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Hi [Parent Name],
Thank you so much for reaching out! I completely understand wanting to watch your superstar in class. Throughout my career as both a dance teacher and studio owner, I’ve carefully considered all sides of our closed-door policies. We’ve found that limiting parental observation, both through cameras and in-person attendance, really benefits our dancers. It also limits distractions in the classroom, allowing dancers to stay focused and fully engaged in their learning.
It helps them start building independence in the dance class, encourages creative exploration, allows them to focus on learning new skills without feeling the pressure of being watched. It supports dancers making small but meaningful improvements that might go unnoticed in a constant viewing environment, promotes a safer space for self-expression and experimentation, reduces comparison and enhances peer interactions. Which all, ultimately encourages a greater growth overall for our dancers.
We do have a Parent Observation Week scheduled for November 17–23, during which parents are invited into the classroom to watch the whole class. Teachers may also occasionally invite parents in for the last 5–10 minutes of class to share what the dancers have been working on; this is at the teacher’s discretion.
As well, we have a Parent Participation Week scheduled for January 12–18, where parents are invited to participate in their dancer’s entire class. These opportunities allow you to see your child’s progress while still supporting their growing independence.
This also presents a wonderful opportunity for you to connect with your dancer after classes. To help with this, I’ve put together a list of questions that can spark meaningful conversations about their class experience each week. We’ll continue adding additional questions as the season progresses:
Following these opportunities to watch and participate in class, your dancer can be celebrated even more at our year-end recital where they perform in 2 of our 3 shows.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to help and support both you and your dancer!
Thanks,
Cierra Rohde
Hi Preschool Dance Parents,
I hope you're having a lovely start to your weekend!
I’m reaching out as I’ve had a few questions come in about our closed-door policy, and I want to be as transparent as possible about the reasoning behind it and why we feel it is so beneficial for our dancers. I’ll also be updating our parent handbook to make sure the “why” behind the policy is clearly explained.
We understand that for many of our preschool dancers, this may be their very first activity without a parent. Because of that, we are a little more flexible during the transition period. We absolutely understand that every child is different, and our teachers will always work with your dancer at their own pace. If your dancer needs you nearby for the first few weeks, that is completely understandable. Please reach out to the studio so we can work with you to create a plan that supports your dancer in a gradual and positive way toward eventually taking class independently.
If your dancer is upset or cries when you leave, please know that that is okay, too. We have dancers who are ready to walk into class independently right away, and we have dancers who need to work through some tears before they eventually feel comfortable and confident. Both are completely normal. We also understand that tears can sometimes come once class is underway, and our teachers are very comfortable supporting dancers through those moments. Our closed-door policy applies to all of our classes and dancers. Over the years, we have found that dancers learn, participate and grow best when they can fully focus on their teacher, their classmates and the experience of being in class, without the added awareness of being watched.
For preschool dancers, this can be especially noticeable. When a parent is watching, even through a door or on a screen, young dancers often look over for reassurance or to see how their parent is reacting. Their attention can shift away from the teacher and the activity.
We also want dance class to be a place where dancers feel free to express themselves, explore new movements and make mistakes without worrying about being judged or perceived by familiar and unfamiliar eyes. Making mistakes is a very important part of learning to dance. Dancers sometimes feel pressure to get everything right the first time when they know they are being watched, but dance improvement and progression take time.
When dancers have the opportunity to work through challenges, make mistakes and experience their own successes without feeling watched, they often build confidence more naturally and more quickly.
Our teachers are very experienced in helping preschoolers settle into class, and we will always let you know if we feel your dancer needs additional support.
One of the best ways you can help is by talking positively about their independence at home. Remind them that they are getting so big, that they are going to dance class on their own, and that their teacher is there to help them. The more confident and comfortable you are with the transition, the easier it is often for your dancer to feel confident too.
After more than two decades of teaching and working with dancers of all ages, I am very confident in our closed-door approach and the benefits it provides. Throughout the season, we teach our dancers that it is okay to try, make mistakes, try again and grow at their own pace.
Our goal is for dancers to learn that they can:
- Feel confident without their parent beside them.
- Trust their teacher to help and support them.
- Express themselves freely and creatively.
- Try new things without needing to be perfect.
- Make mistakes and understand that mistakes are part of learning.
- Build confidence through their own accomplishments.
We want our preschool dancers to know that their teacher is there for them. If they need help, reassurance or a movement explained again, we want them to learn that they can look to their teacher and trust that we will help them.
There is also a benefit for you as a parent. When you aren't watching every class, you aren't seeing every small step along the way. Instead, you get to notice those exciting milestones when they happen — the first time they confidently walk into class on their own, a new movement they suddenly master, or something they come home excited to show you. Those moments can feel even more meaningful because you get to experience their progress rather than watching every part of the process.
We also have opportunities throughout the season for you to see what your dancer has been working on. Our Parent Observation Week is November 16–22, when parents are invited into the classroom to watch the full class. Teachers may also occasionally invite parents in for the last 5–10 minutes of a class to share what the dancers have been working on, at the teacher's discretion.
We will also have Parent Participation Week January 18–24, when parents are invited to participate in their dancer's entire class.
We have also put together a list of questions you can ask your dancer at home to help you connect with what they are learning and encourage conversations about their dance experience. You can find those questions here:
These opportunities give you a chance to stay connected to your dancer's experience and see their progress, while still allowing them the space they need to build independence, confidence and comfort throughout the year.
Thank you for trusting us with your little dancers. We take that trust very seriously and are so excited to watch their confidence, independence and love of dance grow throughout the year!
Thanks,
Cierra Rohde
Hi Dance Parents,
I hope you're having a lovely start to your weekend!
I'm reaching out as I've had a few questions come in about our closed-door policy, and I want to be as transparent as possible about the reasoning behind it and why we feel it is so beneficial for our dancers. I'll also be updating our parent handbook to make sure the "why" behind the policy is clearly explained.
Our closed-door policy applies to all of our classes and dancers. Over the years, we have found that dancers learn, participate and grow best when they can fully focus on their teacher, their classmates and the experience of being in class, without the added awareness of being watched.
This can be noticed when a parent is watching, even through a door or on a screen, dancers often look over for reassurance or to see how their parent is reacting. Their attention can shift away from the teacher and the activity.
We also want dance class to be a place where dancers feel free to express themselves, explore new movements and make mistakes without worrying about being judged or perceived by familiar and unfamiliar eyes. Making mistakes is a very important part of learning to dance. Dancers sometimes feel pressure to get everything right the first time when they know they are being watched, but dance improvement and progression take time.
When dancers have the opportunity to work through challenges, make mistakes and experience their own successes without feeling watched, they often build confidence more naturally and more quickly.
Our teachers are very experienced in helping dancers settle into class, and we will always let you know if we feel your dancer needs additional support.
After more than two decades of teaching and working with dancers of all ages, I am very confident in our closed-door approach and the benefits it provides. Throughout the season, we teach our dancers that it is okay to try, make mistakes, try again and grow at their own pace.
Our goal is for dancers to learn that they can:
- Trust their teacher to help and support them.
- Express themselves freely and creatively.
- Try new things without needing to be perfect.
- Make mistakes and understand that mistakes are part of learning.
- Build confidence through their own accomplishments.
We want our dancers to know that their teacher is there for them. If they need help, reassurance or a movement explained again, we want them to learn that they can look to their teacher and trust that we will help them.
There is also a benefit for you as a parent. When you aren't watching every class, you aren't seeing every small step along the way. Instead, you get to notice those exciting milestones when they happen — the first time they confidently walk into class on their own, a new movement they suddenly master, or something they come home excited to show you. Those moments can feel even more meaningful because you get to experience their progress rather than watching every part of the process.
We also have opportunities throughout the season for you to see what your dancer has been working on. Our Parent Observation Week is November 16–22, when parents are invited into the classroom to watch the full class. Teachers may also occasionally invite parents in for the last 5–10 minutes of a class to share what the dancers have been working on, at the teacher's discretion.
We will also have Parent Participation Week January 18–24, when parents are invited to participate in their dancer's entire class.
We have also put together a list of questions you can ask your dancer at home to help you connect with what they are learning and encourage conversations about their dance experience. You can find those questions here:
These opportunities give you a chance to stay connected to your dancer's experience and see their progress, while still allowing them the space they need to build independence, confidence and comfort throughout the year.
Thank you for trusting us with your little dancers. We take that trust very seriously and are so excited to watch their confidence, independence and love of dance grow throughout the year!
Thanks,
Cierra Rohde
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