DBDC After School Club - Play, Learn And Dance Together!

If you ever step into DBDC studio during weekday afternoons you might be welcomed with bunch of little dancers going all ”Boom kah boom boom kah” – in other words DBDC after school kids club practising their dance number to the latest favorite hit songs of the age group of about 7-8-year-olds. I have been really impressed by the excitement and enthusiasm I encounter every time I have had the chance to visit the studio during this time so I decided I need to find out a little bit more. First of all how does a dance studio turn into a kids club all of a sudden? And what do the kids think about the concept.

Danny is the mastermind behind most creative new ideas at DBDC. At one point he was working at an English language play school where he noticed that many parents came to pick up their children already in a hurry to reach their dance practises or other hobbies that take place in the evenings. Working with kids has always been one of DBDC’s top priorities and once the studio was opened in Tullintori, Danny and his crew started to work on  the idea of creating the most fun after school club there is: a club that combines afternoon care of the youngest school kids with hobbies and learning English (the club language is English although the staff speaks Finnish as well). So when the kids are in the DBDC After School Club,  they don’t necessarily need to rush to other hobbies in the evenings since there is dance class or some other activity each day in the club itself.  Wonderful opportunity to save some time and energy for both parents and the kids!

But what do the kids think? I spent one afternoon with them trying to find out what DBDC after school club is like from their point of view.

We <3 Bollywood!

Elli and Maia, 1st graders from Tammela School praise ”Miss Kati’s Dance Classes”. By that the girls mean Bollywood  dance class that takes place every Monday. Bollywood is not the only dance style the kids learn but it seems to be the most popular one especially among the girls. Boys like Urho, Daniel and Niilo vote for Hip Hop although they seem to be very excited about the ”agent” and ”superman” routines in the Bollywood classes too. The weekly menu offers ballet classes as well. Elli and Maia who both do ballet also in their free time explained with sparkling eyes that at DBDC ballet is not as strict and in many ways it is more fun because it includes more playing and less technique than their regular dance classes.  

So they have all these wonderful dance classes but it doesn't end there! Aliya told me that dance is not the only thing they learn at DBDC. Once a week they have yoga class too. Aliya told me she likes yoga because stretching is good for you. Smart kids in the club! The Club has weekly schedule and different dance or yoga class or games or crafts each day. Everything about the club is very organized and it is amazing that even though the kids are clearly having so much fun and so many activities, things never get out of control. Respect towards the common rules is clear. In the weekly schedule there is enough time for free play as well. 

Daniel planning the next move

Aline and Niilo told me that they especially love to draw. Daniel on the other hand loves to play chess and he often challenges the other boys or Mr. Santhosh or Mr. Danny for a match or two. Aliya said she likes ”just to play” with her friends and kids are happy about the fact that when they go outside at the end of the day they can play in the closeby Sorsapuisto park.

After talking to the kids I was really impressed by the excitement with which they talked about their after school club. When I was wondering if there is still something else I might want to know, Maia reminded me about the fact that they have nice snack every day and that is one of the best things about the club in her opinion. I also found out one thing that every single kid without exceptions seems to love: the Friday Movie time.

Drawing made for Danny.

So the kids love their after school club, no doubt about it. But what about parents? I asked some of them few questions as well and they convinced me that DBDC after school club really is something different. Initially parents chose to register their child with the DBDC club for the obvious reasons of dance, international environment and possibility to learn English. But in the end what they are most happy about is the wonderful atmosphere of the club that is not easy to put into words but you have to see and experience it yourself. They have managed to create a special kind of group identity and kids find joy in simply being part of the "Danny's group". Parents are really happy with the club teachers and the special humor they have created with the kids. The after school club is their common "thing", something they are all proud of being part of. 

My son is starting school this year and I have to say I am sad that his school isn’t close to Tullintori so that I could register him in the DBDC club. Kids are being picked up by the after school club staff from three schools closeby Tullintori (Juhannuskylän koulu, Tammelan koulu and Sammon koulu). But luckily DBDC organises a summer club for 6-10-year-olds so also the kids who are not in these three schools can join the fun in the summertime (needles to say my children are already registered for the summer).

There are also good news for kids and parents in Hervanta: DBDC After School Club is expanding to Hervanta and will start operating in Vapaa-aikakeskus in August 2015. Registration is open right now for both Tullintori and Hervanta clubs. You can find more info about the after school club and the summer club in www.dbdcdance.com.

Danny and the gang!