We’re SO proud to be a YPAD Certified Studio! But… what does that really mean?
Around our website and in our studio, visitors see and hear “YPAD” a lot. The dance industry is its own world – we have our own terminology and traditions. For families who are new to dance or our studio, it can be a lot! We’re on the blog today to share what “YPAD” means – and what it means that The Pointe is Iowa’s first YPAD Certified studio, and the only dance studio in the Cedar Rapids area to go through this training and earn certification.
We originally became YPAD Certified in April 2017 – one of the world’s first studios to do this (Miss Vanessa actually works closely with YPAD and was one of the three first certified educators!). YPAD Certification requires renewal every 2 years – our staff goes through the intensive education PLUS repeated background checks and CPR/First Aid training every 2 years.
In fact, in the summer of 2020, PSD Director Miss Vanessa attended an additional intensive training course in communications, public speaking, and presenting/teaching at the dance studio industry level. In addition to her role as director at The Pointe, she is a Certified Coach for YPAD – helping to teach Certification courses live, providing continuing education for YPAD Certified teachers, studio owners, and organizations, and helps YPAD continue to update and deliver this important education and information for the dance industry at large. The Pointe is truly a dance studio leading the way in safe, healthy, and positive dance education for kids!
What does YPAD mean?
First, “YPAD” stands for Youth Protection Advocates in Dance. YPAD is dedicated to educating and training dance professionals in best practices to keep dance a safe, healthy, and positive activity for kids. YPAD courses are based on scientific, evidence-based research and objective standards, not subjective opinions. As a result, dance professionals are empowered to make the best choices for their students.
Why is this needed?
In the United States, there are currently no regulations or requirements for dance teachers or dance studios. Background checks, CPR/First Aid training, or any level or education in child development, injury prevention, dance technique, etc. are not mandated – or commonly used in dance studios. To put this in perspective – a volunteer in any public school needs a background check before they can even enter the classroom. Public school teachers need a background check, CPR/First Aid training, mandatory reporter/abuse training, bloodborne pathogens training, and a college degree in their feild PLUS district-specific training before they can teach a class. Dog groomers have required safety training before they can shampoo a pet! Dance teachers and studios have zero requirements – anyone could apply for a sales tax permit and open a dance studio or teach dance classes. We believe dance teachers should be background checked, certified in CPR and First Aid, and trained in best practices for safety and developmentally appropriate material. Even though we have no requirement to do these things (and they do take a lot of time and investment!), we believe in them so strongly, we go above and beyond the standard of the industry to make sure our staff is vetted and well-equipeed for their roles at the studio.
How does a studio get certified?
Some education that YPAD offers is open to the public – anyone can take the courses and benefit from the material (find all of these materials here). Certification has a much stricter set of requirements. To be a YPAD Certified studio, every staff member is background checked, CPR/First Aid certified and completes two YPAD courses. Each staff member also agrees to uphold the standards presented in the YPAD training in their classes and in their online presence.
Certifying a studio is an incredible investment on behalf of every member of the staff. Each staff member takes about 10 hours of online class material plus CPR and First Aid skills testing. The courses are demanding in time, energy, and resources.
What topics are covered in certification?
Certification includes two full courses on safety and dancer wellness. The topics covered in each course include:
Safety:
- Best Educational Practices
- Injury Prevention & Response
- Sexual Abuse Awareness, Prevention, & Reporting
- Risk Management in the Dance Environment
- CPR/First Aid
Wellness:
- Social Media, Media Safety, & Today’s Dance Culture
- Developmentally Appropriate Artistry
- Body Image, Nutrition, & Disordered Eating
- Bullying and Conflict Resolution
When did The Pointe get certified?
The Pointe School of Dance was proudly the very first studio to be certified in Iowa in our first year! Miss Vanessa is a member of the Advisory Panel and Certified Coach for YPAD and helped develop the original certification course. She went through the very first certification course ever in January 2017! After that, the studio earned certification in April 2017. Our entire staff completed recertification in the late fall of 2019, and is finishing up our third renewal now. YPAD Certification is valid for two years. Because of this, our staff continues to get updated training regularly.
What does this mean for my dancer?
Having our studio earn (and re-earn!) certification means that every single instructor at The Pointe is qualified to teach dance classes for kids and serve as a role model for them. As a result, your child is in good hands with any instructor at The Pointe. There’s no need to worry about the credentials of a new or different teacher, because every staff member has gone through this extensive training and earned certification.
Dance teachers and professionals can learn more about YPAD’s courses here.
Does YPAD offer training beyond Certification?
Yes! YPAD provides various courses and certifications on Safety and Wellness in youth dance. One of these courses is called Better + Safer. It is a custom training that may cover a variety of YPAD topics and is geared towards organizations like competitions and conventions. When organizations engage YPAD for this course, it’s often part of a larger professional development effort. Attendance may be recommended for their staff, but not required.
YPAD Certification (what we have at The Pointe) is a much different process–it’s an all-in commitment. All staff must complete the training and become background checked. Additionally, a certain number of staff at events must also be CPR/First Aid/AED certified. Certified studios and events must also implement a Code of Conduct and Safety Handbook, which all faculty must adhere to. Certification for everyone must also be renewed every two years.