I need help from ballet moms

[TinaLala]

I'm a ballet/tap/hip hop/jazz mom to two girls DD9 and DD6 - both have been taking dance for 5 years - yup I started DD6 as soon as she could walk! I would start them off with a simple ballet as other posters have said. Then move her up to a combo class. It's not until age 6-7 that they really start to show a interest and they shouldn't even look at toe pointe shoes until they are 12.

I would sit in the waiting room and talk with the other parents to see if they like the class or not. Your best advice comes from those parents! Find a class that's fun without being STRICT! We've been in both classes and trust me the fun classes get their point across without hammering the steps down their throats.

DD9 wants to get on pointe so she works hard to be good. She may not be the most gracefull, but she she's lovely and I'm very proud of her! That's what matters.

 

[LisaNJ25]

My 4yo just had her recital yesterday. It was her second year doing tap/acro. She is going to jazz this fall and If I can swing a second class tap again. I dont think mine even offers ballet until they are a little older.

I would go for the first class and if you want to change when she is older try the second one.

I agree with the others its all about fun this age.

My son is also starting tap.. any other moms of boy dancers out there?

 

[Liltx]

Three year olds LOVE tap shoes. I think they put up with the ballet to get to the second half of the class. My girls take dance for the shows. They perform twice a year christmas and june recital. They are always so proud of themselves. They cost us a little over $100 per child for the june recital the christmas one is $25. No big deal.

Real dance does not begin until 7 or 8. Until then they are learning coordination and musicality but no real technique.

I danced through my mid twenties. The percentage of children who will stick with dance is so tiny not to even mention professional dancing but I know that dance benefited me in so many other ways. Self esteem, health, persistance, etc.

Right now my girls take where is is fun and convienent for me. If they stay interested to age 8 I might look for another school but maybe not even then. If they say they don't want to take anymore I will take them out. Not worth the money and time to push it.

You might observe a class at each school. But go for fun and cost at this age.

Monica

 

[Liltx]

My 4yo just had her recital yesterday. It was her second year doing tap/acro. She is going to jazz this fall and If I can swing a second class tap again. I dont think mine even offers ballet until they are a little older.

I would go for the first class and if you want to change when she is older try the second one.

I agree with the others its all about fun this age.

My son is also starting tap.. any other moms of boy dancers out there?

About the boys:

Our studio has a TON of boys mostly because the director in also the director of dance at a High School of Fine Arts. I think it is great that the boys have each other. Maybe you have a school like that near you. I know it would be hard to be the only boy in a class. My dd6 has a couple of boys in her class as well. They all have sisters at the school.

Our studio also requires ballet to take other classes.

Monica

 

[emma'smom]

We're at a more professional-style ballet school...and while we like it....I do often roll my eyes at some of the strict requirements and firm expectations they have for such little girls. However, my dd is happy---so we stay.

She did the town production of the Nutcracker last fall and will dance in a "dance camp" version of Cinderella this week. However, there are no recitals (just major "productions" that the little ones usually can't be in---just the "company dancers"). Also, the little ones didn't even get to do the curtain call in the Nutcracker (even though they did regular class and weekly, then daily rehearsals for months)--that was reserved for "company dancers" only! I digress...

 

[nicki.momof3]

My daughter started dance when she was 2.5 (now 4.5) and she loves tap. There is something about the noise of the tap shoes that the little ones love. I understand discipline but they have all their life to be seroius and disciplined - a little noisy fun is great.

I vote the combo class. I think my daughter would have been bored in ballet only.

 

[maddiesmom0116]

Hi-
My DN16 teaches dance and has been in dancing specializing in ballet for 13 years (she also does lyrical, jazz and hip hop). She told me when I was looking into classes for my DD to put her in a combo class first. This will help you decide what she is best suited for because they learn the basics and you can get a feel for her abilities. It also helps your DD decide what she likes most. I took tap and jazz growing up and I automatically wanted to push DD that direction, now after a year she has chosen to focus just on ballet. I am glad I did the mixed class it really allowed DD to chose her calling.

 

[LIBLULA]

My DD9 has been dancing since she was 3. She has always taken combo classes--ballet/tap. She has been on the competition team for the past 2 years. I vote for the combo. My daughter's favorite kind of dance has changed over the years. Last year it was ballet, now it's tap because of a hip hop tap class. I would expose her to both dances--she's so little--let her have fun. My DD9's school is known for their tap dancers---they start them out at 3 years old. As they get older--she can be exposed to lots of different dances. DD takes: ballet, tap, hip hop, hip hop tap, jazz and 3 competition lines. She's doing a solo competition number this fall.

 

[Tink561]

Thank you all for the replies. You have given me lots to think about. I will be calling both schools this week to set up a time to go check it out. I will also let her do a summer camp at both to try it.