Did you know that at Prestige, we limit our junior programs to 12 students per class? We believe when children receive more personalized attention in a smaller class, their chances of success in understanding and learning the moves improve significantly. This helps set them up for their dance journey and boosts their confidence in class.
As a popular dance studio in SE and SW Calgary, some common questions we get are related to class size and duration. We answer these questions below!
Why is class size important?
Regardless of how well-structured the class is and how qualified the teachers are, one thing remains true – young children in our junior classes learn best when they receive individual attention and careful training. Our small class sizes for students aged 5 and younger allows teachers to identify and correct improper technique and ensures that fundamental concepts aren’t being missed.
Why is the duration of the class important?
If you’re searching various Calgary dance studios for children 6 and under, you’ll likely notice that classes are typically 45 minutes or even at the 30-minute mark. At this age, children’s development is happening at a rapid pace and their attention span is limited. One of the best ways to keep children engaged is with a shorter class time and breaking up the class in different formats.
For older children and adults, class length times typically run between an hour to an hour and a half. This is where we fine-tune those techniques and develop those skills further, which requires a longer class time to fully convey.
How are dance classes structured?
A well-structured class helps students learn new concepts, improve their technique, and keeps them engaged for the duration of the class. When it comes to a workshop-style dance class, students warm-up, learn the choreography, execute in groups, and then cool down. However, when it comes to specific dance training, a more in-depth structure is needed to be able to master these moves. This is especially true for our classes that follow a syllabus, including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Acro. With a good structure and limited class size, teachers can correct techniques and give pointers on how to improve the new dance move or concept.
The goal of dance classes for younger children is to improve their gross and fine motor skills and give them the opportunity to interact socially with children their age. At Prestige, we focus on helping children foster their creativity, spark their imagination, and develop their confidence. Our commitment to this goal is evident in how we keep our class sizes smaller for our younger students so that we can give them our attention and presence.