the Price of Tap Dance Lessons for Kids

This is a dance school that offers programs for schools, as well as having a dance school for the public. The price is annual tuition, paid on a sliding scale from $33 - $330 per class, based on income. They do not turn anyone away based on ability to pay. They have an annual show, and since they make their own costumes, you don't have to pay for them. They are borrowed. Classes are broken down by age and level, with lower levels being Early Steps (ages 3-6) and Intro courses (ages 7-9). They offer ballet, tap, musical theater, hip hop, and jazz at the Intro level. Level 1 classes are ages 9-11 and include the above classes as well as voice. The pre-professional level has musical theater and dance tracks and are for children ages 11 and up. Classes are once a week for one hour, with higher level courses requiring 2 classes or more per week.

My daughter took tap during the 2006-2007 school year. During this year, there was a bit of turnover in her classes. The tap class was taught by a very capable woman who really enjoyed tap. Too much in fact, as she often liked to watch herself tap in the mirror while "teaching" the children their steps. There was little individual help given for the different techniques she showed. Just about anything was okay for her, so we never knew if the children were actually doing the steps right. In preparation for the end-of-year show, she was so disorganized, she changed the choreography several times, that even her student helper didn't know what to do during rehearsals. The overall school and philosophy is great, we just did not have a good experience with this teacher. The school is process-oriented in the younger years.

Always check out the studio you are considering. Observe different classes and determine the overall style ("flavor") of the studio, teachers' professionalism. Do the teachers like the kids they are teaching? Are they enjoying teaching, or more into showing their own prowess in dancing? Are they process or product-oriented? Depending the goals you have for your child, and the child's future goals, this will be important. Process-oriented classes make sure the child is having fun, and learning the techniques. Product-oriented make sure the child is learning the techniques, with having fun a close second. They are geared to children who want to continue for years and perhaps become professional dancers.