(504) 899-3780
5956 Magazine Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70115
info@thenoda.com

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How to Choose a Dance Studio

Our dance studio in Uptown New Orleans offers a wide variety of classes. In addition to ballet classes, we offer a full program of dance styles such as Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Flamenco. Our dance studios are fully air-conditioned and we offer free wifi for students who need to study between classes.

Our dance recitals are held each year in a professional theater with non-slip dance flooring.

If you are considering registering for dance classes at any other dance studio or ballet school in the New Orleans metropolitan area, we encourage you to ask the studio the following questions before making your decision to register your child.

Why Choose Us For Dance Classes?

If most dance studios seem to have qualified, friendly teachers, experience teaching children and a big show at the end of the year, aren’t they all pretty much the same? Does it really matter which studio you choose? Yes.

There are 4 main things that can make a huge difference in the quality of instruction your child receives, the amount of extra work and hassles the parents must deal with and the overall enjoyment and satisfaction of being involved with a dance program. Here are 4 things that every parent should consider before deciding on a dance studio for their child.


1. What Type of Floor is Used?

Dance is a very physical activity that requires a lot of jumping, which can put stress on bones and joints. Most dance footwear does not provide any cushioning or support, so the shock of dance movement can place a lot of pressure on the knees and back of a dancer. The best way to prevent against potential injury is by choosing a studio with a professional “floating floor.” Dancing on a tiled or wood floor on top of concrete is likely to cause injury. A floating floor is a dance floor that acts to absorb the shock of jumping.

The top layer of the dance floor is also an important factor. A vinyl composite “marley” floor is accepted worldwide as the best surface layer for recreational to professional dance. Facilities such as the American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, and Riverdance - The Touring Show - all use marley floors as their dance surface. A marley floor allows dancers to slide, with a degree of “controlled slip", but is not slippery so there is less risk of slips and falls. Very few studios use professional marley floors because of the expense involved, and usually opt for a regular floor tile for a studio floor.

All of our studios have floating floors under the floor surface and a marley top surface. Our special floors help reduce the risk of injuries and allow students to dance longer without getting tired.


2. What Is The Size of The Class?

If a dance class has fewer students, each child will receive more personalized attention, and will learn more. In a small class, it is easier for the teacher to maintain control, make sure that concepts and instructions are not missed, and ensure that students are not developing bad habits or improper technique. New Orleans Dance Academy places an emphasis on individualized attention and proper technique, and our class sizes range from about 8-12 students per class.


3. What are the extras for the Year-End Show?

Many studios put on a year-end show, and require that dancers wear costumes. Some studios may require parents to sew their child's costumes, or pay extra for that service. Most studios also require parents to purchase tickets for the performance.

We order fully-constructed costumes, so parents do not need to worry about measurements, costume orders, or alterations. We provide 2 complimentary recital tickets to each family, along with a complimentary recital video of the show.


4. Can I Get Immediate Assistance and Customer Service?

In many studios, the teacher or the studio owner conducts classes and does the administration. By trying to do two jobs at once, the class may suffer as the teacher has to use class time for customer service issues, or the studio may have no customer service available if the teacher is in a class. To have a good experience, it is important to choose a studio that can assist you with details like costumes or schedules, even if a teacher is occupied in a class. Our studios have office staff on hand during all regular class times, so you can get immediate assistance.

Ask any dance school, dance studio or ballet academy in the New Orleans metropolitan area these questions and you will see why more families choose our studio each year than any other. After browsing this site please call us with any questions you may have about getting the most out of your dance experience. New Orleans Dance Academy: (504) 899-3780 or email: info@thenoda.com

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Schedule & Registration

Learn various styles, including ballet, flamenco, jazz, tap, and hip hop. All levels of dancers are welcome.

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How to Choose a Dance Studio:

Questions to consider when making your choice.

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Reasons to Choose Us

Take a look at some of the advantages we offer.

Click to view a studio comparison checklist.