The Dance Mom Thread

[AZMickeyfans]

Back to dance. My DD's studio starts up this week. She has had three weeks off from Dance and has been driving me nuts asking when she goes back.

I am in the middle of a seperation and thought I might have to pull her from some of the company teams, luckily her studio really wants her on those teams and has offered me tons of time to pay. The only thing they care about is that she is in class. It is so nice to be at a studio where they care about more than money.

So what about everyone else? Classes starting up soon? Everyone excited for new songs and costumes?

-Becca-

I'm so glad they were able to work with you. Dance will be very good for her!

We start up this Monday with company workshops for 2 weeks and regular classes start on the 18th. Morgan has had off for 2 weeks except 2 days where she had to go in to run her solo.

The kids also start school tomorrow. Where has this summer gone? We didn't have one since she was at the studio everyday for 4 hours. She is being moved up to JR company that consists of mainly 4th graders. Morgan is in 2nd but she is so tall she looks like their age. Luckily she dances on their level too.

She also has a couple of boys that joined this summer that will be in her group. I cant wait to see those dances since the teacher wants to put some partnering in there!

My son also wants to take the boys hip hop class. We have to see if that conflicts with his little football schedule.

Just found out yesterday that our studio was the victim of a fire early Saturday morning. My dd is devastated. Classes usually start the first week of September just like regular school. The rumor is that the owner will be looking for a temporary (or permanent) space starting this week. I hear that the most damage was done to the 1st floor. She has a 2nd location, but it is too small to accommodate everyone.

I'll keep y'all posted.

Oh my goodness. Was anyone there when it happened? I sure hope no one got hurt. How scary. Yes please keep us posted.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Oh my goodness. Was anyone there when it happened? I sure hope no one got hurt. How scary. Yes please keep us posted.

No one got hurt, thank God. No one was there as it was before daybreak. Apparently a parent was driving by and saw the smoke and alerted the fire department and then called one of the staff. It ended up that most of the staff came right over until the owner was able to arrive.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I am in the middle of a seperation and thought I might have to pull her from some of the company teams, luckily her studio really wants her on those teams and has offered me tons of time to pay. The only thing they care about is that she is in class. It is so nice to be at a studio where they care about more than money.

So sorry to hear that. Keeping her busy (and you) and on her regular routine will probably be the best thing for you right now.

No one got hurt, thank God

Thought it might be appropriate to repeat that.

She also has a couple of boys that joined this summer that will be in her group. I cant wait to see those dances since the teacher wants to put some partnering in there!

As the mother of a male dancer (he's in grade 5 this year) the whole partnering thing is a bit of a political mindfield. Since there are so few male dancers I always get swamped with mothers wanting their daughters to dance with him. Feelings are always hurt and toes trampled on. I think we might just do a solo this year instead.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Sorry to hear the bad news about the fire and the separation. I hope things work out in both cases.

We visited DD's new studio last week, and it seems very nice. Since we're ina new state, I told her now "new" classes--she'll be plenty busy with her "regular" styles of dance (ballet, hip-hop, jazz, tap, and modern in place of lyrical). The studio also offers belly dancing and ballroom. I see ballroom as having the problem of the boy shortage, but she' not doing that right now anyway. Belly dancing, I'll probably let her take it as a shorter, vacation type class--she's not sure she wants to really pursue it, but it might be fun to learn some moves. And she's already recognizing the conflicts between XC/track and her dancing. Good for her for FINALLY noticing!

School starts 8/27 and dance 9/3 for us. Apparently there were a ton of summer camps, if only I'd known, but frankly, moving to a new state with 4 kids has been plenty on my plate. Next year, next year!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

As the mother of a male dancer (he's in grade 5 this year) the whole partnering thing is a bit of a political mindfield. Since there are so few male dancers I always get swamped with mothers wanting their daughters to dance with him. Feelings are always hurt and toes trampled on. I think we might just do a solo this year instead.

Luckily we wont have to worry about that as of yet. They are not ready to do any duets says the director and their mom. They just started dancing a year ago but the director was so desperate for boys she rushed them into company. They are working on catching up and doing a great job at the time. The parternering will be within the normal company dances with 10 girls for say a turn or two and the director will determine who does the turns with them. Nothing major for a couple of years and no fighting over duets with the boys at least for now.

 

[xCourxCorex]

Early on in this thread I believe I told the story of a girl who quit Company as a sophomore on a Monday when there was a competition 4 days later; the rest of the Company had to work late all week to redo the dances without her. Her reason for quitting: She didn't want to have to miss the drill team banquet, which was also on Friday night.

Fast forward a year and a half later. The same young lady is one of two Senior drill team officers. Today was an 8 hour at-school practice and they leave for camp tomorrow. The young lady came in, not in dance attire, and told the drill team instructor that she was quitting!!!

Not a dance mom, but a dancer here. my high school dance team had a similar problem last year. The other captain and I were holding a captain's practice probably a week before camp. This one girl (lots of drama; also similar to your situation, she quit her studio mid-competition season the year before as well) wasn't there by 9:30 so I called to see what was going on. She says to me: "Oh I'm not coming I quit".
Thankfully we had lots of time to re-work the routine.

I hope your drill team was able to fix everything in time, and had a good experience at camp anyways. They're probably better off without her!!

All I can

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Passed by the studio today. I had to see it for myself. It was so sad to see all the windows boarded up and the studio's signs black from smoke and soot.

I know we'll get through this.

 

[dreamer17555]

I am so sorry about the fire. Do they have any idea what caused it?

Our studio was supposed to move to a new location but they are running behind so one month at the old location and then we all move. Its going to be a mess.

Question and a bit of a vent. Do you ever get sick of other people asking when does your child just get to be a kid? People seem to think that I must be dragging her kicking and screaming to class when honestly it is the other way around. She dances yes, she does lots of school work and girl scouts, yes but she is still just a child. She plays and has friends and even watches tv.

Sometimes I wonder what al these other children are doing to fill up all their time? Do they all just play video games or run around or what?


-Becca-

 

[kaysmommie]

At our studio, we get to see pictures/mock ups of the costumes before they are ordered/made. Fortunately, the teachers tend towards the conservative, so I have never had a costume issue. I will say that while our dancers are always covered appropriately, the teachers (for both company and recital) do not always take into account body types. For example, DD1's tap company costume was adorable (except for the blasted hat!!!):

But as you can see, my DD is fairly tall and thin. We have a couple of girls who are heavier, and that red unitard with a belt cutting them in half sis nothing for those girls.

And my DD also has height issues! She is very long all around including her torso. So a 1-piece costume has to be ordered 1-2 sizes bigger than a 2-piece costume. Then is has to be altered to fit. Fortunately, we have a dance mom who does alterations to help pay her bill!

I think that costume is very nice. We have been lucky with DD's also. But still sometimes we need alterations because she is so petite everything needs to be taken in.

Back to dance. My DD's studio starts up this week. She has had three weeks off from Dance and has been driving me nuts asking when she goes back.

I am in the middle of a seperation and thought I might have to pull her from some of the company teams, luckily her studio really wants her on those teams and has offered me tons of time to pay. The only thing they care about is that she is in class. It is so nice to be at a studio where they care about more than money.

So what about everyone else? Classes starting up soon? Everyone excited for new songs and costumes?

-Becca-

So glad that all worked out for Cat. I'm sure she is really missing dance right now. how are you doing?

We start up in 2 weeks. DD will taking 4 classes this year. I wish she could audition for Ensemble but she has to be 9, she turns 9 in March.

Just found out yesterday that our studio was the victim of a fire early Saturday morning. My dd is devastated. Classes usually start the first week of September just like regular school. The rumor is that the owner will be looking for a temporary (or permanent) space starting this week. I hear that the most damage was done to the 1st floor. She has a 2nd location, but it is too small to accommodate everyone.

I'll keep y'all posted.

Sorry about your DD's studio, that stinks. Hopefully they find a place to rent.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

I am so sorry about the fire. Do they have any idea what caused it?

Our studio was supposed to move to a new location but they are running behind so one month at the old location and then we all move. Its going to be a mess.

Question and a bit of a vent. Do you ever get sick of other people asking when does your child just get to be a kid? People seem to think that I must be dragging her kicking and screaming to class when honestly it is the other way around. She dances yes, she does lots of school work and girl scouts, yes but she is still just a child. She plays and has friends and even watches tv.

Sometimes I wonder what al these other children are doing to fill up all their time? Do they all just play video games or run around or what?


-Becca-

Oh GOD! ALL THE TIME! Sorry I yelled but not at you, just out of frustration. I get it the worse from my MIL. She always tells Morgan to "tell your mom to let you play sometime and act like a 7 year old ok?" Morgan's like "What does she mean by that mom?"

To Morgan, and I think most of the girls in company, dance is play to them. That is where there friends are that they have the most in common with. This summer we had a friend from school get very upset with us because Morgan was in dance all summer. They kept saying "when does she get to play with friends?" I told them, trying not to be rude, that Morgan's best friends were there and along with the serious intense dance they were doing fun stuff like yoga and acting classes to have fun. Its all play to her, serious or not. We had 2 weeks off and she begged to go in everyday because she was bored. She wants to go there on Sundays even!

Everyone thinks its me trying to fulfill some dream from my childhood that I never got to have for myself. Yeah right. I took dance for a year and quit because I personally didnt like it. I'm not forcing this on her. This is her CHOICE and complete desire. She eats, sleeps and breathes dance.

I totally feel for you and that question because we get it all the time. Then they usually follow up with can she come over and play with the Playstation? Yeah, ummmm ok. Guess that answers the question.

 

[missypie]

I feel uniquely qualified to speak to the "let them be kids" issue. DD12 spent 8 years (most of her life!) as a gymnast - 15 hours a week - until she retired in the spring. She takes three dance classes a week and in the fall will be a cheerleader and do athletics, but this summer she's had more free time than she's had since she was 4. She's had all the time in the world to "be a kid."

And what does she do with this valuable kid time? She watches TV and plays Webkinz. Sure, she spends about an hour a day in the pool with her siblings, and she's got her summer reading done....but I think in two months she's caught up on all the TV she didn't get to watch in her 8 years as a gymnast. I'd never pull a kid out of dance company just to do that!

 

[dreamer17555]

I am glad I am not the only one dealing with the "let them be a kid" issue.

We started classes yesterday and we have SO many new students at our studio. I mean its great to meet new mom and all but it was so crazy yesterday. The production team however rocked so hard. We have from age 4 to age 17 in that class, 43 in total and they managed to get half of the dance taught. Not kidding in 90 mins. Cat has been running around the house all day practicing. I give it up for company director That was a lot of work.

The only issue is one of our best dancers in our age group (amazingly talented- has had her airiel since last spring) has already gotten a bit of an attitude and refused to dance during ballet. I know she is talented and the director wants to keep her on the team but no 7 year old should be able to say "I don't wanna do this! This class is stupid" to a teacher. I really wish they would lay down some ground rules.

Today is a heavy technique day- Acro Tech, Dance Tech, and then Company Hip Hop. She is looking forward to it.

-Becca-

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

As far as the whole "let them be kids" thing--I completely agree that if they want to be doing dance, gymnastics, whatever--fine, that's what they do. But as parents, we should be asking ourselves, "Is she doing too much? Am I pushing him?" Not because we ARE, but because we should, as moms, always be making sure that our kids' best interests are foremost. So, no need to cut back, if your child is having a good time and looking forward to her classes and all, but we should all be doing periodic "gut checks". Does that make sense? Like, at our June recital, I noticed that DD13 seemed tired. She did fine, but didn't have her usual level of energy. I talked to her, and it was finishing up the school year on top of moving and knowing it was her last recital in NY, leaving her friends and her excellent teacher--yeah, it all made sense. But I did notice she didn't have her level of spark. I'll continue to watch her this fall (dance team, dance classes, XC, drama...). And I've told her, no new types of dance, until we've all adjusted to the new school.

 

[dreamer17555]

GRRR. Open House is next week between 4-6. Of course that is when Cat dances. I normally would have no issue and she would skip dance but they are trying out for spotlight parts that night. Her time is 5:00 to 6:00.

Do you have to stay at the open house the enitre time or could I take her for a bit (30 mins) and get her to dance in time?

-Becca-

 

[JodiR]

Hi everyone. This is my first post on this thread.

I have a 16DD who is in the high school dance team. She was #1 spot at team tryouts. One of the judges wanted to take her to her school's team instead. (Makes you feel good and proud).

She made All Star and is trying out the first weekend of September for a spot to perform in March at halftime of state basketball. She is also doing a solo at competition in November.

She will perform in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando over Christmas/New Years.

She also takes ballet/dance/pointe at a local studio and has a recital in May.

My DD who turned 12 yesterday will be on the JR High cheerleading team. She also takes ballet/tap and Christian Ballet at a local studio. I may put her in Just for Kix this year. She can learn pom and novelty routines.

Should be a fun year!

 

[missypie]

Six months ago, DD15 was going to quit Company (she's also on school drill team.) Then the Company director told her she could just compete one thing, so she was going to just do Lyrical/Modern (and take Ballet and Technique.) Company auditions were Saturday, and after that she said, "I think I want to do Jazz, too." Her other three drill team/Company friends weren't at Company auditions.

 

[dreamer17555]

Missy- wow is she gonna have time for all of that? She will be one busy girl.

-Becca-

 

[missypie]

Missy- wow is she gonna have time for all of that? She will be one busy girl.

-Becca-

Last year she also did tap and production (and was a JV drill team officer on top of that) and she got very little sleep. She'd start her homework at 10 pm. That is why her other drill team friends didn't reaudition. She'll only have two nights at Company, so that will be a slight improvement. I think she really wants to be a drill team officer next year (10th graders can't be officers) and I think she's afraid that if she leaves company, she'll lose her skills. Believe me, I was TOTALLY hands off on her decision.

 

[dreamer17555]

Just checking in on everyone. Our company director has decided that no parents will see the Lyrical routine until competition. Not even the studio owner because her daughter is in the class. She said she wants all of the parents to bawl their eyes out. I have no doubt she can do that, she is amazing at choreography but she has told the girls (7 yr olds) not to practice in front of their parents... Well that just cut back on a lot of practicing in our home.



-Becca-

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Just found out yesterday that our studio was the victim of a fire early Saturday morning. My dd is devastated. Classes usually start the first week of September just like regular school. The rumor is that the owner will be looking for a temporary (or permanent) space starting this week. I hear that the most damage was done to the 1st floor. She has a 2nd location, but it is too small to accommodate everyone.

I'll keep y'all posted.

Update. The director has found a new location! It's still in the same area as the old one. They are still projecting that classes will start on time (first week of September).