How to Make the Most of Parent Observation Week

At the end of each semester, we invite parents and family members to attend Parent Observation Week, during which they have the opportunity to sit in the studio and observe their dancer's entire class. This is a fun and exciting week for both dancers and parents. See below for some tips on how to make the most of this week and to find out answers to FAQs.

1. Attend Your Child’s Class(es)

Obviously, to make the most of this week, first and foremost, you'll need to plan to attend your child's class(es). This is a great opportunity to see what your dancer has been working on this semester and to get to know your child's instructor better. Even if your child has been dancing for years, attending Parent Observation Week is the best way to gauge how they're doing this season. We only offer this once a semester, so take advantage of it.

2. Be Present     

Use this as an opportunity to be fully present. Our younger students especially  are often excited and sometimes a little nervous during this week. They may view it like a performance, since they get to show off what they’ve been working on throughout the semester. So, unplug from all devices and enjoy the full experience. If, for some reason, you do have to take a phone call, remember to exit the studio to do so, as to not disrupt the class.

3. Meet Your Child’s Teacher     

Don't hesitate to introduce yourself and meet your child’s teacher, if you haven’t already done so. Our instructors will of course introduce themselves at the start of each class, but it’s helpful when they can a associate a parent with a dancer. So don’t be shy. We love that during this week we have the opportunity to get to know our dance families even better.

4. Ask Questions 

If at anytime after observing your child’s class, you find that you have questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to your child’s teacher, to the front desk staff or to me (the Director). No question is too small or silly. Remember that we’re here to help!

5. Give Feedback (Take our survey, pretty please!)

At the end of the week, you’ll receive a survey asking for feedback on your family's experience at studio so far this season. This anonymous survey takes only a few minutes to complete and is SO helpful in allowing us to continue improving our service and overall experience for you and your child. We truly value your feedback, so thanks in advance for your help with this.

Now see below for Parent Observation Week FAQs...

FAQs:

What if I can't attend my child's entire class? Can I still attend part of the class? 
Absolutely! You can come and go as you please, so don’t worry if you arrive a little late or have to leave early. 

Can other family members attend as well?
Yes, family members like grandparents or siblings may also attend during this week. Please note, if you have another child attending, like a younger sibling, and they become restless or uncooperative with sitting quietly to watch class, we kindly ask that you move to the lobby to minimize class disruptions.

Can I take photos & videos?
Yes, you are welcome to take photos and videos of your child during this week. Of course, this should be done in a way that is not distracting to dancers or disruptive to the class.

Can I wear street shoes in the studio?
For convenience, yes, we allow parents to wear regular street shoes into the studios during this week. However, please ensure that your shoes are not particularly wet or muddy as this can damage our dance floors.

Can I eat or drink in the studio?
To keep our studios as clean as possible, no food or drinks are allowed, with the exception of water bottles. 

Is there anything else that I should be aware of?
It's important to note that during this week, our younger students (like those in Pre-Ballet) may behave differently. Sometimes students get nervous or are unable to focus due to the change in scenery in the studio. Please know that this is totally normal. Remember you can always find out how your child usually behaves in class by inquiring from your child’s teacher.

I hope you've found these tips to be helpful. Do you have other questions about Parent Observation Week? If so, leave a comment below to let me know. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you very soon!