Frequently asked questions:

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•  Is it too late to register for classes?  Not at all! We continue to register students throughout the year.​​
   

• How do I register?  Take a look at the home page and click “Login.” That link directs you to our parent portal where you can set up an account, view our current schedule, and register your student. You can also email or call the office for assistance.
   

• How do I log into my account?  I don’t even know my password! Follow the directions above to get to our parent portal login. From there, you can click the link below the login area (“Forgot your password/Reset your password”) and put in your email address. Our portal will send a link you can use to set up a new password. Then return to the login page and use your email and newly-changed password to access your account.
   

• Where can I buy dancewear? Does The Studio of Dance sell shoes and leotards?  We don’t sell dancewear at our studio, but Footlights both in Frederick and Silver Spring are the closest stores.  There are other vendors in in the area as well as online stores, but we recommend fitting any dance shoes in a store before purchasing, especially for younger dancers with growing feet!
   

• What does my dancer wear?  You can see our dress code here.
   

• I put a card on file to pay for tuition – will you automatically charge me?  Having a card on file just means you have it handy for payment – you’ll still need to log in and pay when you receive your account statements. If you’d like us to automatically bill tuition and fees to your credit card, please contact the office about switching to autopay.
   

• I enrolled a student in a class with only a couple other students. What happens if that class is cancelled?  In the unlikely event that we cancel a class, we try to find a good fit for those students in a different class. If no good substitute is available, we’ll refund your first tuition payment. But we encourage students to invite their friends to join them for more fun in class and more opportunities to carpool!
   

Questions you should also ask:
 

• WHAT TYPE OF DANCE FLOOR IS USED?  Dance is a very physical activity that requires a lot of jumping, which can put stress on bones and joints. Most dance footwear does not provide any cushioning or support, so the shock of dance movement can put a lot of pressure on a dancer’s knees and back. The best way to protect against potential injury is by choosing a studio with a professional “sprung floor” or “floating floor.” These dance floors rest on a system of rubber feet or high-density foam to absorb the shock of jumping. The top layer of the floor is also an important. A vinyl “marley” floor is accepted worldwide as the best surface layer for recreational and professional dance. Facilities for the American Ballet Theatre, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater all use floating floors with a marley overlay for their dance surfaces. A marley floor allows dancers to slide with a degree of “controlled” slip, but without being truly slippery, which reduces a performer’s risk of falling. Not all studios use professional floors because of the expenses involved and usually opt for imitation or less expensive flooring. Marley floors provide the best surface for a dance floor, but do not provide any cushion for dancers unless placed on a sprung/floating floor. When placed on a concrete floor, marley provides no cushioning at all. The Studio of Dance equips all its dance rooms with floating/sprung floors beneath a top surface of high-quality marley in our larger room and a maple hardwood in our smaller room. Our special floors reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without fatigue.
   

• HOW ARE CLASSES FORMED?  A dance class should be formed with the student’s age and ability taken into consideration. A 5-year-old beginner should never be placed in a class with a 3-year-old student. As children mature, their attention span and ability to learn becomes more developed as do their gross motor skills. Every child will progress at a different rate and each one should be evaluated on an individual basis. Parents need to pay close attention to the age range in any dance class, which will help to determine how their child will advance. At The Studio of Dance, each student is placed in a level based on both age and ability. Our program is structured so that most younger dancers will progress to a higher level each year.  The higher levels, single subject classes, may require a year or two to move up.
   

• WHO WILL BE TEACHING YOUR CHILD?  A dance Instructor should be able to relate to the students they are teaching and be able to share their love for dance with those children. They should also be current and up-to-date on the most recent styles of dance that they teach. The Studio of Dance instructors have extensive dance backgrounds, and all of their bios are published here on our website. Our instructors are also encouraged to continue their education by attending various dance conventions and workshops throughout each year. This allows them to not only teach our students the fundamentals of dance technique, but also the most current styles and methods of performing these techniques. 
   

• WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AT THE END-OF-YEAR RECITAL?  Many studios require dancers to attend countless rehearsals in addition to their regular classes. Our students rehearse their dances in class and only require the dancers to attend one dress rehearsal before their show. We provide parents with very specific recital instructions as to fully prepare them for the performance. We provide the costumes at a base rate for each student that is well below what most studios charge for costumes. The Studio of Dance strives to make our recitals worry free and no-hassle for all involved. Every dancer will perform a routine specially choreographed for their age. Both their costume and music are age-appropriate for each recital number. Our year-end recital is produced in an exemplary, professional manner at The Robert E. Parilla Performing Arts Center on the campus of MC, Rockville. But we are always the most proud of our dancers - for us, they make it the best show in town!

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