The Dance Mom Thread

[jwsqrdplus2]

The year DD's waist length hair had to be in tight curls, the recital order was (1) tap - tight curls; (2) ballet - bun; and (3) jazz - tight curls. I told the competition team director that it was totally beyond my skill level to get that giant mass of tight curls into a bun without ruining the tight curls or having the bun fall down, so she actually came into the dressing room and did the bun!

Our studio is very good about organizing the show to help the parents as much as possible. They would not have put that ballet dance in the middle. It would have been first or last.

They also look at quick changes when it comes to hair styles. When we had a 15-minute quick change at a competition, the studio decided to leave the hairtyle the same for both dances rather than making us try to change hair as well as costumes.

The parents have also been known to look at a schedule and adjust hair minorly. Once we had to go from 2 low ponies curly to 1/2 up, 1/2 down curly, so we had everyone put the hair in the 1/2 up, 1/2 down, then part it down the middle in the back for the 2 low ponies. Everyone used clear rubber bands for the 2 low ponies, then we all just cut the rubber bands out, fluffed the hair, and they were ready to go again!

 

[UMTerp]

Best of luck to everyone competing this weekend! We don't go again until next weekend.

UMTerp

 

[luvdisney00]

We are going to a competition next wkend and my daughter has 2 numbers back to back and then 2 numbers in between and 1 more. We are a small studio and this has never happened before. To make matters worse, they are supposed to have a low pony with rhinestones on a right part for the 1st one, Straight down with a clip pouf (no Part) for the second and back to the low pony for the 3rd. My daughter (12) has a natural left part and it doesn't go easily into a right part, and the idea of doing this is making me crazy.
Last year we worw 2 styles, a bun and a pony, but the top stayed the same. We did a rt part with gems, and a low curly pony (not supertight curls) wrapped it up to a bun, and down again. This was much better. And to make matters worse, I have 2 of them doing the competition!!

 

[missypie]

Anyone else going to the JUMP Convention/Competition at the DFW Hyatt this weekend?

 

[cabanafrau]

Anyone else going to the JUMP Convention/Competition at the DFW Hyatt this weekend?

We just did that in early Feb. here. DD & friends were completely over the moon to work w/ Danny from SYTYCD. He was incredibly nice & they learned a lot for such a big group of dancers. Their Nuvo conv. is coming in early April & we have high hopes about working w/ Travis & Ivan from the show, too.

 

[missypie]

We just did that in early Feb. here. DD & friends were completely over the moon to work w/ Danny from SYTYCD. He was incredibly nice & they learned a lot for such a big group of dancers. Their Nuvo conv. is coming in early April & we have high hopes about working w/ Travis & Ivan from the show, too.

Most of the girls (DD included) don't like conventions. We have to do two a year. JUMP starts tonight (but they don't have to go unless they are competing a solo). My DD has to be there by 7:15 am tomorrow. Their competition awards ceremony (for the older girls) is scheduled to start at 11 pm. Then back again at 7:30 on Sunday, not done until 6 pm Sunday. That schedule might work for younger girls, but these high school girls have lots of homework that they won't be doing this weekend.

 

[UMTerp]

I'm not familiar with the conventions. Can someone explain what goes on there and why would you want your dancers to participate? We are kind of new to this competive part of dance.

Thanks,

UMTerp

 

[luvflorida]

I'm not familiar with the conventions. Can someone explain what goes on there and why would you want your dancers to participate? We are kind of new to this competive part of dance.

Thanks,

UMTerp

There are competitions that only focus on competing, there are conventions that only focus on dancers taking classes, and there are competition/conventions that provide both.

At a convention, the dancers take a variety of classes that are taught by master teachers and/or teacher assistants. The dancers are usually placed in classes according to age and/or dance level.

Some dance conventions are better than others as far as what and how the classes are being taught. My daughter has attended some wonderful competition/conventions (NYCDA and Dancers Inc. come to mind) and learned an awful lot at some of the classes. Again, it depends on the quality of the instructors.

 

[luvflorida]

luvflorida...I hope your dd tries out for SYTYCD! So cool.

I can't wait til May 22nd for SYTYCD to start!

She can't try out for the upcoming season because auditioners must be at least 18 on the day of the audition (in March in whatever city the auditions are held in) and she won't turn 18 until late August. She'll have to shoot for next March. She does have a few dance friends that plan on trying out in NYC this year.

I'm with you! Yay for the next season of SYTYCD!!! We've gone to see the show on tour both years and really enjoyed it. Although, we're partial to the dancers in the second season. Alison Holker is my daughter's idol. She got to meet her last year in NYC at a performance of Revolution, an awesome show that Alison was amazing in!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

We just did that in early Feb. here. DD & friends were completely over the moon to work w/ Danny from SYTYCD. He was incredibly nice & they learned a lot for such a big group of dancers. Their Nuvo conv. is coming in early April & we have high hopes about working w/ Travis & Ivan from the show, too.

Several of the dancers (not my girls) from our studio did JUMP in Jan. The top 4 levels (we have 6 levels based on age and skills) did NUVO a couple of weeks ago. I missed Ivan's class (had to work on Sat of the convention), but I got to see Travis's class on Sunday. The dancers had a great time!

Head's up: if your studio is competing at NUVO, the judging is TOUGH!!! Our studio rarely walks away from a competition with less than a gold, and of 16 dances 6 got golds and the other 10 high silvers. At our competition as a whole (226 dances): no DJ's picks, a smattering of high golds, a larger smattering of golds, a ton of high silvers, and a few silvers. Even our studio owner and teachers said the scoring was tough. But it was fair!

 

[UMTerp]

There are competitions that only focus on competing, there are conventions that only focus on dancers taking classes, and there are competition/conventions that provide both.

At a convention, the dancers take a variety of classes that are taught by master teachers and/or teacher assistants. The dancers are usually placed in classes according to age and/or dance level.

Some dance conventions are better than others as far as what and how the classes are being taught. My daughter has attended some wonderful competition/conventions (NYCDA and Dancers Inc. come to mind) and learned an awful lot at some of the classes. Again, it depends on the quality of the instructors.

Thanks for the info! Something to look forward to (I guess).

UMTerp

 

[missypie]

I think the main thing the girls hate about the conventions is that they have to do all kinds of dance at the convention, even if they don't normally do it. So DD's friend who competes hip hop and tap is going to have to do ballet classes. DD who hates hip hop has to do hip hop class.

And almost everyone hates the auditions. My DD is medium height, blue eyes, blonde hair....very typical. We find that at least in our company, it's the girls who physically stand out in some way who get noticed and advance (e.g. the striking Korean-American girl, the heavy girl who is a fantastic dancer.)

 

[luvflorida]

Head's up: if your studio is competing at NUVO, the judging is TOUGH!!! Our studio rarely walks away from a competition with less than a gold, and of 16 dances 6 got golds and the other 10 high silvers. At our competition as a whole (226 dances): no DJ's picks, a smattering of high golds, a larger smattering of golds, a ton of high silvers, and a few silvers. Even our studio owner and teachers said the scoring was tough. But it was fair!

The key point is that you feel the judging was fair. I actually wish more competitions would be a bit tougher in their scoring. There are a lot of competitions out there that are way too liberal in handing out gold and platinum awards. When so many top awards are given out, it seems to diminish the significance of the award.

I remember a particular competition that my daughter's studio attended last year, and the jazz comp team (my daughter and five other girls) won a platinum award and took second place in their age group. Well, the studio director was completely surprised because she could tell that it wasn't one of their best performances, and the girls also knew their performance wasn't topnotch. I think the director took the trophy back to the studio and put it on a back shelf until she felt the girls had worked harder and really earned that platinum award!

BTW- The picture you posted of your daughter and Sabra is adorable! I bet your daughter was on cloud nine!

 

[cabanafrau]

Most of the girls (DD included) don't like conventions. We have to do two a year. JUMP starts tonight (but they don't have to go unless they are competing a solo). My DD has to be there by 7:15 am tomorrow. Their competition awards ceremony (for the older girls) is scheduled to start at 11 pm. Then back again at 7:30 on Sunday, not done until 6 pm Sunday. That schedule might work for younger girls, but these high school girls have lots of homework that they won't be doing this weekend.

Oh, I can totally relate to your situation. DD is still in 8th gr. & has been lucky enough to easily complete her homework quickly, if she ever winds up needing to bring it home. I'm wondering if high school will finally change that for her, & if it does, how that will work w/ her normal bruising dance sched., let alone the 18 hr. days conventions seem to generate. She's very well aware that if her academics aren't up to her standards, the dance door closes. I'm holding my breath, saying a prayer & hoping that won't happen.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

The key point is that you feel the judging was fair. I actually wish more competitions would be a bit tougher in their scoring. There are a lot of competitions out there that are way too liberal in handing out gold and platinum awards. When so many top awards are given out, it seems to diminish the significance of the award.

I remember a particular competition that my daughter's studio attended last year, and the jazz comp team (my daughter and five other girls) won a platinum award and took second place in their age group. Well, the studio director was completely surprised because she could tell that it wasn't one of their best performances, and the girls also knew their performance wasn't topnotch. I think the director took the trophy back to the studio and put it on a back shelf until she felt the girls had worked harder and really earned that platinum award!

BTW- The picture you posted of your daughter and Sabra is adorable! I bet your daughter was on cloud nine!

Thanks for the comment about DD and Sabra. She was totally on cloud nine about that! I had seen Sabra in the hallway, and I snagged DD between classes. I had her program/autograph book, and she saw that and asked me what was going on. I told her Sabra was there, and she lit up like a Chirstmas tree! I have some other pics with Sabra and several of the dancers from our studio, but I can't post those since I don't have permission from the other parents!

As far as the judging from NUVO, I thought it was totally tough and totally fair. Even though DD1 is in her 3rd year of competing, I am still new to the world of competitive dance. I was a swimmer in my youth, and the winner was who hit the wall first! The subjectivety of dance is foreign to me. But high silvers were placing in the top 3 scores for particular events. DD1's company tap dance got a gold and also received high score for junior/mini tap.

We have our next competiion in 6 weeks. DD1 is competing 5 dances (tap, jazz, hip hop, jazz trio and jazz duo) and DD2 is competing 2 (jazz/rhythmic and tap). Did I mention that jazz is DD1's forte?!? There is a possibility that the production number (includes DD1), but that is questionable right now (long story). DD1's duo is not finished yet (about another 35 secs of choreography to be learned), but it is supposed to compete!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Thanks for the comment about DD and Sabra. She was totally on cloud nine about that! I had seen Sabra in the hallway, and I snagged DD between classes. I had her program/autograph book, and she saw that and asked me what was going on. I told her Sabra was there, and she lit up like a Chirstmas tree! I have some other pics with Sabra and several of the dancers from our studio, but I can't post those since I don't have permission from the other parents!

As far as the judging from NUVO, I thought it was totally tough and totally fair. Even though DD1 is in her 3rd year of competing, I am still new to the world of competitive dance. I was a swimmer in my youth, and the winner was who hit the wall first! The subjectivety of dance is foreign to me. But high silvers were placing in the top 3 scores for particular events. DD1's company tap dance got a gold and also received high score for junior/mini tap.

We have our next competiion in 6 weeks. DD1 is competing 5 dances (tap, jazz, hip hop, jazz trio and jazz duo) and DD2 is competing 2 (jazz/rhythmic and tap). Did I mention that jazz is DD1's forte?!? There is a possibility that the production number (includes DD1), but that is questionable right now (long story). DD1's duo is not finished yet (about another 35 secs of choreography to be learned), but it is supposed to compete!

Is this the Encore one you are talking about? Are you doing the Encore nationals in Las Vegas. Looks to be up on our schedule for next year. We have LADF convention and competition this weekend although the younger girls are not competing in this one. Our senior company is and I'm anxious to see them dance together again.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Well, my dd's first competition is coming up this weekend. She is so excited! We are doing That's Entertainment, formerly Dance Arts Plus. She and her group are in the hip-hop category. This is their first time, as her studio only started competing last year with one group. They did really well, receiving 1st High Gold honors. This year they held auditions are are now entering four groups into the competition. I think it's great that she'll now experience this other side of dance besides performing for recitals. Please wish us (them) luck!

Not sure yet what else they'll do right now as they are just getting their feet wet, but I know we'll do Dance Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure in May.

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Well, my dd's first competition is coming up this weekend. She is so excited! We are doing That's Entertainment, formerly Dance Arts Plus. She and her group are in the hip-hop category. This is their first time, as her studio only started competing last year with one group. They did really well, receiving 1st High Gold honors. This year they held auditions are are now entering four groups into the competition. I think it's great that she'll now experience this other side of dance besides performing for recitals. Please wish us (them) luck!

Not sure yet what else they'll do right now as they are just getting their feet wet, but I know we'll do Dance Fest at Six Flags Great Adventure in May.

Good luck to your dd! I love the picture in your sig! Too cute! let us know how it goes!!!

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Good luck to your dd! I love the picture in your sig! Too cute! let us know how it goes!!!

Thank you so much!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

I posted this on the wrong thread!!! Sorry!