Behind the Scenes - Why We Do Parent Appreciation Week at The Pointe

I still remember sitting at a dance studio owner conference more than ten years ago, long before I owned The Pointe. The speaker began his session with this question (paraphrased):

“Dance studios are wonderful places. Teaching dance is a wonderful job. We love our craft, we love our students, we love the art of dance... but what’s the ONE thing that causes problems for us?”

And before I could even think of an answer, the entire room shouted in unison:

“PARENTS!”

I looked around, stunned, and quite uncomfortable.

At that time, I was a teacher, not a studio owner, but I remember thinking how strange it was to view parents as the problem. Of course, I’ve had my fair share of tough conversations and tricky emails, but in all honesty, I’ve had infinitely more positive experiences with parents than negative ones.

At The Pointe, we believe that parents aren’t a problem to manage. They’re partners in helping their dancers grow. We share the same goals: to see each child thrive, build confidence, and find joy in dance. Our dancers succeed best when parents and teachers work together, supporting both the art and the child.

That’s why we celebrate Parent Appreciation Week twice each year!

It’s our way of saying thank you — for the just-right bun making, the after-school carpooling, the costume steaming, the cheering from the audience, and the endless encouragement at home. We know dance parents and caregivers make it all possible, and we want to take a week to make sure you feel seen and appreciated.

During Parent Appreciation Week, families are invited to join us in the studio for a fun, memory-filled class experience. Parents can step into class, dance alongside their child and get a small glimpse of the joy we see every week. It’s one of our favorite traditions, because it reminds everyone that the magic of dance happens not just in class, but in the community that surrounds it.

This conference speaker had two things right: in a dance studio, we are thrilled to share the joy and gifts of dance, and our students are some of the most incredible kids we’ve ever met. But he missed a critical piece: our students are who they are because of the parents and caregivers raising them. They’re at dance class because a parent or caregiver signed them up, made sure they had their dance shoes, and drove them to the studio on time. Dancers grow and progress - both in dance and in life - because of the daily investment their parents make in them. Through every high and low of a child’s dance journey, we know that it’s parents who make it all possible, and we are deeply grateful for their support.

So to all our PSD parents: thank you. Thank you for trusting us with your dancer’s growth, for celebrating their milestones, and for being our partners on this journey. We are so grateful for you, this week and every week!