Is my daughter's dance teacher ridiculous?

[NY Disney fan]

My daughter is 3 years old. I enrolled her in a ballet class for 3 year old girls. The teacher (who is also the owner of the studio) is teaching the girls technique (battements, positions, chasse'...french terminology) and all the teacher does is yell at my kid for not listening. My daughter (as well as the other girls) don't seem to "behave" according to the teacher. All the teacher does is warn them (3 warnings and they go in the corner). Is this the norm for a 3 year old ballet class? I thought they were supposed to learn rhythm first?

I am trying to determine whether I should pull her out.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I took ballet/tap/jazz from 3-18 years old. Ballet was definitely the most strict (I always felt like all of my ballet instructors hated children ). We learned positions first and there was definitely never any playing around in ballet. Pull her out if you want but this was the norm 20 some odd years ago. My tap and jazz classes were a little more easy going but there was never any running around or playing (but the instructors were a little more understanding if you didn't remember all of the positions).

 

[NY Disney fan]

I thought 3 year old ballet classes were called "creative rhythm" or "movement". Are they supposed to teach technique at this age?

 

[nutterbutter2010]

My DDs (3&4) are in ballet/tap together. They both pay attention the entire time, but there are children there who do not. Ms Joan tells them to pay attention, get up, turn around, stop licking your hands (kids.....) but thats about it. No time outs, no yelling, no "3 chances" If you have a problem with how the teacher is teaching, say something. Your paying money - a lot of money - so if you don't like the result, get out.

 

[NY Disney fan]

If you have a problem with how the teacher is teaching, say something. Your paying money - a lot of money - so if you don't like the result, get out.

Is it my place to change the "curriculum" or her style of teaching? Don't feel comfortable with that. I guess I should just pull her out.

 

[NY Disney fan]

My DDs (3&4) are in ballet/tap together.

Can I ask you...is the teacher teaching the 3 year old french?

 

[tiggger1]

When my daughter was that age it was called Tiny tots and it was definitely a creative movement class. It was more a "fun" class than a technique class. This is my dd6 4th year and they just started doing real ballet this year....I would ask the teacher what to expect and if it is too much for a 3 year old i would find her another class..

 

[NikitaZee]

I remember ballet class when I was young was very strict. Unless things are different now, that's probably what I would expect to see, a very disciplined sort of class. I also wasn't as young as 3, so I'd probably expect to see a little more leeway from a teacher in a class that young. Three warnings does seem reasonable to me however - she does need a way to keep the children focused and listening to instructions.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I definitely agree that classes range greatly upon who's teaching them. Most of my ballet teachers were hard core ballet teachers and I despised ballet growing up (my parents kept me in though). I thought it was so boring.

My first ballet teacher was French and didn't speak very good English. She tried to teach us French ALL of the time (of course the positions were in French but we were only allowed to use the restroom if we asked in French ).

 

[RadioNate]

Can I ask you...is the teacher teaching the 3 year old french?

Well ballet and dance in general really does deal with French terminology. She is teaching them the correct names of things. Those names just happen to be French.

Even at 3, I would expect the teacher to use the correct terminology for dance
'moves.' So yeah, I'd expect French.

I don't think it is ever too early to start technique in a proper ballet class.

I think you are looking for more of a Parks & Rec play time 'dance' class. Something not really offered through a proper dance studio.

What is the class described as? Ballet? or Creative Movement?

 

[NY Disney fan]

I always believe technique was taught to girls at least 5 year old not sooner.

 

[NY Disney fan]

I don't think it is ever too early to start technique in a proper ballet class.

Not too early for toddlers? When I was a teenager I was a teacher's assistant at a dance studio and we did not teach the 3 year olds technique, it was creative rhythm and movement. Can any dance teachers on this board confirm or weigh in? Thanks.

 

[michellev]

Not too early for toddlers? When I was a teenager I was a teacher's assistant at a dance studio and we did not teach the 3 year olds technique, it was creative rhythm and movement. Can any dance teachers on this board confirm or weigh in? Thanks.

I'm not a dance instructor, however my dd has been in ballet since she was 3. She definitely started learning the positions right away. To be honest, I would have been annoyed if she didn't - I'm paying money for her to be in a ballet class, if I wanted general rhythm, etc. I would have put her in a rec. dance class.

As for the names of the positions being spoken in French - what difference does the language make to you? These are going to be new words to the three year olds, no matter what the language. Unless the teacher speaks entirely in French during the class, then I don't see the problem. I wouldn't want my child learning incorrect terms and then needing to learn the new ones later.

Based on your posts and replies, I think you are looking more for a recreational style dance program and are obviously unhappy with the methods/techniques at the current school. If I was you, I would remove my child from this program and find one more suitable.

 

[Traveliz]

I always believe technique was taught to girls at least 5 year old not sooner.

The studio I took my daughter too did not start ballet until kindergarten. Regardless I don't find yelling at students an appropriate teaching method for dance at any age and that is what I would be leaving over.

Liz

 

[kidzmom3]

I am not a dance teacher, but I just asked my daughters cheer coach (who was a dance teacher for 20 years and owned her own studio). She says its a matter of the studios philosophy. Neither is right or wrong. You just have to choose as a parent, is this the right teacher/studio/dance philosophy for my child and me. If the answer is no, then seek out another studio that will be a better fit.

she is of Russian descent and they taught the girls from 2.5 on. They were required to wear the pink leo, white tights, pink ballet shoes, hair in bun. They learned the proper names and techniques. No skirts etc..... They also did not do recitals, they had tests. When you took the test, you could be moved up a level or not.

 

[RadioNate]

Not too early for toddlers? When I was a teenager I was a teacher's assistant at a dance studio and we did not teach the 3 year olds technique, it was creative rhythm and movement. Can any dance teachers on this board confirm or weigh in? Thanks.

I don't think it is too early to introduce it. Demand perfection? Of course not. But showing them proper positions, yes. I wouldn't expect them to do it correctly. But I don't think it is too early to get them familiar with the technique and proper terminology.

I think there is a difference between starting to practice technique and demanding that they do it correctly.

ETA - I don't think either is right or wrong for a 3 year old. It depends what you are looking for. This is a proper ballet class. If you want a fun movement recreation class, find one. Those are great too. Neither is better IMO. But in a proper ballet class, I'd expect proper terminology and technique. If you don't feel this is right for your DD, move on. Not a big deal.

 

[Alex&Evan'sMom]

Well, this was many moons ago, but when I first took ballet(I was 4 yrs. old, not 3) we were taught the proper posture, different positions, ballet moves(plie, balance etc.) and had a choreographed dance to learn for the Christmas and Spring recital. I do remember our teacher was very sweet and didn't yell at anybody or using time outs, but we were expected to listen and hopefully learn our choreography in time. However, things may have changed since then.

 

[shortbun]

pull her out. dance should be fun for 3 year olds. She's full of herself. lol-yelling at 3 year olds for not paying attention to strict dance instruction.

 

[mjkacmom]

I always believe technique was taught to girls at least 5 year old not sooner.

Dd8 goes to a good dance studio (no recitals), and before 5, it's pre-ballet, and fun. Her last studio was the same way. She is now in a level 3 class, and it's serious, but she's old enough to enjoy serious. Heck, she's used to getting constantly criticized at irish dance!

 

[Magic Mom]

Can I ask you...is the teacher teaching the 3 year old french?

What's wrong with teaching them the French terminology for the moves? She isn't expecting them to conjugate verbs is she?