the parents' choice of a first teacher is central to their development over the years. Even if neither the child or the parents envision dance as a profession but simply are looking for an extracurricular activity, the choices need to be informed ones.

For human beings, the arts is as natural as breathing. Performing Arts give us pleasure. It teaches us good posture and how to become more graceful. It establishes an awareness of the body, and an appreciation for what the body can do. It also aids in the physical and mental development of a child. It teaches discipline and self reliance. Ballet class offers children the opportunity to become aware of spatial relationships. Through the art of dancing, we share our sense of well-being through harmony in motion.

Dance is for everyone who has an interest. Movement as communication is as old as humanity. It can tell a story, convey an emotion or simply lift our spirits.  

Dance as a study, has many benefits:

• A greater understanding and acceptance of one's body
• Exhilaration from mastering new material
• Increased flexibility and strength
• Improved posture and graceful movement quality
• Positive sense of self
• Building strength and athleticism

How to choose a Dance, Music, & Acting School

One of the hardest choices facing parents today is that of choosing a school for their children. Only a few years ago, it was much easier, but, due to the tremendous growth in the popularity of dance, music, and theatre in the United States, there are now a great many schools from which to choose. That's good, because it means that more children than ever before will be exposed to one of the beautiful art forms in the world. Who can tell how many great performers will be discovered because of this increase in the number of schools and students?

But it also has made it harder than ever for a parent to know where to send a child to study the arts. There is no regulation of performing art teachers or studios in the United States. Anyone can open a school and call themselves a dance or music teacher! So how do you choose? What questions should you ask? And when you ask the right questions, what answers should you be looking for?

1. Check the background and qualifications of the Faculty.

It's always important to make sure that your child's instructors are qualified, especially where dance training is concerned. Ballet and dance instructors are not licensed in this country - anyone can claim to be able to teach your child to dance! Ask for information on the instructor's background. Look for someone who has professional dance training, holds a degree in dance or a related field from an accredited college or university. Any of these is a good indication that the instructor knows what to teach, when to teach it, and how it should be taught.

2. Ask if combination classes are offered.

Some studios may offer classes that combine training in ballet with training in jazz, tap, and/or acrobatics. All in 60 minutes! Our Early Childhood Pre-Dance Program is the only level that incorporates multiple disciplines in an hour. At that young age, we have found it beneficial to allow students to explore movement and rhythm through the study of creative movement and ballet fundamentals. When students enter a Level I class, they begin to study one dance discipline per hour or hour and a half they train. At The Academy, we teach only one dance form in a class at a time.

3. Ask about the Annual Performance.

An end-of-the year performance is important! It gives a young dancer valuable stage experience, as well as the opportunity to use what they've learned during the year. Our year-end performance is designed to compliment your child's classroom training - not replace it.

4. Visit the studio.

In addition to all of the things you would normally look for (clean, well-appointed, good area, etc.), check to make sure the studios have barres and mirrors. And most importantly, look at the floor! Dance should not be taught on surfaces such as concrete. Jumping on a floor that has no give to it can lead to shin splints, knee injuries, and other problems. Our floors are specially-laid wood floors designed to give the proper amount of cushion that dancers need. We love to have prospective students and their parents visit us. Just call before you come so we can be sure to meet you and personally show you around.

We offer quality dance, music, and acting instruction from ages 2-adult in Oak Creek, WI. We are very close to other areas and currently have students from South Milwaukee, Cudahy, Franklin, Greendale, Greenfield, Milwaukee, Racine, Caledonia, and Franksville. Please call us today at (414) 768-0101 or stop by to see our beautiful facility at 9160 S. Pennsylvania Ave. Oak Creek WI 53154 or our Franklin Location at 7221 S. 76th St. Franklin, WI 53132. On our site you can also register for dance, music, or acting classes!