OMG! Just sat through 4.5 hours of a dance recital!

[EeyoreEma]

That sounds so painful. DD did dance this year, but we ended up not doing the recital. I am SO very glad she doesn't want to do dance again next year.

 

[Nancy]

I am very glad that my kids studio stopped doing the finale. The first few years they did and it wasn't mandatory. We always stayed though because the girls loved it.

Once they really got into dance I had 3 kids dancing and I never got to actually see the shows...too busy back stage getting kids dressed and undressed.

The studio they danced at has 8 shows to fit in the 2 studios and all the classes and not have the shows so long. Each class is in 2 shows and if they are in the program/comp teams they dance in all the shows. (yes we did that :thud.

Guess what? I miss it big time.

 

[Janet Hill]

My daughter's recital is next weekend. Total time will be about 5 hours divided into two sessions with 1/2 hour between sessions. She's in both sessions and it is dreadful. Ya know you really only want to see your own kid.

Here's my rant - the "old people" (I'm talking 40 - 65 range) are in the recital too. WTH - I don't get that. I understand taking classes for exercise etc, but a dance recital. I was even more amazed that the group shows up in costume for picture day. Maybe they send the photos to their kids and grandkids.

 

[autumnpalm]

Oh, I remember the days of long recitals from when I was young! However when I got older I switched to a strictly ballet school (boarding) and I know my parents much preferred the way they handled the end of the year.

There was a class observation day so all parents could see their children and their progress. Then there was also the spring show, but choreographies were cast by the directors so not everyone was in it. As a result, it was always about 2 hours max. Now, the downside was that not everybody was able to perform and participate but it certainly made for a less painful experience! I always thought the casting was fairly done and all of the performances were beautiful!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

I have been dancing at the same dance studio for 27 years and this Saturday is my 27th recital. Our recitals are long - at least 4.5 hours, but it's only one day a year. My twin and I used to dance competitively at the studio so we were in many numbers at one point. Now we only do one dance.

Even when we were dancing at our prime and being in multiple numbers, my aunt (my sister and I have been very close to her for years) would always complain about having to come to the recital and how long it was that it finally got to the point that we stopped asking her to come. My aunt got married when she was in her 40's so she never had her own children but instead gained step-children and then step-grandchildren. As the grandkids got older, they got into sports - mainly soccer and lacross. My aunt would go to nearly everyone of their games, regardless of weather and she wouldn't even sit through our dance recital when dancing meant the world to my sister and me. It hurt us and it still hurts us.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's one or two days a year - a couple hours is nothing in the scheme of things and it would make your loved one's day that you were there supporting them. It still hurts me that my aunt would sit through a game that lasted at least an hour twice a week, but wouldn't sit through a dance recital that lasted a couple of hours once a year.

 

[design_mom]

Don't get me wrong, I love my niece and also like watching the other girls & guys dance, but really! My niece was in 6 of the routines and it lasted almost 5 hours. Why don't they break them up into groups by age and have like the little ones the first hour, the middle school next and then high school last. It was mixed all up forcing you to have to stay through it all and on top of that they have a grand finale with everyone in it. It became very repetitive. I know I will get flamed by some of you and maybe I was just having a bad day, but I really think it could be done differently. Opinions from others that have kids taking dance.

My nieces' studio does that. They do three shows, but they are still 3 hours long (each). They charge $10 admission per person to each show (even for the parents of the dancers).

My 5yo niece's class danced in the 2nd show. My 7yo niece's class was in the 3rd show. Both girls performed in group numbers at all three shows.

It would have cost my family $80 to see my nieces dance, even if we just went to the 2nd and 3rd shows. ($10 x 4 people x 2 shows) We will, however, enthusiastically watch their performances on video. My sister and the girls were at the recital for a full 12 hours! I agree that it's ridiculous...but I'm not sure multiple shows is much better, if they're put together like my sister's studio does it.

 

[stsomewhere]

My DD-9 just had her dance recital on Sat. It was just over 2 hours. That wass long enough. Now, she has made the pom team at the studio so we are up to day long competitions,

 

[Cruisin]

Here's my rant - the "old people" (I'm talking 40 - 65 range) are in the recital too. WTH - I don't get that. I understand taking classes for exercise etc, but a dance recital. I was even more amazed that the group shows up in costume for picture day. Maybe they send the photos to their kids and grandkids.

Hello, I am one of those "old people" that you are referring to

We work just as hard as the kids do on their dances.

Why should we not be able to show off all of our hard work too

The adults in our studio like to do the recitals. It is a lot of fun and just a teeny bit scary

Next to the wee little ones, the "old people" in our recitals always get the biggest applause.

 

[mjkacmom]

When my kids took traditional dance, we went to 2 local studios who didn't do recitals (after hearing all of the horror stories of pictures, mandatory tickets, dvd's, hours and hours...). Two of my girls do irish dance, and my 9 year old competes, but I choose which competitions I sign her up for, and she dances solo. There is a huge hurry-up-and-wait, and "irish" time, but it's better than being trapped, watching other kids dance.

 

[mickeylove2]

We just had our recital 2 weeks agao...we had to be there 5 by and the show started at 6:30 and we didn't get finished til about 10-30 or so. My niece was in 2 numbers, oldest DD was in 4 and youngest DD was in 3. But, I love it!!!!

 

[DizBelle]

My daughter's recital is next weekend. Total time will be about 5 hours divided into two sessions with 1/2 hour between sessions. She's in both sessions and it is dreadful. Ya know you really only want to see your own kid.

Here's my rant - the "old people" (I'm talking 40 - 65 range) are in the recital too. WTH - I don't get that. I understand taking classes for exercise etc, but a dance recital. I was even more amazed that the group shows up in costume for picture day. Maybe they send the photos to their kids and grandkids.

So, once you hit 40 you can't be proud of your accomplishments in dance?

Let me guess, you're one of "those people" who think WDW is only for kids, aren't you?

 

[cabanafrau]

Ours were like that for a couple of years when the numbers at our studio shot up to nearly 800 students. We even did 5 shows per recital weekend, I believe for two of those years.

Complete & utter lunacy. Oldest DD at that point performed most of her #s in all 5 shows. Younger DD I believe performed in 2 & then 3 out of the 5. It was enough to make you want to drink, because the show line-up changed w/ the shorter matinee shows & there was even variation in the evenings. This affected what hair styles they needed & what order they needed them in, quick change set-ups, etc. Did I mention mommy needed a cocktail???

Just as the studio owner was being bombarded w/ complaints, the economy struck. We have less than 1/2 the students now. We do 4 shows per weekend & several #'s combine different classes in production-style #'s to keep the transitions flowing, the show moving & we're now down to about 2.5 - 3 hrs. for the evening shows, w/ intermission.

Gotta laugh when some of the newbies complain about the current set-up. If they only knew

 

[jrmasm]

There is a huge reason that neither of my children took dance.

 

[kaytieeldr]

My daughter's recital is next weekend. Total time will be about 5 hours divided into two sessions with 1/2 hour between sessions. She's in both sessions and it is dreadful. Ya know you really only want to see your own kid.

Which is likely a large part of why studios that have only a single (long) recital mix it up as the OP described. I only took dance one year, when I was six or seven, but I still remember that we all (both families) left after my best friend and I performed.

Can you imagine if everybody did that? The last dancers would be performing to an almost empty theater. It's probably also why studios that have a finale involving all the dancers, do so.

 

[cabanafrau]

Which is likely a large part of why studios that have only a single (long) recital mix it up as the OP described. I only took dance one year, when I was six or seven, but I still remember that we all (both families) left after my best friend and I performed.

Can you imagine if everybody did that? The last dancers would be performing to an almost empty theater. It's probably also why studios that have a finale involving all the dancers, do so.

Absolutely true. Our studio has gone to a true all hands on deck "finale" # after the show closer to help combat the empty theatre syndrome. It wasn't only because the girls were performing to a virtually empty audience, it had spiraled to a point where those leaving were so ignorant that they were making their exit as if the show was over because they were done -- disrupting the entire auditorium. Very disrespectful & very nearly caused some altercations.

 

[descovy]

Haha... tell me about it!

When my oldest chose Dance at age 6 her dance school was run by a lady who was all about the PERFORMANCE! It was the Wizard of OZ all retold in dance. My dd who took a 1hr Ballet/Tap/Jazz combo class was in 3 dances with 3 costume changes Yes a 4 hour show. with a 4, 2 yr old in tow, it was MURDER

When we moved, we found a dance school with 1.5 hr recital. One class = one costume. Great! They split the classes into 2 recitals to cut down on time Yay! It is about 20 miles away at a local college (low cost) so no recital tickets Sounds great, doesn't it?

Yeah, but what happens when you have a 10yo in Jazz 3, an 8yo on Jazz 1, and a 5 yo in Pre-Ballet? Why, you have 2 recitals to sit through! Back to back, almost identical recitals So even a "good" dance school will get ya when you have 3 kids in dance.

This year MY aunt & uncle came (so kids' great aunt & uncle) what love, I tell ya

 

[MELSMICE]

Studio owner here................over 2 hours for a recital is more than enough. Mine was a little over 2 hours this year, including the 15 minute intermission & I was flipping out. I will be shortening up dances next year.

Now for those that are doing a little bit of bashing.................these kids work all year long. They practice every week for 9 or 10 months for this one performance (unless they are on a competitive team). They do not get to showcase their talents at other times during the year like an athlete on a sports team does, yet they work just as hard, if not harder.

They are committed, dedicated & disciplined. If this is what they have chosen to do & they enjoy it, do not discourage them by telling them their recital is too long or that they are going to leave after they are done performing. This is it for them.

Look at the smiles on their faces & the way their eyes sparkle when they are on stage & then please tell yourself that you can give up a few hours of your lives to support them, your children.

OK - I'm off my soapbox now.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I danced for 17 years and hated recitals. I just loved going every week and dancing. But the one thing I LOVED about recitals is that they were so long so I could torture my brother as payback for all of the horrible band concerts I had to sit through as a kid .

 

[Mermaid02]

That is love because I would not sit thru 5hrs of recital unless it was my own kids.

Amen!

As far as the older dancers- I don't want to watch them either. Sorry, but we're there to see our kids dance- not the lady down the street.

 

[paintnolish]

I'll back those up who don't want to see the adults dance. I don't want to either. I don't watch Dancing with the Stars. I don't want to watch Dancing with the Lady Next Door.