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What
is the Relationship between Private Lessons,
Group Lessons and Workshops?
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Private Lessons are the
fastest way to start and develop your dancing.
During each lesson all of the experience and knowledge
of your instructor will be focused on you and
you alone It is just not possible to achieve the
same degree of individual progress in a group
setting. Private lessons are scheduled to suit
your schedule.
For this reason, many of our students will request
a review of material learned in a workshop or
group class during their private lesson to "work
the bugs out" of problem areas. It is also
common for students to brush up on their technique
in a given dance before taking a workshop or group
class so that general areas such as posture, frame
and timing are not in the way of the dance.
Group Classes provide an introduction and
review of the studio figures in the 24 dances
we teach. The supervised practice allows for the
instructor to remind you of areas you may be working
on in your private lessons as well as improving
retention of the figures.
Workshops are special events that draw
many area dancers to our studios. Dances new to
this area are often given a kick start in these
workshops. Also dances in which our students desire
a greater variety of figures are presented in
workshops. Quite often variations are featured
in our workshops include school figures that are
already being actively danced by our students.
Workshops are a great way to start a new dance
or renew a favorite one. Workshops are not included
with Private Lesson packages, but they are very
inexpensive and a great value. |
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What is
a Medalist Dancer?
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A Medalist Dancer is simply a
dance student. The term Medalist is used to reflect
the organization of progressively more advanced
levels of dance into Bronze, Silver and Gold categories.
Our studios divide these three levels into two
subdivisions: intermediate and full. For example,
an intermediate Gold student has completed one
half of the Gold figures, while a full Gold student
has completed all of the figures. |
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What
are Medal Balls and Showcases?
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About every 12-18
months a Medal Ball is held as a type of
"graduation" for our students.
Prior to the Medal Ball, eligible students
will be checked on their dance knowledge.
During the Ball, the graduating medalists
will perform demonstration dances. After
this begins the "graduation party"
with a fun-filled evening of dance.
The Medal Ball is combined with a Showcase.
A Showcase is an opportunity for students
to perform a solo dance in front of an audience.
This is a very appealing alternative to
competition participation for many dancers
(although it is a perfect opportunity for
all the same reasons for competition dancers).
In a Showcase students: |
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Gain
confidence through performance experience. |
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Have much more flexibility
than competition rules allow. Competitors
often use Showcases as a "warm-up"
before a competition season. |
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| Is
Competition Dance for You? |
If you are reading this, then
the answer cold be yes. Competition dancing is
just that — a contest for marks from judges
that are higher than everyone else. Competition
dancing is divided by dance, age, proficiency
level and offers many different options. Expenses
in addition to lessons include: costumes, travel,
hotel and entry fees. If you plan to compete,
it is important to consult with us and allow us
to put our experience to work for you. We will
help you get the best possible value for every
dollar you spend. Competitive dance can be comfortably
affordable as long as you use the right approach.
Budget aside, most people do not plan on becoming
unglued if they do not win a 1st place in every
dance they enter. Some just enjoy the experience
of actually going out there and doing it. To do
well in competition, the first thing to do is
to forget about everyone else but you. Since you
cannot make other people dance worse, you must
dance better! To maintain and improve their proficiency,
competition dancers must practice every day, just
like an aspiring piano student. There is no substitute
for dedication in any form of any type of competitive
sport. If you choose to compete, you will receive
instruction that has already earned our students
many 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in competitions.
Remember as a child you were told you could fly.
Remember the air rushing around you as you powered
effortlessly through the air. Imagine that again,
now, awake, at will, with nothing in your way.
This is the feeling of highly proficient competitive
dance. |
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