Ballet Recital Fees Question

[Pilar322]

A lot of what I am saying has been mentioned...but I'll give my two cents anyway...

I am a dance instructor/co-director of a studio. Our "performance fee" includes two tickets to the show and a DVD of the show. Our variety show is performed at a local high school and the rental cost is about $4000 for the dress rehearsal and actual show. We hire a sound/light person, janitorial crew, videographer. Not to mentioned the amount of time it takes myself and the studio owner to set up the theatre (wax floors, put up the backdrop, etc).

With a smaller studio (about 50 students) that performance fee just covers everything.

We just require that the fee is paid in full by February-so some parents add extra to their tuition every month so it is not a huge lump sum.

We never have any issues with parents complaining. I just make sure to let them know about it the moment they register so it is not a surprise.

 

[allison443]

For those of you with daughters in ballet, what does your recital fee cover? I'm curious because at my DD's school, she doesn't get a costume to keep (it's a used costume that belongs to the studio). So what does the recital fee cover then if not costumes? Thanks!

OP have you asked the owner/director of the dance studio what the fee covers? Then you would know for sure.

IMO the director should have told the parents what was covered. Since he/she didn't I think you could ask just to have everything up front.

These things vary so much in different areas, different schools, that if you ask your director you probably would get the best information.

Good luck with the recital!

 

[Green Tea]

Even if your child is wearing an old costume, there is a cost associated with the costume closet. They need to be cleaned, costumes have to be replaced, sometimes new ones bought for different dances.

Rental space for the performance? Printing programs? Paying someone to run the lights? Renting sets?

Productions are really really expensive. Just because your child doesn't have a new costume, someone's tutu cost $300 to buy to add to the closet.

 

[Green Tea]

I understand that there are costs associated eithva recital but isn't that why tickets are sold? Why do you have to pay fees AND buy tickets? Sounds like a giant money machine to me.

Speaking just for my studio, the director spends so much of her own money to give other kids the opportunity to be onstage. Professional costumes for frightfully expensive and if the kids aren't paying for their own, someone is buying them upfront to have for the kids to use each year. Theatre rental, paying for the people to run the lights, all associated items....printing, placing ads, insurance.....

It may be a money maker in some studios, but for others it is a huge drain and reason to thank the owner for sacrificing her own family's finances to let other kids shine. Just my opinion.

If you are in a studio you think is bleeding you dry, then you are in the wrong studio.

 

[olwyngdh]

My DD8's school doesn't have a recital fee, but there are costs associated with the recital.

The Christmas recital, which is a charity fund-raiser for Operation Smile, is $20 each for tickets, and, depending on the costume for the dance, borrowed from the closet, purchased (dancing dolls, red or green above the knee dress) from a store, made by the parents (elves), or purchased through the studio for about $20 (Tap and Jazz)--at least those are the ones I have done so far.

The end of year recital runs about $18 each for tickets, plus $60-90 per costume. (I have 3 to buy this year).

Mom's who volunteer to be backstage Mom's don't need to buy tickets, but they don't get to sit in the audience either, just watch from the wings. These Mom's supervise costume changes, fix hair and makeup, and make sure the kids are all supervised. One person is allowed backstage to pick up the child after the recital and that person is given a wristband before the performance. All in all, it runs very smooth.

Because the school is large (2 studios) spring recital is broken into three performances, so if your child is in more than one, you have to buy tickets for each performance in order to see it. Last year, my DD ended up in two shows, so that added up. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they can get all three of her classes into one show this year, but I am not holding my breath.

The venue we use for the recital is not cheap--it is the local college's center for performing arts, and is a very very good theatre set-up and is used for everything from dance recitals to traveling Broadway shows.

 

[mtemm]

we don't have a recital fee. my DD6's class is $12 per class for the year, no holiday exceptions (you pay, even if there is a holiday and studio is closed, but you can make up the class). She does get a costume and you pay for that. And you have to buy tickets to the recital not required you buy any, of course, but if you want to see the recital, you do.

 

[Pixie Princess]

At my daughter's school it is $70 for your first costume and theater rental. For each additional costume you need it is an additional $30. One of the things I love about this studio is she does not do tickets for the recital. She will hold several recitals throughout the day of just over an hour. You're assigned a recital time and you can invite as many people as you like. To cover the additional costs of putting on the recital we sell ads in the recital program.

 

[ncmickeyluvr]

Our studio charges a $50.00 recital fee per dancer. It pays for the auditorium rental. The recital is free to attend, which is great!

Programs are paid for by selling ads in the program. Not ads to businesses but parents pay for space for pictures and encouragement/congrats to their dancer.

Costumes are the real money sucker! I have a $600.00 costume deposit.....yes, that's deposit...due next week. Don't tell DH!!!!!

We don't even need to talk about competition fees!

 

[sneadae]

I know I'm not going to be popular for saying this, but running a dance school IS a money making machine. And if it's not, then it should be. Otherwise it couldn't exist. It's a business, period. Yes, the director should have notified the participants of the costs up front, but I'm guessing this was probably done and the OP overlooked it.

Recital costs are EXPENSIVE. Most studios break even or go in the hole putting on performances. I know because I was the director of a large dance studio for many years.

Dancing is like any other activity. The only way your child can participate is for you to pay for it. If parents didn't pay, there would be no dance center, there would be no costumes, no performances, the whole thing wouldn't exist.

My two cents...for what it's worth. I was a dancer, I was a studio owner, and now my daughter is a dancer. And, as someone else said...IT'S WORTH EVERY PENNY!!

 

[barkley]

theatre rental can be horrendous, esp. if it's at a "public" school. there are all kinds of minimum staffing requirements that entail paying overtime. then there's the insurance issue-some public venues require insurance coverage far in excess of the normal insurance these kinds of groups/buisnesses carry.


i think to some extent "community" groups can get off a lot less expensivly doing performances than dance studios because buisnesses and private individuals are more willing to buy ad space and make contributions. beyond the tax write off for contributing to an npo there's the mind set (among some) where they see the studios as private buisnesses and they would'nt contribute/purchase ad space to offset any other private buisness owner's operational expenses so why would they do it for a dance studio.


i never understood the whole huge expense of buing costumes for the parents, at least where we've lived. there were seamstresses who wwould have killed to bid out making them at a fraction of the mail order cost, as well as costume rental places that charged much less (we had costume places that went to the end of the season costume sales the professional/professional schools for ballet and opera companies held to clear out their wardrobes-they had access to buying scads of identical costumes but from what the owners shared with me they were never contacted by local dance studios to look for anything in particular).

 

[clori]

My dds studio doesn't have a recital fee or registration fee. I just paid $95 for a 3 in 1 costume (1 leotard with 3 different bottoms). Tickets to see the spring recital are usually $18. Of course there are optional costs such as $20 for a recital dvd, $5 for a practice music cd, pictures, $10 photo cd etc. There are costs for advertising and well wishes in the program if desired. There are 3 recitals each lasting 1 - 1.5 hours. Usually I just have 1 recital to attend but I did have to buy tickets to two one year. There are some volunteer opportunities but you don't really get to see the show.

In January the studio does a small Nutcracker show. Each ballet class does a dance to a Nutcracker song. There is no costume fee but rather the girls are told to wear holiday dresses. For dd10's class for whatever reason last year some parents said they felt the girls were too old for holiday dresses so this year her class will wear black leotard with a studio owned wrap skirt. Fortunately dd has a black leotard but others may have to buy one. There were also some audition parts. Basically all kids who came to the audition got a part. There was a $40 fee for 8-10 extra 1/2 hour classes plus costume rental.

 

[Colleen27]

Ours covers costumes (to keep), the facility rental fee for the autditorium where the recital is held, shoe dying if needed, props, and any other costs involved in the show. DD isn't dancing this year, but last year the fee was $150 for her "classics" program which is ballet, tap and jazz and involves a pretty complicated costume based around one leotard but 3 different sets of skirts and accessories for the three numbers.

 

[Sgt Mickey]

The fee of tickets pay for the auditorium that we have the recital plus there is a parking fee that the college charges per ticket. Plus they pay for security.

If it is the Christmas show all profits go to Operation Smile.

 

[olwyngdh]

If it is the Christmas show all profits go to Operation Smile.

Academy of Dance, Hampton and Denbeigh?

 

[Sgt Mickey]

Academy of Dance, Hampton and Denbeigh?

Yes

 

[olwyngdh]

Yes

My DD8 does Ballet, Tap and Jazz at the Hampton studio. See you at the Christmas Show!

 

[3prettyprincesses]

Ours is $40 per girl, no matter how many dances they are in, and we get 6 tickets each (more are $5 each.) It doesn't cover their costumes, we pay extra for those but do keep them. Ours is hels at a HS but there is the cost for that, the lights, the programs. $120 with no tickets is that for 1 child? That is really high IMO. How much are tickets?

OP here. Yes, the $120 is per child. We were given a sheet of paper after the Fall semester began and told to return it within a week with the fee. We have to buy our own tickets, which are $25 a piece. Then they actually hound you to volunteer your time for alterations, costume fittings, working ticket sales, ushering, lights, set-up and take down of sets, dressing rooms and so on. I don't mind volunteering (I've done 2 things already and am signed up for the dressing room) but they are now calling me to ask me to sign up for more. Which is why I'm wondering where all of that $120 per girl is going towards if they're asking the parents to do so much, you know?

Anyhow, thanks everyone for all our input! It was interesting to read what other schools are doing too.

 

[LisaNJ25]

Our school charges $60 for the girls and $40 for the boys. The costumes are usually ours to keep, and like others have stated the fees also go to cover the auditorium rental, program printing, etc. We have to buy all our tickets and I have not heard how much they will be this year. I believe they were $7-8 last year.

Can I come to your school Our tix are $15 each or $18 at the door. Costumes are $70 each. Boys and girls the same... was a little annoyed when the receipt was in my sons bag last year and it was a $30 costume I paid $70 for. (I do know they will not all be 70.. but this wasnt even close)

 

[karenos]

Can I come to your school Our tix are $15 each or $18 at the door. Costumes are $70 each. Boys and girls the same... was a little annoyed when the receipt was in my sons bag last year and it was a $30 costume I paid $70 for. (I do know they will not all be 70.. but this wasnt even close)

I can beat that! My DD is 12 and has been dancing since she was 3.

Nutcracker show: $200 costume fee (the costumes are rented). Tix are $25, $30 or $35 for the performance.

Recital costume fee (these are not rented), 3 costumes @ $80 each = $240. Tickets are not included and only slightly less than the Nutcracker show.

This is in addition to the tuition I pay every month. I'm just glad she really likes dance because it is really starting to add up!

karenos

 

[Sgt Mickey]

My DD8 does Ballet, Tap and Jazz at the Hampton studio. See you at the Christmas Show!

Mine does ballet/jazz at the Hampton studio.
She didn't want to do teh Christmas show this year. Last year she was a dancing doll and she was one of the oldest (she just turned 11 so she was 10 with a bunch of little girls) SO I think that turned her off from it becasue we have done it every other year of living here.