Making the decision to do competitive dance

Making the Decision to Enroll Your Child in Competitive Dance
 Many parents question whether or not to allow their child to dance in a competitive program. There are many benefits to competition as well as a few negative. I would like to take some time and clarify some of the pros and cons. It is my goal to help all parents understand the specifics of the competitive dance program so that they may decide if it is the right program for their children. Competition dancers can start as young as 5 years old. I do not recommend beginning any earlier than this; I suggest that at this age children should be accepted by teacher recommendation. First year competitors may put a lot of pressure on themselves until they know what to expect, as the competition atmosphere is quite different than that of a recital. Usually after the first competition, a dancer will know if competition is right for them. If they love the spotlight, performing to the audience and giving it their all, competition will most likely be a good fit for the dancer. A competitive program can be as simple as attending a class once a week, or as demanding as joining a dance company that holds 3-4 rehearsals per week. I suggest that all new competitive dancers start out slowly and then work their way up to a level of rehearsal and dedication that fits their lifestyle and schedule. It is definite however that the more one dances/practices the better and quicker they will improve. If a dancer is taking a competition class that rehearses once a week, I highly recommend adding a ballet technique class on top of that. Most studios can schedule these classes back to back therefore the dancer would only have to attend one day a week. This is a great way to see if he or she likes not only competitive dance but the commitment as well. Competition dancers usually attend several local competitions a year and an optional national event located out of state. Some studios may decide to only attend nationals every other year. It really just depends on the clientele, the program itself and even the economy. Competitions also range in entry fee prices. Each competition company sets and charges its own fees; the dance studio has no control over this. The entry fee prices range from $30.00 for each dancer in a group to $80.00 for a dancer to take a solo routine. The competition venue is usually held at a local high school or performance venue. Most competitions do not charge a fee for the parents to watch, however I have heard of several that do and I personally stay away from those, as parents have already paid the entry fees. Dancers in a competitive program gain so much more than just technique. They learn to work collectively as a group, as well as the importance of synchronization and timing. When teaching a competition class, teachers will stress this a bit more adamantly, as the pressure is a bit higher than in a non-competitive class. At competition there are usually three judges that score on technique, timing, costume, stage presence and overall performance. Dancers who compete learn to perform all aspects necessary for a good score and hopefully an overall award. Competitive dance programs help to make the dancer less intimidated, more confident in their abilities and themselves. Dancers quickly learn to take and apply corrective criticism, which helps them tremendously later in life. With all the above being said I am a huge fan of competition as I feel it really helps and prepares the dancers for life later on. All these aspects are learning tools to help them when they go off to college or into the working world. I have found that people who have competed in dance are able to handle the stresses and demands put on them easier in everyday life. I would however strongly suggest checking out the studio and the program that is offered and make sure it will work for you and your family. Although competition can be very expensive and time consuming, it can also be very rewarding.

A dance teacher's most memorable moments!

A Dance Teacher’s Most Memorable Moments

As a dance teacher I am often asked, “What is your favorite thing about teaching?” or “What moment sticks out in your brain the most?” Those are actually very difficult questions to answer as so many things come to mind! I’ve been teaching dance for over 26 years and I know I have not even come close to experiencing it all. When dealing with children and their parents, one must always expect the unexpected! I would like to share a few of these special and memorable moments.

I believe that children are amazing and that we do not give them enough credit; they are so quick to learn new things and pick up more than we ever give them credit for. To teach them and watch how they learn to count rhythms, change formations, and develop the difficult technique that we throw at them, one can only expect that there will be a few mishaps along the way. I particularly love when the pre-dancers (toddler age classes) discuss on stage who is right and who is doing the dance incorrectly. I have watched many 3 and 4-year-olds come out of line during a performance to let their dance partner know that he or she is in the wrong spot. This is usually upsetting for the dancer who is being corrected, and therefore he or she will respond back that "No! I am right, you are wrong!” This is always a special and entertaining moment for the audience to witness.

Once, early in my career I choreographed a dance with balloons as props. I had helium balloons on strings tied to their wrists; all were the same color, as I learned early on that giving out different colors only caused major drama! The routine, costume, dancers, and concept were adorable! I did not count on the dancers getting so close and that the balloons would get tangled up. As soon as two of the dancers became tangled, several other dancers on stage tried to help "untangle" them. This of course did nothing but cause MORE of a tangled mess. Eventually almost the entire class was completely tangled and unable to move! We ended up having to escort the children off stage and re-do the number on stage with NO balloons.

Another showstopper occurred when I choreographed a Pocahontas number. All the dancers dressed up as Pocahontas and we gave them tomahawks as props to dance with. We practiced with the props every week in class and NEVER had a problem. The night of the show, however, one of the dancers realized that the tomahawk was actually a whistle! As you can imagine she broke out into her own concert, sat right down in the middle of the stage and played a tune. The other dancers loved this discovery and joined in! Even though I was mortified and felt terrible that they did not showcase all that they had learned throughout the year, they actually stole the show!

Ultimately I would have to say that with all the funny and unexpected things that come with owning a dance studio, my favorite and most memorable moments occur just spending time in class getting to know the dancers. I am honored that they allow me to be such a big part of their lives, and I love that they include me in their special moments. They experience so many exciting things that take place throughout their developmental years and the fact that they allow me to be a part of them is something I will always cherish! This year I taught four graduating seniors who have been with me since the age of 4. These girls each wrote ten things that they love about me and attached them to the back of a picture of the five of us. It was so special and so humbling to see that I had touched their lives as much as they have touched mine. I would have to say when thinking back on everything (the funny, the unexpected, the good times, and the bad) that it is awesome to know that as teachers what we do, what we teach, and how we interact with these young people will have an effect on their lives. Every time I enter the classroom I think about these things, as the dancers and I create more memorable moments to share throughout the years.

KSD is the place to be!

This fall will mark the start of Karen’s School of Dance’s 27th year in business. It’s very exciting to think that we started up in October of 1986 in a one room studio with only 80 dancers! Since then KSD has moved three times to larger locations and expanded once. We are getting ready for our next expansion right now! We will not only be expanding our programs and what we offer but we will also be adding a fifth dance room.

Karen’s School of Dance offers classes in jazz, tap, ballet, pointe, lyrical, modern, hip-hop, musical theater, and contemporary. We will be adding drama and gymnastics to our program this fall, giving our dancers more opportunities to study the performing arts. KSD also currently has a Zumba and aerobics program offered five days a week, and we will be adding personal training program as well this fall. While we have been blessed with many new students in recent years, we definitely pride ourselves on keeping our class sizes small. We like to make sure that every student receives the personal attention that they deserve!

KSD offers three different categories of programs (recreational, competitive, and pre-professional programs) as well as a wide variety of levels in each of the classes offered. We offer a progressive based technique, ensuring that the students continuously learn new technique so that they can progress and move up each year. Students can attend class as little as once per week or as often as every day. The KSD staff is made up of dedicated and talented teachers, all believing in what they do. “Dream, believe, achieve” is our motto and we teach it to our dancers regularly. We teach them to believe in themselves and that all things are possible if they put their mind to it.

At Karen’s School of Dance not only do we provide quality dance training, but we teach life lessons and help our dancers build lifelong friendships while having fun! Students are encouraged to participate in all studio-wide activities, whether they take class once a week or every day of the week. We hold spirit weeks for the dancers to take part in, free open house classes complete with prizes, Halloween contests and dress up, as well as studio picnics and parties! A fun time is guaranteed to be had by all at KSD.

When searching for a dance studio, look for good technical training, dedicated teachers, a variety of programs and levels, and a good safe environment in which to dance. Karen’s School of Dance is a family oriented studio and we encourage all parents to get and stay involved. Dance should be a fun-filled activity and prove to be a rewarding experience. Please feel free to check out our website (www.danceatkarens.com) for more detailed information about KSD.

If you are interested in finding out more information please check out our studio!

Karen's School Of Dance
1185 South Milford Rd.
Highland, MI. 48357

(248)887-1807                           

I believe we are all here for many reasons. It is up to you to listen to God and find out why you are here, and what he expects from you. It is then your choice to follow through and accomplish what needs to be done.