Great Moves!
Dance is a performance art, but do dance lessons fall under the same umbrella? When classes and rehearsals are observed, is learning truly served? Does a "constant audience" make a better performer or add to the pressure already present in the learning environment? As "protectors of the learning," do dance teachers owe students a safe, consistent atmosphere in which to experiment, or do they owe whoever is paying the bills unfettered access to the process?
Parents, students, and teachers definitely have an opinion on the issue of observing dance classes and rehearsals. This article's purpose is to bring together the reasons, pro and con, for allowing observers in the dance studio. I surveyed parents, students, and professionals and intend to present all opinions along with some suggestions for working around this sometimes sticky issue.
Learning to dance is a little like climbing a ladder. Each rung on the ladder of dance is dependent on the abilities learned below to assure balance and security as the dancer progresses up the ladder of difficulty. Learning to dance, regardless of genre, is a constant series of trial, error, and effort until the desired patterns and muscular strengths are committed to memory. Dancers trained sequentially in strong foundational movement patterns at age-appropriate moments are the ones who advance steadily and have long successful careers. Not enough can be said for a firm foundation in dance taught at the right age. But as everyone knows, it's very easy to fall off a ladder, even if you are just a couple of rungs off the ground. And falling can be embarrassing.
Most dancers get up, dust off, check for blood, and go back to dancing. This attitude takes a while to develop, however, and some students never get beyond the feelings of inadequacies and low self-esteem if they are being watched every time they fall. ("Falling" is a metaphor here to represent the sometimes agonizing process dancers go through to learn new technique.) Some dancers don't care who's watching, but some do. A middle ground has to be found to accommodate both personalities that also acknowledges the sensibilities of the parents, grandparents, and guardians who support the dancers.
Dance lessons are a special gift from family to child that provide so many healthful and developmental benefits that last literally a lifetime. It's sad that dance isn't automatically available to everyone once they turn five years old. But aside from scholarships and grants, it's a specific income and educational level able to provide dance lessons for their children. Along with this group comes a strong desire to be exceptional parents who do the very best to secure superior learning opportunities for their offspring.
Except in the case of some overzealous individuals, this is usually a strong match in the dance studio. Teachers are typically unique in their backgrounds as artists and they understand and can guide the emotional growing that accompanies becoming a dancer. Dance instructors are always focused and rarely think twice about the sacrifices they continue to make in their careers. This is a powerful example for young dancers to absorb. Consequently, dance teachers can be very emotional people with strong opinions just like some parents. This is the point where will and fortitude are tested even if both parties have the child's best interests at heart.
Alison Hesh who teaches ballet in Miami, FL says, "We have a really laid back policy at our studio about watching classes. I teach only the advanced classes and I certainly don't mind if parents watch occasionally. I feel that since this is a service-related industry, and the parents are paying, they should be allowed to monitor their child's progress. If it gets out of hand, and the parent becomes disruptive, then that is a different story, but I have never had that occur."
GREAT MOVE! Consider publishing your class observation policy and posting it in the lobby. Remember to explain your reasons for the policy. This helps everyone understand and abide by the rules.
A parent in Titusville, FL with a young daughter has this to say: "One of my great joys is to watch my daughter in dance class. It is an hour or two out of a hectic week that I can enjoy her interacting with others, learning new steps, and doing something she truly loves. I am a working mom, so this is sometimes the first time I get to see her all day. Several schools open the blinds once a month for viewing. This infur-iates me, as I pay a lot of money for these classes and do not feel that I should be shut out."
GREAT MOVE! If you prefer a closed door on your classes, think about a regular schedule of showcasing students in class for parents. Invite parents to watch three times a year or at the end of every month.
Many, many dance teachers feel that the distraction offered by observers in the studio just isn't worth the trouble. They often run into a strong minded parent who will transfer to another studio because they can't watch their children in class.
GREAT MOVE! Open the classes of your youngest students, but once they move into the advanced classes, offer limited observation. After all, once they are professionals, only other union members are allowed in rehearsals!
William Conover, Assistant Dean for the School of Dance at North Carolina School of the Arts oversees a special situation and thinks that parental observation is an obligation of the school. "There is a very open policy here in regards to class observation. Since this is a boarding school, many parents see their children maybe only a few times a year. When parents come here for a visit, I think it is essential that they watch class, see the other students in class, and see the development of their child."
Joy Held is the author of Writer Wellness, A Writer's Path to Health and Creativity, (2003) New Leaf Books. Her family has owned and operated dance schools in West Virginia for over 50 years. She can be contacted at greatmoves@hotmail.com.