Coming to the Studio for the First Time
When you call/email/stop by the Studio for the first time, Ms Meg - ABA’s Office & Production Manager - will probably be the first person you talk to. Here are her tips for making your first class as successful as possible:
How to get to us
From 295 South: Take Exit 6, Plainfield Pike/Rte 14.
Take a right onto Plainfield Pike/Rte 14.
You’ll pass The English Muffin, CVS, and Dunkin Donuts on your right. You’ll go through one traffic light where Comstock Parkway meets Plainfield Pike.
You’ll see a sign for 2220 on your left. We do not have an ABA sign on the 2220 sign (it wouldn’t be visible).
Enter our parking lot just past the 2220 sign; go around the right size of the building (as you’re facing it), and around the back.
Park along the side of the building that faces Subway; there are ABA signs on the doors.
From 295 North: Take Exit 6, Plainfield Pike/Rte 14.
Take a left onto Plainfield Pike/Rte 14.
You’ll go through two traffic lights - one at Simmonsville Road, and one at Comstock Parkway. You’ll pass The English Muffin, CVS, and Dunkin Donuts on your right. You’ll see a sign for 2220 on your left. We do not have an ABA sign on the 2220 sign (it wouldn’t be visible).
Enter our parking lot just past the 2220 sign; go around the right size of the building (as you’re facing it), and around the back.
Park along the side of the building that faces Subway; there are ABA signs on the doors.
From Rte 14 Heading East:
You’ll pass Green Acres, Plainfield Pike Flea Market, and the Windmills on your left.
Once you see Taylor Rd on your left, you’ll see the sign for 2220 on your right pretty quickly. Turn in BEFORE the sign and go around the back of the building.
Park along the side of the building that faces Subway; there are ABA signs on the doors.
From Rte 14 Heading West: Follow the directions for 295S after you’re on Rte 14.
More Important Info
For ALL
If your dancer is young, they might not be able to open the doors by themself, so they may be excited and want to rush in, but may not be able to. If they can let themselves out of the car and open the door, you’re welcome to pull up and drop them off (after the first few classes). Ms Meg is more than happy to answer questions at this time; please just let her get all students safely into the building, but do let her know you have questions so she doesn’t follow your dancer immediately inside.
At the end of class
For younger students (and for all students for the first class or two), please meet them in the Lobby or at our doors at the end of class. Ms Meg will not let them outside until she sees you and connects your dancer to you. Once she gets to know your preferences/your vehicle, she will release them to head to your car, or you can drive up to the doors and she’ll let them come out to climb in. Please remind them that this is still a parking lot and people come around behind the building quickly without realizing there may be kids there. Ms Meg will remind them to look both ways (it’s one-way, but people come up backwards occasionally) and if they’re walking to you she will tell them to walk along the building and stay inside the painted yellow line on the pavement.
What to wear
No matter their age, dancers for the first time should always be comfortable! If they’re adding classes at ABA, or transferring schools and already have a leotard & tights or tights and white shirt, they are welcome to wear that. If they’re trying ballet for the first time, they can wear leggings or shorts and a t-shirt. They will probably dance barefoot, but might want to have a pair of socks, just in case. If they have ballet shoes, they’re welcome to wear them, but please don’t feel a need to purchase for the first class - we want to be sure of which class level is the right fit for them, and that we are, as a school, the right fit.
They should ALWAYS bring a water bottle from home; we have a refill station in our Lobby.
Once their first class - always a free placement/trial class - is over, please talk with your dancer about their experience. If they’d like to continue, please go to www.americanballetacademyri.com and click on New to ABA in the pink ribbon under the top picture on the home page. This will take you to our Parent Portal where you can create a login and get them registered before the next class!
Questions before/during/after? Ms Meg is happy to help you at abacranston@gmail.com or 401-943-3000.