DANCE STUDIOS AND CLASS SIZE
(see chart on next page)
MSDE published standards for all fine arts facilities in
2001 (dance studios, various types of music rooms,
theatres, visual arts rooms and galleries, arts classrooms,
arts teacher planning areas, and performance venues).
Studios ideally should be 45’ X 45’.
Our studios are very small by state standards. A
chart of the size of each high school dance studio and the
number of students the state recommends is below.
While this may be unrealistic by scheduling needs, safety
and curriculum must be considered and an appropriate
balance achieved.
Enough space is needed for all students in a class to lie on
the floor with arms overhead and be able to extend arms
and legs fully to the side without touching barres, walls, or
other students. This is a 10-foot square (100 square feet)
for the average size person. In addition to floor space,
dance movement involves leaping, spinning and kicking,
which require sufficient self-space for safety.
The curriculum cannot be taught if students have to
do barre and centre in groups. [For example, if a studio
safely holds 10 students, and 30 students are in the class,
3 groups would be necessary. This would mean that
students are only participating for one-third of the class.]
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DANCE STUDIO SIZES
AND
MSDE FINE ARTS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SPACE PER STUDENT
HIGH SCHOOL
DIMENSIONS
SQUARE FEET
Annapolis
Annapolis PVA #1
Annapolis PVA #2
Arundel
Broadneck
Chesapeake
Glen Burnie Upstairs
Glen Burnie Downstairs*
Meade
North County
Northeast
Old Mill
Severna Park
Southern
South River
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Annapolis
Arundel (2 studios)
Bates (2 studios)
Brooklyn Park (2 studios)
Central
Chesapeake Bay
Corkran
Crofton
George Fox
Lindale
MacArthur
Magothy River
Marley
Meade
Old Mill North
Old Mill South
Severn River
Severna Park
Southern*
33.5 X 38.5
36 X 39
45 X 45
35.5 X 45.5
24 X 43
37.5 X 38.5
27 X 38.5
27 X 38.5
39 X 42
37.5 X 48
34.5 X 38
24 X 52
30 X 39
42 X 43
31 X 32
1290
1404
2025
1600
1032
1444
1431
1431
1638
1800
1311
1248
1170
1806
992
MSDE # OF
STUDENTS
13
14
21
16
10
14.5
14
14*
16
18
13
12.5
12
18
10
34 X 47
31 X 48
32 X 35
27.5 X 49
No Program
36 X 45
47 X 34
45 X 33
32 X 39
32.5 X 49.5
33 X 47
27.5 X 42.5
36 X 38
26 X 44
27 X 40
27 X 40
26.5 X 43
25 X 39
34 X 52
1598
1558
1120
1155
16
16
11
12
1620
1598
1485
1248
1608
1551
1168
1368
1144
1080
1080
1139
975
1768
16
16
15
13
16
16
12
14
12
11
11
12
10
18
*obstructed with pillars, fewer students are able to safely move in this space