The Dance Mom Thread

[tinker_stinker06]

not a mom but another dancer here well was a dancer.
i danced for 12 years in those 12 years i did competitions dance(drill teams) i did a few solo competitions and did very well i still have the trophies.
i also did a different kind of competition dance we performed in many different styles tap jazz lyrical/modern(as we call it)
i took many classes...ballet,(5 years pointe) tap, jazz, lyrical/modern, hip hop, parterning(pas de deux) and hula. when i did summer programs i learned some irish, belly dancing, and flamenco even.
i spent 3 weeks at ballet international in 01 and in 02 i did a 6 week intensive at viriginia school of the arts. not to mention a few summers at dayton ballet
the last two years i spent at Dayton Ballet in Dayton Ballet II senior company.
during my 12 years i performed in many ballets. Nutcracker(many times), Swan Lake Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, An American Cinderella(set in new orleans 1920s the ball was a mascarade which included the little mermaid, belle and beast, the mad hatter, alice, the white rabbit(me) the queen of hearts) thats all i can i remember of that.
i would love to be able to teach someday or even be a dancer at disney that would be a dream come true

 

[disneydance]

Again not a Mom but a dancer!!
Recital for us was last weekend Oh thank goodness that's over with which mean's "Regular Season" is OVER!!
But that doesn't mean the season is over at all lol
I'm on Company and we leave in 8 day's for Disneyland
We are perfoming there then our season will finnally be done
No dance Summer intensive for me I would love to but I just need to get my body back to one piece before August when Company starts up again!!
It's going to be nice to have a little break here after Disney but right now we are focusing on Disney

 

[phisigprincess]

Hi everyone! I'm a dancer and a dance teacher, so I figured I'd hop in on the thread.

I teach jazz, musical theater, and lyrical at a new studio in our area. Currently we're in a short break period before summer dance starts up, which I have to say is pretty nice to have some time off!

I also dance/direct/choreograph for a pro-team here in the city. It's a wonderful option for me, because I don't want to dance for a living, but I still want to perform. We perform in parades and shows all over the city. In January we performed in Downtown Disney with the Magic Music Days program. I was THRILLED to find out they'd allow an adult team to participate in the program. It was certainly an experience of a lifetime. I was especially thrilled to hear the 'voice of Disney' announce my name as director. I did a little happy dance backstage.

 

[missypie]

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?

Best of luck and I hope your son can have fun with it. I'd just love to see a bunch of great little boy dancers!

 

[1LuckyMom]

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?

Good luck and have lots of fun !! Let us know all about it when you get back!

 

[AmandaSparks730]

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.

Thanks

I'm a bit down, as I don't go back til September, but I'm still going to keep dancing!

Definately going back to Ballet and Jazz next year; I haven't done them in two years and I miss them terribly (though Tap is my number-one favorite). I might do Hip-Hop in my Senior Year (2011 graduation).

 

[mbw12]

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?

What an awesome experience....and what a GREAt attitude for you both to have about it! Have FUN....and please let us know how it went!!!!!!

 

[swald91]

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?

It sounds to me like you have the right attitude about it! Good luck & have a great time!!!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

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?

Here is wishing you and your son a ton of FUN!!!! Sounds like a great attitude you all have! Can't wait to hear all about it.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

1st week of summer intensive is over. 5 to go.

We have 2 weeks til Nationals in Vegas and rehearsals every day because half of our company is not going. This is why they decided to split the company next year in two. One competing and one performing. There were many that loved the competitions and took attendance seriously and then just as many that hated competitions and only showed up for half the classes even though we have a strict attendance policy. So now the studio will have 2 different companies and I think it should be a good fit for all involved.

So, I hope they can get the dances reworked and looking good for competition. One of our dances dropped from 16 to 6 kids. UGH. Several such as that one have to be completely redone. Others just need minor placement adjustments.

Anyone else going to Nationals this summer?

 

[Sleepy]

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.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend. Tell your son "In bocca al lupo". It means good luck in Italian, but literal translation is In the wolf's mouth .

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Best of luck and I hope your son can have fun with it. I'd just love to see a bunch of great little boy dancers!

Good luck and have lots of fun !! Let us know all about it when you get back!

What an awesome experience....and what a GREAt attitude for you both to have about it! Have FUN....and please let us know how it went!!!!!!

It sounds to me like you have the right attitude about it! Good luck & have a great time!!!

Here is wishing you and your son a ton of FUN!!!! Sounds like a great attitude you all have! Can't wait to hear all about it.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend. Tell your son "In bocca al lupo". It means good luck in Italian, but literal translation is In the wolf's mouth .

Thanks for all your good wishes.

He did have a lot of fun. At least once he actually got dancing and could relax.

There were 29 boys there (I thought it would be more) and it turned out that he sort of knew two of them.

It was an awesome sight to see that many boys the same age dancing together. A heart warming sight for many of the other parents of boy dancers that were there.

The company that runs the audition is making a documentary called "Becoming Billy" and filmed the whole audition. So although my DS didn't make it he still might be seen in the documentary. He also got his picture taken and was interviewed by a national newpapers while we were waiting to begin. So all in all it was a pretty thrilling day for him.

 

[tinker_stinker06]

you know there were a few auditions that i didnt make either or didnt do as well as i thought i did. i hope he took the audition as a learning experience and is not getting too discouraged about not making it. believe me there will be other auditions and many many other opportunities. i wish him the best of luck where ever his dance takes him!!!

 

[missypie]

you know there were a few auditions that i didnt make either or didnt do as well as i thought i did. i hope he took the audition as a learning experience and is not getting too discouraged about not making it. believe me there will be other auditions and many many other opportunities. i wish him the best of luck where ever his dance takes him!!!

There is a young girl (I think she's all of 11) at our studio who is FANTASTIC. Her solos place first almost all the time. Last year the company went to Nationals in another part of the country and although she made a strong showing, she wasn't at the top of the heap. She took it with such a good attitude...she started taking extra lessons and really upped the difficulty of her solos this year. It was good for her to see that yes, there ARE dancers better than her.

 

[luvflorida]

Thanks for all your good wishes.

He did have a lot of fun. At least once he actually got dancing and could relax.

There were 29 boys there (I thought it would be more) and it turned out that he sort of knew two of them.

It was an awesome sight to see that many boys the same age dancing together. A heart warming sight for many of the other parents of boy dancers that were there.

The company that runs the audition is making a documentary called "Becoming Billy" and filmed the whole audition. So although my DS didn't make it he still might be seen in the documentary. He also got his picture taken and was interviewed by a national newpapers while we were waiting to begin. So all in all it was a pretty thrilling day for him.

Kudos to your son for all his hard work and dedication! Auditions can be intimidating and it sounds like he handled it very well. ANY time he (or any other dancer) puts himself out there it's a learning experience, and it's wonderful when that learning experience is a positive one. And by positive, I don't necessarily mean getting the part or role. Congrats to you and your son on a job well done!!!

you know there were a few auditions that i didnt make either or didnt do as well as i thought i did. i hope he took the audition as a learning experience and is not getting too discouraged about not making it. believe me there will be other auditions and many many other opportunities. i wish him the best of luck where ever his dance takes him!!!

So true! For my daughter, the hardest part of this entire dance thing is the auditioning. However, over the past year or so, I've seen her confidence in her dance abilities grow tremendously. The more you put yourself out there, the more you're going to grow.

There is a young girl (I think she's all of 11) at our studio who is FANTASTIC. Her solos place first almost all the time. Last year the company went to Nationals in another part of the country and although she made a strong showing, she wasn't at the top of the heap. She took it with such a good attitude...she started taking extra lessons and really upped the difficulty of her solos this year. It was good for her to see that yes, there ARE dancers better than her.

I strongly believe that if someone is truly interested in pursuing a career in dance, the best thing they can do is get out in the world and experience different areas and really see what is out there. My daughter is now experiencing the dance world on the west coast. She excelled at her studio in New England and her studio director was always telling my daughter that she needed to leave the area (after high school) if she really wanted to continue to grow and excel in dance. My daughter knows that being top dog at one studio doesn't always translate to being top dog in other places. It's so nice to hear other stories of dancers with good attitudes, like the girl at your studio!

She has grown so much this past year by expanding her horizons, and she knows the best way to learn and improve is to dance with other dancers that are just as good as she is and/or better than she is.

This coming Friday in Phoenix, my daughter will be auditioning for season six of So You Think You Can Dance. We are all so excited for her!!! Whatever happens, it doesn't matter. Of course, it would be awesome beyond words if she happens to make it to the judges, but just the fact that she's auditioning is enough for me. A year ago, she wouldn't have had the confidence to audition. Now she does, and I'm so proud of her and her newfound confidence!

 

[missypie]

So You Think You Can Dance is my favorite of all of that genre of shows, because the judges are generally respectful of the dancers. On lots of the shows, the judges criticize and belittle the contestants. On SYTYCD, the judges know that all the dancers are excellent, and they generally treat them accordingly.

 

[luvflorida]

So You Think You Can Dance is my favorite of all of that genre of shows, because the judges are generally respectful of the dancers. On lots of the shows, the judges criticize and belittle the contestants. On SYTYCD, the judges know that all the dancers are excellent, and they generally treat them accordingly.

I don't know. I cringe sometimes at some of the judges' comments. My daughter has so much respect for Mia Michaels, as a person and as a choreographer. However, I think Mia could easily crush someone's self-confidence. Although, my daughter says that it's much easier to take criticism/critiques from the experts because they know what they're talking about.

 

[tinker_stinker06]

So true! For my daughter, the hardest part of this entire dance thing is the auditioning. However, over the past year or so, I've seen her confidence in her dance abilities grow tremendously. The more you put yourself out there, the more you're going to grow.

yeah when i auditioned for Virginia school of the arts summer program i didnt make it the first time but i tried again the next year and i made it. i will say that i had alot of success dancing it was something that came naturally for me. how old is your daughter

There is a young girl (I think she's all of 11) at our studio who is FANTASTIC. Her solos place first almost all the time. Last year the company went to Nationals in another part of the country and although she made a strong showing, she wasn't at the top of the heap. She took it with such a good attitude...she started taking extra lessons and really upped the difficulty of her solos this year. It was good for her to see that yes, there ARE dancers better than her.

yeah i have seen girls like that and the one thing i hated most was girls who were good and knew that they were good. i hate cocky people and that is a horribly quality in a dancer

 

[luvflorida]

yeah when i auditioned for Virginia school of the arts summer program i didnt make it the first time but i tried again the next year and i made it. i will say that i had alot of success dancing it was something that came naturally for me. how old is your daughter

She is 18 and just finished her freshman year at the University of Arizona. She is a very talented dancer, but her level of confidence hasn't always matched her abilities. This past year has been one of tremendous growth for her.

 

[disneygals]

She is 18 and just finished her freshman year at the University of Arizona. She is a very talented dancer, but her level of confidence hasn't always matched her abilities. This past year has been one of tremendous growth for her.

yay! I'm so glad she's auditioning!