973beachbum
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Joined: Dec 17, 2010 16:12:13 GMT -5
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Post by 973beachbum on Dec 4, 2012 14:37:32 GMT -5
I studied ballet pretty not so seriously for about twenty years. I stopped after college. I always went to ballet only type places but sometimes they had extra classes we could do that would involve modern dance say. It was pretty formal but most of us never had any dreams of going pro so not as high pressure. Years later I ended up running a ballet class for the local Y. We only taught ballet. And it was French not Russian. The kids started out with ages 2-6. As the years went on kids wanted to stay there so we went up in ages all the way to graduating HS. The program was strictly for the kids to have fun and get a little activity. If we were lucky they got some musicality along the way. I would tell parents who seemed to take it seriously that if they wanted a future professional ballerina they should go someplace else. ;D We even didn't do much with costumes except at the recitals, just leotards and leggings. The recital costumes were even pretty easy to get at Walmart type places. We wanted everyone to feel that they could send their kid without having to buy a $300 tutu every six months. Most of the kids really seemed to enjoy it. I still see the occasional kid who remember fondly dancing and having fun at the classes. My DD can't remember the most basic moves. Probably not too helpful but I hope you find the place that has the right fit for your family.
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ontrack
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Joined: Mar 21, 2011 9:44:36 GMT -5
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Post by ontrack on Dec 4, 2012 15:11:52 GMT -5
I did ballet as a kid, just through the Y. My mom had the fun of hand sewing a bunch of sequins on all my costumes for the yearly recital. I didn't want to go to one of those really strict hard core places, so I stopped when I had outgrown the most advanced Y class.
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sunbee
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Joined: Nov 14, 2011 16:54:13 GMT -5
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Post by sunbee on Dec 4, 2012 15:12:29 GMT -5
I'm a music teacher. I would expect a prospective student to have a trial lesson. There are some great people out there who would be lousy student fits for me as a teacher. I know dance classes tend to not be one on one, but I think it would be a perfectly reasonable thing to call up all the different studios on your short list and say "My daughter is interested in ballet. Could we sit in on one of your beginner classes for a single session and see if this would be the right teacher for her?" Another really useful question (and please ask this of your prospective music teachers) is what do they do to prevent injuries. I wouldn't myself, but my DS 8yo's best friend's mom is a (medically-auto accident) retired professional ballerina--I'd ask her opinion and go with that. She knows all the dance teachers in town and can give the advantages and disadvantages to each.
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milee
Senior Associate
Joined: Jan 17, 2012 13:20:00 GMT -5
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Post by milee on Dec 4, 2012 15:49:43 GMT -5
I'm sure you're already planning to do this, but take your top 3 studio choices and go sit in for 10 minutes of a couple of the classes your daughter would be taking. I did this when we were signing up our boys for karate and although it was a little bit of a PITA, was very worthwhile. From attending just 10 minutes each of 2 or 3 classes at a particular place, I thought I got a very good look at what the overall style of the place was and how that would work with my kids and family. Some of the places were way too critical and focused (yelling, gruff instructors), some were way too loosy-goosy (no discipline, seemed like glorified play time). Not only that, but some of the places that got really good recommendations didn't really impress me in the observations so I'm guessing the recommendations were based on things that I wasn't looking for. Bottom line, we ended up choosing a place that was not at all what we were inititally looking for and wasn't very close to the house, either. But it was a good combination of structure, fun, discipline and caring instructors. Neither of them is going to be a Ninja or Cage Fighter, and that's OK with me, those weren't my main goals. I wanted it to be physical activity they really enjoyed, a setting that emphasized respect and discipline and be an environment where I wouldn't mind hanging out for several hours a week - this place fit those the best.
If you spend a couple of visits at some of these places, you'll get a feel for whether the environment would work for you and your daughter.
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thyme4change
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Joined: Dec 26, 2010 13:54:08 GMT -5
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Post by thyme4change on Dec 5, 2012 11:12:38 GMT -5
Music injuries? Splinters from the reeds?
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