Teaching Dance Classes and AcroDance Classes (dance combined with gymnastics) to kids from 3-6 year olds is a special skill. Which is something that can be overlooked by parents and even some dance teachers. Parents want their kids to have fun and sometimes think that a structured dance program is going to be boring, or too hard for their child. But I believe that a structured, age-specific and developmentally appropriate dance program can be both! Which is why we focus on teaching certified dance classes at our Collingwood dance studio. Little ones are sponges, and capable of learning SO MUCH. As long as Dance and AcroDance skills are presented in a fun, encouraging and exciting environment, kids will learn important physical literacy skills and have a blast at the same time!
Physical Literacy In Dance
Physical literacy is described as the “motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life” (International Physical Literacy Association, 2017). With children’s screen time on the rise, physical literacy is less likely to naturally develop through free play, and will need to be taught in a classroom.
Dance Classes Should Nurture The Whole Child
Dance educators have a unique opportunity to instill in our young students both physical literacy as well as social and emotional development. Dance and AcroDance classes should nurture the whole child. Social skills and emotional awareness can be included in the lesson plan when a dance class incorporates play, structure and teamwork.
How To Guide Dance Classes For Kids
This is why it’s so important for dance educators to have a professionally developed, age-specific, intelligent program to guide their dance classes for kids. And this is what makes the Prima Star Dance and Prima Star AcroDance programs at Collingwood School of Dance so unique.
A Lasting Impression On Young Children
While mastering a summersault is an impressive goal for a youngster, a dance educator who takes full advantage of their teaching time to influence physical literacy, as well as social and emotional understanding, can make a lasting impression on a young child. Our Prima Star Dance and Prima Star AcroDance programs have been expertly designed to do just that.
To learn more about our Prima Star Dance and Prima Star AcroDance classes please download our Studio Guide here.
✓ Our studio is built on a solid foundation of core values, and a love of dance and learning.
✓ Dedicated, passionate, expert staff welcoming you and your child.
✓ Dance classes for kids, teens and adults that focus on teaching the foundations of correct technique using professional, exciting and creative programming.
✓ We have a variety of dance classes for kids including: Recreational, Performance Team (Competition) and Cecchetti Ballet Exams.
✓ Family friendly – no classes on long weekends or school holidays.
✓ With coordinated class schedules your child won’t have to come to the studio 5 nights a week.
✓ The Recital is a special experience for your child. We don’t place unrealistic expectations on your family time, so we keep recitals short.
✓ All of our dance rooms are equipped with professional floating wood subfloors (a special dance floor), layered with Marley flooring on top. This is critical in providing a safe, shock-absorbent environment to help reduce the risk of injuries.
✓ Awesome Customer Success Team – organized, friendly and available to help you during the day, and during dance classes.
✓ Specially trained dance class assistants to give your child more personal attention in dance class.
✓ Recital Costumes are gorgeous and ready for the stage!
✓ FREE Wifi for families and kids.
Feel free to give us a call if you would like further information regarding any of our dance programs, information relating to the schedule, enrolment availability or if your child would like to try a class.
Click here to download our Studio Info Kit with class & schedule info.
Core Value #4: GROWTH
We believe in growing awesome kids. Dance is about so much more than movements. Our students develop collaboration, determination, confidence, etiquette, morals, teamwork, dedication, hard work, commitment, success, resilience, perseverance, creativity and self-expression.
We believe in nurturing great dancers and awesome kids! Taking dance classes is about so much more than learning the steps. When a student graduates from CSD, or transitions into a new activity I want their experience with us to remain valuable to their life. I want our students to have gained life lessons and skills from their time at CSD that will enhance their future and positively impact the rest of their life.
The list of skills and life lessons that come from dance classes for kids, teens and adults alike, and performing for an audience is endless, but here’s a start:
✓ Determination
✓ Setting Goals
✓ Self Confidence
✓ Passion
✓ Hard Work
✓ Etiquette
✓ Precision
✓ Talent
✓ Teamwork & Collaboration
✓ Perseverance
✓ Success & Defeat
✓ Community
✓ Self Expression & Creativity
✓ Humility & Grace
Check out this article by Shannan McQuade on the Odyssey Online, where she lists the 10 Life Lessons I Learned From Dance.
And this article for the Radio City Rockettes listing the 5 Life Lessons You Learn From Dancing.
Feel free to give us a call if you would like further information regarding any of our dance programs, information relating to the schedule, enrolment availability or if your child would like to try a class.
Click here to download our Studio Info Kit with class & schedule info.
Devon Stone
Director – Collingwood School of Dance
Core Value #3: EXCELLENCE
We are certified leaders in dance education. We provide outstanding, high caliber dance training and professionalism that, together, deliver premium value to our students.
Dance lessons, classes and training are not a regulated activity. There is no governing body out there ensuring that everyone that teaches dance classes, or opens a dance studio is trained, qualified, certified or even experienced.
As the founder of Collingwood School of Dance, this is extremely important to me, and is actually the reason why I started CSD in 2007. I saw a need in Collingwood and the surrounding area for something better. Something closer to the quality of dance training I received when I moved away from home to train as a professional ballet student at 13 years old. Now, don’t get me wrong, we’re not teaching dance classes for kids to become professional dancers, although some of our students have taken this path after graduating from our program. Our most popular classes and programming are purely for recreational fun. The thing is… you can dance recreationally for one, two or three classes per week and still learn the foundations of correct dance technique. It all comes down to having a dance educator that understands and knows how to teach progressions. You wouldn’t give a novel to a child that is first learning to read, and the same principles apply when learning to dance.
It makes me so proud to see how much our students, some as young as 3 years old, can learn and pick up when presented with a class that is age appropriate, engaging and taught by a professional that understands WHY the students are doing an activity and WHAT it progresses to as they move on to the next level. This really is the key to being an expert dance educator.
Feel free to give us a call if you would like further information regarding any of our dance programs, information relating to the schedule, enrolment availability or if your child would like to try a class.
Click here to download our Studio Info Kit with class & schedule info.
Devon Stone
Director – Collingwood School of Dance
Core Value #2: FUN at our Collingwood Dance School!
We believe in teaching dance classes that are both fun and high quality. We create opportunities for our students to unite in exciting activities and celebrations throughout the year
Fun
Dancing is fun, there’s no doubt about it! Having fun is important to our Collingwood dance school. Spreading happiness and joy to our students lives is our mission. Whether it’s dressing up for spirit weeks, or celebrating a first cartwheel.
Exciting & Creative
When we register our children for extracurricular activities, we just want to see them happy, smiling, and excited. Sometimes it takes a few weeks for a child to adjust to a new environment, people, or activity, and this is perfectly normal. At CSD we are fortunate to have expert dance educators that teach exciting and creative dance classes, AND correct dance technique all at the same time. This means that as your child progresses each year, they truly are mastering the skills of a talented dancer while having fun. In other words, they’re not just mimicking what they see on youtube.
Magical
Some of the ways we bring excitement into the studio is through the special touches and magical experiences we create for our students. We celebrate achievements, acts of kindness and inclusiveness, and other examples of upholding our studio values. We present students with a “Wow Card” to acknowledge and congratulate them. Students then use their wow card to enter into a draw to be our Dancer Of The Month.
Our course, the themed studio spirit weeks I talked about in my last blog post also contribute to the fun factor around the dance studio.
Feel free to give us a call if you would like further information regarding any of our dance programs, information relating to the schedule, enrolment availability or if your child would like to try a class.
Click here to download our Studio Info Kit with class & schedule info on our Collingwood dance school.
Devon Stone
Director – Collingwood School of Dance
Core Value #1: COMMUNITY
We serve and support a caring dance community, and believe in nurturing kindness, inclusiveness and positive friendships among our students.
More important than anything is the caring and joyful community culture at Collingwood School of Dance.
Dancing is an exciting and positive experience that brings people together. Walk into our dance studios and you’ll feel it. The caring, inclusive and nurturing vibe that makes our Collingwood dance studio so special.
To unite our students and feed our positive culture we host themed studio spirit weeks like Halloween Dress Up, Wacky Hair, and Summer Fun Week.
These fun and special events grow community spirit, nurture creativity in our students, and break away from the normal day-to-day activities.
With specially themed curriculum, we encourage our students to develop skills that go beyond learning the fundamentals of dance technique.
Our student experience the creative process of collaboration, choreographing, teamwork and self-expression.
Feel free to give us a call at (705) 293-7722 if you would like further information regarding any of our dance programs, information relating to the schedule, enrolment availability or if your child would like to try a class.
Click here to download our Studio Info Kit with class & schedule info.
Devon Stone
Director – Collingwood School of Dance
