Thank you to Velocity Dance Center for sponsoring this article.
Navigating the array of activities available for my child can be quite a challenge. Hi, I’m Meghan, mom to Hudson (age 9) and owner of Velocity Dance Center! As a parent myself, I understand the dilemma of finding the activity fit for my child and family. It’s often difficult to know which questions to ask and what factors to consider when exploring new and unfamiliar activities.
Here are 5 questions every parent should ask when looking for activities:
What steps do you take to keep children safe?
Ensuring my child’s safety and health is always my number one priority. All youth activities should take steps to hire and train great adults to lead the children in their care. I look for activities that background check all employees and volunteers and ask if the staff is CPR and First Aid trained.
At Velocity Dance Center, we are proud to be a YPAD™️ Certified Studio, ensuring the safety and well-being of our students. All our teachers are CPR and First Aid trained and undergo background checks. They are provided with comprehensive training and resources to create healthy and safe dance environments. Misty Lown, the leader of YPAD™️, shares our commitment to safety, saying, “At Velocity Dance Center, both beginning and advanced students become well-rounded dancers. The friendly staff is committed to bringing quality customer service and teaching children in a fun and safe environment!”
What happens if my child doesn’t like it?
Trying a new activity can be scary for children and adults alike! Trying new things with new people is hard. I ask about what options are available to me to help find the best class and choice for my child.
Trying a class is a great way for my child to see how they enjoy the class. That is why Velocity Dance Center allows children to try 1 class in each style for FREE before they Sign Up! Now, here’s something truly special: we are the only studio in Oklahoma City that offers a 100% Risk-Free Guarantee. We are confident that you and your child will love the Velocity Dance Center experience as much as we do. In fact, if for any reason you’re not satisfied within the first 30 days, simply stop by the front desk, and we will issue you a refund of your tuition and membership fee. It’s that simple.
What is included in the pricing?
Checking out activities is like comparing apples and oranges. Everyone offers something a little different. Some activities include all the pricing up front and others add in extras throughout the season. There is no right or wrong way to do this but I make sure to know what I am comparing when looking at the options.
Financial transparency is important to us at Velocity. We list all our fees upfront and offer various installment plans, allowing you to choose the option that works best for your family. Whether you prefer to pay monthly or twice a month, we make sure it’s convenient for you. Our performance fees are bundled so there are never any payment surprises! Additionally, we understand the importance of clear communication. That’s why we individualize the information you receive and send out weekly emails and reminders to keep you informed and engaged in your child’s dance journey.
What kind of training does your staff have?
Many youth activities and sports are unregulated. There are no set standards or qualifications to teach or coach. It is up to the organization to decide how to train and develop their team.
At Velocity Dance Center, we believe in the power of education. We regularly meet with our teachers and provide quarterly trainings to our team to better serve our community. We use the Leap ‘N Learn curriculum—a progressive and developmentally appropriate dance program that combines creative movement and beginning ballet. Our teachers are trained in Progressing Ballet Technique. We are also proud members of More Than Just Great Dancing®, a community that provides our staff with opportunities for continuing education in dance, leadership, and best practices in the industry. Both myself and our Company Director and Director of Operations, Courtney Wilson, are certified coaches with More Than Just Great Dancing®, where we coach and train other dance industry professionals.
What sets you apart from other activities?
There are a variety of activities to choose from each offering their own unique culture, values, and vibe! There is programming from beginner to advanced, and recreational to competitive, to elite. It is important to find a place that shares the values and goals of my family!
At Velocity Dance Center, our mission is simple: to grow great kids through dance. We believe that dance is more than just dancing—it is an activity that nurtures creativity, discipline, self-confidence, strength, and teamwork. Our classes are designed to inspire and challenge boys and girls of all ages, starting from as young as 10 months old up to 18.
As a member of our community you will be able to attend the fun events we host during the year. Our community favorites are swim night at Pelican Bay and exploring Chester’s Party Barn together. We also host a Cookies With Santa event where your family will get to have your picture taken and cookies with Santa himself! The memories at VDC happen both in and out of the classroom.
As a parent, I know I want to be a part of every milestone in my child’s life, and that’s why we’ve introduced Watch Me Grow. With this secure livestream system, I can watch my dancer’s classes in real time from the convenience of an app on my phone. Even grandparents can join in by becoming sub-users on your account. Watch your dancer bloom and grow before your eyes!
Join us at Velocity Dance Center this fall and celebrate “Our Town.” Visit our website, OklahomaCityDanceStudio.com to learn more or to schedule your free trial class. You can also reach us by phone or text at (405) 721 – 8807. Check out our schedules in our Studio Info Kit.
We can’t wait to welcome your family to our community!
Meghan Dunn Gordon is the owner and director of VDC, which is now in its 16th season! She has a degree in Dance Management from Oklahoma City University and is an elite Advisory Board member of More Than Just Great Dancing®. A self-described “personal development junkie.” Meghan loves to do business coaching in her spare time as a Certified Coach for More Than Just Great Dancing® and facilitator for the Working Genius Model from Partick Lencioni and the Table Group. Meghan is a certified Leap N Learn Instructor and is YPAD and CPR certified. Ms. Meghan is an alumna of Darren Hardy’s High Performance Forum, Business Master Class and Hero’s journey.She enjoys teaching dancers of all ages and currently teaches PreSchoolers through Company dancers at Velocity Dance Center in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Musical Theater. Her favorite thing about the VDC community is seeing all the great friendships that develop, especially the ones among parents! Ms. Meghan loves that she gets to serve this fabulous community of parents, students, and staff. Miss Meghan is a Disney enthusiast and loves to travel with her son Hudson. Meghan lives in Edmond with her husband Kevin, son Hudson, and dog Schubert.
