First Day Jitters
What can I expect on the first day of class?
The first day of dance is here and no matter how old your dancer is, this day is often met with a combination of excitement, curiosity, and a little (or a lottle - yes, I know that's a made up word, lol) bit of fear and anxiety. There are questions left unanswered until they walk into that first class with their teacher and peers, like whether or not they will like their teacher, or will their friends be in class with them, will they be the oldest/youngest/shortest/tallest...or for your little ones, where is mom/dad/grandma going?
Don't worry, they will be fine. And so many of their peers and your fellow parents are asking the same questions. To hopefully help ease the transition into class or the studio, we compiled a short list of things you can do to help prepare yourself and your dancer so that they feel great on their first day of class.
Ask Questions: We hope you have already reached out and asked us any questions you may have, but if you haven't yet, please do! We want you to know what's going on, what to expect, and to feel prepared for this first day. We have an FAQ section on our website that may help, but if you don't find your question there, please e-mail or call us (e-mail is great during the day as we're not at the studio until later in the day).
Have a Dedicated Dance Bag and Pack it the Night Before: This is a simple tip that can save SO much panic and stress. Whether you buy a bag or use one you already have at home, using one bag for dance helps keep everything together all the time. This also reduces the risk of lost shoes and tights (a common occurrence), and having a dance bag makes it easier to grab your things and go (especially during a hectic morning or afternoon transition).
Names on Everything: It's so easy for things to get left behind or picked up by a different dancer and put into their bag by mistake. Write their name (or initials if the space is too small for their name) on everything. This helps us (and your fellow parents) more easily identify the owner of the left footed jazz shoe left behind or hitching a ride to someone else's house for the week.
Be a Little Early: Plan to arrive 10 minutes early to your first class. This will give you a buffer in cases of traffic delays. It will also give you time for them to adjust to the new space and for you to get their dance shoes on so that they are ready for the start of class.
Arrive Dressed: If possible, dress your dancer at home and have them wear cover-ups over their dancewear to the studio. If you're cutting it too close and have to dress at the studio, make sure you have all their dancewear with you (in that bag we talked about) and make sure you check with the front desk or the instructor before entering the dance room. Some classes with little dancers may be easily distracted by any entrances and exits, so you may need to wait until the classes transition in order to get changed.
and lastly.....
HAVE FUN! Your dancer's first day of class should be fun and memorable. Their teachers want them to have fun while learning the art of dance we all love so much. And we hope you have fun watching them learn and grow!
P.S. Don't forget to thank your teacher - they may be just as excited/anxious/nervous as you and your dancer are!
