How much are tix for your DC's dance recital?

[tink576]

I can't believe the range of price differences of tickets!

I can! Ticket prices depend on a couple of factors but mainly the venue. If you are at a nicer venue (college stage vs. HS stage) it will be reflected in the ticket price. Depending on location, location, location and the general prices for renting in that area and then finally the mark up (if any) by the studio.

My current studio has the $5 tickets BUT we are in one of the poorest areas of our state, the stage we use is beyond terrible and I wish we would just rent the college stage (we're in a college town) but the families just couldn't afford it and I know the studio is barely making anything (if they are making anything) off the ticket sales.

 

[dreamer17555]

My DD does competitve dance. The cost can make you ill.

However our stduio only charges a $30 recital fee and then everyone is invited. No tickets. I really love that system.

 

[momejay]

My girls danced every year since they were about 3. They loved it. This year I just couldn't afford it. They didn't have the cheaper 1/2 hour classes for girls their age. The costumes were about $300 each child for ballet, tap & jazz. The tickets for the recital were around $20 each last year & it was at the local middle school. I'm not saying that the teacher's didn't deserve the money or cut corners to make costumes cheaper, it was just too much money for the 60 seconds on stage.

 

[Connorsmom0]

My dd's is $10 tickets, $30 pics (we ended up spending $15 at JCPenny and got more pictures), $30 DVD- no pics or videos allowed, $65 for costume.

 

[shruley]

Ours are $7 each, and we get 2 free. We can tape ourselves if we wish. We have to buy 1 costume in the $75-95 range. Dance around here is really reasonable...until you get to competative TEAMS. I think we have 1 more year until we start team. I have 2 girls so far in dance, and one (due to her pacemaker) can't really do most sports due to chance of trauma to the chest/stomach area, so they encouraged dance as a good option. Enjoying these early years as I'm pretty sure I'll be broke quite soon!

 

[princessmom29]

DD6 has been dancing 3 years. Our tickets were $12 this year. We use the local Civic center theater, which is a really nice venue. Costumes range from $50-$90 per costume. DD needed 4 this year. Video is $38 and you cannot tape yourself. We spent $200 on pictures this year and $150 on a program ad, but both were split between myself and the 2 grandmothers. We pay $86 a month for tution for 3 hours a week. As she dances more it will go up. Not to mention shoes and dancewear for class. I danced as a child and teen, and knew going in that dance was expensive. If you are going to persue it seriously it is just something you have to accept. The only thing that really bothers me is the pictures. The photographer that they use is overpriced, but if you want the pics in the program ad you have to have them taken there. We could go elsewhere and get pics done just for us, but they never come out as well as they do when we have the teachers right there posing them. I miss a bad foot position, or an arm that is wrong.

 

[bear74]

our dance recital is just $20 to help pay for the rental of the high school gym. The pictures start at $27 for the smallest package and do not include group photos. DD is in Ballet and tap combo class. This is our first year.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Tix for my DD's recital are $5.50.

 

[MyPeanut&Bug]

Wow, I'll stop complaining about ours after reading some of these!

DD's costume was $65. We paid a recital fee of $56 that included a facility fee for the theater the recital will be at (a nice, old restored theater in our town) and 7 tickets. If we need more than 7 tickets, they're $9/each. Pics through the studio are $15/sheet - already decided I'm not doing them there!

 

[hedgehog2owl]

dance:
One night 2 tix = $46

2 nights!

$67 per outfit (2 outfits)

$75/ month tuition

gymnastics
2 tix= $30 (one night only)
$35 f0r costume

$690 per year tuition

 

[summerrluvv]

It's def. interesting to see the varied prices across the country!

Oh, and guess who signed up to be one of the class moms today for the recital There wasn't a lot of interest I guess because you have to stay backstage for a while...but I can run to my seat after they go on and watch. I just know how my DD waits ....impatiently!!!....so I would rather *I* be the one to have to try to entertain her (and the other girls). I think I'm nutso, but whatever

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Funny I have been thinking about this a lot lately (it is that time of year.) We pay a recital fee to cover the cost of renting the auditorium. It is $40 a girl and we get 6 tickets included in that fee. We can buy additional tickets for $5 each. I never need more and used to be able to sell some but now my girls are in seperate recitals so we use them all (we get 6 for each recital.)

We also can not record the recital which the first year I thought I didn't like till I went and was able to just sit and enjoy and not worry about lightening, if we were in a good spot, etc. I really don't mind paying for the DVDs at all. Ours are $25 each but if you need both like I do they are $45 together (a little savings.) I do the smallest package for photos, they are $15 for the girls alone. Then the buddy package (with friends or siblings) which is $12. I am happy with the photograper and his prices have not gone up since we started there 6 years ago. I do my girls alone in their favorite costumes (this year it was tap) and together in their other costumes using the buddy package.

As for costumes. We used to always just have one costume with a couple skirts. I liked that. This year for some reason they ordered a couple costumes each so they went up in price of course. Usually we spend about $50 this year was about $75 each. A bunch of us moms suggested they go back to the old ways so I hope they do.

BUT, after reading all this I guess we get off lucky. Some are really expensive. I called around when we started to get a school that was affordable and non-competitive. I am happy there but even so it adds up!

 

[KY*Figment]

It's def. interesting to see the varied prices across the country!

Oh, and guess who signed up to be one of the class moms today for the recital There wasn't a lot of interest I guess because you have to stay backstage for a while...but I can run to my seat after they go on and watch. I just know how my DD waits ....impatiently!!!....so I would rather *I* be the one to have to try to entertain her (and the other girls). I think I'm nutso, but whatever

I have been a backstage mom in the past and this year I will be because of so many costume changes.... The funny thing about this is: I AM HORRIBLE WITH HAIR & MAKE UP!!! I have naturally curly hair that does it's own thing. My kids have straight hair and I have to fix it. Then there is make up. I wear very little. My oldest is very pale and I have to make her not so pale. I have done this for 5 years and with lots of prayers and cursing I some how pull it off. As for entertaining the kids I some how end up being a transport parent. I take them from holding room to stage and back. This way in between times I do costume changes and run out to see my kids. I do better at the dress rehearsal so I can actually enjoy what their numbers. Anyway, many of the parents have the kids bring DS Lites/ DSI/ Leapsters/ coloring books/ Barbies/ snacks. Good luck!

 

[IWannaBeAPrincess]

free But our gym rarely does recitals, and this was a special event.

Costume was about $60

However, my daughter is in All Star cheerleading, and I refuse to talley up the costs. The uniform alone was almost $300, and the gym fee is $70/month. Not counting extra shirts, accesories, competition fees, spirit stuff, etc... It's insane!

 

[busy mom]

I have one daughter in dancing and another in gymnastics, and quickly realized that dancing is much easier on my checkbook. We pay $315 monthly (12 months a year) for gymnastics, as well as approx $1500 in meet fees/travel, $600 team fees annually, $250 for warm up suit & leotard. It is unreal.

 

[deedeecee]

I have one daughter in dance and this will be her first recital (we missed last year's recital due to a prior commitment).
Tickets are $15. We are buying 10 tickets for family members (we will be paying for it). Costume was about $80.
The cost is definitely adding up (pictures, DVD, celebratory dinner following recital) but we knew that going in. I am just thankful we only have to pay for one child in dance!

 

[Kitzka]

DD has been dancing for 9 years. She takes 12-14 hours of dance a week. Recital tickets are $25. Costumes average $80 per class. A few classes have more than one costume. She will be in 10 numbers in the recital of about 40 numbers.

The cost of tuition etc is staggering. But I know it's a qua lit education she is getting. For me its worth it.

Lara

 

[princessmom29]

DD has been dancing for 9 years. She takes 12-14 hours of dance a week. Recital tickets are $25. Costumes average $80 per class. A few classes have more than one costume. She will be in 10 numbers in the recital of about 40 numbers.

The cost of tuition etc is staggering. But I know it's a qua lit education she is getting. For me its worth it.

Lara

I wish we only had 40 numbers in our show!!! We run closer to 70. It really makes for a long night! This is our first year out of the preschool class and DD is in 4 numbers, along with the show opener. Most of the girls who have been there as long as your DD are in somwhere in the neighborhhood of 8-10. I shudder to think what our costume bill will look like by then!

 

[Kitzka]

I wish we only had 40 numbers in our show!!! We run closer to 70. It really makes for a long night! This is our first year out of the preschool class and DD is in 4 numbers, along with the show opener. Most of the girls who have been there as long as your DD are in somwhere in the neighborhhood of 8-10. I shudder to think what our costume bill will look like by then!

Oh princessmom. Part of the reason there are only 40 numbers is that there are 2 recitals! each show has 40 mumbers in it and i am lucky that all 10 of DD's are in the one show. in years past her numbers have been split and we had to go to both.

The school use to be larger and would have a few more numbers but as the economy has shrunk so has the show.

The school has to have a sat show and sunday show due to students whose religious observances prevent them from participating in one show or another.

Lara

 

[sneadae]

I own a dance studio and I just want to chime in here.

It is a business and we have to make money at it. We spend ALL year putting these recitals together, it's a big part of our job and if you work you expect to be paid for it yes?

I only charge $7 a ticket and $45 - $60 for costumes. We do not allow pictures or video at the recital as it becomes a Papparatzi ZOO so we do hire a proffesional video company to come in as a courtesy for the parents who would like a video. Studios typically make very little on recital DVD's or pictures. I know what I make on pictures barely covers my staffing for picture days.

Recital costume orders take hours and hours and hours ...then when they come in they take hours and hours and hours to sort. At my price range of 45 - 60 I mark up very little and would probably faint if I figured out my profit margin vs the time I take doing everything.

The High School Auditoriums cost quite a pretty penny too. Rent, custodians, theatre tech ... air conditioning! (Yes, a lot charge you extra for that.) Then you have to pay your staff on top of that because they don't work for free.

I was once told by another studio owner that your recital should make you enough money to live on over the summer. (HA HA HA. I need to raise prices.) BUT ... in a way that makes sense because you would think something that takes 10 months out of your life could support you for 2 or 3.

All that being said ... if you are at a good dance studio your children are learning lessons far beyond how to Plie' or shuffle hop step. Lessons that will aid them far into adulthood. Confidence, team work, commitment, poise, leadership...and so much more.

Happy toes to all!

WDWO

Great post! I, too, own a dance school and it saddens me to see all the complaints here. Owning a dance school is the career I have chosen, so I intend to charge what it takes to make it a successful business/career. I am no where near a millionaire, LOL. In fact, when all is said and done, I am lucky that I have a supportive husband who can pay our bills.

One thing to consider: having your child involved in an extra curricular activity is a choice you make as a parent. If you find it is too expensive, too much money, waste of money, waste of time, etc....then perhaps it is not an activity that your child should be involved in. At my school, parents are given a handout when they register of the costs/time involved through the year, so it is no surprise. I make sure they are informed up front.

Best of luck to all the dancers on their dance recitals this year! I know they have all worked very hard to prepare for it, so try to forget about all the things you dislike regarding your current dance studio situation and focus on your child's big day! They deserve it!!