Dancers, Inc.: avocation not recreation.
Dancers, Inc. will provide training for all students in arts education through classical ballet. Our fundamental training will focused on the Royal Academy of Ballet (RAD) an accredited classical ballet program. This is because ballet provides the fundamental tools for a dancer to understand and move their body. Dancers, Inc. is an advocate for your child’s mind and body. We are committed to the development of your child’s character, intellect and physical wellbeing. In addition we can provide economic assistance for families with proof from the free lunch program their children are currently on. Other forms of dance will be taught as well.

Dancers, Inc.’s Program is unique.
International RAD syllabus encompasses “ready” students Pre-Primary (4years) to pre-professional level (approx. 29 years). International external examiners from UK, Australia, Italy, Brazil, Spain and Africa to name a few will be invited in to examine students. Our Director is a Life Member with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) will send competent students in for exams. International guest choreographers and live accompaniment will be brought in to work with students for classes and performances. Performances of multiple mediums include: romantic period ballets, jazz, modern, contemporary ballet, hip hop and folk. A Summer Exchange Program with Ottawa Dance Centre School in Ottawa, Canada/Judith Davies Director will continue its program, developed in 1991 with Director Karen J. Zissoff.

Dancers, Inc. Director’s training of students.
Karen J. Zissoff has sent students to major schools for training as a result of her teaching. Some students have received dance scholarships to: Interlochen Arts Academy, Juilliard, Virginia Commonwealth University, MTSU, and Alvin Ailey. Most students did select non dance careers and have gone to colleges such as: (Memphis City Schools)/to become teachers, (CBS)/ broadcast producer, nursing and advertising. Dancers, Inc. is the only program in Memphis that will be providing a rigorous accredited training program under the Royal Academy of Dance, for the last 32 years. Karen J. Zissoff, a Life Member of the Royal Academy of Dance, has sent students to major schools for training as a result of her teaching.    

Is this program for your child? 
Every parent is proud to see their child on stage, but how do you know your child is making progress? Dancers, Inc. is more than recreation or keeping your child occupied. Dancers, Inc. will provide more than an opportunity for your child to be seen at a performance in nice costume. Progress reports are done annually (May) with notice of achievement for the coming summer or fall programs. Dancers, Inc. teaches an accredited RAD syllabus that is used by thousands of other accredited studios around the world. The syllabus has 10 levels of graded classes and 6 levels of the pre-professional level of classes, students advance at their own pace. A student could go to accredited studios in Canada, Europe, African, Asia and Latin America and know exactly what to do in a class at their level. Also graduates are well prepared for college B.F.A. programs. More importantly Dancers, Inc. will provide our students with an opportunity for external examinations. The RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) sends external examiners from all over the world (such as Canada, Italy, Brazil, England, African, Florida, Spain, etc.) to objectively evaluate your child’s progress at an international standard. These examiners are rigorously trained by the RAD in London, England, and examine thousands of students, and are in a position to determine if your child is receiving good training. 

What are the benefits for students at Dancers, Inc. 
Certainly there is physical development: coordination, conditioning, strength, grace, and control. There are also intellectual and emotional skills: concentration, discipline, responsibility, communication, cultural awareness, consideration of others, and team work. The most important benefit however is achievement. Why? All through life your child will be presented with opportunities to succeed or fail. Everyone fears failure, but you must have the confidence to seize the opportunity to succeed. Confidence comes from past achievement. Once a child achieves they are confident they can achieve again. More importantly the child learns that success does not come with every attempt and that some failure is part or the learning process. The greatest success requires persistence and preparation to overcome the greatest obstacles. Your child can learn that with hard work (preparation and persistence) they can achieve. Their achievement will build their self-confidence, and self-confidence will encourage them to achieve in all their activities: school, work, recreation, government, and relationships. 

Preparation, Examination, Performance.
Three components for achievement and self confidence.
How does Dancers, Inc. contribute to your child’s achievement (success) in life?

Preparation (classes) 
A student will be placed in a class level where they more likely to achieve based on their current ability. Dance exercises will be challenging requiring, strength, control of posture, balance, coordination, and timing. The student learns to listen and execute complicated instructions. During each class there is opportunity to achieve and observe that there is more to learn. The student first learns simple movements and positions that are later incorporated into more complicated exercises and dances. Over the course of many classes students learn that repetition and persistence (hard work) leads to achievement and that success is rarely immediate. Learning the RAD ballet syllabus is the core of the Dancers, Inc. program. It ensures the credibility of the training for the student and family and tells them level the student has achieved. 

Examination
Students who excel in class are guided by the teacher when to enter and test their skills in the annual RAD examinations. The same examinations are taken worldwide by thousands of students in over 79 countries. This requires additional commitment by student and family. Examination fees are required. Examination deportment, dress and hair codes are more stringent than regular classes. Out-of-state travel is usually required for more advanced examinations. Often private donations provide partial financial assistance for this. Over five hundred students have participated in RAD examinations with Director/Karen Zissoff. The additional effort to achieve high marks on RAD examinations promotes greater self-confidence. 

Performance
Greater responsibility, work and commitment are required for students who wish to perform. In a performance with other dancers, success depends on working well others. Commitment to additional rehearsals is required to learn how to interact with other dancers. Dancers depend on each other to be in the right place at the right time. Specific movement, style, interpretation, and presentation skills are required by choreographers and rely on the fundamentals leaned in dance classes. The student learns about the artistic process and that each dancer must do their part and rely on each other to make the performance a success. Thus each student has a responsibility to themselves, other students, and the choreographer to attend rehearsals, work hard, execute the movements, and get used to costumes, props, make up, or hair styles consistent with the choreographer’s creation. It is a team effort and achievement. Students, choreographers, musicians, stage hands, teachers, parents all have a hand in the success in the performance as well as parent/guardian involvement. They all rely on each other. For the performance to succeed, they all must work hard and be responsible. 

Family Achievement
Dancers, Inc. cannot transform a student alone. Parents, brothers, sisters, friends, grandparents must all help. Someone must transport your child to classes and rehearsals and make sure they are dressed properly, provide encouragement when classes or performances don’t go well and congratulations when they do. A child’s achievement is a community achievement.

Not just dance. 
Other topics are discussed or evaluated. A nutritionist comes in the summer once a year, from the Board of Education, to talk with students. History of dance is talked about as well as music, and names of steps. Art has been given as a subject during the summer month. A Chiropractic summer evaluation is done every year on each child’s development.