Where should I park?
Children’s Dance Theater is located near the transit center in Auburn, as such there is many street parking opportunites for families. However during busy commuter hours there are very specific time limits to parking so please be sure to read the posted City enforced signs. The parking lot directly infront of CDT is a public parking lot with the following time limits:
5am-9am, 15 minute limits
9am-5pm, three hour free parking
5pm-6:30pm, 15 minute limits
Free parking after 6:30pm.
During prime commuter hours we encourage our families to use the un-official, drop-off zone directly infront of our entrance. Younger children will be supervised by the CDT receptionist while parents find nearby parking. There is ample parking on the street as well as on the East side of A st for our clients to use.
My child just stands and watches class after class, what can I do?
This is not an unusual response with 2-4 year olds and even sometimes 5 year olds. There are many different reasons for this reaction. Some children need a few classes to observe what is happening in order to feel comfortable enough to participate. We usually hear about how this student dances all the time at home and even does the moves from class at home but not at the studio. This is performance anxiety and will pass. The good thing is that your child is learning even if they are just observing.
Please keep in mind that the studio can be a loud place with all the other kids, music and tap shoes. If you child is more sensitive to noise they may take longer to fully participate. Also there is a lot of movement to get used to, and sometimes in the younger classes it is organized chaos. That can be overwhelming also.
Finally, they just may be more sensitive and could not be ready. In general it usually takes 3-6 classes for the average “shy” child to feel comfortable. If there is a severe anxiety it may take longer. We work with students and parents as long as you are willing too and it is not causing a disruption.
You the parent, should always be your child’s biggest cheerleader. Never get angry or frustrated at their lack of participation in front of your child. Play “dance class” at home, encourage them show you a new step or shape they may have learned, ask to see their stamps. If you can arrive early, please do so, and give your child a settling period. Learn some of your child’s classmates names and talk about their new friends. Most importantly be patient, if after 4-6 classes things haven’t changed a break may be the thing to do.
Can I switch class times later in the year?
Absolutely! However it is in your child’s best interest to let us know as soon as possible. Each class times has a unique performance routines and costumes, to switch classes after your dancer begins learning these routines or you have paid for a costume is difficult (not impossible) and possibly costly. Let us know right away if you are anticipating a time conflict.
Can I watch class?
Yes you can! While the studio is for dancers only, we have viewing windows that allow parents to sit and observe class. There is a curtain that is mesh enough for parents and children to see into the studio and help prevent distractions. We also host four observation weeks throughout the year where parents are welcome to come into the studio and video or take pictures. The curtains are open for those who wish to watch from the lobby. Sometimes as a treat, instructors may open the curtains to show off a great routine or if a dancer has a special guest. This is at the instructors discretion.
Why do you have a uniform?
The uniform dress code is important to dance training for many different reasons. Young children are often distracted by their large skirts and frilly tutus and possibly become jealous of their friends’ beautiful outfit. This makes the instructors job much more difficult. As dancers get older and more advanced in their dance training, the simple leotard and tights combination make possible for the instructors to see the dancer’s bodies so they can make the proper corrections. Each class level is also indicated by a different color leotard, (Like Karate with the different color belts) Once promoted, dancers are often very excited to get their new color leotard and have such a sense of accomplishment , which builds self esteem.
My child has dance experience at another studio and I think they should be in a higher level.
You may be right; however, each dance studio has a slightly different program. It is best to call and arrange for a free trial class. We’ll ask you some simple questions to figure out which class you should attend. We always work to promote a dancer, not demote. So even if you were at level 3 at your old studio and we ask you to come to our level 2, please do so and let the teacher be the judge. We want our dancers to be appropriately challenged in their classes. We do not allow children to be placed in a class that the faculty finds unsuitable.
I don’t understand what you mean by a ”creative movement based” program?
In our children’s division classes, we teach a creative movement based program. This means that we use a “dance concept of the day.” These 15 concepts are based off of Rudolf Labans movement theories of space, time and energy. We use a “Sesame Street” version, such as the 6 directions in which our bodies can move (space), slow or fast speed (time), and sharp or smooth (energy). Dancers are also exposed to the more traditional dance combinations and instructors apply the day’s concept to their regular routine. After teaching this way for almost ten years, we’ve seen the dancers develop into an artist that has a more diverse movement quality.
Often people mistake the work “creative” to mean the class is unstructured and there is no discipline involved. The reality is completely the opposite. It takes a lot of planning to weave these concepts into the regular class routine in such a way that your child doesn’t seem to notice the difference between playing and dance instruction. Dance class should be a fun experience for your child, and because the concept of the day provides a bit of variety to the routine, we rarely have discipline issues. There is no greater satisfaction for the teachers than when a young child leaves the studio having a little bit of sweat on their brow and a smile on their face.
How does the School Division differ from the Children’s Division?
Dancers in the School Division really begin to learn the “meat” of their dance training. They are introduced and work to master technique concepts such as alignment, rotation of the legs, core strength and much more. The dancers have to become more in tune with their bodies and, as such, often the pace of the class feels much slower in order for the dancers to perfect these skills. In another sense, dancers are expected to pick up and retain choreography and new steps faster. Formations and musicality of movement speeds up also in the School Division. As with any of our classes, it should remain an overall fun and nurturing experience. We think of it as “playful work”.
Are your teacher professional dancers?
This is not a frequently asked question, but one that sometimes does come up. Professional performing dance experience comes in many forms. It could be with a ballet company, music videos, performing in shows, commercials and often special events. While all of our teachers have extensive dance training, some have professional dance experience and others do not.
More importantly parents need to understand that professional dance experience doesn’t guarantee a high quality teacher. Just because you are able to execute dance steps on your own body, doesn’t mean you have the ability to explain it to another person, let alone a three year old. What makes a good teacher is an understanding of what is physically, emotionally and developmentally appropriate for their classes age group. All of our teachers have extensive training, education, experience and great personality. We look at where an instructor received their training, their understanding of the musculature and how it relates to dance technique. Their personality also play a big part in our hiring decision. Our instructors are professional educators who will give your child high quality training in a fun and safe environment.
