Westside Dance has become a second family for my daughter and myself. The staff work so well together to accommodate all different skills and interest levels leading each dancer to reach their full potential. The memories and friendships created at Westside are a bonus on top of life long skills as a dancer.
– JK Penwell
Westside dance is the place to be! Our daughter has enjoyed her classes and her classmates. She looks forward to going to the studio and is excited to learn. We have been blessed with outstanding teachers who not only instruct the students in dance, but also impart a sense of personal responsibility. I highly recommend Westside Dance!
-Karen Ball
Westside Dance Academy has become a second home for our daughter. It is so wonderful to be able to watch you child pursue something they love so much. The teachers and staff are so talented and loving. They have pushed her to accomplish so much in just the last year. We will always be so thankful for Westside for being such a huge part of our daughter’s life.
-Shannon Hicks
The relationship between a parent and coach is critical to the success of your dancer(s). Kids gain more confidence and perform better when they know that you support their coach and training. When a parent is always criticizing the coaches or coaching staff, your child will begin to doubt them as well and will find it difficult to have a positive outtake on their training.
Why should you support the coach?
Coaches are one of the greatest influences in an athlete’s life. They can shape your kids to become great athletes and even better people by instilling values of teamwork, discipline, hard work and sacrifice. A coach alone cannot train your child(ren) to their fullest potential. It’s crucial to have your help as well. Kids should develop their skills both on and off the dance floor. So it is important for you to select the right coach for your child, and support them to the best of your abilities.
How can parents help support our child’s coaches?
1. Communicate with them: The best way to develop a relationship with your child’s coach is to talk with them often. Ask them questions on how to improve your child’s skill or what their goals are. When you communicate with the coaches, you gain a better understanding what goes on in their minds, and why they make certain decisions.
2. Offer your help: Sometimes a teacher may need help with things like adding embellishments to outfits, organizing extra practices or even making props. Volunteer your help whenever you can, this will show that you care about the group and make them feel supported.
3. Assist them in training: Athletes/Dancers need more than a few hours of practice to do well. With the help of the parent and coach, they can learn how to train at home as well. Ask the coach if at the end of practices you can take video of all the new choreography that was taught so it can be taken home and rehearsed. Purchase the equipment that can be used at home such has therabands, tennis balls to work out those tight muscles, foot stretchers to help improve the flexibility in the dancers feet and many more home friendly tools. In addition, make sure your child arrives for rehearsal and performances on time, stretched and ready to go.
4. Let them do their job: The best way to support coaches is to trust their strategy, and not challenge them. Have confidence in their ability and teach your kid to do the same. Each child learns and receives information differently. As teachers, they really strive to adapt to what will work for the whole group.
In the end, the coach and parent have the same end goal. We want the dancer to become a well-rounded young adult who has been trained to have discipline, drive, and the ability to manage their schedules. Lastly, we want them to have life skills such as being a great communicator, putting others first, and how to work together as a team.
