[ConverseSneaker]

I'm looking into local dance studios in an attempt to let my parents let me take dance lessons. I don't see myself becoming a prima donna ballerina or a tap dancer of any sort, just getting a basic dance training because I've been overlooked lately at auditions in favor of those with dance experince and I'm hoping to remedy that.

However, I have no idea what to look for in a dance studio, what classes are best, what is an average cost of dance lessons, etc. etc.

Any dancers want to help me out here?

[BwayJuvinile]

Well classes all vary in price and quality. Go to a bigger studio. Classes range from 10-15$ usually.

I am from the mind set that you should take the following classes in this order: Ballet, Hip-hop, Tap, Jazz, and ballroom. I always will put ballet first, and hip hop second. Hiphop teaches you to learn dances quick, performance, and helps you to learn your own groove and style. Ballet gives you the technique.

[broadwayxdoll]

i take classes. theyre about 13 bucks a class.


i take tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop.



id say go for tap. if youre ever at an audition and you dance and the coreographer then asks who can tap its VERY helpful to be able to raise your hand

[SmallTownIngenue]

I'm starting ballet and tap this year at the suggestion of my choreographer and director from the show I just finished who are both trained dancers. They told me it's best to start with those two first so when I go to whatever college for MT I will have basic fundamentals, so I would say take those first.

[~GertrudeMcFuzz~]

Multiple choreographers and directors I've had have suggested that I take ballet first, of course, and jazz at the same time if possible. Also, tap is really helpful to know, but they've told me to definitely take ballet and jazz first (although that may be because I've already taken a few years of tap).

[BwayJuvinile]

You can skip jazz if you go full into ballet...and really if you can learn hip hop, it will help you on your dance auditions, as you have to pick up stuff really quick, as not many dances us as much of the music as hiphop does. But ballet first!!!!

[reedzee]

Ballroom was suggested to me not long ago. I would definitely pair ballroom with something else, though.

[MaryMag]

I agree wtih BwayJuvinile about ballet. Jazz seemed like kind of a waste of my time, actually. As long as you're balancing ballet with something like hip hop or theater dance, you're solid.

I woudl actually recommend theater dance over hip hop. Cuz theater dance is what you'll actually end up doing. They'll teach you Fosse and other crap you'll be expected to know. But if you're a guy - do hip hop. I see many many men that have difficulty retaining their masculinity while they dance. Hip hop will help you with that. I think it also helps overly feminine girls or ballerinas... (kinda like me cuz all I ever did was ballet... so when I was supposed to drop and shake my ass I'd stand in a nice second and do a clean plie... so hip hop helped me!)

[BwayJuvinile]

[kakoforever]

Plus hip-hop lessons are everywhere and there are usually a ton of them scheduled. I've had a hard time finding a GOOD jazz teacher. There are so many levels and variations, Intermediate Jazz could mean any number of things. I had a jazz class where the teacher was stuck in the 80s. It was miserable and dumb and I didn't learn anything. And then we have a jazz teacher at school who teaches his own version of modern/hip hop/jazz, which is so much more intense than any other class I've taken. It's cardio, memory, and technique all rolled into one.

[Laura]

I would definitley recommend ballet first, then hip-hop or tap.

What to look for in a good dance school?

- Above all, you should feel comfortable and accepted there. There's nothing worse than having to go to class every week and spend your time worrying about the horrid girls around you and what they are whispering about you, instead of worrying about your dancing.

- It pays to make sure that there is a class for your age group and ability, otherwise you may be stuck in a class with people younger/older than you or with more/less ability than you do, and this can be really frustrating

- Good facilities are always preferred. For example, if you are looking to take ballet but the studio is not equipped with a barre (or mirrors), this will affect your development as a dancer and may even encourage incorrect techniques. Similarly, if the floor is a really hard surface (eg concrete), this may shock your joints etc during jumps and leaps.

- Ensure the teacher/s are qualified and have had some form of official dance training. Also, it pays to research what they're main goal is. For example, if they are an eisteddfodd-and-recital-based school but you really want to focus on technique, theen their may be tension and conflict and you could feel like you are wasting your time.

- Make sure the school has realistic expectations of you, and are prepared to accept the fact that you don't want to become the best ballet dancer in the world, but just wwant to have fun and leanr some skills.

- Ensure you know how much each class costs (including fees and/or recital ticket costs etc) and can afford it before you enrol, otherwise you get really cranky people running at you with pointy objects.

- Ensure you understand the dress code and what is expected with shoes, grooming, equipment etc. If you enrol at a dance school which expects you to wear a leotard and tights with your hair in a bun for each class, then make sure you have access to these things.

Sorry for the epic post. I hope it helped. feel free to PM me if you have any other questions

Laura

[Catherine]

Ahh, thanks for that post Laura! I want to have dance lessons too, and that was really helpful. Thanks everyone else as well!

[ConverseSneaker]

[JIJane]

1. ballet 2. theatre or jazz (or something related) 3. tap (definitely very useful if you want to do pro MT) 4. hip hop, ballroom, the rest

[disneybeauty]

Sorry, I haven't been around much, but this is my area of expertise, so I hope I am not too late to venture an opinion.

Converse, you need ballet first, as it is the basis for all other movement. Then look into jazz classes. Hip-hop, if you have ballet and jazz under your belt, should be no problem (and I disagree with the comment about Fosse and hip-hop. I see your point, but I disagree, Fosse was very much rooted in ballet and jazz technique. It had lots of isolations, but that is the only similarity).
As for tap, I would tackle that later as well. Tap requires almost total relaxation of the feet to get the proper tones. It also requires alot of the "pulled-up" feeling from ballet to achieve the right tone.
Speaking as a choreographer, yes it is important to pick up choreography quickly. However, speed comes with familiarity with how your body moves. You have to know how to get your body from point A to point B. Ballet is all about body awareness, and where is your body in space. A good jazz teacher will also use body awareness.
Studios usually let youtake a trial class. Call around and take some classes, then make a decision as to where you want to take. When I taught, I think I charged $35-40/month for a one-hour class/week. I don't rememberhaving a drop-in rate, but it was eons ago.
Let me know how else I can help you.

[Laura]

Glad I could be of service. Let me know if I can do anything else.

[ilovebway]

Thanks to everyone for this advice. I was also thinking of getting some dance lessons (although I need to get a job first ) and this has been of great help.