What should my child expect on their first day of dance class?
The first day of dance class is something to get excited about! Some dancers may feel a bit nervous and/ or shy about the first dance lesson, but that is normal when trying any new activity. The best thing to do is talk about the class beforehand in a fun light-hearted manner to ease some of those nerves.
Every dance studio has their own way of running things, but typically parents can expect some registration paperwork, and dancers can expect a general introduction on the first day of class. The teacher will introduce themselves, take attendance and possibly do a fun ice breaker so the dancers can start becoming friends. If applicable, dancers will learn about their dress code and dance shoes. The first day of class can be a bit chaotic as everyone gets to know one another, and dancers are learning the class structure and expectations of the teacher. It will take a couple of classes to get into the swing of things. Parents should not be worried on the first day if a student looks or feels a bit lost. That is what class is about...learning and improving!
Tiny tot dance classes can be especially crazy on the first day because it is hard to teach that age group when the teacher doesn’t know all the students’ names yet. It’s also often their first class ever. Time will resolve all the initial chaos as students become accustomed to their teacher and class format.
Older classes will also start learning basic warm-up combinations that may be challenging at first. They will be consistently used throughout the entire course, so that the warm-ups can be completed with ease each week.
Overall, parents and dancers should expect a exciting experience on the first day of dance class where students start learning the basic format and rules, while reviewing material from the previous class level. The most important thing, as always, is to have fun and start falling in love with the art of dance!
Brittany White, Dance To EvOLvE Director
www.dancetoevolve.com