My dd has been dancing for the last 12 years at two different dance schools.
She started as a toddler at what turned out to be rather an austere, joyless school, but it was very flexible for tiny people - it was pay as you go for toddler classes, and that lack of commitment at that stage was very attractive. The teacher offered three consecutive half-hour classes for toddlers (ballet, tap & modern) and the parents/children could turn up for the first one and then decide whether to stay or go for the others. DD always wanted to stay for everything but lots of children left after the first half hour.
DD loved that school as a toddler, but I don't know whether she'd have liked it as an older child as it seemed to get much less relaxed as the children got bigger. The teacher was quite strict and never really smiled. I'm not sure how much fun the older children had.
As it happened, we moved house shortly after that so had to find a new dance school in any case. On the recommendation of a neighbour, we went with a relatively new dance school that had probably been going for 2 years at that time. It was quite a small school at that time, and did not have its own premises, so classes were held in different venues across the town.
Ten years on, the school has grown significantly. The teacher has been in her own studio for quite a few years now, but she has so many pupils now that she actually needs a bigger place. I believe that she also has waiting lists for most of her classes. She has achieved this growth without a website and without any advertising - it's all via word of mouth because she is so bloody brilliant. In the early days, I think she did give free classes to pupils who introduced a friend, but I reckon most of them would have been happy to recommend anyway. I would estimate that at least half of her pupils have jumped ship from other local dance schools, and they are all so much happier at our school. There are very few who move in the opposite direction.
So what is it that she gets right?
- I think she genuinely loves what she does, and that comes across to both parents and children. And by that, I don't just mean that she loves dance, I think she loves children and teaching too.
- She understands that the vast majority of her pupils are doing dance as a hobby, rather than because they want to be professional dancers, and that it therefore needs to be fun. She does expect a degree of commitment from the older children in particular, which is fine and all part of the discipline, but she understands that they have lives beyond the dance school and respects that.
- Unlike other local dance schools, she doesn't shout at the children when they get stuff wrong. She is all about supporting them and nurturing their confidence. She will have words if they're messing around, but in a nice way.
- She is very inclusive. All are welcome at her school, even in the older classes. Nobody is encouraged to leave because they are the wrong shape/have two left feet.
- She has created a very supportive, non-competitive environment. There is no bitchiness/petty jealousy at all. I think this is partly because she avoids individual competitions/solo dances and gives everyone a chance to shine. It's a lovely, empowering and supportive culture.
- She cares about the kids in a holistic way. It isn't just about the dance, it's about their overall development as individuals.
- She is incredibly well organised and pays close attention to the little details that make a difference.
Good luck!