How To Prepare For Your Child's First Dance Class

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. 

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??