The Dance Mom Thread

[mbw12]

My DD is 9, but when she turns 10, we are thinking of giving her the "Rockette Experience" for her birthday. She really wants to do it now....but they are strict with the age and you need to be 10. I think she would really enjoy seeing backstage and all! she has already seen the Rockettes Christmas show a few times, so it will be neat for her to experience the "experience"...LOL!!!!

anyone else do this with their daughter? Or has anyones older daughters (I think you need to be 14) do the Summer intensive with the Rockettes?

 

[MELSMICE]

My DD is 9, but when she turns 10, we are thinking of giving her the "Rockette Experience" for her birthday. She really wants to do it now....but they are strict with the age and you need to be 10. I think she would really enjoy seeing backstage and all! she has already seen the Rockettes Christmas show a few times, so it will be neat for her to experience the "experience"...LOL!!!!

My DD did the touring Rockette's Experience about 5 or 6 years ago. I'm a danced instructor/studio owner so I stayed to watch.

She had fun, they learned some of the Christmas routines & the girl that was there told them the requirements to be a Rockette. I believe they only had 1 or 2 Rockette's there to instruct.

Hers was only a 1-day few hour experience. The one she did was a fun workshop, not an intensive or anything like that.

 

[disneydance]

My DD is 9, but when she turns 10, we are thinking of giving her the "Rockette Experience" for her birthday. She really wants to do it now....but they are strict with the age and you need to be 10. I think she would really enjoy seeing backstage and all! she has already seen the Rockettes Christmas show a few times, so it will be neat for her to experience the "experience"...LOL!!!!

anyone else do this with their daughter? Or has anyones older daughters (I think you need to be 14) do the Summer intensive with the Rockettes?

I was supposed to do the Rockette Experience last year with my team but I wasnt able to go to NY for many reason (Bruised bone and torn something in my knee) but the girls who went had a blast and said they would do it again in a heart beat. I would say go for it once she turns 10. Now I'm slowly getting back( I just got my splits, leg holds, and some other skills back and do I dare say I think my knee may of not fully healed) but I'm not supposed to be doing tap since its hard on my knee. So I dont know if I will ever get the experience. This year I'm just excited to be able to be on a solid team again with good skills. But I would deffinately say go for it, it would be the gift of a life time. Happy Thanksgiving everyone .

 

[disneydance]

Please pray for a girl on my dance team
It turns out her dad died on Thursday out of nowhere
He was in another state and there trying to get enough money to go see him get burried.

 

[missypie]

The competitoin season should be in full swing for everyone, so I thought I'd top this thread. Our Lyrical got second overall in small groups yesterday. This is the one I posted about earlier where the song is about Sophie, a girl with an eating disorder. It is a really beautiful dance but it makes me cry!!! It's not cloying or manipulative, but just seeing all those strong lovely girls dancing up there (one of which is my own) and thinking about how eating disorders destroy so many lives...so sad.

 

[cabanafrau]

The competitoin season should be in full swing for everyone, so I thought I'd top this thread. Our Lyrical got second overall in small groups yesterday. This is the one I posted about earlier where the song is about Sophie, a girl with an eating disorder. It is a really beautiful dance but it makes me cry!!! It's not cloying or manipulative, but just seeing all those strong lovely girls dancing up there (one of which is my own) and thinking about how eating disorders destroy so many lives...so sad.

I thought this thread had long ago fallen into oblivion, glad to see it back.

I didn't see your earlier post about this number, but what a fantastic idea!!!! My husband was just actually discussing this with me recently after going into studio to pick DD up & getting a look at 2 particular dancers who are scaring the life out of many of us w/ extreme weight loss over the past 2 mos. or so. I think he's hyper aware after coming out to see DD compete at convention in February & getting a look at 2 of the studios/companies he's only heard talk about before. He about fell over when he realized we weren't exaggerating. Let's just say 25 to 40 girls on a stage w/ visible rib cages from front & back sides is One company in particular also emphasizes that fact by always choosing costumes w/ bare midriffs -- for every single number.

It's so important these kids are getting good nutrition to fuel their bodies for the extreme workout of dance today. I personally would rather see them out there quite full-figured than emaciated.

 

[Sleepy]

I am soooo happy that the year is almost done. This schedule is killing me.

 

[mjantz]

So happy to have found this thread! Here are my DDs 'stats':

Age: 8
Dancing for : 5 years
School & training: Pre-professional school with a company. Currently taking 3hrs/week (2 ballet & 1 jazz). Its a very traditional school & I'm very happy with the training she is receiving.
Competition: No. The older students have an opportunity to compete in Youth American Grand Prix but the school has no competition group or anything like that.


She's currently working on the spring recital which is a full ballet. Company members play some of the roles (we don't really have any teen boys) but mostly its the school students taking on the roles.

 

[missypie]

Here are the lyrics to Sophie:

I
Sophie cannot finish her dinner
Says she’s eatin’ enough
Sophie’s tryin’ to make herself thinner
Says she’s eatin’ too much
And her brother says, you’re joking,
And her mother’s heart is broken
Sophie has a hard time copin’
And, besides, sophie’s hopin’

Chorus
She can be like all the other girls
Be just like all the other girls
Livin’ in an ordinary world
Just to fit in, in the ordinary world
Just to fit in like an ordinary girl.

Ii
Sophie’s losin’ weight by the minute
How did things get this bad?
Sophie’s family don’t understand it
Gave her all that they had
And her sister won’t stop cryin’
’cause her father says she’s dyin’
Sophie says she’s really tryin’
Problem is, sophie’s lying.

Repeat chorus

How did she get this way?
How did she get this way?
Through tryin’ to hide it.
What does it take to say,
What does it take to say
She’s dying, Sophie’s dying to fit in*

Of course, through the wonders of dance, our girls' dance has a happy ending...the girls all come together at the end, so Sophie does have friends and doesn't die.

My son is looking at colleges and one of them has a renowned dance program. (He's not majoring in dance, however.) The college catalog says that dance majors will not be admitted or allowed to continue in the program if they are significantly overweight or underweight. Of course, it's not a ballet conservatory; I always think that weight issues are more pronounced in ballet.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

We had a young dancer enter a home last year to deal with her weight. Or lack thereof. It really got my kids talking about it and for that I am grateful but I see how her family struggles through it and it just breaks your heart.

We've had a terrible year. Our studio owner closed her studio and merged us with another one. Unfortunatly this previous studio owner and instructor to most of my kid's dancers has lost her love of dance. She didn't bother to show up to our last competition. We didn't even know she wasn't coming. I had to go out and buy a CD player (and return it the next day) so the kids could run through their dances. The office manager was at the competition but it's not the same thing. I was pissed. So we're looking at moving studios. The studio I've been looking at goes to WDW every other year in July for a competition. That sounds pretty good to me! The competition takes place the beginning of July in the WDW area but not in one of their resorts. Any one know what the competition is called or been to it before?

 

[MELSMICE]

competition takes place the beginning of July in the WDW area but not in one of their resorts. Any one know what the competition is called or been to it before?

I'm not 100% positive, but I think it might be Showstoppers.

 

[missypie]

No, Showstopper's east coast nationals is at Myrtle Beach. I believe that their west coast is at Disneyland.

There are so many "nationals." I'm sure lots are in Orlando.

It's not Stage One either - just looked them up and they are in Branson, Gatlingburg, and Arlington, TX.

 

[MELSMICE]

No, Showstopper's east coast nationals is at Myrtle Beach. I believe that their west coast is at Disneyland.

There are so many "nationals." I'm sure lots are in Orlando.

It's not Stage One either - just looked them up and they are in Branson, Gatlingburg, and Arlington, TX.

I know it's a biggie. I haven't gotten the information about it. Actually, I'm wondering if it is only held every other year. A local studio in our area also goes every other year.

If I get the info & remember, I'll post here what it is.

 

[missypie]

I know it's a biggie. I haven't gotten the information about it. Actually, I'm wondering if it is only held every other year. A local studio in our area also goes every other year.

If I get the info & remember, I'll post here what it is.

Lots of studios only go to a "big" out of town nationals every other year for cost reasons.

Hall of Fame is in Orlando July 4-8, at the Peabody Hotel.

 

[cabanafrau]

The big trend we're seeing at competitions this year is -- it don't mean a thing if you ain't got a boy(s). Past few weeks the overall winners at the competitions have been either numbers w/ entirely male dancers or significantly featuring at least one. Some numbers have been truly deserving, others not so much.

DD's team at last weekend's competition scored a huge win with their jazz number. They won their category w/ a platinum and were overall winners in their division. Coincidentally the team now has a boy who was recruited from a struggling studio who didn't do competitions. He is wonderful, but very discouraging for 98-percent of the other dancers, many of whom have been w/ our studio a decade or more, to watch as every resource is made available to make sure his training is very much up to snuff. A situation which of course means less, often much less, is available to the rest of the team.

Kind of takes the glow off the win when you feel like you've been relegated to background dancers -- in the sense the choreography makes no effort to even showcase 98-percent of the team's abilities. I'm not talking about solo moments in the spotlight. I'm talking about choreography that could show the technique and training of the entire team within the group format. This year's philosophy is, showcase the boy, give the rest stuff it's near-impossible to flub in any way.

 

[missypie]

We have felt that way for years...at so many competitions, you've got to have a boy to win.

I will say that a couple of weeks ago we were at a competition and there was a Senior Hip Hop that had three boys and four girls. The three boys were fantastic...but if you could take your eyes off of them and look at the girls, you noticed that they weren't good at all. Nonetheless, I was just sure that they would win the overall.

As it turned out, they got 5th and our (boyless) hip hop got 3rd (and our boyless lyrical got 1st.) I was very impressed that the judges juged the whole dance and not just the boys.

 

[kylieh]

I've been on Disboards for ages, but I'veonly just found this thread!

My DD is amost 7, and this is her 5th season of dancing. Dancing seasons in Australia is based on calendar years. Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Troupe Class, and also singing/drama. In total 3 1/2 hours per week. She would like to do more but I think that's enough for now.

DD had her first competition on the weekend, it was a fairly small comp, maybe 7 or 8 studios. In her division 1st for ballet, highly commended for jazz, and commended for tap. Her teachers weren't expecting for her to get anything. Perhaps now she will be noticed, but that's another story.

I read through fairly quickly, I noted the conversation on what they wear in class - Her studio is fairly casual, studio wear is the hot pants style of shorts, singlet tops, t-shirts, 3/4 pants in winter, etc. Any combination can be worn. They can wear normal studio wear even for ballet, but most choose to wear a leotard or similar. Hair must be pulled from the face, but not necessary in a bun. For exams etc obviously full examination uniform is needed.

I'm pretty happy with where she dances. DD wanted to start dancing at 2, and they were the only ones with a "tiny tot" class, which was basically musical movement. But they were in the end of year concert They do get results, I've seen 4 students now get scholarships at private performing arts high schools. I don't know that DD will go down the dancing path as she gets older, but she is enjoying it at present.

 

[Sleepy]

Daylight! Daylight!!!!! I see daylight at the end of the tunnel. Last week of classes and exam on Sunday! Next Thursday it is off to NYC for summer classes. At least I don't have to deal with those. He stays, I go somewhere else to relax for the summer !

 

[mbw12]

Daylight! Daylight!!!!! I see daylight at the end of the tunnel. Last week of classes and exam on Sunday! Next Thursday it is off to NYC for summer classes. At least I don't have to deal with those. He stays, I go somewhere else to relax for the summer !

I mght have missed reading about it in an earlier post....but where is your son dancing this summer in NYC?

 

[1LuckyMom]

Hi! I just found this thread too!! My youngest DD is the dancer in the family. She is 11 and has been dancing since she was 2. She takes ballet, pre-pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, hip hop and two different production classes. This is our recital week, so its off to rehearsal tonight and then one show each night for the next 3 days!

Anyone else have a picture day? We just had ours on Sat. These always end up taking longer than you would think. We were there two hours later than scheduled! Hope they turn out good!!