ballet class

[pixiedancr]

OH yes I forgot about the dance recital costumes they run us 70 each outfit and dd(age 8) is in three. Since you were just asking about ballet I didn't add on the price of jazz and tap(we find that jazz shoes are the most expensive). But I will have to agree with the pricing that everyone has on here...that is what it's like for us. Of course you don't have to get into all of the other forms of dance...Dd has many friends that just do ballet or tap and possibly jazz.

 

[KKB]

I'll admit that I read the whole thread but the words ballet, inexpensive, and or cheap will probably never be found in the same sentence in our house...

DD started early also. And as much as finding inexpensive shoes are important to you, it is one place we never sacrificed price. Your daughter's feet will thank you later on.

ESPECIALLY for ballet shoes--foot support is not an issue at any price.

Additionally--the myth that children need expensive is ridiculous. An inexpensive pair of running-type shoes is just as good as expensive ones for rapidly growing feet. I was raised in those expensive junior Rite shoes & my feet are horrible...

 

[pixiepower1971]

Please check with the studio before you buy shoes. Many do not allow the payless/walmart ballet shoes. It's not that much more money to buy a good pair and have them professionally fit at a local dance store. They do not need "room to grow" in ballet shoes. They need to fit well! You don't want her to trip on them.

 

[caribear]

My dd7 has been taking ballet since she started in Pre-K. We live in a more rural area so prices are not as high. We pay $80/month for 2 classes, Ballet and one other class that she chooses....which happens to be Gymnastics this year. I always stick with Capezio shoes....and pay $21. We do buy our leotards from Target and they are usually $17-$20. I agree on buying the real dance tights as they hold up much better. This year her costumes came to $120 (for both....plus an "opening number" outfit ). We also pay $25 for the end of the year show and have 3 fundraisers throughout the year to raise more funds for the show. I love seeing her perform on the stage at the end of the year!!

Unfortunately as ballet becomes more structured (because she is older and getting into more advanced classes) she is becoming less interested which makes me very sad. I hope she will continue, but I have a feeling this might be her last year of ballet

 

[Princess April]

Please check with the studio before you buy shoes. Many do not allow the payless/walmart ballet shoes. It's not that much more money to buy a good pair and have them professionally fit at a local dance store. They do not need "room to grow" in ballet shoes. They need to fit well! You don't want her to trip on them.

Being a former dancer myself (I danced from age 3 - 18) (yes, my parents spent TONS of $$$$ , but I love them for it!) I agree that ballet shoes must not be purchased "with room to grow" that could potentially injure... When DH and I purchased DD's shoes he was like Aren't they too tight? She won't last too long in them.... I knew better... #1 they stretch and #2 they should "fit" not be "floppy".

 

[littlele]

ESPECIALLY for ballet shoes--foot support is not an issue at any price.

Additionally--the myth that children need expensive is ridiculous. An inexpensive pair of running-type shoes is just as good as expensive ones for rapidly growing feet. I was raised in those expensive junior Rite shoes & my feet are horrible...

While I agree that price does not necessarily equal quality, it does usually go hand in hand and I for one am more than happy to get the right shoes for my DD, be it her ballet shoes or running shoes. The right running shoes have made a world of difference for her running and I have witnessed many little girl stumble, trip and fall when wearing poorly fitted or inappropriate ballet shoes.

 

[hedgehog2owl]

here's what we've paid for shoes:

age 3:
canvas Sansha Ballet-$12 (bought from Studio)
Sansha tap-$21 (from Studio)
Capezio Mesh Seamed convertible tights -$15 for ballet (local dance store)
Bloch Endura tights -$5 for Combo as she hated the convertible tights and only wanted to wear them when she had to (local dance store)

age 4
Leather Capezio Split sole leather- $21 (local dance store)
Sansha tap-$21
same leos, same tights

age 5
Sansha tap-$21
Sansha canvas Jazz Shoe-$27 Blah! (from Studio)
new pairs of convertible ballet tights $15
new pairs of bloch tights $5 a pair, several pair

our costumes run: $30 rental for ballet (have to give it back)
$65 for combo (yours to keep)
$75 for Jazz (yours to keep)

 

[cristbaby]

The best tights are Capezio #14C. The have the spandex so the don't get the baggy knees and they are heavier than the tights that you would get at Walmart or Target. The Last for quite a while. How do I know?..... My daughter owns her own dance studio and that is what she requires her students to wear! And once a week is plenty for a 4 year old. The price is $12.00 - $14.00.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

ESPECIALLY for ballet shoes--foot support is not an issue at any price.

Additionally--the myth that children need expensive is ridiculous. An inexpensive pair of running-type shoes is just as good as expensive ones for rapidly growing feet. I was raised in those expensive junior Rite shoes & my feet are horrible...

I know that many people feel this way, but I totally disagree. I don't purchase ballet shoes for my daughter based on price, I purchase based on fit. Most first time ballet or dance parents purchase the shoes way too big. Having your child fitted is an extremely important step in getting the right ballet slipper and I believe you can not do that online or at Payless shoes.

 

[edk35]

ok I am putting my dd4 in a pre ballet class next week, she has never done this but loves to sing and dance so I stay home with her I figured why not put her in a few times a week...my question is how pricey is this going to be for us? I know the class fee is about 230.00 for the whole session but how much are things like the clothes and shoes? I do not expect this to be a whole life thing for her (unless she just wants it lol) so I do not think I need pricy clothes or shoes...am I wrong?

Don't count on it. Our dd started dancing when was 4 and now she is 19 and STILL DANCES IN COLLEGE. I teased her in middle school and told her... dance was a car payment then in high school school IT BECAME A MORTGAGE There were years when I was running her to dance studios 5 and 6 days a week but looking back....I would do it again. She still dances. She started out doing a 1/2 an hour of ballet and and a 1/2 an hour of tap once or twice a week. Then as the years progressed, she loved it and we continued adding classes. She has danced in many professional ballets over the years and YES it is expensive. However....many many girls dance and do it for a couple of years and move onto something else. Don't let this deter you from letting her try it. Our daughter also did gymnastics. I made her choose when she was 8.

 

[edk35]

Here's my story. DD started pre-ballet at age 3. Once a week for 30 minutes. By the time she was 6 she was taking ballet/tap (1x per week for an hour). By the time she was 9 she was taking ballet/lyrical (1x per week for an hour) and jazz/tap (1 x per week for an hour). She's now 18 and I think we live at the dance center. She takes ballet, pointe, lyrical, jazz, tap, hip hop, modern, musical theater and jazz tech. She's also on the competition team. You really don't want to know what I spent the last few years in lessons, shoes, costumes, rehearsal fees, competion fees, pictures, travel, etc. etc. etc. (its thousands a year). DS also dances and is currently doing hip hop, jazz and tap (also on a competition team).

Its definitely one of those things that can snowball over the years. There are some girls that do it for a short period of time and lose interest, and then there are the ones like mine that love it! She does off-set some of the cost by doing some student teaching with the younger classes.

I agree with your post. We have done it all with dance. My daughter danced in the dance company in high school and also danced 5 and 6 days a week during most of high school. She started around 3/4 We have spent SOOOOOO MUCH MONEY over 14 years. My daughter sounds like yours...it is her passion.

 

[princessmom29]

I danced for the time I was 4 through high school. DD6 started at 3. She does 3 hours a week this year. 1 hour acro on Wed. 1 hour ballet, 1 hour tap jazz back to back on Thurs. Tuition is $86 a month. She started in summer ballet for an hour at 3 and did a 1 1/2 hour ballet/tap combo class for 3,4 and 5 year olds starting that fall, and moved out of it over the summer.

If it were me I would have my child professionally fitted for any dance shoe you buy. It is so important that shoes fit properly. I NEVER buy shoes from payless. The ballet shoes are way too hard, and the tap shoes are not lined well enough on the inside. I only pay $2 more than the cost of the payless shoe for shoes through my studio. A ballet shoe needs to hug the foot and allow for full range of motion. Tap shoes should fit tightly enough that they do not slip, and allow for a little grow room, while providing adequate lining to prevent blister ect. I have purchased use tap becuase they grow out of them well before they wear out when they are small, but would never purchase used ballet. They simply wear out too quickly. Be prepared to buy at least 2 pairs of ballet shoes in a year for a little one with a growing foot. We usually get new in august to start class and in March for pics, recital, and summer classes. DD started jazz this year and we had to go through 3 different brands until we found a shoe suited for her foot type. DD has narrow feet, so we usually end up ordering a narrow for her.

We normally order tights and leos from discountdance.com. Bloch leos seem to fit DD better than anything else so we stick with those. Capezio are too long in the torso. she can never wear the danskins from walmart because to this as well. We ahve had good luck with the ones Academy sports carries. Once you figure out what brand fits best you can usually just pick based on style, and what your studio requires. we order dance tights, usually capezio, form discount dance as they are thicker and last longer than the walmart ones.

Yes costumes are expensive, and we will need 4 this year. Right now we are paying 50-60 each for child size costumes. Adult sizes run 60-90. Our studio takes a $30 per costume deposit before ordering, and the balance is due before they ship.

 

[KKB]

While I agree that price does not necessarily equal quality, it does usually go hand in hand and I for one am more than happy to get the right shoes for my DD, be it her ballet shoes or running shoes. The right running shoes have made a world of difference for her running and I have witnessed many little girl stumble, trip and fall when wearing poorly fitted or inappropriate ballet shoes.

"Inappropriate" ballet shoes are not the problem. Buying them too big is.
I note one post said she gets Capezios for $21. That is not much more than Payless. I would go with those if you can get them.
OP is talking about a 4YO girl...fit is important...but Payless is sufficient for her needs. If she gets older and more serious about her dance, that is the time to spend money on shoes that will last her the school year.

 

[littlele]

"Inappropriate" ballet shoes are not the problem. Buying them too big is.
I note one post said she gets Capezios for $21. That is not much more than Payless. I would go with those if you can get them.
OP is talking about a 4YO girl...fit is important...but Payless is sufficient for her needs. If she gets older and more serious about her dance, that is the time to spend money on shoes that will last her the school year.

Maybe I should have been more clear. When I said inappropriate shoes have caused many a little girl to fall, etc. I meant ones that are too hard and then become slippery on the dance floor. So if they don't fit well they are a problem. But if they are not a decent quality shoe, they too are a problem.

 

[livie1205]

I am sooo happy with all the info you guys have posted! My dd loves to dance and sing so I just figured I would ask her if she wanted to go to a class and she said yes! I pulled up some vidios online of some classes her age to show her to make sure...she is very tall for her age almost 44 inches (turned 4 dec21) so I thought maybe dancing would be good... their costume is black leotard and pale pink tights with pink shoes.I already know how to do the bun,thats how I do her hair for church to keep it off her face...she has brown wavy (mostly curls) hair past her shoulders (never been cut lol) and giant blue eyes so I like to keep it off her face to look at her pretty eyes!She is the only girl we have 2 football boys so she is a tomboy and I figured maybe I could try to put her in some kind of sport with girls....

I will start her out with 1 day at week if yall say it is to much but if she wants to go more then I will take her 2 x a week.Thank you everyone.I do not think this school is very scrict like some,its at a church and I went by to talk to them in person and they seemed VERY nice and made me feel comfortable being there.The cost is 270.00 for 4 months for 2 x a week and 219.00 for 1 x a week.

 

[summerrluvv]

My DD started a tap/ballet combo class earlier this year and she is 2. I pay $42 a month and it runs from September to June or July (one of the less expensive places in the area), and she can wear whatever she wants. I love that aspect of it since there are soooo many cute leotards and tutus and my dd is a little fashionista

I bought her tap shoes at the thrift store...ballet shoes at payless. I'm sure once she gets older, and is more serious about it, we will buy "real" ballet shoes (the payless ones are kind of stiff and come untied ALL the time). The recital costume is $125. She really likes it and it's so stinking cute to see all the little girls dancing. Have fun!

 

[princessmom29]

Maybe I should have been more clear. When I said inappropriate shoes have caused many a little girl to fall, etc. I meant ones that are too hard and then become slippery on the dance floor. So if they don't fit well they are a problem. But if they are not a decent quality shoe, they too are a problem.

this is exactly the problem with the payless shoes. It is very easy to slip and fall in them, because the leather on the bottom is so hard and gets slick after being worn a few times and flattened. Capezio shoes (in my experience) do not do this as the leather on the bottom is much more supple. A pp mentioned them coming untied, and this is a problem as well b/c they have string where the capezios have elastic. It is also harder to keeep the strings tucked into the shoe so that the child doesn't trip on them.

 

[Sleepy]

age 3:
canvas Sansha Ballet-$12 (bought from Studio)

age 4
Leather Capezio Split sole leather- $21 (local dance store)

I am very surprised that any school would have a young, inexperienced student in a canvas or split sole ballet slipper. The reason students are started out in the leather whole sole is because the muscles of the foot/arch needs to be strengthened to prepare the student for more advanced training. The whole sole forces the student to use more force to point the toe. Split sole really does not accomplish this.
__________________________________________

It is important to clean the leather bottom of a slipper periodically. Floors get dirty and the shoes collect this, causing them to become very slick. It can cause problems with turns. For my son's canvas shoes, I use a small nail brush with the usual laundry detergent and then bleach the shoes to get them clean. You have to thoroughly rinse the shoes and make sure there is no residue on the leather bottoms. In addition, a worn shoe can cause a dancer to have bad technique. My son says he knows exactly when it is time for new shoes. His turns become difficult. He is knocked off balance, can't complete more than 3 or 4 at a time, and his finish is terrible. Just a suggestion for those who are new to this.

 

[eyor44]

My DD goes to a school where the tuition is $30 a month for class once a week. This year she does tumbling, tap, ballet and beginning jazz. Not all every week. They alternate tumbling and jazz.

Clothes:
outfit for class is black leotard and pink tights, pink ballets, tan taps and tan jazz. The girls can also wear their t-shirt and jazz pants from the previous year.
I buy the shoes from the studio or dance store down the street. I get the leotards mostly at Academy. We also pass along tap shoes since most children only wear them 30 minutes, once a week for 3-4 months. (I always have to buy new shoes have way through the year.) Shoes still look like new.

Recital:
Stage Fee: $25
Recital picture package: $55 (Includes inidividual picture in recital program)
Costumes: $137 for three this year
jazz pants for tumbling preview: $8 at Walmart/$20 from studio
studio t-shirt: $12

Optional: ads for recital program ranging from $15 - $135

I would agree that once a week would be plenty to begin with and if she really enjoyed it then switch to twice a week for the next session.

 

[livie1205]

well she went to her first class today and she LOVES it! The teacher is super nice and she looked so cute...the teacher DID say to get the payless shoes because they are only just starting and she can get other shoes next time so we got some and they fit good and stay on.The costume for the end of class show will be 30.00, she will order them and we will pay her.Thanks everyone for the tips.