Dance FAQ
Q – How will dance classes benefit my child?
The mental, physical, and emotional health benefits from dancing are incredible! Dancing keeps the body’s muscles and joints mobile and helps improve the body’s nervous system coordination and balance. Dancing promotes strength, flexibility, and control. It can reduce stress (cortisol) levels and increase happiness (endorphins). Studies have even linked dancing regularly to significantly lowering the risk of Dementia. The health benefits of dance are important, but dance is a performing art that allows your dancer to think critically and creatively while building confidence and self-esteem. Dance teaches the ability to multitask, to live fully present inside the physical body, and to be disciplined yet passionately dedicated to training.
Q – Is dance safe?
Viking Dance promotes an environment of safety and respect for the artistry of dance. With a team of dedicated and qualified dance faculty, we use our expert knowledge of anatomy and kinesiology to train your dancers safely. We emphasize efficiency of movement as well as fundamental foundational skills in basic posture, body positioning and bone/joint alignment. While all physical activity involves an inherent risk of injury, we have developed our curriculum to prevent injuries. Through building a solid foundation of technique and a mastery of basic skills, your dancer can progress in their technique safely.
Q – What makes Viking’s Dance program different from other dance studios?
We keep our instructor-student ratio small so that our dancers receive more individualized attention and feedback throughout their training. We believe smaller class ratios foster a more intimate and communal environment. Viking Dance strives to create an atmosphere of body positivity, peer encouragement, and good sportsmanship. While each dance instructor has his or her own individual style of teaching, our core curriculum remains constant to ensure a cohesive program for all dancers of differing ages and abilities.
Q – What is the best age to start my child in dance?
Any age! As a parent, you know your child best and you know what they can handle. Viking Dance offers classes from walking to adult.
Q – What do students do in a dance class?
Each class varies slightly depending on the technique/style and age division of the class. Please refer to our Class Offerings/Descriptions section to get a better idea of what each class emphasizes. Typically, the beginning of a class is devoted to a stylized warm-up. The middle section of a class will focus on either short combination exercises, across the floor traveling, or skill building, while the latter portion of a class is devoted to applying technical skills in choreography.
Q – How do I know when my dancer is ready to move up a level?
Instructors are continuously evaluating dancers during their technique classes. Each dancer progresses at a different rate. Typically, dancers are expected to remain in their technique class for the duration of the year, and move up if needed the following season. In extenuating circumstances, a dancer may be moved up with instructor permission before the start of the recital season. When your dancer has mastered the skills required to advance to the next level.
Q – What should my child wear to dance class?
Each class requires attire and footwear that vary slightly. To find which attire and footwear will be most beneficial for your dancer’s specific class, please refer to our Dress Code tab underneath Studio Policies.
Q – Is there a fee to be a part of Viking Gymnastics and Dance?
There is a $40 annual membership fee per family that is required for students to participate in classes that will be billed annually in September. Membership fee is prorated as follows depending on when your family begins classes:
Sept-Nov $40, Dec-Feb $30, March-May $20, and June-Aug $10
Q – How is tuition billed?
Tuition is billed on a monthly basis. You are required to have a credit card on file that will be charged on the first of the month. If you do not wish to have your tuition charged to your card, you will need to pay the tuition for the upcoming month via a different method prior to the first of the month.
Q – What happens if a class is missed?
Please refer to our Absences/Makeups & Injuries section under the Studio Policies tab.
Q – Is there a fee to change classes?
There is no fee to change classes. However, there is a tuition price adjustment if a dancer is advancing to a class that runs for a longer amount of time.
Example: A 6-year-old dancer advances from Kinder Tot Ballet (40 minutes) to Ballet for Grades 1-3 (55 minutes).
These classes vary in price due to time length, and as such, tuition will be adjusted accordingly.
Q – Inclement Weather Days
In the event of inclement weather, we will post if we are closing either in the “Announcements” section on the first page of our website, on our Facebook page, or you may call the gym. We do not follow any specific school district closings.
Q – What is your Covid Exposure policy?
Viking is following the CDC’s guidance regarding a Covid exposure.
Q – What is your policy on masking?
As of April 2022, masks are optional. If an individual tests positive or is exposed to Covid, we will follow the guidance of the CDC.
