Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Are TDS teachers qualified to teach my child?
Yes. All of our teachers have extensive training and experience in their specific types and styles of dancing. Our teachers are chosen not only for their qualifications, but also for their love of teaching and their ability to relate to the students. Our faculty has spent years developing their skills and has studied with many master teachers. WE HAVE NO STUDENT TEACHERS.
Q. Can I sit in and observe the dance classes?
We find that it is disruptive to the teaching and learning environment when parents observe class from inside the classroom. We also find observation windows distracting as students are constantly checking to see if there is anyone watching class. However, we, at TDS do offer parent participation days in early spring.
Q. At what age can children start dancing at TDS?
We recommend students starting at 3 years old or when they are potty-trained, whichever comes first. We do offer 2 year old classes (Dancer must be 30 months by the first day of class) that are 30 minutes in length and help to introduce the world of dance to little ones and helps to prepare them for a longer PRE K Class. These classes are called Broadway Babies and Fairytales & Tutu's...Please see class descriptions for more information.
Q. Do you offer discounts for families with more than one child wanting to dance?
Yes. We offer a 10% discount on tuition for additional children after regular first child tuition.
Q. Why do you charge a registration fee? The registration fee allows us to provide you with information throughout the year regarding the recital and all of the events surrounding the recital such as costume pickup, picture taking, dress rehearsals, etc. We also have front desk staff during all business hours to assist you in any way and this fee helps to pay for that staff.
Q. How long is the dance season?
We have two seasons, Fall and Summer. If your student is registered for monthly dance classes, the Fall Season runs from September through middle of June. We do hold classes after the recital so that dancer can see their teachers and dance friends after the fun event!! Our Summer Season runs from July through August.
Q. Can we start in the middle of the "season"?
We hold registration open until December 14th. This open registration is limited to classes that have space left as many of our classes have limits on the capacity. We open many "new" classes in January too!!
Q. Do you offer private lessons?
Yes. We offer private lessons in half-hour and hour increments. Please contact the front desk to sign up for a private lesson.
Q. What do students learn in dance class?
In our classes, we try to incorporate many things in the learning environment in addition to dance steps. Students build confidence, grade, poise, musicality and increase friendship-building skills too. Please see our class descriptions for details about technical elements learned at each level.
Q. Do we have to sign up for monthly classes or can we just drop-in here and there?
At TDS, the majority of our classes require monthly membership. This is because we feel that instruction needs to be on a consistent basis in order for a dancer to learn at a higher level. New students to TDS can take single classes to try something out before registering for monthly classes.
Q.How do I register?
Please visit us at the front desk to complete registration paperwork to guarantee that you get the class day and time that works best for your family.
Q. How do I know which level of class to take? Even if you have previous dance experience, each dance studio has different measures for abilities of dancers. It makes sense to call our knowledgeable front desk staff to discuss placement for a trial class. Once your child has taken a trial class, our teaching staff will be able to assist you in making decisions regarding which level of class is appropriate.
Q. Do your classes have dress codes? Our front desk staff has a list of apparel and shoes that are appropriate for each style of dance that we offer. Feel free to call prior to taking class if you have any questions regarding this.