I need help from ballet moms

[Tink561]

I'm trying to decide which ballet school to try for Gracie, who is almost 3 1/2. There is a regular dance school close that offers tap/ballet combo and do a regular recital at the end of the year. Their website is
http://www.danceartsconservatory.com/

The other choice is Florida Classical Ballet School, their site is
http://fcbt.org/

They offer "Fairy Tale Ballet" where they study a different ballet each month while learning classical ballet. Each child gets a book and CD of the ballet they are learning. This sounds like the perfect "homeschool ballet" to me. They are also having summer camp this year. One week Coppelia and one week Nutcracker.

Would you mind checking them out and tell me which one you would choose if it were your child?

Thanks!

 

[ktlm]

I'm barely a ballet Mom. DD is 3. She started at 2 and has completed her 1st year and is currently in summer session with ballet and tap. She loves it. She is in a school that looks pretty similar to your "regular" one. Looking at your two choices, I say it almost depends on whether you are trying to possibly create a professional ballerina or want to focus more on your daughter just having fun. When you look at the number of times the classes meet per week and the ages, it looks like the second school is designed to discipline, create, and train professionals. That is not to say that kids from the 1st school could not become professionals too. My DD loves to sing too, so I expect that she is probably going to lean toward musical theater to combine the two, so I would definitely pick the 1st studio for us. For me classical ballet is beautiful, but a little too reserved for DDs personality. I think the second school would be way too formal for us.

 

[Tam1067]

I studied ballet for many years, and then my DD did until she got invited to join the competitive gymnastics team and dumped dance for the gym--so I have some expereince.

Anyway, I think it's up to you and what you want. The ballet one is obviously trying to prepare the girls for classical ballet while the ballet/tap combo class (that's how most dance classes for preschoolers are geared by the way) is at a studio that's more contemporary oriented. Classical ballet schools are usually quite rigid in their approach to dance. I like that, but not all people do.

Just a warning--I love, love, love ballet (that's what I focused on)--but not all girls do, and if they don't love the restrictions associated with true ballet, they won't have fun. Your DD is not at an age where she'll be able to make those decisions.

But 3 year olds are not really ready to be true dancers anyway, so I'd consider cost, distance to your house, times, and then the feel you got from the studio when you called or visited. Some are better run than others.

Then, if your DD wants to continue with dance, when she's older, the two of you can decide whether she wants to pursue the contemporary/popular type of dance (which includes jazz and hip-hop classes girls really like) or classical ballet.

But really, girls are not "ready" to do real ballet until they're 5 or 6. Until then, it's just for fun.

 

[Tink561]

I understand what you're saying about discipline but it does seem like the Fairy Tale ballet program would be fun for little girls.

I'm not wanting to create a professional ballerina unless she wants that later. The cost is the same for both schools the first year or so. There are recital costs, etc. with the first school too.

I guess I'm a sucker for fairy tales so that sounds lovely to me. They are both offering summer camps, maybe we should do a week at each one to get a feel.

 

[allie1078]

As a dance mom for 5+ years, to 3 girls. I would recommend doing a combo class to start out with, especially if you want her to continue with dance. the other class sounds like a lot of fun for little ones and may be a good choice if she has never been in any sort of classroom setting.

Tap along with ballet are both good core classes for any style dance. they both give different things to dance, tap gives rythm and timing, ballet gives strength, balance, dicsipline. Our studio recommends doing both to start and later on if the child wants to focus on only one they can. My oldest loves doing ballet but still does tap, she also does jazz and hiphop. She sees influences from both tap and ballet in the jazz and hiphip classes.

 

[mjkacmom]

Dd's studio is more like the second one, with no recitals, and a troupe for older kids. However, it also offers many other dance options (tap, modern, african, hip hop, breakdancing...). It's very professional and well run, the teachers are great, and I LOVE not having a recital! To me, they just seem like big funraisers, and I don't want to buy expensive costumes she'll wear once.

 

[momofrrr]

My DD13 and I both agree that the traditional school would be the best. She has danced since kindergarten and now takes at least 8 hours of dance each week. We cannot imagine learning either Ballet in just four days plus making your own costume. We just don't think that you would really get anything from it. We both say that if you are going to invest your time and money you should want the best training avaliable in your area.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

As others have said, it entirely depends on what you are looking to get out of it. My daughter goes to a more contemporary/varied dance school like the first one. When she started, I wasn't sure she'd like ballet, she took ballet tap to start. Did that 2 years, now just tap at age 8, now wants to go back to ballet. (WHO KNOWS, lol!) I like that she has the option to try different kinds out. I don't see her sticking with ballet, but who knows. She can switch to jazz a year, musical theatre, she's got options.

I also like that it's less formal. (Our local ballet school, for example, has a very strict dress code. Always a ballerina bun and X color leotard for this class, etc. Her current school certainly has rules, but hair can be pulled back in barette or pony , whatever sort of dance clothes (No street clothes or hair in your face, basically...) I have enough to do to get her to dance without worrying about a bun every day!)

My DD was not in a recital class at 3 (a different school) but has so so much fun at the recital now I feel bad she missed out on a few years. It's a great confidence builder too for them to get out in front of all those people!

I'm sure she'll have fun in either. wouldn't stress too much about it.

 

[sk!mom]

It absolutely depends on what you want to get out of it.

My DD13 started at 3 at a school similar to your first choice- dance all year in preparation for a big recital with costumes. Then at 7, she started taking classes at a Classical ballet school like your second option. She did both for a short time and has done solely the Classical ballet school for several years. So basically we tried both and my DD has gotten a great deal more out of the Classical ballet school. She's had the opportunity to dance The Nutcracker every Christmas since age 7 as well as a Spring ballet. My DD loves ballet and will do 2 Intensives this Summer- She would have done 3 but broke her arm on the last day of the Spring semester at the end of May. She dances 5 days a week during the school year. The first school worked for us at the time. DD loved the costumes and fell in love with dance but the second is better for her.

In your position, I would visit both, observe a class and decide what fits your family better. You can always change later.

If it matters to you, you might check out what the financial commitment down the road will be with both. Both can get very costly but there could be a price difference that might help you decide. We would have saved a great deal if DD had stayed at the first school.

 

[Tink561]

My DD13 and I both agree that the traditional school would be the best. She has danced since kindergarten and now takes at least 8 hours of dance each week. We cannot imagine learning either Ballet in just four days plus making your own costume. We just don't think that you would really get anything from it. We both say that if you are going to invest your time and money you should want the best training avaliable in your area.

That is just for the summer camp and I guess it is an intro. for the kids. The regular classes for the year aren't like that.

 

[Tink561]

Thanks for all the replies. You have given me a lot to think about.

 

[mommy*RN]

My 3yr old DD just finished her first year at a traditional ballet school and LOVED it. She was even in the showcase last weekend. They danced to Sleeping Beauty . I am so proud of her. Her studio offers Jazz and Ballet for the younger girls, but no tap. I questioned the director about it and she said she doesn't allow tap until the children are 7 yrs old because before then they can pick up a lot of bad habits that have to be corrected down the road. I don't know...but since my DD is 3, I only have her in ballet and it seems enough. If you are unsure I would do what you suggested and try out both this summer. You may prefer the teacher at one location or bond with parents at the other location and that could make a difference. We had a pretty good mom's group going on in the lobby of DDs studio as we all waited every week.

 

[allyphoe]

which one you would choose if it were your child?

For a 3yo, I'd pick the one that's most convenient or that it seems like your DD would have the most fun doing. (For my DD, that would be the fairy tale camp.)

My DD6 has been doing ballet for 3 years. She did two years of baby ballet through her preschool, taught by a teacher from the local studio that's most aimed towards people who want to be professional dancers. It was really an ideal setup for us - we just sent her leotard and tights to preschool then picked her up a little later on dance days. Her teacher focussed mostly on not creating bad dance habits and on having fun.

Then we did public K (yay, no more 2-hour daily commute!), and needed to find a studio, and picked one that was both close to our house and relaxed about clothing choices. (Many of the studios we looked at required a certain color / style of leotard, some with custom embroidery, different for each class. Our studio requires leotard, tights, and hair back, but you can do your own thing within those guidelines.) We did ballet/jazz, because DD was unwilling to tolerate the noise of 15 little girls stomping in tap shoes. (For an hour-long class, IMHO you should expect that the whole hour won't be devoted to ballet, because the younger kids don't have the bone development to do an hour of ballet. So either a combo class, a shorter session, or a session that includes some non-ballet activity.) I won't say that DD has picked up bad habits there, but she's fallen out of the good habits she had. For instance, at the end of preschool ballet, she always sat in the "ballerina sit", and now she never does. Plus they do a ($$$) recital, which is theoretically optional - but multiple sessions in the spring are devoted to costumes / pictures, plus all the spring sessions are spent rehearsing the recital piece.

When DD is 7 (which is when the local professional studio goes to twice a week classes on a sprung floor), we'll probably give her the option of switching there and making dance a priority, or staying where she is and just doing it for fun.

 

[sk!mom]

For a 3yo, I'd pick the one that's most convenient or that it seems like your DD would have the most fun doing. (For my DD, that would be the fairy tale camp.)

I won't say that DD has picked up bad habits there, but she's fallen out of the good habits she had. For instance, at the end of preschool ballet, she always sat in the "ballerina sit", and now she never does. Plus they do a ($$$) recital, which is theoretically optional - but multiple sessions in the spring are devoted to costumes / pictures, plus all the spring sessions are spent rehearsing the recital piece.

When DD is 7 (which is when the local professional studio goes to twice a week classes on a sprung floor), we'll probably give her the option of switching there and making dance a priority, or staying where she is and just doing it for fun.

This is very similar to our experience. DD from 3 to 7 was at a place that was more fun, less structured, and was chosen because of the VERY nurturing teacher. DD developed a love for dance there.

At 7, she was able to switch to the professional school and for a while danced at both. Over time the classical training took more and more time and DD fell in love with ballet. She made the decision herself to commit totally to ballet training at the professional, classical school.

Now there is really no comparison between the two for someone who wants to study dance rather than just dance but at 3 it was about fun and learning to move.

Enjoy it- I was never a dancer but it is a joy to watch my DD. I never imagined when I enrolled her in that first class at 3 that ballet would become her passion and consume so much time.

Ballet training prepares them for so much more. My DD does musical theater too and show choir. Her ballet training means that she usually gets really fun dance parts in the musicals. Later this month she's dancing in a local production of Beauty and the Beast. Hopefully her arm is out of the sling by then.

 

[surfergirl602]

Honestly, as a ballet/tap/classical/jazz/contemporary dance mom to 3 girls, at 3 years old, it isn't going to matter what classes they take - they really are too young to retain much. It's fun, but about a half hour is all their little bodies and minds can take. Just go watch a class that you are interested in, and see if your child would fit it. Find a fun class, with a patient instructor. My girls all started at age 3 with a dance awareness class.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Here's my 2 cents:
DD just finished her second year of dance. I looked at a few possibilities and we ended up going with a place that offered a ballet/ tap combo. HOWEVER, I didn't choose it because of the type of dance, I choose it because it was convenient to our house and I knew some of the other moms and kids there making it an easy transition for me and DD. Also, I found the owner professional but pleasant and easy to work with. I think the most important thing at that age is that your DD has fun. DD loves her dance school and not once in 2 years has she whined or complained about going; instead she looks forward to it and that is really what it is all about.
After 2 years of ballet/ tap, DD has decided that ballet is her favorite so she is signed up for a class next year that is just ballet.
I would definitely visit both and see which seems like a place where your DD would have more fun.

 

[Madzac]

My DD7 just had her dance recital today! They are so much fun and she was so proud!

Anyway, this was her third year of dance, she started at four and goes to a studio much like your first choice. They do combo classes up until 2nd grade to expose the kids to several styles of dance. The owner believe dance first and foremost should be FUN! There is another large studio here in town that sounds more similar to your second choice, in that it is a bit more serious. They groom the girls more for competition. Knowing my DD's personality, I wasnt sure that was the best choice. The studio we chose has been a great choice for us! She has learned to love dance and loves going each week. They do lots of dances for fun in additon to the big one at the end of year recital. And the recital is GREAT expereince and so much fun, it really is. Next year she will have to choose what direction she wants to take. She is planning to do ballet and jazz at this point, though she did like the tap too. was glad she got to try out each kind of dance.

Go with your gut feeling. Make sure what you choose is somewhere she will have fun. At 3 and 4, it is more about fun than technique. Drop by during some of the classes for this age group and talk to the parents about why they chose the place they did. This is what swayed me over to the place we go... the moms at the other place talked about how they do competitions weekend after weekend all winter, and the instructor was really tough on them! We werent up for that! Certainly each child is different but looking at the two websites, the first definitly would be a better fit for my DD.

Good luck deciding! I think trying a week this summer at both and seeing what feels right to you both may be a great option!!!

 

[princessmom29]

As a dancer from the age of 4 through my 20's and the mom of a 5 year old finishing her second year of dance I would go with the first studio for a young child. The second studio seems to be very focused, and a great choice for a serious student of exclusively ballet, but no one can be sure at 3 that this is the direction she will take. I would start with combo class and see what she enjoys more. she can always switch later it you find out that she is a serious ballet student. Someone said in and earlier post that their teacher doesn't allow tap untill 7 b/c they can pick up bad habits, but idon't feel that that is true if tap is taught correctly. What is much more dangerous down the road is a child being pushed into a pointe class before their feet are develomentally ready. I know it is pretty far down the road, but that is one of the questions i would ask in placing your child. every child is different, but a general rule of thumb is around 13 for ointe, if they have been taking since 3 or 4. The fairy tale class sounds like it will actually teach them little to no actual dance, but is designed to get them interested more than anything. I would go with something with a little more actual dance involved for the summer if you really want to get a feel for wether she is going to like it before commiting for the school year.

 

[disneynewbee]

I have 2 daughters who dance one is 15, the other 6. Neither of them take ballet any longer, they both found the music and dance boring. My 15 currently takes tap and jazz and wants to do modern also next year. My 6yo did ballet her first year (our studio requires 1 yr of ballet before you can take any other classes), ballet and tap her second year, and only hip hop this year. So based on that information I would choose the first school since if only ballet were offered to them they probably would have wanted to quit by now because they just didn't enjoy it. I also like the idea of the recital because learning to perform for an audience is important for a dancer. And although the costumes are costly my girls so love getting dressed up for their recitals and are so excited and proud I wouldn't want them to not have that experience. The second school says that even when they move up to the higher age level they have to try out to get a part in the nutcracker in order to perform, I just don't like that. All girls should get to display what they have learned and how they have grown. Now I do have a 3yo that the second program may be better for since she is painfully shy it would at least give her the skills so that later in life when she comes out of her shell she could move on to the other type program. So I guess it depends on your child also. If you can do one wk of camp with each I think that would be your best bet, then make a decision.

 

[mom2princessj]

We go to a studio like your first choice. DD is 5 and will be taking ballet/tap/jazz this summer. She did cheer and poms for the recital with the same teacher and she also does pop warner poms with the same teacher.

I have to say its all what you feel comfortable with. Its hard to decide when you are looking at two different places...just know at 3 you can't make a decision on what she'll like at 7 so check them both out, see which one you think she likes now, and go for it!

My dd loves dance and gymnastics. We are currently in a gym for gymnastics that has a russian coach who trains all the beginners and grooms them for team by the age of 7. While I LOVE the coach and the gym, I can't make a decision for my dd at age 7 on what she is going to commit herself to for the next several years...these types of sports can be very time consuming (we are finding that out with pop warner dance at age 5 ) and the most important thing for me is to expose dd to lots of things she wants to do and let HER decide what it is she'd like to commit herself to. My point is don't take any of it too serious at this young age. You've got years to go before she'll decide for herself what she really wants to do in the meantime do what's fun and let her enjoy herself! If it were me, I'd choose the first school...but before I did any of it I'd check them both out and go with the place I was more comfortable or the teacher I thought dd (and me) liked best! Good luck