Mom and Dad and the Dance Studio
The Role of Parents and Other Guardians in their Child's Dance Life
Nov 30, 2008
Dance moms, dads, grandparents and other caregivers should take an active role in the development of their children's dance careers. Whether they are dancing for fun and recreation, or attempting to develop a professional, competitive dance life, parents and guardians are an integral part of the relationship with the studio.
Information Exchange
All dance studios handle the registration process differently. However, there are certain pieces of information that a dance parent should always provide:
- Emergency Contact Details - If something should happen to a child during dance class, a weekend activity such as a competition, or a performance, the dance studio personnel will need updated contact information for the parents. When contact numbers change, this information should be provided to the studio as soon as possible.
- Allergy Information - Parents should also let the studio know if their child has any allergies. This includes foods to stay away from, cleaning products that may be used in the studio, etc. In the case of severe peanut allergies, for example, the studio owner would need to notify all students that peanuts should not be taken into the studio, and hands must be washed at home after eating peanuts, to mitigate the risk of leaving oils on the dance floor and barres that a student may be allergic to.
- Physical Impairments - The parents are responsible to inform the studio owner and teachers of any injury or physical impairment that may hinder the student from fully participating in dance class. In the case of temporary physical injury, the parents should provide all doctor information to the studio owner, including the length of time that the student may not be allowed to dance.
Participation in the Studio
Parents and guardians should be involved studio life with their dance students. All dance studios have different ways for parents to become involved, which may include:
- Observation/Visitation Weeks - The studio may hold an observation week a few times during the school year. At these times, parents and other family members may sit in on the dance class and observe how the students have progressed through the year. This is a chance for parents to see that they are "getting their money's worth". The students also enjoy showing off to their families what they have learned. Other studios may have observation windows or closed-captioned televisions, where parents and guardians can watch their students' classes at any time. Parents should also take advantage of these opportunities to be engaged with the classroom.
- Fundraising - Many studios hold fundraising events, such as car washes, where students and parents have an opportunity to interact with each other and earn money towards their costume fees or recital tickets. Other opportunities include sales fundraisers, much like Girl Scout Cookies, where the parents and students can work together to raise money for their required fees.
- Other Volunteer Opportunities - Many other volunteer opportunities are available at the studio, including working backstage at a performance, selling recital tickets, or being involved with other studio events.
Most importantly, if there is a chance that someone else may pick up a student from dance class, besides the parent or guardian who is usually there, the studio should be informed. Studio owners and teachers want to make sure that their students remain safe, both in the studio, and when they leave to go home. If a family friend, caregiver, or other students' parent will be driving them home, the parent or guardian should contact the studio as soon as possible with that person's name and phone number. A scary or possibly dangerous situation can be avoided with a two-minute phone call.
Both the studio personnel and the parents should be working together to make sure the students are getting the most out of their dance experience. It is a team effort.
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