thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 4, 2012 10:17:40 GMT -5
My daughter is done with gymnastics. Yeah!!! It was not her choice, but I had to leave that facility because I don't believe the owner was an honest man. But, my daughter is sad, but not as sad as I expected. I offered to take her to another gym, but she got excited about something else. Ballet.
I will be surprised if the culture of dance is better than gymnastics, but I think it will be a better fit for her, and I'm happy to jump into that fire.
I am now searching for a place for her to take dance. I'm wondering if anyone has some input. I have a few places picked out, but they all seem to have pro's and con's.
There are several places that are studios that offer different types of dance, as well as cheer. This would give her some comfort if she wanted to leap out of Ballet and into contemporary or something else.
One place is ballet only, but they run the program at the arts school, which is where DD wants to go to for school next year. She wants to take ballet at school - so going to that studio would give her an "in" with that program. I don't know if that really helps, because the program requires no previous ballet training, and I'm not sure how much she will learn in 6-8 months before school starts.
The Ballet only place is serious stuff. They are run by the professional ballet company (which is pretty respectable nationally.) The other places might be more fun, but won't be as high quality. I don't expect my child to go off and be a professional dancer - I just want her to have fun and get a exercise. She is 10.
Any insights?
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sheilaincali
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Post by sheilaincali on Dec 4, 2012 10:24:44 GMT -5
My 6 year old niece did Dance at the regular Dance Studio in town. They had competitive teams and that but she was just in a straightforward class. Had a recital every spring and had the summer's off. She liked it ok but it was chaotic with so many kids running in and out. This fall she switched to do ballet at a Ballet only studio. Much more disciplined and she loves it. She likes rules and structure so she is much happier at the Ballet Company than she was at the regular dance studio.
Not sure if that helps but that was her experience. FWIW- they switched gymnastics studios too because the original one had started getting pretty sketchy and weird.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Dec 4, 2012 10:25:52 GMT -5
Not Abby!
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 4, 2012 10:28:49 GMT -5
I wouldn't let a fat bitch yell at my 10 year old like that crazy lady does. That is not happening.
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Sharon
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Post by Sharon on Dec 4, 2012 10:33:04 GMT -5
My DD was in a dance program from 1st grade through high school. Watch out for programs that place too much emphysis on weight. Some of the ballet only programs will do that even if it is not overtly obvious. Also watch out for programs that encourage kids to work through their injuries. These things probably also apply to gymnastics programs but beware.
I would favor a studio that offered multiple styles of dance, especially for someone your DD's age. You never know what will strike a childs interest. My DD took tap, jazz and ballet. She also picked up a class here and there of hip hop and ballroom dancing. It made her a more well rounded dancer and allowed her to interact with other kids.
Another side benefit of taking so many style was by the time she was in high school she was a substitute dance instructer. The owner would pay her to fill in for various teachers and in one instance she was a co-teacher for an overcrowded younger ballet class. It was a nice high school income.
ETA: If she does decide that ballet is her thing you can always switch her to a ballet only studio when she is older.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 4, 2012 10:36:18 GMT -5
Sharon - that is helpful. I am also thinking the multiple styles will give her some opportunity. She is one of those kids that is happy where she is, so I'm afraid of penning her into one style of dance. If taking a different class is as easy as going to the same place at a different time, she would be much more agreeable to it.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Dec 4, 2012 10:37:34 GMT -5
I wouldn't let a fat bitch yell at my 10 year old like that crazy lady does. That is not happening. I wouldn't let a skinny one do it either. Do any of her friends take dance? Can their mothers recommend a place?
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 4, 2012 10:43:52 GMT -5
I asked her if any of her friends were in dance, and she couldn't come up with anyone. I know a lady whose daughter is now a professional ballerina, and, of course, she told me to go to the ballet-only place. She seems to think my DD can follow in her DD's en pointe footsteps - but I just don't see that. They are a family of artists. We are a family of engineers, finance people and lawyers. I expect my kids to grow up and sit at a desk. Not that I will force them in that direction - just that I think my kids will think that is normal and gravitate to that lifestyle. Who knows.
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Green Eyed Lady
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Post by Green Eyed Lady on Dec 4, 2012 10:47:22 GMT -5
That's right. You never know. Perhaps she'll be very good at it. At the very least, like you said, she'll get some good exercise along the way. It also helps if she is athletically inclined. Dance is excellent for developing athletic skills like balance and quickness.
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busymom
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Post by busymom on Dec 4, 2012 11:02:52 GMT -5
I agree with Sharon. My DD was in dance for 10 years & LOVED it. She doesn't dance right now, but her time on stage has given her confidence when she has to perform (solo) for music. My DD did ballet, tap & jazz as well. Stay away from studios that emphasize a girl's weight. There were a few girls at DD's studio who were really quite heavy, but could do all those flexible dance moves that the "skinny waif" girls could do. It all has to do with wanting to dance, not dieting to dance.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 4, 2012 11:05:43 GMT -5
I will definitely keep an eye on that. My daughter is underweight, and our family has a tradition of being skinny until they get a desk job. So, I'm hoping she wouldn't be the focus of any of that type of attention, but I would hate, hate, hate for her to get trapped in a group of girls who start down the path of an eating disorder. I think that stuff is so tradgic.
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Sharon
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Post by Sharon on Dec 4, 2012 11:12:30 GMT -5
Another thing to look for is does the studio teach adult classes. A studio that has adult only classes IMO is more open to all people learning to dance and you don't always get some of the dance attitude.
Where DD took dance you were not allowed to make fun, laugh at etc anyone period. They even kicked the top dancer out of the studio for a period of time because of her attitude towards the less gifted students.
Now that DD is in college she does not do formal dance training anymore, although she took dance for PE and "IT was an easy A Mom", she is enjoying the country line dancing dances on campus. She was able to pick up the dances very easily and it is a free stress reliever on a Friday night.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Dec 4, 2012 11:59:35 GMT -5
Dance is a big business in the suburban areas around here. When DD was in 4th grade we moved into a new house and someone hit every house in the neighborhood with flyers for the local dance studio. DD and the neighbor girl signed up for Poms.
My former next door neighbor told us that if you wanted to do Poms at the HS level you had to take Poms from this studio to get on the team. A year or two later someone protested that at the HS and I am positive it is no longer true b/c said former neighbor girl who took her classes somewhere else is on the Poms team.
Anyways I was always happy with the dance studio DD attended. It was definately a business. The recitals are a huge production and the costumes cost almost as much as the class. DD did Poms and Hip Hop. Not sure if she did any other kind of dance, but she did enjoy it. She ended up quitting b/c she had knee and ankle problems. That studio is now also doing piano and guitar lessons which we needed in our area.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 4, 2012 12:18:59 GMT -5
I took dance for 15 years from a lady who used to be a rockette. She offered tap, jazz,a nd ballet. She was a miserable old bitch.
My children go to the successor of this lady, and she runs a great studio. There is tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, hip hop for the boys, parent- kid classes, couples dance, Zumba, yoga, and baton twirling. I don't think anyone who comes out of her studio is going to dance professionally, but she's great with the kids, very patient, and has interesting choreography.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 12:20:25 GMT -5
My daughter takes dance class at her daycare center. She is very good at jumping with her hands over her head. Everything else, not so much. But she does practice spinning at home, so maybe there is hope for her yet.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 12:24:59 GMT -5
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 4, 2012 12:26:12 GMT -5
My son did yoga at daycare. Maybe that was why he was such a calm kid.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 12:27:34 GMT -5
I would go with the professional ballet company.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 4, 2012 12:28:45 GMT -5
Can you elaborate on your reasons why? Just quality of dance? Association with the school?
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 4, 2012 12:30:33 GMT -5
Imwouldmavoid the professional ballet company and would put her in a studio that offers various classes. Right now, she's just trying out dance, let's give her a chance to see what she likes and what she's good at. If ballet is her thing, she can go to the ballet studio later.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 12:31:03 GMT -5
Can you elaborate on your reasons why? Just quality of dance? Association with the school? Well, I believe if you are going to do something, do it right. The discipline and technique taught at a professional dance school translates to life experiences. Also, you never know, you might have a prima ballerina on your hands.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 4, 2012 12:33:08 GMT -5
Can you elaborate on your reasons why? Just quality of dance? Association with the school? Well, I believe if you are going to do something, do it right. The discipline and technique taught at a professional dance school translates to life experiences. Also, you never know, you might have a prima ballerina on your hands. Or you might have a future Fly Girl on your hands, so put her in jazz.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 4, 2012 12:34:00 GMT -5
They are all professional dance studios, but one is the feeder for the Arizona ballet troupe.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 12:36:30 GMT -5
They are all professional dance studios, but one is the feeder for the Arizona ballet troupe. It won't hurt to check it out. She can always change her mind if it isn't the right fit.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 4, 2012 12:48:49 GMT -5
That's the problem - my daughter doesn't change her mind. Unless she hates it right away, we will be tied to the place for years. She isn't a quitter. I'm treading very carefully here, because I know that whatever decision we make, we might have to stick with it for 8 more years.
I wish I had done more due diligence on the gymnastics place I chose. If I had known, I wouldn't have gone to the one we went to. I only went there because it was a few blocks from our house. This time, I want to make the right decision.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 12:50:49 GMT -5
Have you run background checks on the people who work there to make sure there aren't any sex offenders there/
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2012 12:51:43 GMT -5
That's the problem - my daughter doesn't change her mind. Unless she hates it right away, we will be tied to the place for years. She isn't a quitter. I'm treading very carefully here, because I know that whatever decision we make, we might have to stick with it for 8 more years. I wish I had done more due diligence on the gymnastics place I chose. If I had known, I wouldn't have gone to the one we went to. I only went there because it was a few blocks from our house. This time, I want to make the right decision. So if you're going to be stuck with something why not make it a serious choice with future potential? It depends on what you want a I guess. Fun fun fun or fun with a bit more discipline and future potential. Either choice would be great I'm sure.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 4, 2012 12:55:33 GMT -5
Funny you should ask, because when I told the owner of the gym we were leaving, he told me there was sex offender working at the next closest gym. I don't believe the guy because I've caught him in so many lies. This was a desperate ploy to not lose a paying customer. But, what if this is the time he isn't lying, and I don't believe him. What a dick.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Dec 4, 2012 12:58:14 GMT -5
Funny you should ask, because when I told the owner of the gym we were leaving, he told me there was sex offender working at the next closest gym. I don't believe the guy because I've caught him in so many lies. This was a desperate ploy to not lose a paying customer. But, what if this is the time he isn't lying, and I don't believe him. What a dick. What an ass!!!!
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skubikky
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Post by skubikky on Dec 4, 2012 14:03:43 GMT -5
I would do some research and find out what training the instructors at the various schools have. If you'd like to have her try ballet, I'd recommend going to the school that has the classically trained ballet instructors. She'd have the best chance at being taught properly. Particularly if she's going to go on to pointe. It's important that she develop her skills correctly.
MY DD danced for many years. We went from a large studio that had ballet, jazz, tap and modern to one that was smaller and had just ballet. The instructor had been trained at Sadler-Wells but had a major injury at 19 and had her stage career come to an end. She was a gifted dancer and wonderful instructor.
There are many dancers that didn't have great performance careers but were trained at SAB, NYC Ballet, Juilliard, Rock Ballet in Phillie and a host of other top notch ballet programs here and abroad. Many go on to open schools and can impart what they learned from the ballet masters to your child.
JMHO.
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