Attending dance camp can be an excellent experience for your child. Dance camp gives students the opportunity to improve old skills and learn new ones; meet, interact, and bond with likeminded peers from all over; and establish a solid foundation that can help them successfully continue to work towards their dance goals. Before you help your up and coming dancing star choose a camp for the summer, here are some things to consider:

1. Goals - Finding out what your child’s dance goals are is vital when deciding what type of camp to send them to. If they are younger and just starting out, it may be more important to find a camp that focuses on having fun and using dance as a means to do so. If your child is a little older and has career goals in dance, it may be more important to focus on institutes that have full academic year sessions as well as camps.

If career ambitions are driving your decision, then it would be best to choose a camp that will look good on applications and at auditions. It’s also a good idea to send them to a camp that will put them in contact with some of the best dancers giving them a better chance at becoming part of a prestigious company in the future.

2. Type of Dance - What type of dance interests your child the most? If your child is a beginner it may be better to send them to a camp that exposes them to several types of dance including tap, jazz, and ballet. If your child is already involved in one particular school of dance, a camp that focuses solely on developing and improving the related skills may be a better choice.

3. Cost - Unfortunately cost is a big factor in deciding where you can send your child. Some programs can be very pricey so check for the availability of scholarships and other types of assistance.

4. Size - What kind of social environment will your child feel most comfortable in? If your child is used to being in smaller classes it may be best to choose a camp that offers classes of a similar size. If size doesn’t matter then one of the larger camps can offer your child a great environment for making friends and learning about different cultures.

5. Location - Once again the comfort level of you and your child will play a big role in how successful the camp experience is. If both of you are comfortable with an extended stay in the city, it’s a good idea to look at some of the schools that are linked with some of the larger dance companies in the city. If the city isn’t the right place for your child or if this is their first camp experience, a camp closer to home or in a smaller town can be more beneficial and comfortable. Both types of programs can offer an excellent experience.

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