In the heart of the Mid-West, Evansville, Indiana is developing a fine tradition of ballet excellence. Students and professionals alike come together in excellent programs of study and performance. For the youngest new dance enthusiasts, this means wonderful opportunities. For parents who may have never studied dance, these helpful guidelines will help to explain how to find the solid technical foundation children need when starting.

When you are the parent investigating Evansville ballet classes for kids, you should begin by visiting the studios that catch your eye. The study of classical dance techniques will seem strange at first. The steps are all given in French, so your child will also learn a new language. Your job will be to see how the students interact with their teachers. Photos of recent work only shows final results and what you really want to see is how those were achieved.

Call in advance to ask about viewing a class session. You will need permission to be in a class if the studio has no viewing area. Tell the studio representative that you are interested in having your child take classes. Most will help you visit their studio classrooms. Then you can meet with them for further questions you will have.

Before your child attends class, watch a session. You will look for several things. How does the instructor interact with the students? Once the instructor demonstrates exercises to the entire class, does he or she help students individually? Are struggling students encouraged or discouraged? Are students forced to hold difficult or uncomfortable positions? Try to gauge the general classroom mood. Look for happy faces, or concentrated, focused eyes. Ballet study is traditionally formal, so expect that discipline will be exercised. But with very young students whose bodies, minds and emotions are still developing, class should be more relaxed. Showing positions, using hands to guide young hands, arms, legs and feet is quite normal. Forcing young bodies into pain is not.

Once your choice is made, try to schedule a trial lesson for your child. Use that time to evaluate the experience. The teacher will look for signs of readiness, too. Discuss the class together. If all is positive, then you can move ahead to regular lesson times.

When you decide to enroll, the studio may require waiting for the first class in a new series, or you may be allowed to join a class already in session. If you must wait, consider enrolling in a class to explore movement for young ones until the ballet lessons you want are taking new students.

Studios have different requirements for the dance wear their students must have. The most traditional schools often have different colors for different levels. Students are allowed to wear a new color as they move up to a more advanced level of study. For others, wearing black leotards with pink tights is common. Most require either pink or black ballet shoes. All expect hair to be securely fastened.

Some studios charge tuition by the class and others for a series of lessons, or even an entire semester. When you have the appropriate clothing ready, enroll your child. You may be starting a lifetime of happy ballet experiences.