*A dancer needs a proper dance floor to develop muscles in the leg correctly. A "floating" floor is best because there is special foam underneath to absorb shock when the dancer jumps. This also prevents dancers from developing bulky leg muscles and prevents injury to the knees.

*Ballet is the core to all dance. Students who take Ballet learn the basic fundamentals of all dance styles, and usually excel quicker in all other forms of dance.

*Hip Hop and modern or contemporary lyrical movement is always changing with the times. A good instructor will continue their education in dance by taking classes themselves to keep up with the constant changing new styles of dance. There are some classic techniques of dance that will never change but these styles mentioned above are always changing. The instructors at the Dance Place are all highly educated professionals and have been exposed to all aspects of a career in dance. We still take classes and continue to grow and learn as dancers.

*Dance is supposed to be fun as well as structured. Just because a studio has many strict rules for you and your child does not always mean that they are the best. We try to make our students feel comfortable enough to ask questions because this is important for learning. Dance can be a fun, healthy, active outlet for kids, they need to feel comfortable in their environment to properly express themselves in the arts.

*It is easy to be sure you or your child are learning proper technique when the dance vocabulary is enforced. Ballet terms are in French. If your child is speaking funny French words, they are probably learning ballet. I love to use the example for our students from my experience as a 12-year-old girl dancing with a Ukranian ballet company. The choreographer spoke Russian, and I spoke English, but we were able to communicate because we both understood the French ballet vocabulary. This was the only way I could learn the choreography. Beyond the vocabulary proper dance training and body alignment in ballet is very important because if taught incorrectly serious damage can be made to the joints and muscles.

*Be sure you choose a studio that offers something for the "recreational" dancer and also offers a program for the potential "serious" or more committed dancer. So many dancers I went to college with felt they were cheated by their local dance studios because there was so much technique that they were not taught. It is really hard to catch up on this as the dancer gets older. We at The Dance Place promise you will never feel cheated on your technique.

*Performing is a huge part of being a dancer. Be sure that your studio offers multiple performance opportunities. We have a competition team, annual Nutcracker, Recital, and local performances throughout the year. Performing in front of dozens of people will set the stage for many stages in life, and there is never enough practice for this.

*Whether you choose dance for exercise or for a career have fun with it! There are so many things to worry about in life and the few hours between the walls of a dance studio or at the ballet barre can do wonders for children and adults. Beyond the physicality, dance is an art, and the dance studio is the perfect place to express yourself!