If all dance studios seem to have qualified, friendly teachers then aren’t all dance studios the same? Before you choose a studio you might want to answer a few questions.
1. What is the size of each class?
If a dance class has fewer students in it each student receives more personalized attention, learns more and has more fun.
At Sherry Lynn’s Ballroom Dance Center, we limit our classes to a maximum of 12 students.
This smaller class size also allows our teachers to ensure that students are not developing bad habits or improper technique.
2. Does the studio provide practice time?
As with anything, improving in dance takes practice. The studio should provide scheduled floor time for students to practice.
At Sherry Lynn’s Ballroom Dance Center, we encourage our students to practice with the use of time and spaced repetition.
TIME: Our studio provides a Free weekly dance party for our students to practice in a social environment with refreshments and the company of fellow dancers. Our instructors are always present at this dance and regularly dance with and assist our students on the dance floor.
REPETITION: Our studio encourages our students to attend weekly lessons and 2 weekly dance parties where social activity focuses around practice and learning. In addition, we provide our students with practice music & DVDs so that the students can practice at home.
Usually our students receive added benefits too from the exercise associated with the dancing.
3. Is the studio clean, orderly and fully air conditioned?
If the studio is clean and without clutter it is obvious that the staff cares about their studio and takes pride in their work. The studio should be air conditioned to make the environment comfortable for dancing.
At Sherry Lynn’s Ballroom Dance Center, we offer a friendly living room lobby to welcome our students. In our ballroom, we have round tables covered with linens and decorated with candles that add atmosphere to our parties. We utilize a new air conditioning unit to keep our studio cool in the summer, along with a high velocity fan. We also use a new heating system to keep the studio warm in the winter. This system also assists in reducing environmental allergens. Sherry Lynn’s is also a Smoke Free Environment.
4. Does the studio offer the type of dancing that you are interested in learning?
At some studios a few standard dances are taught to all students and in some cases the dances and / or dance steps are out of style.
At Sherry Lynn’s Ballroom Dance Center, we teach over 20 different styles of dance using a prepared curriculum of popular steps. Our teaching methods have been copyrighted and are used across the country in other dance studios. In our classes our students are given course outlines and step lists as well as instructional DVD’s that the students can take home to help them remember their class material. Sherry Lynn’s also makes available a detailed student notebook for our ongoing students.
5. Is the studio conveniently located and does it have parking?
Some dance studios are located in shopping areas and or as an extension of someone’s home. Always ask if there is off street parking or a parking lot available. If the studio is located in a downtown area remember to ask whether or not meters are used on the street and be prepared to feed them. Since many classes are held at night the area around the studio should be lit.
Sherry Lynn’s Ballroom Dance Center is located in the downtown section of Johnstown. This area is easily accessed from all surrounding boroughs. We have a lighted parking lot in front of our studio and parking is available in an adjacent parking lot after 5PM.
Directions to our studio are simple since we are located on Main Street.
6.Does the studio make considerations for busy schedules?
The studio should have some system in place for missed classes. In some studios a rigid 24 hour cancellation policy is place which penalizes the student.
At Sherry Lynn’s Ballroom Dance Center, we offer numerous sections of the same course on different nights. If a student misses a class he / she can usually attend another similar class on a different night or pay a little extra to schedule a makeup private lesson.
7. Do the studio facilities physical features enhance learning?
Sherry Lynn’s uses full length mirrors on 4 walls so that students and instructors can see dancers feet from any place on the floor and improve dance quality, posture, and overall appearance.
Sherry Lynn’s also uses a cushioned, floating dance floor to help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without getting tired.
8. Does the studio have an active base of enthusiastic students already taking lessons?
In any given month, over 100 individuals take dance classes and attend our events. Many students come to Sherry Lynn’s more than once a week.
