Took my nearly 4-year-old to a pre-hip hop/acro course. The class lasts for one hour and in the…read moresummer, you can just pay a $10 registration and then pay about $12 a class as you go (for summer, that's Tuesday and Thursday at 6:15). Although there were nine kids in the class, Jason was able to keep all the little people in their spots, spread out just so with the assistance of his class helper. He's quick, he keeps their attention, and he's been doing it for years (20-ish? I know a girl 32+ that had him when she was a KID--I guess dancing keeps you young because that man don't look like no grandpa!)
He broke down various subjects--keeping a beat, learning some moves, flipping over wedges (focusing on muscles you would use for break dancing)...the songs were top 40 hip hop and the kids were diggin' it. Oh, and they broke out with the moon bounce at the end of class...just made a partition with one of the mats, and kept their little arms and legs moving while they blew that thing up right next to them.
As I mentioned, there's one helper for nine kids...Jason said that the classes are much larger in the fall, but the number of helpers increases when the class size does.
As to the business end of things, it seems organized (they take your information, you pay). The ATM next door was down (They take cash or check only), but the girl at the front was ok with me paying up at the next class.
Although the 2-hour round trip on the train is a bit much, I think it's worth it. (For folks in the mainline burbs, trains only run every hour after around 6:50, so there's little time to get to suburban station via the local subway--I'll have to run my ass off to make it happen!)
UPDATE (and also, perhaps, tooting my own horn here)...my commute from Oreland:
Catch local train at 4:37 (catch the later one and will actually be late). Get to Market East around 25-30 minutes later. Take 15 minute bus down the street (time difference between taxi and bus--almost none bc of traffic lights). Be at least 30 minutes early for class (again, would otherwise be 10 minutes+ late. Grab coffee at gas station across the street. Maybe make friends gas station attendant so you can use this relationship for parking purposes in the future.). Dance class at 6:15. Dance class over at 7:15. RUN FOREST RUN for four blocks to subway after class--carry Omar while running bc of lights, misshapen roads, litter to trip over, etc. Take subway to Suburban Station. RUN BITCH RUN--little Omar also must run bc my back is out of commission at this point. Ask at least 10 people where regional rail is bc way is always different with construction...many may not know/care about your time constraints, but after several times asking,you will 90% of the time be pointed in the right direction, even if you run in a bit of a circle. (Note: print out map of Suburban Station.) Might make it 10 minutes early to airless underground sweat hole (If run like an Olympic competitor with tot in tow. RUN my small child, RUN, even though you just danced your ass off for one hour after a one-hour commute). Sweat. Soak Omar with wet paper towel. Hand sanitizer. Snack if time permits. (Must pack food/drinks as commute is long...really long and intense...you do not want french fries and other nasty greasy food on train. People will look at you as if you have no manners because eating smelly food on a public transit system is, indeed, very rude. Your starvation is not their business.) Finally, take 25ish minute regional train ride home. Give kid various toys to occupy him so he does not poke commuters in back of head or engage others in unwanted and intense peek-a-boo games (you see me bitch, now play!)
Every Tuesday and Thursday.
