How will I know what is the right school for my child?
Choosing the right dance school for your child can be a difficult decision to make. So we have put together a few pointers to help you make the best choice.
- Firstly ask for recommendations from friends. If your friends have experience of a particular dance school – who better to ask than that? They will give you free impartial advice. They can tell you if their own child enjoys the classes, if it seems a good environment and if they have any concerns regarding the school.
- Now, all schools should make the time a child spends with them fun and enjoyable, but donโt forget that you are paying the school for training as well. How do you know that the training your child is receiving, in a discipline you may not have a great deal of knowledge about, is as good as it can be? Below are some questions to ask to help you decide.
- Teachers. Are they qualified? Are they experienced? Do they have DBS checks? Are they First Aid Trained?
- Syllabus. Which syllabus does the dance school follow?
- Exams. How often does the school enter students for exams? What are their results?
- Progress. How long can you expect your child to take to move through the grades? How far can the school take your child if they begin to take it seriously? What have past students achieved?
- Schools Programme. What is the range of disciplines and styles your child can experience? If you want your child to take various classes, your own timetable will be so much easier if all the classes are organised within one dance school.
- Performance. All children love to perform, so what are the performance opportunities? Does the dance school enter students for Festivals or Competitions? If so what are their results? Do they have success locally? Do they have success nationally?
What should I wear to my first class?
For new pupils or pupils doing a trial class we suggest they wear existing dancewear if they have it, or comfortable exercise wear. If they do not already have ballet shoes we recommend they take the class in bare feet.
Will my child be in a class with children of the same age?
Though we try toย accommodateย your age requests, we feel that having each child in the right class appropriate to their ability is our paramount consideration. We always want your child to be in the level where he or she will have the best learning experience.
Does my child have to take exams?
Although taking exams is not compulsory we encourage all students to complete their grade exams. Exams are a great way to focus attention and for parents, pupils and teachers to measure progress.
How long does it take to complete a grade?
Each child learns differently. We will advance a child through the grades at the pace that suits the individual child. For some that may be very fast (within 6 months for the lower grades) and for others it may be around a year. Regular attendance and practice outside of class time will of course have an effect, but the speed at which a child advances is not always the best measure.
Do you have to audition to join the school?
No. JSTA has an inclusive policy and any child that wants to join, can.
What is LAMDA?
The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) is one of the UKโs oldest drama schools and has been offering practical examinations in communication and performance subjects for over 130 years. LAMDA exams are about achievement โ recognising and rewarding the hard work of each individual โ but more importantly about developing long-term life skills; self-knowledge, empathy, self-confidence and the ability to communicate clearly. If youย would like toย find outย more aboutย LAMDA lessons please contact Sharon Manders. She will arrangeย a convenient time to talk it through withย our LAMDA teacher, Ray Franklin.
What is a Festival?
Dance festivals are competitions where students compete against dancers from other dance schools. They can dance solos, duets, trios or groups in a given discipline of dance in front of an adjudicator and audience. Participants dance in age groups or age ranges. JSTA competes in regional Festivals every year leading to the biennial All England Dance Competition through Regional Finals to the National Final usually held in London in July.ย JSTA has consistently proved itself to be among the very best dance schools in the country, winning National Finals inย all dance disciplines and is therefore regularly asked to perform at prestigious national events. Pupils are invited to audition for Festival competitions.
What is the maximum number of children in a class?
Generally, our Graded classes up to Grade 6 generally have no set maximum number, however in larger classes we bring in assistant teachers to ensure that each child in the class is fully engaged and receives the attention they need to maximise their own potential. We also have the facilities and staffing available to split larger classes, depending on circumstances, if that is in the best interests of the students. We make sure that each child enjoys their class time and that each parent can see the results. All of our assistants are training at Advanced Level.
