The Dance Mom Thread

[Darsa]

Wow, how'd I miss this thread?? lol

My DD13 has been dancing since she was 6; she started out in Ballet, Tap and Jazz, and now also does Dance camp (which is another costume, ugh) and starting in the fall will be taking Pointe which she is STOKED about!!

Our season ended the weekend after Mother's Day; only mishap we had was during dress rehearsal, when her strapless bra fell down (not much to hold it up) The look on her face was indescribable... and afterwards she was soooo upset; we told her that if it hadn't been for the look on her face and the "tugging", we would never have known.

We have dance-camp coming up the two weeks after July 4th (she's a senior this year, yay!) and then we restart the year in late August. She's already enxious to get going again.

 

[jen0610]

This is our dance week from hades. Solo pictures were yesterday, four outfits and it still took us about 1.5 to get them all done. We have to go back tonight for the group pictures. I only made the mistake once of trying to do both the solo and group pictures on the same night. I am more than happy to run over there twice, just to avoid the mass confusion that can and will take place.

Her jazz teacher changed a part of their dance 2 weeks ago, so even though there are no regular classes this week, they are going to do a hour class on Thursday night to work on the changes.

Bed time is going to be early Friday. She has to be to rehersal and on stage ready to go by 8 a.m.. And just let me take a minute to jump on my soapbox. When the studio says TO BE THERE AND ON STAGE READY TO GO at 8 a.m., it doesn't mean you should be pulling up at the front doors at 8. If production starts late, the rest of rehersal runs late. And with that I'll step off my soapbox. Rehersal is over noonish (see soapbox). It's run home, eat and rest for a short while. Get ready, take pictures and get back to the recital site by 5:30. Show starts at 6:30 and will run for roughly 3.5 hrs. Get out of there and get something to eat. Home around 11-11:30. Jump in the shower to wash all the make up and dippity do out of the hair, then to bed.

Sunday isn't as bad, as she only has the 1 production number, so no morning rehersal. But, we will finish up taking pictures and we have to be back to the site by 3:00 for a 4:00 o'clock start. She was fretting about having to wear her costume "all day" Sunday, but I told she could just wear the bodice with sweats over it and right before that number, she could put on the "oh my god does it make my butt look big" skirt. It's the poofiest skirt she has had and she is finding out that they may look cute, but they are a pain in the rear to wear and store. So she's happy now.

After this show, it'll be crash time for DD and I once we get home. We love this weekend, but man does it wipe you out.

 

[pixiepower1971]

The competition season is over for us but I am working on getting my 13 year old packed for ballet summer intensive. She has to be there on the 20th. 5 weeks of freedom!! I mean, I am going to miss her but no early mornings and late nights at the studio for 5 weeks....pure bliss!

 

[MELSMICE]

And just let me take a minute to jump on my soapbox. When the studio says TO BE THERE AND ON STAGE READY TO GOat 8 a.m., doesn't mean you should be pulling up at the front doors at 8. If production starts late, the rest of rehersal runs late. And with that I'll step off my soapbox. Rehersal is over noonish (see soapbox).

I'm sure everyone appreciates that your studio director runs it like this.

I'm a studio owner/director & I try to be on time all the time. I literally hate running behind & avoid it at all costs. When I say your rehearsal time is 3 p.m. - it is at 3 p.m. If you miss it - oh well - you know how we operate.

If the shows start at 12:30 & 6 p.m., then that's what time they start. I use the second hand on my watch to start the show. Intermission is 15 minutes long - not 15 1/2 minutes or 17 minutes.

If your picture time was at 12:50 - then be there 10-15 minutes prior to that so we can make sure the entire class looks alike before coming in to the photo room.

Students & parents at my school are made aware that we don't wait for anyone. We are prompt & unless something major goes wrong, we are on time.

I think (hope) people appreciate it - especially now-a-days when everyone has such busy schedules.

 

[mbw12]

The competition season is over for us but I am working on getting my 13 year old packed for ballet summer intensive. She has to be there on the 20th. 5 weeks of freedom!! I mean, I am going to miss her but no early mornings and late nights at the studio for 5 weeks....poor bliss!

where is she going??

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Our recitals were last week. Thank God we are DONE with those! Love them but so much work!

We started summer intensive this week for 6 weeks. We do have a break in between but its to head to Las Vegas for Nationals. DD8 dances from 9am-3pm and then goes to tumbling to work on her aerial. Hopefully she will confidently get it before Nationals as the director put it in her solo.

Good luck to all those boys and girls traveling this summer to dance schools! What a great opportunity!

 

[sneadae]

I'm sure everyone appreciates that your studio director runs it like this.

I'm a studio owner/director & I try to be on time all the time. I literally hate running behind & avoid it at all costs. When I say your rehearsal time is 3 p.m. - it is at 3 p.m. If you miss it - oh well - you know how we operate.

If the shows start at 12:30 & 6 p.m., then that's what time they start. I use the second hand on my watch to start the show. Intermission is 15 minutes long - not 15 1/2 minutes or 17 minutes.

If your picture time was at 12:50 - then be there 10-15 minutes prior to that so we can make sure the entire class looks alike before coming in to the photo room.

Students & parents at my school are made aware that we don't wait for anyone. We are prompt & unless something major goes wrong, we are on time.

I think (hope) people appreciate it - especially now-a-days when everyone has such busy schedules.

Agree! I am a studio director/owner too and running on time is one of my main priorities. I respect everyone's time commitments, so it is my goal to make sure I get them in and out in a timely manner. Most of my families realize this and are very thankful and appreciative.

Best of luck to everyone gearing up for recital! We had our recitals the 3rd week in May, so we've been on break for a while (and I went to Disney!).

 

[jen0610]

I'm sure everyone appreciates that your studio director runs it like this.

I'm a studio owner/director & I try to be on time all the time. I literally hate running behind & avoid it at all costs. When I say your rehearsal time is 3 p.m. - it is at 3 p.m. If you miss it - oh well - you know how we operate.

If the shows start at 12:30 & 6 p.m., then that's what time they start. I use the second hand on my watch to start the show. Intermission is 15 minutes long - not 15 1/2 minutes or 17 minutes.

If your picture time was at 12:50 - then be there 10-15 minutes prior to that so we can make sure the entire class looks alike before coming in to the photo room.

Students & parents at my school are made aware that we don't wait for anyone. We are prompt & unless something major goes wrong, we are on time.

I think (hope) people appreciate it - especially now-a-days when everyone has such busy schedules.

I just love you for these bolded items. DH learned very quickly when DD started dancing, that for 1 weekend a year (for now) DANCING is #1....nothing else matters. I would much rather be early and have to wait around, then been late.


It's been 2 years now, but it still annoys me at how some people just don't care or don't read and understand information given to the,. DD's jazz dance was the 3rd dance. This was the first year that the show was starting at 6:30, instead of 7:00. They sent home a flyer, on neon paper, every week for the last 2 months of classes stating the starting time. On the envelopes that the tickets when in, there was a sticker sealing it shut, stating the start time. It also states the that dancers need to be in the holding area, no later than a half hour before the show, which is the same information every year. Now we are sitting there and the music starts for her dance, the lights come up and I know right away that there are people missing. There are noticable holes. But the girls do the dance, filling in for the missing girls as best they can. They continue with the show. We are sitting there waiting for the lights to come up for the intermission, when you hear their music start up again. Lights go up and they are on stage again....with the 5 prevously missing girls now in their spots. FIVE FAMILIES could not get their kids there on time. The moms threw such a hissy fits about their daughters not getting to do their dance, they went ahead and reinserted the dance into the line up. FIVE FAMLIES couldn't read their recital information, that is given out multipule times. FIVE!!!!! All from one class.

 

[missypie]

Our recital dress rehearsal and recital are run like clockwork. If a child is not there, the dance goes on without them. With a recital running 6 hours or so, that's the only way it can be.

A few years back, a girl from Company was an hour late for recital dress rehearsal and a half hour late for competition at Nationals. She was not asked to be in Company the next year.

 

[MELSMICE]

If a child is not there, the dance goes on without them. With a recital running 6 hours or so, that's the only way it can be.

Same for my studio - I feel bad, but I will not hold the show for anyone. It's not fair to those that make the effort to be their on time.

Six hours though for a recital. Holy moly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My shows are no more than 2 hours, including the 15 minute intermission. I do bring out the instructors & assistants for recognition at the end of the show, so that might add 10 minutes - I make it as quick as possible. Then all the children do the finale.

I hold 3 shows total. The 1st half has between 21-24 dances in it & the 2nd half will have between 18-20 (2nd half of a show should always be shorter ) With the exception of the opening & a few senior class numbers our dances are approximately 2 minutes in length - give or take a few seconds. (something might be 2:05 or 2:11)

For the people putting on the show (instructors, performers, etc) the length doesn't matter. For the people in the audience, it is a big deal. The majority don't care about anyone but their own dancer(s). Sitting for 2 hours is more than enough time to ask them to be there, IMO!!!

But.........that's just how I've always done it. I've gone to many shows that are much longer & even as an dance instructor they can get boring if they're too long.

OK - enough from me!!!

 

[missypie]

You aren't expected to stay for the whole recital - in fact, you're expected to leave once your child has danced - otherwise there would not be enough room in the auditorium. There were a couple of years where we had all three kids in dance and D was in the first dance and the last dance so we had to stay for the whole thing, but that usually just happens with some of the Company girls.

 

[MELSMICE]

You aren't expected to stay for the whole recital - in fact, you're expected to leave once your child has danced - otherwise there would not be enough room in the auditorium. There were a couple of years where we had all three kids in dance and D was in the first dance and the last dance so we had to stay for the whole thing, but that usually just happens with some of the Company girls.

Doesn't that make it very hectic in the auditorium or venue it is held in? Aren't there people coming & going at all times, or are there breaks during the show where people have a chance to get up & leave?

 

[missypie]

Doesn't that make it very hectic in the auditorium or venue it is held in? Aren't there people coming & going at all times, or are there breaks during the show where people have a chance to get up & leave?

There are people coming and going at all times...after each dance a group of moms leave. The moms of the little girls go backstage to help with costume changes anyway, so they're coming and going before and after each dance anyway. What they announce is to stay put during all dances, but even then there are people who insist on taking their seats during someone's dance, inevitably blocking some parents' view.

 

[MELSMICE]

There are people coming and going at all times...after each dance a group of moms leave. The moms of the little girls go backstage to help with costume changes anyway, so they're coming and going before and after each dance anyway. What they announce is to stay put during all dances, but even then there are people who insist on taking their seats during someone's dance, inevitably blocking some parents' view.

Hmmmm.......it sounds similiar to a dress rehearsal.

We have volunteers that stay in the dressing rooms with the students to help them change. "Quick changes" are done right backstage or in the dressing right next to the stage with many hands helping. Two minutes to change from one costume to the next is doable, but needs a lot of help!!!

Everyone owner/director runs their studio differently & every parent expects different things from their studio. While I realize that not everyone will follow the rules, we ask that all audience members remain in their seats during the entire show. I just find it inconsiderate & distracting for people to continue to get in & out of their seats - even between dances, but that's just me.

But.....if that's the what people are used to & the way it has always been run, then so bet it. I've been to numerous recitals & they are all run different.

 

[jen0610]

Hmmmm.......it sounds similiar to a dress rehearsal.

We have volunteers that stay in the dressing rooms with the students to help them change. "Quick changes" are done right backstage or in the dressing right next to the stage with many hands helping. Two minutes to change from one costume to the next is doable, but needs a lot of help!!!

Everyone owner/director runs their studio differently & every parent expects different things from their studio. While I realize that not everyone will follow the rules, we ask that all audience members remain in their seats during the entire show. I just find it inconsiderate & distracting for people to continue to get in & out of their seats - even between dances, but that's just me.

But.....if that's the what people are used to & the way it has always been run, then so bet it. I've been to numerous recitals & they are all run different.

This is how our studio does it as well. Luckly for us, all of DD's individual class dances have falling on the same night, Saturday, with her only having to do 1 production number on Sunday. Since I get to see her dance every thing on Saturday, I'm one of the moms who works backstage in the holding/changing area on Sunday. One of the families she dances production with, have all theirs on Sunday, so that mom helps out Saturday. It's been like that since I danced at this studio, back in the 80's. There are NO MOMS allowed to run in and out of the auditorium during the show. The only kids that are released early, the pre-dance kids, usually aged 2-4. And that is only at intermission.

I have always loved watching the other dances. I was even going to the dance recitals before DD actually started dancing. She was 2, sitting on my lap watching her babysitters dance. She has always wanted to dance just like Kenzie. DD has watched Kenzies Anything You Can Do trio dance from 5 years ago so many times, she has Kenzies part done pat. I could never imagine not sitting there letting all the kids perform for a "full house".

 

[missypie]

I could never imagine not sitting there letting all the kids perform for a "full house"

Oh, it's always a full house - like I said, the'd have to rent out a stadium or something if they expected to fit everyone in seats for the whole thing. The timing is down perfect. Each rec. class does two dances - they are timed about 20 minutes apart, so no quick changes. The parents of those kids generally watch about an hours worth or recital while waiting for their kids. The order is mixed up - 3 year olds, then a high school girl's solo, then 8 year olds, then a middle school company, etc. so the audience gets to see all skill levels.

 

[1LuckyMom]

At our recitals we also have volunteer moms backstage to help with changing and everyone is expected to stay for the whole recital. Only the really small girls( I think 2 and 3 year olds) are scheduled in the first half of the show and are allowed to leave or to sit with their parents in the audience. This is the first year we have had our shows during the week. This year we have 3 shows each starting at 7pm. In the past we did two shows both on Sat. with a small dinner break between (if you were in both shows, mostly company girls). Due to snow days this year we had the first show last night and it finished at 10pm and then the kids still had to get up for their last day of school today! My DD was exhausted, but loves dance so much she would never dream about complaining!

Bravo to all you teachers/directors who runs things on time!!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

I'm not sure if I'm allowed here...

Not a dance mom, but rather, a dancer

I thought maybe a teenage dancer's perspective would stir things up a bit.

I'm in Intermediate classes at my studio. I do not do competition. I just ended my 12th year last Friday, and I am 15. I usually do Tap, Ballet, and Jazz, but due to a surgery in November, I just did Tap this year. I absoultely love dance; not a career for me, but I fell in love with it from that first pre-Ballet class back in '96.

 

[MELSMICE]

I'm not sure if I'm allowed here...

Not a dance mom, but rather, a dancer

I thought maybe a teenage dancer's perspective would stir things up a bit.

I'm in Intermediate classes at my studio. I do not do competition. I just ended my 12th year last Friday, and I am 15. I usually do Tap, Ballet, and Jazz, but due to a surgery in November, I just did Tap this year. I absoultely love dance; not a career for me, but I fell in love with it from that first pre-Ballet class back in '96.

It's niceto get a non-competitive dancer's perspective.

Glad you enjoy it as a recreational dancer. The majority of my dancers are recreational and we do have a few competition classes - a senior group, junior group, pre-teen group & mini-competition teams.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I'm taking DS10 to his first official audition this weekend. It's an open casting call for Billy Elliot in Toronto. It's about an hour away and we're going to spend the whole day there and do some shopping and such.

We're both a bit nervous as we've never done anything like this. Of course we don't expect he'll get the part. Don't know if I could leave work for months to take him to New York anyhow but thought it might be a good opportunity to see some other male dancers his age, and try out the audition process before he tries for some parts he actually wants and cares about.

I would say wish us luck but in this case could you wish us some fun instead?