How Do I Select a School? In metropolitan areas the choices of dance schools are numerous, which may paradoxically makes finding a quality teacher more difficult. Selecting a school should not be a casual matter. Opting for convenience of location should be weighted against the reputation of the school. Personal recommendations from other parents need to be investigated. A visit to the school with an opportunity to observe classes is certainly in order. This initial effort is of utmost importance. For when you have chosen a school you must be prepared to make a commitment, because changing schools may be detrimental to the progress of a child. Professional Private Schools: Because of their affiliation with a company, they generally subscribe to a particular style of teaching such as Vaganova, Balanchine or Cechetti. One of the major advantages of attending this type of school is the opportunity to partake in productions of it's sister company, such as the annual Nutcracker. Unlike productions in area neighborhood multi-discipline schools, the children are placed within a greater whole. This allows them to learn the manner of the stage by watching professionals, who exemplify the standards that children strive for. Some schools offer a two track program: the more serious students interested in a career follow one track, while the students who are interested mainly for recreational purposes follow the other. These schools form their classes by age group and level of proficiency. This takes into consideration the physical development and the number of years the child has danced. More often than not the director of the school follows the training method she/he was professionally associated. The school director serves as a principal teacher and makes all decisions pertaining to the operation of the school. Many of these studios find it beneficial to form a non-profit sister company which elects a board of directors, while the school director retains control by being president of the board. This non-profit company therefor offers the child the opportunity to hone their performance skills outside of the normal classroom studies. Back to Info. page...