PARENTING DEDICATED ARTISTS | DPW #1 (9.13.22)

The dancers at Training Club show some of the strongest dedication in the country as they pursue goals that will stick with them for a lifetime. On our first DPW of the new school year we take a look at the big things parents can do to create a positive and effective experience for their dedicated dance artists.

Topics covered include:

• Emotional awareness in the studio
• Patience
• Having a purpose of GREATNESS

HOW TO BUILD A “DREAM TEAM” | DPW #2 (9.20.22)

We’ve all heard of the Olympic “Dream Team”, but what does a dream team look like for your dedicated dance-artists? From understanding the different dance seasons to the major players on your team, you’ll hear it all on this Dance Parent Workshop.

 Topics covered include:

• A great team starts with “WHY”
• Turning the why from negative to positive
• Team Players
• Seasons of the dream

THE “HATERS”| DPW #3 (10.4.22)

Every Mickey Mouse needs a Goofy. This sounds great until your staring Goofy right in the face. Dealing with “haters” and negative energy in dance is a unique beast that is exaggerated because dancers put their physical beings on display. Watch the replay to learn what your dancer can do to thrive in a room full of “haters”. 

 Topics covered include:

• The difference between “Mickey” and “Goofy”
• How to thrive amongst Goofys
  • Understanding your “why” along the dance journey
  • Framing the “haters” along the journey
  • Staying “Mickey”

WHERE’S THE LEAK? THE SCHOOL TO CAREER PIPELINE | DPW #4 (10.18.22)

It’s a common occurrence that the best dancer in a studio, often for years as the dancer grows through adolescence, gets to the college/company fork in the road and begins to change their trajectory. What looked like a promising career of superstardom and dance celebrity as a teenager now appears more “regular”, or doesn’t appear in the dance industry at all. Why do dancers struggle living up to the expectations of their teenage years or quit dancing altogether?

This Dance Parent Workshop explores the school to career pipeline and identifies WHERE THE LEAK is and how you can help your dancer make the transition from child dancer to professional dance artist all while cultivating a high quality of life.

 Topics covered include:

• What is being a “professional” all about?
• Training 
• Where’s the Leak?
  • Understanding responsibility
  • Understanding what role you play

PRIVATE LESSONS FOR EVERY SEASON | DPW #5 (11.8.22)

Everyone has an opinion on private lessons and no two opinions are the same. No matter where your dancer is on their journey private lessons can be valuable, but do they need them? On this episode of the Dance Parent Workshop we’re discussing the private lessons that your dancer should be taking at every stage of the journey.

 Topics covered include:

• What is a private lesson?
• How to get the most out of private lessons?
• Seasons for Private Lessons
  • Learning 
  • Training 
  • College or Company Season
  • Professional 
• Big Picture Thinking for Private Lessons

2023 SUMMER INTENSIVE OVERVIEW | DPW #6 (11.22.22)

In this episode of the Dance Parent Workshop, we uncover all of the secrets and need-to-know points for parents and dancers considering national summer programs. What’s the difference between big box summer programs and smaller summer programs? What makes some summer intensives better than others and most importantly, why should parents be wary of attending big box summer programs?

We also make a special announcement regarding our own 2023 Summer intensives that you don’t want to miss!

 Topics covered include:

• What should your goals be for summer?
• Being clear on your goals
• Big box summer programs
• TDA Prep 2023 Summer Intensives:

• • TDA Prep College Summit (Virtual): June 20-23
• • Training Club Summer Intensive: June 26-30
• • TDA Prep Summer Intensive: July 10-14, July 17-21, July 24-28
• • NYC Summer Workshop: August 7-9

Registration will be opening February 2023

2023 SPRING SEMESTER TOWN HALL | DPW #8 (12.20.22)

Join us for a Town Hall discussion on Training Club Spring Semester 2023! We break down all the new additions coming this Spring, including our new virtual Expert Training classes and Masterclasses. We also discuss the schedule for Spring Semester and when registration will open for current Training Club families.

We’re excited to share with you everything we have planed for Spring Semester and take a deep dive into the goals we have set for this Spring!

 Topics covered include:

• Difference between Fall and Spring semester
• Spring Semester NEW additions:
  • Expert Training Sessions
  • Master Classes
• College Candidate Program
• Registration

Registration for 2023 Spring Semester  will be opening on January 3, 2023!

THE PROBLEM WITH PERFORMING | DPW #9 (1.18.23)

Around this time of year the air is filled with teenage angst. As they grow up and their dreams become more tangible, they simultaneously work to “be cool” or look “over it” when deep down they care, A LOT. We’ve all been there before. “I just want to be real” or “I just want to be my most authentic self” are their newly adopted brand statements. As we continue to train through this season and others the message is still the same, though more important now than ever.

On this episode of the Dance Parent Workshop we’re talking about the power of “cool” and how we work to help your dancer keep that from affecting their greatness.

 Topics covered include:

• The Nature of the Industry
• How Everyone Responds
• What You Can Do

Registration for 2023 Spring Semester  is NOW OPEN!

THE BEGINNING OF THE END | DPW #10 (2.7.23)

The end of the school year is quickly coming. We’re pushing into the 4th quarter. What do you want to have front of mind as you prepare your dancer for the end of the school year?

On tonight’s Dance Parent Workshop we’re talking about performances and transition training. What can your dancer do while in-between their home studio and summer program? How do you build a personal summer plan for your dancer? Learn all that and more at tonight’s DPW!

 Topics covered include:

• What are you expecting Fall 2023?
• Identifying Weaknesses
• Setting up the Training Expectation

THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED| DPW #11 (2.21.23)

So many of our families have already or are starting to break free from the traditional mold of local studio training at only one place. Being affiliated with ONE studio exclusively has its perks, but for today’s generation it is incredibly difficult for one studio with 100+ students to cater to the professional needs AND the mental health needs of this generation.

Being the leader of your dancer’s journey is scary when you don’t know the landscape or how to move through the different seasons. This Dance Parent Workshop talks about breaking free from the mold and charting a training course CUSTOM-FIT for your dancer. If you’ve made the change already or are thinking about doing something different, this DPW is for you!

 Topics covered include:

• The Three Training Situations
• What is About for You?
• The Challenge With Leaving
• Once You Leave
• What You Need

THE MAIN THING| DPW #12 (3.7.23)

On this DPW we’re talking about the BIGGEST learning lesson that dance has to teach you. When they talk about putting dance in schools the reasoning is the exact same as why people sit in the Royal Ballet for 3.5 hours. But we don’t teach that. It’s the main thing, and it gets left out 99% of the time! Since the industry is leaving out the most important lesson for dancers, parents that care are tasked with bringing that point home. Without it, all of the hours and sweat equity will never add up to a high quality of life. But what is it? Don’t miss out on what the “main thing” is on this DPW!

 Topics covered include:

• What’s the Problem?
• What Does it Look Like in Different Settings
• What Can Parents Do?

THE DREAM SITUATION| DPW #13 (3.21.23)

One of the questions we ask dancers every day is, what’s your dream situation? No matter the answer, for us it’s about learning something bigger. Until you’re a professional dancer, the dance landscape is exactly that… a dream situation. On this Dance Parent Workshop, we’ll explore how this concept can help your child cultivate a mindset of excellence, and how you can support them in reaching their full potential as a student dance-artist.

BEYOND APPEARANCE| DPW #14 (4.4.23)

Dance training prioritizes making dances look “nice” over teaching students how to do each step correctly. This creates a major obstacle for dancers, as it can undermine their confidence and make it difficult to improve. When the training is taught in vague terms, it can take decades to understand the craft, whereas clear and concise guidance can expedite progress within weeks. On this Dance Parent Workshop we discuss crucial training techniques and what parents need to know about this vital aspect of dance.

TV, MOVIES, & TOURS (OH MY): HOW COMMERCIAL PROJECTS HAPPEN | DPW #15 (4.18.23)

How do commercial projects get made? When someone tells you that they’re working on a television show or movie, what does that mean? How important are agents and managers? 

On this Dance Parent Workshop we’re taking an in depth look at how projects come to life. We’ll be sharing valuable information about what you need to know to keep your dancer safe and successful without waiting for a project that’s never going to happen. Get ready for an eye-opening behind-the-scenes look that will inform and surprise you

A CAREER IN CHOREOGRAPHY | DPW #16 (5.2.23)

Becoming a choreographer is something that a lot of dancers have in their hearts, but there isn’t always a clear introduction to the craft. Dancers that would be great choreographers don’t know where to start and in an extremely competitive landscape, young women are rarely asked if they want to develop their choreographic voice.

Having a career as a choreographer is one of the most self-empowering careers that a dancer can develop, and it’s a lot easier than the industry makes it appear. On this Dance Parent Workshop we’re talking about a career in choreography, from pay scale to how you bring all of the resources together to make it happen, and everything in between.

BIG PLANS | DPW #17 (5.16.23)

On this Dance Parent Workshop we’re talking through the summer and making the plan for Fall! Come work through what you need to get a head start on an EXCELLENT Fall Plan and find out what TDA Prep’s fall training season looks like!