preschool

Top Three Reasons Why You Should Register For Our After Gobble Wobble Event

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fun event for kids

Alright dance families, Turkey Day is ALMOST here! We hope your Thanksgiving is filled with delicious food, family time, and a well-deserved break from your hectic lives. Be sure to take some time to breathe!

We are hosting an event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving for kids ages 3-9. It is going to be a morning full of crafts, dance, games, and so much fun! We are so excited to share the deets with you!

After Gobble Wobble
Saturday, November 24th 9:30am- 12:00pm
Prestige Dance Studio (Cedar Rapids location)
$19

Here are the top 3 reasons why you should sign up for our After Gobble Wobble event:

1. Build some physical activity into your break!

Our After Gobble Wobble is the perfect way to make sure your dancer’s body isn’t aching on the first day back at dance class. Our After Gobble Wobble will get your kids off the couch, on their feet, and grooving through Thanksgiving break.

2. Put something fun on the calendar for your kiddos while you prep for the holidays!

Getting ready for the holidays can be stressful! We know it is officially prime time for Christmas shopping and decorating. The LAST thing you need to be worrying about is entertaining your kids! We are busy planning a fun-filled morning of crafts, dance, and games that they won’t want to miss. Send them our way while you focus on what you need to get done!

3. Take the morning to reset and regroup.

We know how easily Thanksgiving break can feel like NOT so much of a break for parents. After hosting a family gathering, washing tons of dishes, and getting started on your Christmas shopping, the break is always gone before you know it! We are GLAD to take your kids off your hands while you pencil in some “you-time.” Get your nails done, take a nap, or go see a movie with a friend! I’m sure you could probably think of a million ways to spend a free morning, and now is your chance!

Register now for our After Gobble Wobble on November 24th from 9:30am-12:00pm. For only $19, you can free up your morning AND give your kids some fun-filled activity. It’s a win-win and we hope to see you there!

 

Setting Your Preschool Dancer up for Success This School Year

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Preschool Dance Classes

Sending your preschooler off to dance class is a great milestone! We are so happy you’ve decided to share your child with our staff at Prestige Dance Studio and we can’t wait to teach them their dance class basics! Check out our 7 tips to set your preschool dancer up for success this school year:

  1. Dress the part!

Tiny dancers can get distracted easily if they have the wrong color shoes or if outfit malfunctions occur. Before class, make sure your dancer’s ballet slippers are tied tightly and their elastic bows are tucked in under the top of the shoe. For all other dance shoes, be sure that the laces are double knotted and there is little chance of them coming untied during class, as this causes a safety concern and a distraction. Make sure their hair is pulled up tightly off their face so they can see their instructor and stay focused. Lastly, take some time to review our dress code online, making sure your dancer has everything they need! 

2. Make sure your dancer is fed.

As parents, I’m sure that you’re all well aware of how CRABBY children can get when they are hungry. It’s hard for a preschooler to focus on ANYTHING and their hunger may be a buzzkill for not only them but the entire class. A healthy snack before class is a good idea!

3. Take your dancer to the bathroom right before class starts.

Potty breaks during preschool dance classes are inevitable- it happens! We understand and will always bring your child out to you when they have to go. However, it is often contagious with preschoolers! When one has to go, they ALL have to go. Plus, your dancer will miss a portion of class, taking away from their experience. We recommend taking them before class. 

4. Practice good health habits and teach your preschooler about germs.

This is especially important when flu season rolls around! Encourage your dancer to keep their hands out of their mouth/eyes, wash their hands effectively and frequently, and cover their mouth while sneezing/coughing. Additionally, if your preschooler has a bug, we encourage them to stay home and make the class up at a later date. We allow makeup classes anytime within a month of the date they missed.

5. Talk about what will happen when they arrive and plan your “goodbye” ahead of time.

This is a great way not only to get your dancer EXCITED for preschool dance class but also to make sure there are no surprises that may cause a meltdown. Explain to your dancer that they will learn new dance moves, play games, and meet other friends who like to dance too. The car ride to dance class is a great time to remind your young dancer that moms and dads aren’t allowed in dance class, reducing the chance of tears and tantrums when it comes time to say goodbye. Tell your child that you’ll say goodbye with hugs and kisses when the teacher is ready for class to start, and you can’t wait to see their new dance/tumbling moves after class.

6. Celebrate their victories, and remember just finishing an independent class is worth celebrating!

Even if your child didn’t quite nail their tendus, or their 1st position looked more like 2nd position, they still deserve all the positive reinforcement they can get. Preschool-aged dancers are all at different stages of development naturally, so participation is the key element that we look for when evaluating their success. If they finish class, listen to their teacher, and treat other dancers with respect, be sure to congratulate them! If their tendus are beautiful, that may call for a special treat! 🙂

7. Point out role models.

Prestige Dance Studio is buzzing with beautiful dancers that your preschooler will probably be in awe of. Remind your dancer that most of those dancers started just as young as them, and may have even had the same teachers. Use the older dancers as examples and incentives for learning and growth!

If you are thinking about signing your preschooler up for dance classes, you’re in luck! We are still accepting enrollment, but hurry! Space is limited and many classes are full. Check out the weekly schedules and get registered today. We would love to see your preschool dancer in class!

An Introduction To Dance Class Etiquette

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Dance Class Etiquette for dance studios. Perfect for new dance parents!

With our summer session well under way, we are busy in the classroom learning new skills and having a blast! Our Fall Session is approaching quickly and with it comes a handful of new dancers. In our latest post, we gave you a few hints on how to make your child’s first dance class a success. This week we thought it would be helpful to get an introduction to dance class etiquette.

Before your dancer’s first class every year, it is a great idea to talk about the classroom customs and rules. Not only will it make for a more pleasant experience for YOUR dancer, it enhances the experience for the OTHER dancers in class as well. Each teacher may have specific rules depending on the kind of dance class and the age of the dancers. However, you can assume the following class etiquette guidelines will be expected in any dance class.

  • Respect yourself, your dance friends, and your teacher. This one is SO important! We talk about it even with our littlest dancers. In our classes at Prestige, we want to respect ourselves by trying our hardest and working toward our goals. We respect our dance friends by being kind, keeping our hands to ourselves, and waiting our turn. Finally, we respect our teacher by listening, following directions, and being kind.
  • Go to the bathroom, get a drink of water, and blow your nose before class starts. Asking to do one of these things in the middle of class is not the worst thing in the world and sometimes it cannot be avoided (especially with little ones). But it can be a distraction and often starts a waterfall of kids leaving the classroom. Try your best to keep these requests at bay by asking your dancer to take care of it before class starts.
  • Keep the chatting to a minimum. We totally understand that dance class is FUN and is a reason to see all your best dance friends. Whispers during short breaks are OK but make sure your dancer knows that it is not OK to talk when the teacher is talking and that most conversations should wait until after class.

That isn’t so bad right!? Our top priority is to make sure that your dancer has an amazing time in whatever class they take. These etiquette rules help make that happen and keep the focus on what is important- DANCE!

Is your Child Ready for a Dance or Tumbling Class?

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Ready for Dance Class

 

Spring is a BUSY time at Prestige Dance Studio. Dancers are in the midst of their competition season, we are prepping for our annual recital, and (believe it or not!) we are already thinking ahead to summer and fall 2017! If you have a little one, you may be thinking about signing them up for their FIRST dance or tumbling class. Which is super exciting!!! We have several options during the school year for our little ones. Below we’ve included our current offerings for students under six and some helpful suggestions for figuring out exactly HOW you know your child is ready for a formal class.

Baby and Me: This parent and tot class is the perfect introduction to dance and tumbling for students 6 months- 36 months. Parents will help their dancer to gain confidence, use their imagination, and gain coordination. A great opportunity to bond with your baby and meet other families!

Is your dancer ready? Do they love music and movement? Do you think they would benefit from being around other children? Would you like to get some fresh ideas for ways you can interact and play with your little one? Then YES!!! This class is a perfect match for students that love to move but aren’t quite ready for an independent class (without a parent).  

Tippy Toes: Tippy Toes 1-4 is our progressive combined ballet and tap technique class for kids ages 2-6. Classes are separated by age and focus on introducing and building coordination, strength and motor skills without the accompaniment of a parent. Students will build a foundation for continued ballet and tap instruction while interacting with other dancers their age in a focused environment.

Teenie Tumble: Introductory tumbling skills are taught in this class to young dancers ages 3-6. This class focuses on the coordination and strength used when tumbling.

Hippity Hop: This 30-minute class is an upbeat introduction to hip hop for our 3-6-year-olds. This high energy class will focus on coordination, strength and learning combinations to current and age-appropriate music. Hippity Hop will encourage students to step outside of the box by bringing their own individual style and personality to the movements.

Is your dancer ready? Our Tippy Toes, Teenie Tumble, and Hippity Hop are all independent classes, which means parents are not in the classroom. Think about how your child does away from you. Can they handle 30-60 minutes away? How quickly do they adjust to new situations? We do NOT expect any two or three-year-old to be perfect:) But, within a few weeks of starting a new class, they should be able to walk into the studio independently without tears. Another thing to consider is your child’s ability to follow simple instructions. We expect our youngest dancers to be able to sit when asked, make a circle with their friends, and generally stay with their classmates. Again, this can be a work in progress- but within a few weeks, they should have a good feel of the expectations.

Your child’s first dance class should be exciting! By doing a quick check-in to make sure they are ready, you are setting them up for an AWESOME experience. We do offer FREE trials at Prestige Dance Studio and would encourage all parents of students ages 1-6 to take advantage. Trials can be a great way to test the waters a bit, let your child SEE and experience the studio, and make sure it is a good match. Keeps things positive, and be patient:) We can’t tell you how many times we have seen a timid, shy child walk in the door and leave after their class with a smile ear to ear. That new found confidence and joy is priceless. We look forward to seeing your child in class!

PS. We also have several exciting summer camps for this age group- be sure to check out our offerings!