Great Technique

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How old does my child need to be to enroll in dance classes?

Classes are offered for children ages 3 and up. Your child must be 3 years old by September 1^st to enroll.

What does it cost to enroll?

Upon registration, you will pay for September's tuition. This guarantees your child’s place in each class. We have no additional registration fees.

What if my child does not like the classes? Am I locked in for the whole year?

No. You may withdraw your child at any time during the season. However, if a student withdraws halfway through the month, they are still required to pay the full month’s tuition. We recommend that you give us advanced notice of your withdrawal to prevent you from having to pay for the following month and to allow students on waiting lists to enter the class.

Do you have a recital?

Yes. Our 9-month season concludes with a recital in May at Lincoln Park High School.

My child loves to dance, but I’m not sure which class to place her in.

Our instructors would be happy to speak with you and your child to see which class or classes your child would enjoy the most.

My child has never danced before. Do you offer classes for beginners?

Yes. We offer beginner classes for each age group and style.  Contact us to determine which class would be approriate for your child.

Can I watch my child’s dance class?

Yes. We welcome families to stay and watch class from the lobby through our two large viewing windows. However, we do not allow families to watch class from within the classroom. Instructors may occasionally invite family members into the classroom on designated days to view the class's progress.

How many students are in each class?

Students learn best when class sizes are small. Classes are limited to 10 students each.

Where can I buy dance clothes?

We recommend that your child be fitted by a professional for his or her first pair of dance shoes. Dancin’ Feet of Southgate is our preferred dance apparel supplier for our students. They are located at 16077 Eureka Road, and can be reached by phone at (734)246-8300. More experienced dancers may prefer to purchase their dancewear online. We recommend visiting www.DiscountDance.com, www.DanceDistributors.com, or www.DancewearSolutions.com .

Is tuition the same each month?

Yes. Our annual tuition is divided into 9 monthly payments. Regardless of holidays, each monthly payment is the same. Two costume payments of $25 each per class are also due in October and November.

Other than monthly tuition, what additional expenses can I expect at GTDA?

Great Technique keeps additional costs to a minimum. Besides monthly tuition, these are the only expenses you will encounter:

* Before the first class, you will need to buy your child the items required for the dress code. If your child takes more than one class, he or she will need the items for each additional class.

* Monthly tuition paid after the 10th of each month will incur a $7.00 late fee.

* Costumes for the May recital will be purchased in the fall. For each class your child takes, two payments of $25 each will be due in October and November, totaling $50. If your child takes more than one class, she will need a costume for each class. For example, if your child is enrolled in a ballet class and a tap class, $50 will be due in October, and $50 will be due in November. These payments are non-refundable, regardless of whether you withdraw from a class before the recital.

* Tickets for the recital will be available for purchase prior to the recital. There is no limit to the number of tickets you may purchase.

Do you offer any discounts for families enrolled in more than one class?

Yes. Students taking multiple classes receive $10 off the first class, $15 off the second class, and $30 off the third. Families with multiple children enrolled receive $2.00 off per child on each monthly payment.  Refer to our Pricing page for more information.

Does Great Technique participate in dance competitions?

No. Some dance schools form dance teams with select students to compete in regional competitions. While this increases a student’s performance opportunities, in many cases rehearsals for these events take priority over a dancer’s technique. At Great Technique, having fun while improving technique is our primary focus. Our instructors believe that a non-competitive environment is vital to improving the skills of each student. We allow students to spend the season perfecting these skills so they may be applied properly in class and when they perform in our annual recital.

What style of ballet do you teach?

There are many styles of ballet taught throughout the world. Some of the most popular styles taught in the United States include Cecchetti, Vaganova, Bournonville, and Balanchine technique. While some studios choose to teach one of these styles exclusively, our instructors apply methods from each of these styles. We believe this produces well-rounded ballet dancers.

Do you offer gymnastics or tumbling classes?

We do not offer gymnastics or tumbling.  Please call Downriver Gymnastics at (734)282-1947 or visit their website at www.downrivergymnastics.com .

Do you offer ballroom or salsa lessons?

No.  We offer lessons in ballet, tap, jazz, and hip-hop.

Do you offer private lessons?

Yes. Private lessons in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and tap are offered for beginner, intermediate, and advanced dancers of all ages. Please call (734)28-DANCE for private lesson rates.

Do you offer summer classes?

Yes. A two-month program is offered each summer. These classes are designed to focus on having fun while improving technique, without the commitment of a recital.

When was Great Technique Dance Academy established?

Great Technique Dance Academy opened in September 2006.  We have quickly become Wyandotte's largest dance school.

What are some qualities I should look for in choosing a dance school for my child?

The most important factor is the instructor teaching your child.  Many studios allow inexperienced instructors to teach their students.  We recommend researching an instructor prior to enrolling your child at any dance school.  Every staff member at Great Technique has had a career as a professional dancer and educator.  Click here to read their bios.

Another thing to look for when making your decision is the safety of the equipment your child will be using.  The most important safety feature to look for is a floor specifically built for dancing.  Some studios allow students to dance on covered concrete or ceramic tile floors.  Jumping on such hard surfaces can result in lifelong joint injury.  Even floors that appear safe may have tile or cement underneath.  We recommend you ask the studio owner how the floor is constructed.  Our raised wood floor is custom built to produce a soft dance surface for your child’s safety and comfort.

Finally, we recommend you ask what expenses to expect in addition to monthly tuition.  For example, some schools have registration fees, competition fees, recital participation fees, and mandatory fundraising that occur throughout the season. Even if monthly tuition is less expensive than a competitor's, hidden fees may actually cost you much more by the end of the season.