When looking for dance schools for your child you should take into consideration whether the school is actually geared to young children. Many schools accept all ages of students but do not really pay attention to the special needs of young students. They can often be more business oriented and less interested in students well being and success.

An obvious indicator is when schools just use their older students to train the young children. The reality of this situation is that younger children probably need the advice and tuition of a professional teacher more so than the older students. The role of a teacher is a science, it isn't just about putting a person in charge of a group.

Whilst some students may find they get by, it's a professional teacher with years of experience that knows how to build rapport with young children. Without good rapport the children will go into their shells and not learn the routines. That's why it's a good idea to meet the teachers before you enroll your child. This will give you the opportunity to evaluate the situation for yourself.

There needs to be a good balance of fun and dance for young children to really do well. If the class is all dance and no fun they will lose interest. Conversely, if the class is all fun and no dance it's not what you were looking for.

On the other hand a small child cannot handle long sessions of pure dance disciplines, especially if they are studying a tough style of dance like ballet. For this reason it is good to observe the classes at the school before enrolling your child, to ensure they have the right blend of creativity, dance regimen and fun.

Friendly atmosphere: the learning environment is very important with young children. You will need to check the school and teachers to see that there is a good friendly atmosphere. Children are very sensitive to this and will respond well to a friendly warm learning environment. Many small children will have come straight from home and not be used to formal class settings. It is easy for them to feel stressed and alone when they first start their dance lessons.

You can check out schools by watching recitals and live performances. These are good indicators of the standards of dancers that the school can produce. The live performances will be done by the school's best dancers so you can judge the school accordingly.

Researching a dance school is just like researching a job or purchasing a new car. Don't just make a decision after looking at the first school. Take the time to look at a few options and talk to you child about their own preferences. It's also a good idea to take into account any particular styles that your child might be interested in, so you can concentrate on the organizations that deliver that type of class. It isn't hard to start to get a feel for what you need if you do your homework and consultation.