LONGER DANCE SEASONS EQUAL MORE PROGRESS

Step with Style's Dance season is longer than many dance schools. Classes run from September through to the end of June. Therefore, our students have more time to learn new techniques and styles before settling into their routines for competition/recital and the progress is that much greater than students who have a much shorter year at other dance schools.

Step with Style has always used the time throughout the year to it's fullest to maximize the progress for all of their students recreational and competitive. We begin classes the 2nd week after school starts. We have always found the first week of school is an extremely busy week for families. Getting into their school routine first before getting into the classroom helps students adjust back to the busy fall schedule. Classes run through until Christmas, then recreational students have 2 weeks off. Competitive students who wish to continue choreography for their solos, duets trios and small groups give their availability in to the office and continue if available. Christmas is not mandatory for competitive students however most students on the competitive team make the decision to use this time wisely.

After Christmas Break classes start up again the week the students go back to school. March break week is off for recreational students, however the first half of March break Saturday-Tuesday is mandatory for intermediate and senior competitive students and Wednesday-Sunday is mandatory for Junior competitive students. This time is used for choreography sessions as well as cleaning before our big showcase at the end of March, while also allowing each group to have a lengthy holiday for the other half of March Break.

Classes continue when school is back in session until the end of June with days off for holidays such as Easter and Victoria Monday. Step with Style always holds the recital mid to late June. This is MOST beneficial for the students as the longer season allows them to learn so very much more than the average program!

There are 2-3 weeks off after the recital show and then our open classes commence for both recreational and competitive levels. Throughout the summer students who take open classes often make tremendous improvements. Without having school work to do this extra time to focus can help push a dancer to new levels. SWS has had students in the past who have attended open classes regularly and improved so much they jumped three levels by the time assessment time came in September!

The more opportunity a student has to take regular class the more they learn and strengthen no matter what level they are.

As a dancer I remember taking as many classes as I possibly could. When I was a competitive dancer I would take every competitive class I could and on my breaks would jump into recreational stretch and ballet classes as well, and I did this 6 days a week. This dedication and repetition allowed me to improve and build a technical base that will never leave my body. (However our dancers do not dance 6 days a week.) Our goal at SWS is to give that same opportunity to our students by ensuring they get the most out of their year with a schedule that is approx 3-4 days a week for our serious competitive students while our recreational dancers can have a schedule that is as low as 1 day a week or up to 3 days a week.

Step with Style strongly believes longer dance seasons equal more progress!