📌 1️⃣ Welcome to the IMD Family!
Understanding IMD’s Values & Mission & How Dance Benefits Your Child
📌 2️⃣ Financial Commitments & Planning
Tuition, Costume Fees, and Fundraising
📌 3️⃣ First Class Preparation
Dancewear, Packing for Class, & Studio Etiquette
📌 4️⃣ Class & Attendance Expectations
Commitment, Absences, and Helping Your Child Succeed
📌 5️⃣ Preparing for Recitals & Performances
🔹 Key Information for Parents:
- How IMD Recitals Work
- How often IMD holds recitals.
- How rehearsals, tech week, and show day work.
- What to expect on recital day (call times, backstage rules, etc.).
- Understanding Recital Costs
- Breaking down costume costs, ticket prices, and any extra fees.
- Why costumes and show fees are necessary to produce a professional recital.
- What’s included in performance fees.
- How to Support Your Dancer on Recital Day
- Packing checklist for recital day.
- How to help your dancer manage performance nerves.
- Hair and makeup tutorials for different styles.
🔹 Reputable Sources to Use:
📌 6️⃣ Supporting Your Dancer at Home
🔹 Key Information for Parents:
- How to Encourage Progress Without Pressure
- Recognizing when to motivate and when to step back.
- The importance of positive reinforcement.
- Managing Dance-Related Stress & Performance Anxiety
- Signs of stress & burnout in young dancers.
- Techniques for building resilience & confidence.
- Helping dancers handle stage nerves.
- Stretching & Strengthening Exercises for Dancers
- Simple exercises for at-home conditioning.
- Injury prevention & the importance of proper warm-ups.
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📌 7️⃣ Parent & Studio Community Engagement
🔹 Key Information for Parents:
- How Parents Can Stay Involved at IMD
- Volunteer opportunities (recitals, fundraisers, studio events).
- Ways to contribute to IMD’s mission.
- Building a Positive Dance Community
- Encouraging dancers to support their peers.
- The role of parents in shaping studio culture.
- Understanding studio values & etiquette.
- Handling Conflicts & Studio Drama
- How to navigate disagreements respectfully.
- Why gossip & negativity hurt the dance community.
- How IMD promotes a drama-free environment.
- Understanding Dance Industry Culture
- Respecting different dance styles & their cultural roots.
- The importance of professionalism in the dance world.
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📌 8️⃣ Competition & Advanced Training Pathways
🔹 Key Information for Parents:
- Should My Child Join a Competition Team?
- Signs they’re ready for the next level.
- What competition training involves (extra rehearsals, financial commitment, etc.).
- What to Expect at Dance Competitions
- Understanding how competitions are structured.
- The judging process and scoring systems.
- How to support your dancer through wins and losses.
- Balancing School, Dance, & Other Activities
- Time management for serious dancers.
- How to ensure a healthy balance between academics, dance, and personal time.
- Cross-Training & Injury Prevention for Dancers
- Why cross-training is essential for longevity.
- Recovery techniques & injury prevention strategies.
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📌 9️⃣ Career & College Prep for Dancers
🔹 Key Information for Parents & Dancers:
- The Different Paths in Dance
- Professional dance careers (company, commercial, Broadway, backup dancing, etc.).
- College dance teams vs. dance degrees.
- Dance-related careers (choreography, teaching, dance medicine, etc.).
- How to Prepare for Auditions
- What college programs, companies, and agencies look for.
- Creating a dance portfolio & resume.
- The importance of versatility & adaptability in dance.
- Dance Scholarships & Financial Aid
- Where to find dance scholarships.
- Tips for getting financial aid for dance programs.
🔹 Reputable Sources to Use:
📌 🔟 Understanding the Bigger Picture
🔹 Key Information for Parents & Dancers:
- How Dance Shapes Character & Lifelong Skills
- The discipline & work ethic developed through dance.
- How dance helps in other career fields, even outside of the arts.
- What Happens if My Child Wants to Quit Dance?
- Navigating the transition out of competitive dance.
- Helping your child find new passions & maintain a love for movement.
- How to Stay Connected with the IMD Community
- Becoming an alumni supporter of the IMD family.
- Opportunities to mentor younger dancers.
🔹 Reputable Sources to Use:
1️⃣1️⃣ Dance Company & Pre-Professional Development
🔹 Key Information for Parents & Dancers:
- What It Means to Be in a Dance Company
- How a company differs from a competition team.
- The commitment level required for a company dancer.
- How company dancers represent IMD in various performances.
- The Importance of Community Engagement for Dancers
- Why local performances matter.
- How dancing in different environments builds versatility & adaptability.
- The impact of outreach programs on both dancers & the community.
- Performance Opportunities Beyond Competition
- Local events, festivals, and showcases.
- Collaborations with other artists & performance groups.
- The value of networking and exposure in the dance industry.
- Preparing for Professional Work in the Dance Industry
- Developing professionalism through rehearsals & public performances.
- The importance of adaptability in different settings (stage, film, live events).
- How company experience builds skills for a future in dance.
🔹 Reputable Sources to Use:
📌 1️⃣2️⃣ IMD’s Whole-Dancer Approach: Training the Body, Heart, & Mind
🔹 Key Information for Parents & Dancers:
IMD goes beyond dance technique and competition to develop strong, resilient, and emotionally intelligent dancers who prioritize longevity, wellness, and personal growth.
💪 Training the Body: Strength, Flexibility & Recovery
- Cross-Training for Dancers
- Why cross-training matters (preventing injuries, building endurance).
- Best strength & flexibility exercises for dancers.
- How to structure weekly movement for longevity in dance.
- Nutrition & Fueling the Dancer’s Body
- Meal planning for energy & recovery.
- The best nutrient-dense foods for dancers.
- Avoiding common dietary pitfalls in dance.
- Holistic Recovery & Healing Practices
- The benefits of Earthing & grounding for inflammation.
- Epsom salt baths, foam rolling, and massage techniques.
- The impact of saunas, cold therapy, and hydration on dance recovery.
🧠 Training the Mind: Growth Mindset & Mental Resilience
- Mindset Training for Dancers
- How to develop mental toughness & confidence in dance.
- Overcoming perfectionism & self-doubt.
- Why visualization & positive affirmations improve performance.
- The Science of Breathwork for Performance & Stress Reduction
- How breath control improves endurance, focus, and stage presence.
- Breathwork techniques to regulate nerves before a performance.
- The role of meditation & mindfulness in dance training.
❤️ Training the Heart: Emotional Intelligence & Self-Leadership
- Why Emotional Intelligence (EQ) Matters in Dance
- Understanding self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy & teamwork.
- How high-EQ dancers handle feedback, competition, and challenges.
- How Dance Teaches Leadership & Communication
- Why leadership training is part of the IMD experience.
- How mentorship builds responsibility & community engagement.
- Balancing Passion & Mental Well-Being
- Signs of burnout & overtraining in dancers.
- The importance of rest, personal growth, and balanced training.
🔹 Reputable Sources to Use:
Training the Body
Training the Mind
Training the Heart