What To Expect at Preschool Dance Classes!

What to Expect.png

One of the things that make being a dance educator unique is that we have the privilege of working with students of ALL ages! From teenagers to toddlers, our instructors are experts at reaching children right where they are at. Depending on the age group, our teachers place their focus on different goals to ensure that your child is challenged each week!

So let’s talk about our Preschool Dance Classes! They are enriching, engaging, and most importantly, SO much fun! While dance is something that can be learned at any age, we consistently see great value in starting from a young age as well. 

Is your tiny dancer constantly on the move? Are you interested in adding something fun to your preschooler’s schedule? Preschool Dance Classes at Positions may be perfect! 

If you’re considering signing your little one up for dance, here’s what to expect at our Preschool Dance Classes!

1. Engaging & Imaginative Class Activities 

From baking a cake during stretches to painting a picture during tendus, our teachers use creative storylines and prompts to get your children moving. Not only does this keep hold of their attention spans, but it also allows your child to use their imagination! Preschoolers LOVE learning through play and make-believe. 

2. Gross Motor Improvements

In our Preschool Dance Classes, we leap, skip, and gallop our way through class! Coordination and gross motor skills are sure to improve as those tiny dancers learn how to move their bodies in space. 

3. Putting Social Skills In Action

As parents, we teach our kids good habits and proper etiquette at home. But when children aren’t in grade school yet, it can be hard to know how much of those habits have really sunk in. At dance class, you’ll see your child’s manners and social skills put to the test. 

We work on taking turns, raising hands, listening to directions and more! We always see huge improvements as our students learn how to operate in a classroom setting.

4. Giggles Galore!

In addition to the many things that your child will learn in class, our Preschool Dance Classes are sure to add some fun to your child’s weekly routine! We love being silly with our youngest dancers and giving them a chance to really let loose!

While you’ll definitely see these wonderful benefits throughout the year, it’s important to remember that it may take a few weeks! The first month of preschool dance classes can require some patience as the little ones get acquainted with their class routine. Distractions, separation anxiety, and behavior management are common and all part of the learning process! 

With that in mind, we’d also love to mention the ways in which parents can set their preschooler up for success! If you’ve checked these things off the list, your child is ready to go:

  • Talk to your child about what to expect when they arrive.

  • Snack, water, and potty break before class!

  • Equipped with the correct dancewear and shoes. See our dress code here!

  • Shoelaces are double knotted and ballet elastics are tucked in.

So if you’re ready to see all these amazing benefits for yourself, head to our website to get registered today! We can’t wait to meet your tiny dancer. Our Preschool Dance Classes will help them turn their baby grooves into big-kid moves!

Summer Camps At Positions

Here at Positions we have some AMAZING things going on this summer! We have a 6-week summer schedule packed full of our favorite dance classes for dancers ages 18 month-18 years. We also have a GREAT lineup of summer camps for our preschoolers. Today we thought we would help you sort through our camp schedule to figure out which ones are a good match for your child.

Individual pricing for each camp is listed in the camp description. Get started by contacting the studio with questions or by registering via our online portal

Fairytale Camp

FairyTale Camp

Our Fairytale Camp is sure to be a magical week! We will spend our mornings dancing to their favorite princess songs, reading the classics and eating a delicious snack!

Your 3-5-year-old will be transformed into their favorite prince or princess and will leave as royalty

*When: July 31st and Aug 2nd from 9:30am-12:00pm
*Where: Positions Dance Studio, Babylon, NY
*How much? $100

Olympics Camp

Olympics Camp

Our Summer Olympics Camp is going to be a BLAST! We will spend our mornings together having relay races, exploring movement, and of course, eating a delicious snack!

Your 3-5 year old will leave feeling like they have won the gold medal!

*When: Aug 7th and 9th from 9:30am-12:00pm
*Where: Positions Dance Studio, Babylon, NY
*How much? $100

Super Hero Camp

Super Hero Camp

Our Super Hero Camp is going to be a SUPER GOOD time! We will spend our mornings together making superhero masks, playing games like pin the mask on the superhero, exploring movement, and of course, eating a delicious snack!

Your 3-5 year old will come dressed as their favorite superhero and will leave with a whole superhero CREW! 

*When: Aug 14th and 16th from 9:30am-12:00pm
*Where: Positions Dance Studio, Babylon, NY
*How much? $100

As you can see we have some really fun things planned for this summer and we would love if your preschooler would join us! Please feel free to contact the studio with questions.We can’t wait to see you at the studio this summer!

How To Prepare For Your Child's First Dance Class

How To Prepare For Your Child's First Dance Class.png

Our fall session is upon us and we could not be more excited! The first week of dance is by FAR our favorite part of the year. There is such a positive, enthusiastic energy in the air and we eat it up at Positions Dance Studio. If you are gearing up for your child’s first dance class, you may have a ton of questions. We want to make sure you AND your child have an amazing first experience with us so we have broken a few things down for you. That way, you can relax and enjoy the moment with your dancer.

  • What does my child wear to dance class? Positions has a simple dress code for the uniformity and safety of our students. For all classes, hair must be pulled back off the face. Students should wear tights and a leotard with optional dance skirts/shorts or leggings. A form-fitting black or white shirt may be worn in classes outside of ballet. Dancers should wear the appropriate shoes to class (ballet shoes to ballet, jazz shoes to jazz, etc.) Please leave baggy clothing and jewelry at home. We have a TON of dancewear options at our studio for purchase. If you have any questions regarding dress code or need to purchase something for your dancer, please contact us here.

  • Can I watch my child’s class? All of our studios have viewing windows that are available to parents at all times.

  • When should we arrive to class? We recommend arriving 5-10 minutes early for the start of your class. This allows your dancer to be able to use the bathroom and visit with their dance friends before class gets started. If your dancer needs to change or do hair before class, make sure you allow enough time to do so.

  • Are there any rules in dance class? The expectations in dance class are very similar to those at school. We expect our dancers to be respectful of themselves, their peers, and their teachers. Doing so will ensure that everyone walks out of class with a giant smile on their face!

  • Anything else we should know? When trying anything new, it is always a good idea to go over the game plan with your child before the big day. Talk about what they can expect during their first class: where will you (the parent) be during class, what are the teacher’s expectations, what will they wear, what will they do during class, etc. Knowing what is in store can make the transition to dance class so much easier for you and your dancer.

 

So are you ready for an AMAZING week at dance? We hope so! If you are still needing more information please don’t hesitate to contact us. At Positions, it is our mission to create a positive experience for you and your dancer right from day one.

We cannot wait to see all of our new dancers in action, classes start September, 9th! Still need to register? You can do so here

 

 

 

What Makes Positions Dance Studio Different

Positions Dance Studio

We know there are so many great dance studios to choose from in the Long Island area. When deciding where your child is going to dance, there are so many different factors to consider and we totally understand that. What are the teachers like? How well maintained is the facility? What is the classroom dynamic? A dance studio often becomes like a second home for young dancers and their families. That is why it is SO important to find one that you and your dancer connect with.

We feel great about all the things that make Positions Dance Studio different from all the other studios in the area. We pride ourselves in cultivating an environment where our students come out of dance class learning not only dance steps but more importantly, life skills. We are very confident that you will feel just as great knowing that your dancer’s second home is at our studio. “For Your Island,” a local show concentrating on the arts, culture, and entertainment in Long Island,  featured our studio. In the episode, you will get to know the studio owner and director, Kelly Peckholdt, see the space, and get a glimpse into our classes. It is the perfect first step in getting to know our studio and its values.

 

As you can see, at Positions Dance Studio we truly care about each and every student. It is one of our top priorities to make long lasting, positive relationships with all of our students and their families. We have classes for students no matter what stage in their dance journey they are in. Our family-friendly environment helps our students gain self-confidence, self-esteem, and discipline all while maintaining age and developmentally appropriate classes. Using age appropriate music and costumes in class and for performances will always be our policy. We want your kids, to be kids!

Our experienced and qualified teachers keep our students busy learning proper terminology and technique while teaching them important life skills such as discipline, focus, and grace that they will carry well beyond their dance years. We are beyond passionate about dance along with creating an all-inclusive, positive environment for our students.

 

Like we said, we know there are a ton of great studios out there and we are SO honored that our students have chosen our studio as their home away from home.

If you would like to learn more about what sets Positions Dance Studio apart contact us today or stop in during one of our Open House Events (6/25 4:30-6:30, 6/26 4-6, and 6/27 6-8). We are now accepting enrollment for our Fall 2018/2019 session and would love to see you there!

 

 

 

Is Your Child Ready For Dance Class?

Knowing when your child is ready for dance class can be tough! Whether you have a toddler, preschooler, or a child in elementary school, making the decision to sign your child up for dance classes may be nerve wracking. Every kid is unique and of course, you know your child best! To make the choice just a tad easier, we thought we would share a few tell tale signs that your little dancer is ready to jump right in!

  • They LOVE music and movement! Does your dancer demand their favorite songs in the car? Do they start wiggling when a song comes on? Have they ever put on a “show” for you in the living room? If yes, then they will love dance class!

  • They are ready to take class independently. We DO offer classes for children 18-36 months accompanied with a parent ( called “Dance With Me”) but if your child is older than 3, they will have to be emotionally ready to take class without a parent in the room. Sometimes the adjustment takes a couple weeks and that is OK. We do have viewing windows in our studios so you can be sure to peek in.

  • They can follow simple instructions. We realize we are talking about little ones so we DO NOT expect perfection but your child should be able to follow simple instructions most of the time. Some examples of what we ask in class are: imitating the teacher’s movement, taking turns, and making a circle with their new dance friends.

Like we mentioned, each child is different and we love that! We hope this list gives you a little more confidence knowing your child is ready to have a blast with us in class. If you are still not sure, give us a call or contact us here to schedule a free trial class! Getting a tour of the space and meeting the director before the start of a new class can make the transition so much easier for both you and your child, so what are you waiting for??