WWYD - ballet classes

[crimsonandclover]

This is actually about DD1 (5), but I think our Feb 13 kids are old enough that some of you might have run into similar things. Here's the situation: DD1 is a teeny tiny little girl who is below the chart for height and weight. She's perfectly healthy and happy, just mini. This means, though, that she doesn't really want to do any sports with kids her age because she's so small. She wants to start ballet, and I think she would really enjoy it. We checked out 2 schools and here's my dilemma:

School 1 - It's a 5 min drive from our house and the class we observed fulfilled every one of DD1's little girl ballerina fantasies. We watched the class for 6-7 year olds, and they were wearing leotards and ballet slippers and dancing to classical music. She loved it. I think the teacher / owner is Russian and seemed very strict. Very. Strict. I think this is a school where DD1 would definitely learn ballet and learn it properly. I think it would have the potential to turn into her learning ballet to the exclusion of all other activities. It's also very small and there is only 1 time option for each age level.

School 2- It's a 15-20 min drive from our house, and we popped into the 4-5.5 year old class to observe but the teacher kicked me out (politely but firmly) and had DD1 join in her first time. Apparently you can join at any time. Afterward DD1 told me that it was fun but "not as fun as the other class" (which she only watched, mind you, and got to do a little tiny bit of at the end). At this school the little girls were putting on tutus and or leotards or whatever they wanted, and the focus really seemed to be on having fun. It's bigger and there are several time options for almost all age levels. They don't start "real" ballet until age 8 - before that it's kids dancing.

So what do you think? School 1 is convenient but honestly, I don't really want DD1 to turn into a professional ballerina knowing all of the health problems that often (not always) go with it. I would rather she danced for fun and not with a strict teacher telling her everything she's doing wrong. It's the one she says she wants, though, even though she saw how strict the teacher was.

I'm trying to sell her on School 2 because she could start right away - with School 1 she would have to wait until the fall. Would you do that or would you go ahead and let her pick School 1?

[brachysira]

Can you talk to anyone else who has done these programs? I would probably do what DD asked unless the teacher seemed kind of abusive or something or the time isn't good for you... Everyone says that at our gymnastics place they try to make you compete at age 7 and they have had an olympian...some of the parents seem kind of nuts, but many are not. They even press you to have your 2 year-old do a pricey showcase, but we just didn't ever sign up. But they have a giant ball pit and the classes for the young ones are not at all inappropriate for their age. My child is unlikely to have the coordination or the body for elite sports, but it seems like before age 7 or so, they are really just building body awareness and other basics.

Or could you just start at school 2 and do the summer and then switch to school 1? Or do these places have long wait lists, etc.?

Here, it seems every ballet school is nuts. I tried to sign up through our city's inexpensive summer class, but it didn't have enough students. We'll probably do the one by the indoor play place so my son can play while my daughter is in class...but they require solid leotards, pink shoes, and no skirts, but tutus are probably 1/2 of why my DD wants to do it. There are intensive extra recital practices and fees. But other places are rumored to be worse and have even stricter dress codes..I have a facebook friend who is a dance mom for a couple of tweens and they compete and practice constantly. We will just quit before anything gets too crazy or if DD decides she's a ballerina at heart, we still won't plan on her having any career beyond high school.

[creepyeyeball]

I was a dance major in college and taught ballet professionally before having kids. If you aren't wanting her to learn serious technique and just want it to be about fun, go with #2.

My DD1 is also five and I have worked with her on basic technique at home. She has a gift and I can tell would do very well in a ballet program, but I am hesitant to do it based on my own experiences, which led to an eating disorder and serious self-confidence issues. I'm about 95% certain I won't put her in classes unless they are liturgical dance.

[beenandgone]

I would definitely do the more fun one, and save the strict school for later if she shows interest and talent.

I started DD1 in creative dance classes at 2 years old, and she absolutely loved it. But she has absolutely no talent or coordination. So I'm really glad we did classes at the Y, versus a really strict dance academy where she would only be yelled at.

[dc2london]

Jun 28, 2016 15:41:29 GMT -5 creepyeyeball said:

I was a dance major in college and taught ballet professionally before having kids. If you aren't wanting her to learn serious technique and just want it to be about fun, go with #2.

My DD1 is also five and I have worked with her on basic technique at home. She has a gift and I can tell would do very well in a ballet program, but I am hesitant to do it based on my own experiences, which led to an eating disorder and serious self-confidence issues. I'm about 95% certain I won't put her in classes unless they are liturgical dance.

Basically exactly this. My daughter isn't born yet but I will carefully consider how much ballet I allow bc, while I adored dancing and wouldn't trade a moment of it, I definitely did unhealthy things at the encouragement of crazy Russian women.

[pinkie]

Take anything I say with a grain of salt, I have never danced, I know nothing about it and have two rambunctious little boys who would bull doze over a dance class

I would let her try taking one session at the close school she seems to like. I would pay attention to make sure it doesn't get too crazy. If after one session it seems like too much, then tell her you need to try a different program or look into gymnastics or something else she would enjoy. The 5 minute drive plus her preference would make me want to give it a try.

[hereweare]

I vote fun. I took ballet from the same lady from 4-15 at a community center. I ended up helping her teach until she retired. It was fun. The younger classes were still structured, but it was only one day a week.

I could never switch to a "real" studio because I didn't have time to just dance.

My 17 year old sister is dancing at a fancy studio now and has a lot of stories. There is a lot of pressure on them...

[crimsonandclover]

creepyeyeball and dc2london, that is exactly what I'm afraid of - especially the eating disorders. It's the vibe I get from this lady and the way she dealt with the girls in the class we watched. Since DD1 is so tiny anyway I don't think there would be pressure on her in terms of body image at the beginning, but who knows how she'll develop, and I don't want her to think that if the other girls develop EDs that that's normal.

brachysira, a friend with DDs about our DDs' age is at School 2 (relaxed one) because she heard School 1 was too strict. And the dress code you describe is exactly like School 1 - solid leotards, light stockings, pink shoes, no tutus. But like you said, DD1 is all about the tutus. At School 2 about half the little girls had tutus on and DD1 was in love ("Mama, I want one like that. and that. and that."). She wanted me go out last night and get her a ballet outfit.

I think we'll go with School 2... but we'll see

[crimsonandclover]

Yep, decided on School 2, the relaxed one. The drive will be a bit of a pain, but I'd rather drive 15 min longer and have a higher chance of having a healthy, confident child! Thanks for the input, ladies!