A Very Special Snowflake In Our Dance Recital

[MariDisney]

DD10 had her dance recital this past weekend. As one of her numbers was coming onto the stage there was an announcement that Snowy would not be dancing because she had to leave and the number was reworked backstage during the show, so there there would be a substitute dancer. This is an advanced pre-teen acrobatics class, so there are a lot of pyramid and partner tricks in the dance. They were able to pull a teen acrobat and have her sub. Needless to say a lot of the dance had to be changed because it wouldn't be possible to do some of the more difficult tricks without someone who had been practicing with the group for months.

The other parents and I assumed the girl had fallen ill backstage and we were saying it was such a shame because the class had really worked hard, etc. Well, after the show DD tells me that the actual reason Snowy left was because her name was not in the program to receive a 10 year trophy (trophies are given for 5, 10 and 15 years of dancing with the studio). The mom and dad were so ticked that a clerical error happened that they pulled the girl from the show. I seriously couldn't believe it. I want to tell them that their kid's name just isn't that damn important.

A year or two ago my DD's name was left out of the program entirely (for several numbers) and the teacher announced her name before each number with an apology. I was MORTIFIED because I knew people would assume I had complained to the teacher. I hadn't. My exact words were "Oh well. Things happen sometimes!"

 

[Teacher03]

As a past dance mom that attended many recitals and spent tons of money, I would not be happy! How unfair, not only for your daughter and everyone else in the group, but also for the snowflake. I can bet that it wasn't her idea to leave.

 

[traviesojmt]

If this was my criteria, my kids would never finish anything. Our name has been misspelled or mispronounced so many times that I can't even count. People seriously need to learn 5 simple words, "It's not all about me". I even had my DD7 practice saying that today. If that is their biggest problem in life, I would think that they would count themselves blessed.

 

[katiebug86]

Wow what a great message to teach to your child! It was a mistake. All of the time and money everyone put into that year was ruined because of an honest mistake. That's rediculous.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Last year in our school's musical, two girls had their pictures switched in the program. The names and bios were with the wrong pictures. The show director came out beforehand and, during her welcome speech, announced the corrections. Neither girl or their families were upset in the least. The director did some quick cutting and pasting backstage during the show and presented each girl with a corrected program to take home. If a clerical error caused that family to skip a performance, they are sure to have lots of disappointments in life!

 

[littleteapot]

Wow...that stinks. We chose to miss a huge family wedding this year because of dance. The recital date had to be changed because of the venue. My sons had practiced with their partners all year. We couldn't imagine letting them down. How self centered can SS's parents be??? This was only a first year swing dance class, not even something as advanced as your daughter's class.

 

[luvsJack]

Parents can really be amazing. I wonder exactly what they thought the school director could do at that point? To throw away a year's hard work because of a name in a program (of which I know we have too many to count and never look at again) is just crazy.

Of course I have learned in the past week that children think the world revolves around them because apparently adults think the same thing!!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Oh my gosh!!! How absolutely horrible.

On a similar note, DH forgot to put DD's name on the list for her 8 year award. He missed the list entirely as this crazy woman was sitting in front of it. Anyway, I asked the teacher about it one day because from past experience it should have been up already. Teacher said we missed the list but she would see what she could do. DD might not have her name in the program. Told her that we didn't care about the program but DD would really love a trophy if at all possible (huge studio so I know they always had extras). Anyway, an email went around to everyone at the school about the tenure awards so I sent back an email. They again told me she would get a trophy and would announce her name but couldn't guarantee the name in the program. Told DD and she was like "Who cares? I just want the trophy. I don't care if they don't even announce my name." End of story was that she got her trophy, got to walk across the stage with them announcing her name and she got listed in the program twice.

 

[golfgal]

Well, that will show the director-they spent 100's of dollars getting ready for this, bought a costume, paid whatever for tickets only to pull their kid out after Grandma and Grandpa also paid whatever for tickets.

 

[Sparx]

I really hope her parents stayed behind and saw the program without her (which I'm sure people like this would, with the mentality of "no one can replace MY snowflake!) and saw that she was indeed replaced and the program went perfectly fine without her.

 

[NHdisneylover]

Well, that will show the director-they spent 100's of dollars getting ready for this, bought a costume, paid whatever for tickets only to pull their kid out after Grandma and Grandpa also paid whatever for tickets.

I hope the dance studio does not allow the parents to bully them into refunding any of the ticket costs or recital fees. I would also hope that the studio tells them she can learn elsewhere next year.

 

[Rora]

That's absurd. Way to teach your child a life lesson when a perfect opportunity presents itself.

Ugh. Snowflakes.

 

[maslex]

WOW, some people really need to grow up. PERIOD!!!

 

[Tinijocaro]

I once left a kid's name out of a list of kids who went to a state music festival-this is 5th grade. I received a scathing email from the mom just raking me over the coals. Made me feel so bad.

 

[luvmy3]

You heard that was the reason from your 10 year old dd? I'm betting there is way more to the story.

 

[bfeller]

Wow, just wow.....but it did remind me that as a senior in high school my name was left out of the program for a musical that I was in. I even had a speaking part. The powers that be noticed it and they made an announcement before the show and explained that I was a senior and that they truly were sorry. It didn't scar me but if my parents had pulled me from the show that would have.

 

[mjkacmom]

TBH, I never look at the programs, and they never make it into our home (our garbage cans are next to our cars). Crazy.

 

[ICF]

silly question, but was the other girl 10 too?

If so, how could she get a 10 year trophy...unless she danced right out of the womb?

 

[Darsa]

Wow... it would have to be a REALLY BIG emergency for DD to be pulled out of the recital. She would never, ever forgive me if I tried pulling something like that. That poor girl, all that hard work for nothing. AND that poor dance group, all that hard work for much less. And holy moly, that poor dance instructor!

 

[mhsjax]

silly question, but was the other girl 10 too?

If so, how could she get a 10 year trophy...unless she danced right out of the womb?

Not really, my DD is on a cheerleading team with girls in the 10th grade and she is in the 6th grade. If the snowflake was maybe 14 then she could have started dancing at 4. My dd started at 3, she didn't continue, but she did start at that age.