There are over 50 dance studios in Singapore offering kids classes. Most parents we meet have already trial-classed at 2-3 before considering EV Dance. The decision feels harder than it should — every studio’s website says they’re the best.
Here’s the framework we’d actually use if we were parents instead of running a studio. We’ll be upfront: yes, this article is published by EV Dance. But the criteria below aren’t tilted in our favour — many of them apply equally to good studios across Singapore.
1. Coach credentials (the easy first filter)
Ask the studio for the credentials of the actual coach who’ll teach your child, not just the studio’s headline trainer. Look for:
- MOE-approved instructor status (registered in MOE-ERIS) — required for any coach who teaches at school CCAs
- NAC-AEP approval — Singapore’s national arts education credential
- CSTD, RAD, ATOD for ballet/jazz/hip-hop pedagogy
- Child Protection Level 2 — should be standard for anyone teaching kids
- First Aid + CPR certification — surprisingly not universal
A studio that can’t list their coaches’ credentials per coach is a studio you can deprioritise.
2. Class size
Maximum class size matters more than parents realise. Anything above 18 in a kids class means your daughter probably won’t get individual corrections from the coach in a typical lesson. Some Singapore studios run kids classes with 25-30 students; we wouldn’t.
Ask: “What’s the maximum class size?” Then ask: “What’s the average attendance in the class my daughter would join?”
3. Whether they actually teach kids first (vs. adults with kids added)
Many Singapore dance studios are adult-first operations with kids classes as a sideline. You can tell:
- Adult-first studios have schedules dominated by 7pm+ open classes; kids classes are squeezed into Saturday mornings
- Their photography on the website features adult dancers
- Their lead instructor’s bio emphasises competition wins, not coaching credentials
Kids-first studios have kids-led schedules, child-friendly photography, and coaches whose bios talk about teaching kids.
4. Trial class policy
Good studios let you trial 1-3 classes before committing. Watch out for studios that: – Demand annual contract commitment before any trial – Charge S$30+ for trial classes (S$10-25 is normal range) – Won’t tell you what styles/levels your daughter would be placed in
5. Term structure vs. drop-in
For kids especially, term-based enrolment with consistent classmates produces better results than drop-in pay-per-class. The continuity matters — kids build relationships, learn longer pieces, and develop coach trust over weeks.
That said, term commitments shouldn’t be punitive. Look for studios that offer: – 8-class blocks (vs. forcing 12-week terms) – Refund/credit policy for missed classes – Option to make up missed classes in alternative slots
6. The trial class — what to watch for
When you bring your daughter to a trial class, watch:
- Does the coach greet her by name once she’s introduced? A good coach learns names within the first 5 minutes.
- Are corrections given quietly to individuals, or shouted at the group? Quiet individual corrections = better pedagogy.
- Do existing students seem happy? Watch for genuine smiles, comfortable body language. Tense kids = problem culture.
- Does the coach push the new kid into the spotlight? They shouldn’t, in a first class.
7. The “if you weren’t comfortable with…” question
In your conversation with the studio before enrolling, ask: “If we weren’t comfortable with how a class was going for our daughter, what would you do?”
Good studios have a real answer — they’ll switch her to a different coach, offer a refund, or have a structured “settling-in” period. Bad studios will dodge the question or treat it as offensive.
What we’d say about EV Dance
We try to score well on all 7 above: – All coaches MOE-approved + NAC-AEP + Child Protection L2 cleared – Max 15 per class – Kids-first (we built the studio for kids before adding adult open classes) – Trial classes S$20, no contract pressure – 8-class blocks, term-flexible – Coaches trained on quiet individual correction – We’ll refund a term mid-way if it’s not working
But we’re not the right fit for every family. If you’ve trial-classed with us and feel the fit isn’t right, tell us — we’ll happily recommend other studios that might suit your daughter better.
Read also
- 5 Mistakes Parents Make When Choosing a Kids Dance Class in Singapore
- What to Expect at Your Child’s First Dance Class in Singapore
- How to Support a Shy Child in Their First Dance Class
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