Mini Camps Keep Dancers From Straying

By Hedy Perna

Fill your summer studios with fun and creative cashflow

Do you need to generate income during the summer? I know I do, and that’s even with budgeting a “summer fund” during the regular school year. My landlord doesn’t care that I just completed ten months of grueling, high-energy work and would love to have the entire summer off. Although well-deserved, the days of my four dance rooms sitting empty during the months of July and August are over.

 Our dance studio business has turned into a 24/7/365 adventure for my husband, Patrick, and me.

Seventeen years ago, when we opened our studio, summer classes consisted of regular dance curricula, usually a six-week session in any subject or combo class. Continuing students got to stay active and brush up. Slower students got some additional technique reinforcement and a jump-start for the next year. New students came in to find out what our studio was about. We called them Mini Dance Sessions and they were creatively and financially successful for many years.

Over time, I noticed a drop in summer enrollment of students ages seven to eleven. What was going on? My pre-school classes were full, and my advanced workshops were packed, so where did the middle group go? I started to pay attention to what was taking these students away for the summer. We knew times were changing and our search for reasons told us that their parents were looking for other things than dance to explore. They wanted to try what their friends were doing—Girl Scout Camp, cheerleading seminars, arts and crafts classes, equestrian lessons, swim club activities, summer camps, or the beach club. They wanted to do something “fun” for the summer. Fun! I needed to rethink and reorganize my summer program for my recreational dancers.

Here’s what has been a huge success at my studio. It’s creative, financially successful for me, and fun for all students and for my staff. Instead of six-week programs, we streamlined to a maximum of four weeks. Parents let us know that the children and family need some downtime. Our new “Summer Dance Program” gives students choices. They may pick one-, two-, three-, or four-week sessions, in any order to accommodate vacation schedules or choice of theme classes.

In addition to our regular tried-and-true classes, we introduced two new “themed” programs for the summer classes. Mini Dance Camp for ages five through seven meets one day a week for two hours of class, activities, crafts, and snacks relating to the day’s theme. Some themes we used with this camp include: Circus School, Mermaid Adventure Day, Cowboy Hoedown, Jungle Safari, and Ballerina Princess. For the pre-teen set we offer Dance Camp, which meets for two and one-half hours, two days a week. Some of the themes for Dance Camp included: Beach Party Week, American Idol Week, Disco Dance Party Week, Broadway Star Week, and Survivor Week.

The basic structure for the camps is the same no matter what theme we are using that day. First, we prepare a CD of theme music, choreograph a warmup and short routine that is fun, pull out any costumes, props, or sets from storage, prepare the handouts, coloring sheets, or word searches for the students’ souvenir booklets, prepare juice boxes and a healthy snack, pre-set the crafts and supplies, have a dance recital video cued up for viewing, and have the face-painting or karaoke station ready. We have the camera at hand and ready to catch the fun!

We use two classrooms for the camps; while activities are being held in one room, the other room is being set for what’s up next. I used high school- and college-age dance students to assist during the camps. I found that they loved being in the classroom working in a theme and being creative since it was a deviation from their conventional format dance class. Using “Circus School” theme as an example, here is a typical plan for the class. When students enter the classroom the teacher and assistants were already dressed in the “theme” and the “theme” music is already playing, setting the mood for a special day of dance and fun. Using props, like batons, we do a series of warm-up exercises, and the faces are already smiling because it is something unique and different for them. Next we go across the floor, doing all progressions as if on a tight rope while holding a parasol for balance. Be creative with this kind of idea. Finish up this sequence with a fast and simple routine that keeps with the theme and one that they can learn quickly—a traditional song like “Be A Clown” or a moving lyrical like “Send in the Clowns.” Any themed and easy-to-learn routine is fine, even the “Funky Clown” using current pop music, gives the dancers a sense of accomplishment that they are eager to show their parents and friends.

Moving into the next room, it’s Craft Time. The craft I choose for this camp is a circus animal mask, and the students quickly settle into chairs at the table where the craft and supplies are already pre-set. While students put their name on the craft (do it right away) another themed CD is playing in the background and the craft instructions are explained. As each student completes his or her craft, pre-set an area near the acro mats and have an assistant on hand to help students start to practice their “circus skills,” such as scarf juggling, hula hoop-ing, tight-rope walking, etc. This is a good time for students to dress up like circus folk. Using old costumes, they become clowns, dancing girls, and circus animals. When all the students get to this area, it’s time to do some tumbling down the mats as if they were in the “center ring,” using hoops, beanbags, or balance beams. While students are tumbling, another assistant is cleaning up the craft area and setting the snacks.

Now, a quick wash of hands, and we go back to the table for a snack. A video of one of our past recitals in today’s theme is set and cued so the students eat while viewing the show. At this time, we select two students at a time for face painting. Remember to stay in the theme even with face painting. I found that the high school-age assistants are quick and very good at this task. We use the face paint crayons found in local craft stores together with some glitter for that extra touch. While students are being face-painted, an assistant is clearing their snack area and setting up crayons, pencils, glitter and glue for the souvenir book. When students return to the table, they can work on their books to take home.

Souvenir books are great memories for the students and are also a great marketing tool for the school. We provide the cover page that says Circus School at the Perna Dance Center, Summer 2005, which they can color and decorate after they put their name on it. Each week the inside of the book varies, but it can include a themed word search, coloring pages, or riddles and mazes using the theme. Since one student assistant is taking digital photographs throughout the camp, a group shot, and individual candid shots, we quickly download the pictures on our computer and print them on paper.

All students then go into the dance room for freestyle dance or a party dance like Cotton-Eyed Joe. (Although not following the theme, it’s certainly a fun way to finish the camp). Meanwhile, a student assistant in the other room is including a group picture of the camp and some action photos in each booklet before stapling the book together.

To ready students for dismissal in an orderly way, we have a quick game of freeze dance where the student that moves isn’t “out,” but does get ready to go home. Student assistants help the dancers take off any costume pieces quickly, pick up his or her craft and souvenir book, and line up to go home—loaded with good memories of dance camp and fun.

Dance Camp for eight- to twelve-year-olds also includes a souvenir book, warm-up and dance routine, tumbling, face painting, craft and snack, but everything is stepped up a notch because they meet twice during the week.

Dance Camp for the pre-teen set usually includes karaoke fun. Staying in the theme, I have lyrics and music ready for a variety of songs for the first class of the camp. Then, I invite them to prepare anything they want to sing for the second class and we have “open mic.” Allow enough time for karaoke because by the second class even your most shy student will step up to the microphone (usually a duo with a friend) and you want to give everyone a chance.

Some additional thoughts:

Look for craft ideas and deals at your local craft store or Oriental Trading Company [www.orientaltrading.com] throughout the year. Most craft kits come in packages of one dozen. We always purchase two to three dozen; some weeks we have 18 students, and other weeks 26, depending on the vacations and the popularity of the theme.

When preparing snacks, make them healthy, like orange slices, pretzels, and juice. Make sure to check for food allergies. Make all students and helpers wash up before and clean up after.

Organization and creativity is the key. With either Mini Dance Camp, for ages five through seven, or Dance Camp for Pre-Teens, ages eight through twelve, preparation and planning will make it fun for your students, creatively challenging and rewarding for you, and profitable for your studio.

For more information on her dance camp ideas, contact Hedy Perna at 732-787-0727 or dancelady22@aol.com

Reminder: different cities or towns have different regulations, so check to see if you may call your summer activities a dance “camp” or whether you must find another legal and appropriate designation.

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