At Danspace we ask students to be in the building 10 minutes before class starts (we open the building 15 minutes before our first class of the day). While those 10 minutes may feel like you’re just waiting to enter your class, there’s a lot of preparation that happens in the 10 minutes before class.
Serendipity and pre-ballet (our youngest dancers)
Getting prepared for class
At the earliest levels, getting prepared for class means using the bathroom (so as to avoid disruption during class time), changing into our dancing shoes, securing hair away from the face, and separating from adult caregivers.
Transitioning from family time to dancing time
The transition can be challenging for young dancers, but we see that dancers who arrive early have the easiest time because the transition is less rushed. Your teacher can also help with the transition, talking to the dancer one-on-one, offering information about what’s about to happen to make the dancer more comfortable and excited, and time to greet and have unstructured time with their peers.
When dancers arrive right as class is starting or after the doors close, the teacher is focused on instruction and can’t stop class to spend 3-5 minutes on your child’s transition. Help us help your dancer be successful by being in the building a little early.
Asking questions and sharing information
There’s a lot of information we have to share about the schedule, activities and performances coming up, makeup classes, and more. When you’re in the building a little early, it gives our staff time to share information with our dancers’ grown-ups, helping to make sure we’re all on the same page of the same book.
Children & Youth classes level 1-5 and Adult classes
Getting prepared for class
In levels one through five, the 10 minutes before class starts are used to prepare ourselves for class: use the bathroom, secure our hair, gather the supplies we need for class (water bottles, pointe shoes, etc), and start to get into our bodies. Even when the lobby is crowded, we can roll our feet in a circle, reach up high and feel a good stretch, get our feet moving, and do a little pre-warm up. When the lobby is not crowded, you can do a little bit more stretching and moving to prepare to enter the studio. This is also a good time to have a chat with your classmates or Danspace staff.
Transitioning to dance class
The transition between classes takes a moment, including finding our spots in the studio, setting our stuff down, and warming up. If all students are in the building a little early, it allows classes to start promptly, which keeps the day on track.
Asking questions and sharing information
There’s always so much information to share, including about future absences, upcoming performances, or studio breaks. When you’re in the building a little early, it lets you share and get the information you need to communicate without taking away from class time.
We’re here to help!
If you find yourself in the building 10 minutes before class and are not sure what to do, we’re here to help! Ask your front desk person or your teacher how to best use the time to transition, get focused and present, and prepare for your class.
Thank you to all our students and families for the effort you make to arrive early so that our classes may start on time.
