DanceStep

I was looking for a student teacher program for my studio as I was needing junior assistants for our bigger preschool classes, but didn't have the time (or effort) to put together rules, policies, and systems around this. DanceStep came across my path at just the right time to implement in my studio for a dedicated bunch of 11- & 12-year old’s that were wanting to commit to our community and become role models in my studio. My initial concerns were how much the program was going to cost me and the students - but it's totally affordable and well worth the small fee. In fact, I've been able to charge my students a lot more and make money off of the program - BONUS! I chose DanceStep for my studio as our values aligned, it was easy to implement in a way that suited us - there is freedom and flexibility to make it work for you and your studio. I would highly recommend DanceStep to dance studios who value leadership, community and teaching more than dance.

I have always understood the value of senior students assisting in junior classes (both for them and the younger dancers), so this wasn't new for us. But when I discovered DanceStep had formalised the approach in an education program, it gave me the motivation to give this area of our studio more attention. I'm so glad I did, because we have gained so much value! Our assistant teachers, junior dancers and the studio as a whole benefits! DanceSteppers gain immense confidence and belonging through the program and it is evident to me that parents too love the sense of ownership, responsibility and pride their children display over time. Our junior dancers have role models to look up to and junior parents rave about the qualities and maturity of our DanceSteppers. The studio functions better with DanceSteppers helping at concerts and in classes, and the connection between DanceSteppers and teachers is greater through the shared experience of teaching juniors. I also believe DanceStep is a great driver in retention of those tricky aged students who begin to question dance in their teens. I would recommend DanceStep to studios that that seek to provide value to their families beyond dance training. DanceStep is great because it offers the unique opportunity to bring the upper and lower age groups together, which works to really strengthen the studio community.

"I've had assistant teachers for as long as I've had my studio as raising them to teach how I do is so valuable for the ongoing morals and values of the school. I found DanceStep through other teachers praising it. I did some research and really liked the theory side of it as I believe students need to know the body and different behaviour managements. That really spiked my interest. My only concern with taking on the program was how much time it would take. Did I have to baby sit them constantly, what did the theory look like. After the initial set up it was good to go. Didn't take up too much time at all! The biggest benefit is connection with our students. I am very big on our school being one big family. The 2 year olds know the 18 year olds and vice versa. I wanted to bring more connection into the studio with a sense of confidence in all the age groups. I would recommend it to all my colleagues as it alleviates some stress of those harder classes and it give my students a sense of empowerment that they didn't have before. They love the responsibility and they love getting to know the students and parents. Every single baby ballerina wants to be the "big girls” and now they have a role model to look up to in each and every class.”