How to Attract More Preschool Students

Advertising in small community papers is better than advertising in large papers. In the ad, do more than merely mention preschool classes or Mommy & Me classes. Make your program sound different and better than others.

For example, say - "Featuring the Dancing School Kids™ Curriculum with exciting songs, dances, and games to make learning tap and pre-ballet fun. Our program encourages creative movement and provides a great head start for other educational experiences." You may wish to use a picture of a young child or children learning to dance.

Offer an Open House advertised through newspaper ads, flyers, and/or through present students with an opportunity for a FREE SAMPLE LESSON for 3 to 5 year olds during the Open House. Make this only a ½ hour class with parents in the room. Use the instant dances such as a "Hello", "Clap Hands March", "The Happy Parade" - and "Get Ready, Hurray" for the tap segment. Use "I Love Dancing" for stretches. During the Pre-Ballet segment, teach "Good, Good Toes"," Jack & Jill", "It's a Beautiful Day" and possibly finish with the "Balloon Dance", giving the students the balloon used for the dance to take home.

Added Tips: If you have existing students who are 5 or 6 years old and know these dances, encourage them to come to the free sample lesson and dance with the new children - showing them how well they dance and tell them they are "helpers" who march along with shy children, holding their hands, and helping them have fun. You'll have all the children smiling and having a great time and parents eagerly filling out registration forms. You may also find that the parents of the dancer/helpers will feel proud of their children's knowledge and enjoy telling new parents the advantages of registering at your school.

How To Build Your School on Preschool Dance

Teach a preschool dance program that is based on the dance disciplines that are taught at your studio to older students but offer instruction in a way that makes learning fun.

You do no want to offer a preschool dance program that is mainly music appreciation or only creative movement if you want students to continue dancing and taking tap, ballet, and jazz as they get older!

The Dancing School Kids™ songs and dances make learning tap, ballet, and jazz fun. The songs and dances help students learn and remember dance steps and impress parents with their children's progress.

Run the preschool program throughout the school year so that dancing becomes a part of the child's life

In the Spring, when the child has accumulated a repertoire of many short songs and dances and numerous skills, make parents aware of these accomplishments and let them know what lies ahead for their children at your school. Before the year ends, offer these wonderful little dancers an incentive for pre-registering for the following year.

As the students benefit from long term nurturing at your school, the school will benefit too!

Eugenia Smith will have more tips at various conventions this Summer, where she will be teaching the Dancing School Kids™ curriculum including Mommy/ Daddy & Me classes for 2 & 3 year olds.

Also - look for the Dancing School Kids™ teacher's seminar in Buffalo, NY.