A first class: how it actually goes

The most common worries before a first visit have nothing to do with dance. "What if she won't go in without me?", "What if he starts crying?", "What if she doesn't like it — is the money gone?" We hear these questions every day, so let us simply explain how it all works — minute by minute.

You arrive

At reception you are met by an administrator — she is already expecting you specifically. First, a short tour: where the waiting area for parents is, where the changing room is, where the water and toilets are. Your child gets a key to their own locker — a small thing, but it feels grown-up.

If there are 5–10 minutes until class, nobody sits the little ones down to "wait properly": there are toys and drawing at reception.

Meeting the group

The teacher already knows there will be a newcomer today. They come out themselves to meet you and your child — and take them into the studio themselves. No "go in on your own to a room full of children you don't know".

With the youngest, the introductions are an event in themselves: the children stand in a circle, hold hands, and each says their name. With older ones it is simpler and livelier: "We've got Vika with us today! Let's welcome her!" — applause, and you are part of the team.

And if my child is nervous?

That is normal, and our teachers know how to work with it — gentle encouragement, no pressure. We also have a little tradition for newcomers: after a first class there is a surprise waiting. So even the most cautious children come out of the studio with a sticker or a colouring page — and with the question "when are we coming again?"

Can mum come into the studio?

At the start, yes: you can come in for a minute or two while your child meets the teacher and the group. After that it is better to step out — adaptation goes more easily that way and your child is not distracted (and the other little ones do not start remembering that their mum is behind the door). You will not miss anything, though: the studio has glass doors with film on them, so your child cannot see you while you can see the whole class.

The honest rules for a trial class

A trial class costs UAH 300 (a single class is UAH 450). And the key point is that you pay after the class:

• if your child never quite dared to go into the studio, you pay nothing;
• if they went in, felt sad for ten minutes and came out — you do not pay either;
• if they did the whole class, afterwards you can talk it over calmly with your child and decide whether this is for you.

If you are unsure whether a direction will click, do not rush into a membership: you can take another one or two trial classes, watch the reaction, and decide after that. And if this particular direction was not right, we will help you find another: we have more than 20 directions for different ages and temperaments.

From what age?

We take girls from 3 and boys from 4 (that is when the "boys'" directions such as breaking and acrobatics start). Your child is 2.8 and desperate to begin? Come for a trial class: sometimes a four-year-old is not ready yet, while a two-and-a-half-year-old is perfectly ready.

What should we bring?

Comfortable clothes that are easy to move in, and water. The exact preferences for kit depend on the direction — the administrator will tell you when you book.

Booking a trial takes a minute — by phone, by messenger or through the form on the website. Pick a convenient time in the timetable, and we will do the rest: tell the teacher, get the locker ready and prepare that surprise. More answers to practical questions are in "Parents' frequently asked questions".