So the South Dayton School of Dance, the studio I co-own with my amazing business partners, is opening up our classrooms for parent observation next week. This can be a great opportunity for our dancers to show off all they have accomplished and learned. Here are some helpful hints to make this a positive experience for you as a parent, your dancer and the faculty.
- Do be respectful of other visitors in the classroom as well as the teacher and your dancer. Please turn off all cellphones and refrain from talking during the class. Also, give the class your full attention and abstain from texting, reading or doing work during the observation period.
- Don’t watch only your dancer. It is easy to get caught up watching your child, but it is important to get a good understanding of where your child is in relation to the rest of the class.
- Don’t just watch your dancer’s technical ability, but look at their behavior in class as well. Do they listen, follow instruction and apply the corrections given not just them, but the corrections given to others? Do they keep their eye on the teacher? Do they hang on the barre when the teacher’s back is turned? Do they stare out the window?
- Don’t bring very young children to observation week. Remember that a dance class is like any other classroom; it is a learning environment and it only works when there are little to no distractions.
- Do congratulate your dancer on their hard work, improvement and dedication. Enjoy all their accomplishments and applaud at the end of class.
I look forward to seeing you!