Fall Peek Week is upon us, and studio-wide, we’re so excited to show you what we’ve been up to! All week long, parents and guardians are invited to watch the last 10 minutes of classes to see just how much work has already gone into the 2022-23 season. And while your student is busy showcasing their skills, you may be wondering what it is exactly that you’re looking at, and whether or not it looks the way that it should. Whether it’s your first Peek or you’ve been watching for years, the curriculum targets can certainly get a little confusing, especially when you’re trying to figure out if your student is hitting them. It seems complicated, but it doesn’t need to be. This week’s TP Top 5 is here to help and answer the question “How can I best support my dancer’s success?”
1. Be Present
More than anything, just showing up can have the greatest impact on your student’s success. While you might never understand exactly what they’re working on, being present for the progress will help your dancer feel safe, seen and secure as they prepare to take the stage (in dance and in life). Want to stay a step ahead? Check out Dates to Remember under the “Calendar” tab on our website. Take note of upcoming events and take an interest in what’s happening. Plan ahead for Peek Weeks and any other chances to show your support and be there throughout your student’s studio journey.
2. Support Their Teachers
Did you know each member of the Turning Pointe Dance staff is background checked and CPR certified? Our instructors are also Youth Protection Advocates in Dance certified, including training and continued education through a proven curriculum that covers topics like best practices, injury prevention, conflict resolution, and safety and wellness for every student. They’ve received extensive training on their class curriculum, and how to serve as a leader, mentor and teacher under Turning Pointe’s Mission and Core Values. Long story short, they know what they’re doing, and supporting them is a great way to support your dancer. Consider teacher feedback as tools for praising your dancer’s strengths and encouraging growth in the areas still under development.
3. Encourage Them to SHINE
Whether it’s your dancer’s first year in class or they’ve been dancing for decades, we encourage you to trade pressure for praise, both for your dancer and for the Lord. Encouragement teaches children to evaluate themselves on their own merits. When adults provide children with feedback about what they are doing, the children learn to evaluate themselves without comparing their efforts and successes to those of others. The important thing is never whether or not your dancer is placed in the same level as their friends, if they’re always front and center at recital, or where they fall in relation to their classmates. God created each and every one of us with a unique set of gifts and talents, and that looks different on each and every student. Encourage your dancer to use their talents to praise the Lord, to SHINE in their own unique gifts, and to give Him the glory for it all.
4. Reinforce the FAITH
At Turning Pointe Dance, students are learning more than just great dancing. They’re being trained, body, mind, and spirit, to flourish in their gifts for His glory through monthly memory verses, devotions and prayer prompts. While it’s a great idea to check in and ask your dancer what they worked on in class, we also encourage you to ask them about their verses and prompts, and how they grew closer to God at dance. If they had a difficult day or struggled to achieve a skill, shine God’s grace and remind them He commanded us to make a joyful noise, not a perfect note on the very first try. Find scriptures together about perseverance on the hard days, and about humility on the good days. We are seen and loved by the Father in each and every step of class, no matter how that looks on any given day.
5. Reinforce the FUN
If your dancer truly LOVES to dance, nurturing that spark can take your dancer all the way from supported to successful. Give your dancer more opportunities to do what they love by signing them up for a mini camp or special event like the Nutcracker Tea, or even by trying new classes during a Free Trial Week. We have opportunities to learn and dance all year long, so be sure to read your Monthly Newsletter and Weekly Wednesday email, and follow us on social media for information on upcoming events.
Come and celebrate our students this week, and join us in supporting them each and every step of this season. (Your next chance to watch is Dec. 5-10!)