Parent Resources
At-Home Practice Tips
At-home practice can help dancers remember class material, build confidence, and develop consistent habits. Practice should be brief, safe, and focused on skills the dancer has already learned in class.
Keep It Short and Consistent
Even 10–15 minutes of focused practice can be valuable. A few short sessions throughout the week are often more effective than one long practice.
Create a Safe Space
Choose a clear area with enough room to move safely. Dancers should avoid slippery floors, crowded spaces, and practicing near furniture or breakable items.
Begin with a Warm-Up
Start with gentle movement to prepare the body. Dancers should not attempt large stretches, jumps, turns, pointe work, or advanced skills without proper preparation and instructor approval.
Review, Rather Than Teach
Encourage dancers to practice class exercises, terminology, choreography, or instructor-provided material. Families should not feel responsible for correcting technique or teaching new steps at home.
Practice with Purpose
Choose one or two goals for each session, such as:
- Reviewing choreography
- Practicing musical timing
- Remembering movement sequences
- Strengthening basic positions or footwork
- Working on performance quality and expression
Encourage Effort
Celebrate consistency, focus, and improvement rather than perfection. Questions can be written down and brought to the next class.
Listen to the Body
Practice should never cause sharp pain, dizziness, or unusual discomfort. Dancers should stop, rest, and tell an adult if something does not feel right.
The goal of home practice is to support learning—not create pressure. Curiosity, consistency, and joyful movement are always more important than getting everything perfect.
Recommended Dance Supplies
Dancers do not need a large amount of equipment to participate successfully. Begin with the essentials and add optional supplies only as they become useful.
For Class
- Required dance shoes for each style
- Dress-code-approved classwear
- A durable, labeled dance bag
- A labeled, closed water bottle
- Hair ties, pins, clips, a brush, and a hair net for ballet buns
- Spare tights or classwear, when appropriate
- A small notebook and pencil for older dancers who wish to record corrections or goals
Optional for At-Home Practice
- Yoga mat
- Light resistance band approved by the instructor
- Foam roller or massage ball for gentle recovery
- Small speaker for practicing choreography and musicality
- Portable barre
Always review the Dance AS Dress Code before purchasing shoes or classwear. Pointe shoes must never be purchased or worn without instructor approval and a professional fitting.
Specialized equipment—including portable barres, turning boards, stretch bands, ankle weights, and stretching devices—is not necessary and should not be used without guidance from a Dance AS instructor.
Recommended Reading for Dance AS Families
- Pointe Readiness: How Does a Dance Instructor Know When a Young Dancer Should Start?
Scottish Rite for Children
A clear, medically informed explanation of why pointe readiness depends on strength, technique, balance, flexibility, experience, and physical development—not age alone. - Performance Dance vs. Competition Dance: Which Is Right for Your Child?
Ballet Elle
This is the closest match to the Dance AS philosophy. It explains how performance-centered training develops technique, artistry, confidence, community, and personal growth without measuring dancers by rankings or scores. - 8 Ways Dance Can Benefit Your Child
North State Parent Magazine
The teamwork section explains how dancers work toward a shared performance, depend on one another for timing and preparation, appreciate different strengths, and learn to succeed as a group.
