The Dance Mom Thread

[jwsqrdplus2]

Dd was practicing her Illusion this week and kicked over a lamp that was on a table. How many times do I have to tell this girl to go to the middle of the room and push the furniture out of the way if she is going to be needing more space. Guess its more fun to see if you can squeeze it into the area.

DD1 has to do leaps and turns to go anywhere in the house. Get up from the couch and go to the bathroom, leap across the floor. Go get a drink of water, turns through the kitchen (I guess the tile floor is better for turns than the carpet in the rest of the house!). The only time she doesn't do leaps or turns is going up or down the stairs. I guess I should be greatful for that!

And she is determined to get her aerial, so all the furniture is against the walls in the living room with the tumbling mats in the middle. Such fun!

DD2 just taps everywhere (they just finished learning their tap dance) regardless of shoes or surface!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

Hey fellow dance moms, I need some advice.

DD1 is in a duo. It is supposed to compete in 5 weeks, and the dance is not finished yet (about 25 seconds to go). Her partner has been out of town for 2 weeks, and is now going to be out of town for another 2. And I don't really want to sound like I am bragging, but DD1 is the stronger dancer in the duo. I'm not sure that DD's partner can actually learn the dance well enough to get it cleaned in time for the competition in 5 weeks, and I'm beginning to worry about the one that is 3 weeks after that! Not to mention the group dances that are competing that this girl has missed 2 weeks of rehearsals for; at least those dances are finished!

Some back story: DD's partner (M) has "family issues." M's parents never married, but they all moved here with dad ~18 months ago. M's mom is a major drama queen. The relationship between M's parents is currently very strained, and in my opinion, the only reason M's mom hasn't packed up the kids and moved back is because of dance. I fully expect them to leave after Nationals and go back home. M's mom's cousin died 2 weeks ago which is why they went home to begin with, then a grandfather got sick, so they stayed. Now an aunt needs help, so they are staying longer. A part of me seriously wonders if they plan to come back at all!

So my issue is what to do. I already plan to talk to the choreographer and director and ask that the duo does not compete in 5 weeks. But my question is what to do beyond that if anything. Other random thoughts that ran through my mind were killing the duo completely (not fair to my daughter or the choreographer) or seeing if we could replace M with another dancer (not fair to M, but there are a couple of other girls that could pick up the dance quickly and do it well). Thoughts?

 

[cabanafrau]

Dealing w/ the absence of a partner in a duo is a really sticky issue. It's bad enough in the group numbers, but w/ the time & money put into the duo, it's compounded tremendously. I really feel for your DD (& her mom), but my heart goes out to the other girl, particularly considering how turbulent her home life must feel. I know for my oldest DD, dance has been her place to park a lot of her frustrations & work out a lot of her issues when she's stressing -- and she lives in a boring family w/ no drama. I can only imagine what it must be like for this girl who probably really needs her dance outlet when the rest of her life seems upside down.

I think your best bet is talking to someone at your studio or dance company. Is it possible to get in touch w/ the girl's parent(s)? I would think the studio would be willing to help, as they need to clarify things for her spot in the group #. I know when they have to re-choreograph for the absence of a dancer, it takes some time.

Just today I found out my DD & a friend have sought out another dancer to step into their upcoming # because one of the girls is now out w/ severe knee issues & may never dance again. (Say a prayer for her, please, she really loves to dance.) DD & friend started teaching this girl the dance, convinced her & then presented it to their instructor. Luckily they won't have to re-choreograph the number now.

I say try to get someone from the studio invested in finding out what's going on & then make your plans from there. I hope all works out well for your DD & for the other girl. Best of luck!

 

[AZMickeyfans]

So how did everyone do this weekend. We had a difficult convention. hip hop is just not for my daughter or her 2 friends. They enjoy ballet or lyrical more. Unfortunately this convention and of course many of them are very hip hop oriented. It would be different if they incorporated other types of dance but they made them all "funky". "Funky" ballet is not my daughters idea of a good time.

 

[luvdisney00]

So how did everyone do this weekend. We had a difficult convention. hip hop is just not for my daughter or her 2 friends. They enjoy ballet or lyrical more. Unfortunately this convention and of course many of them are very hip hop oriented. It would be different if they incorporated other types of dance but they made them all "funky". "Funky" ballet is not my daughters idea of a good time.

We did one like that in Jan. My daughter has never taken hip hop, and was also "out of her element".
My DD 12 did her 1st solo this past weekend. I was so proud of her, she did a beautiful job!

 

[Xcited4Disney]

My dd and her team did great this weekend. This comp had a great balance, IMO, of many dance styles. The girls had a great experience. They received high gold honors as well as a special award for most energy. It was the 1st time for us and we enjoyed watching the other schools in our area perform as well.

 

[cabanafrau]

So how did everyone do this weekend. We had a difficult convention. hip hop is just not for my daughter or her 2 friends. They enjoy ballet or lyrical more. Unfortunately this convention and of course many of them are very hip hop oriented. It would be different if they incorporated other types of dance but they made them all "funky". "Funky" ballet is not my daughters idea of a good time.

Hip hop is completely dominating the dance world right now. I agree it has a lot of new stuff to offer (Beyonce booty shake aside ), but I'm amazed at how it's now EXPECTED in ballet & ballroom ? I hear you, my DD is only now learning to be free enough to let go & attempt anything resembling hip hop. She has frequently been given the critique, no, no, no, it's hip hop, not ballet.

 

[UMTerp]

DD's duet got a Gold award in their second competition so she was happy.

jwsqrdplus2 - Sorry to hear about the duo problems. I don't know what I would do in that situation but I think I would at least try to cancel the competition in 5 weeks. You don't want to pay that money for nothing. Can someone else wear the costume and learn the dance? Good luck!

UMTerp

 

[disneygals]

Glad everyone enjoyed their competitions. I am also GLAD that our studio cancelled our April and July comps. That money saved can go to our family disney trip.

Being a ballet dancer is tough at competitions lately. One teacher called her girls "Jazzerinas" when she was getting frustrated teaching them a dance.

 

[undercovermom]

Bittersweet news. My dd's team competed on Saturday in Staten Island, but she had a prior engagement and didn't compete.

They won a Grand National Championship.

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Bittersweet news. My dd's team competed on Saturday in Staten Island, but she had a prior engagement and didn't compete.

They won a Grand National Championship.

That's great! Congrats to her team! I know it's bittersweet,but she can still compete with them at Nationals, can't she?

 

[AZMickeyfans]

Congrats to everyone on their competitions this weekend!

And I hope all the kids who had injuries are healing up well.

We have this week off of dance for spring break. Technically our spring break is next week but the director picked the wrong school district to base her break off of so we didnt get ours coordinating. I was a little upset but then I realized my daughter can actually come home from school for a change!!! So we have an easy week this week then next we just go to dance in the afternoon. 2 easy weeks for her!!! We were not going out of town anyway.

So what is everyone's competition/recital hair like? Obviously for ballet its probably a bun but what are the other dances like?

My daughters used to be a bun for everything slicked back with a left part. I loved that hairdo. She looked so elegant in it. Then, and this is all our old studio, they changed it to a bun but with a ratted poof at the top of the head and take a section in the front and slick back around the poof to the bun. It did NOT look good at all. I see it as trying to get that edgy look teenagers have with their pony tails but it looked ridiculous with a bun.

Our new and current studio has half up half down straight hair with a part over the right eye. I'm having trouble getting her part over the right. Everything in my being tells me to part to the left! She has 2 ballet dances so for the recital 1 will be 1st after the production number, then the other one will be last just before the finale production. Luckily she put them in the beginning and the end for hair purposes but we still have to bring a straightener if a wave develops after the 1st ballet bun.

 

[dislurker4toolong]

I havent been on here for a while and let me say its been a hard month DD had torn a few things in her knee the past August and at that time the doctor said that there was no need for surgery. Just to take a month break with little dance. Fast foward to 3 weeks ago dd was apparently some how running in her sleep all of a sudden she hears a pop and theres a large searing pain it apparently lasted for about 20 minutes then she went back to sleep 1 hour later she was running her sleep again and she hears another pop lot of pain last about 20 minutes goes away back to sleep then the next morning she got up to walk on it it hurt very much apparently but she didnt tell me and just went to school. That evening she had bible study and so her pastor picks her up for church they went to his house and she was sitting on his trapoline with a few other friends her pastor then jumps on the trampoline and starts doing flips and kept landing on her knee he didnt notice she was in pain so continued on so when she got home it was very swollen and so I took her to the doctor and he said she tore some more things in her knee and needed surgery she ended up having it last monday he says she will be out for about 4-7 months so her dance season is probally over hope others are having a brighter season on the bright side her team got 1st Place in Jazz,tap in Las Vegas last weekend

 

[AZMickeyfans]

I havent been on here for a while and let me say its been a hard month DD had torn a few things in her knee the past August and at that time the doctor said that there was no need for surgery. Just to take a month break with little dance. Fast foward to 3 weeks ago dd was apparently some how running in her sleep all of a sudden she hears a pop and theres a large searing pain it apparently lasted for about 20 minutes then she went back to sleep 1 hour later she was running her sleep again and she hears another pop lot of pain last about 20 minutes goes away back to sleep then the next morning she got up to walk on it it hurt very much apparently but she didnt tell me and just went to school. That evening she had bible study and so her pastor picks her up for church they went to his house and she was sitting on his trapoline with a few other friends her pastor then jumps on the trampoline and starts doing flips and kept landing on her knee he didnt notice she was in pain so continued on so when she got home it was very swollen and so I took her to the doctor and he said she tore some more things in her knee and needed surgery she ended up having it last monday he says she will be out for about 4-7 months so her dance season is probally over hope others are having a brighter season on the bright side her team got 1st Place in Jazz,tap in Las Vegas last weekend

Oh my poor girl. I'm sorry it got so bad. I hope she has a full and painless recovery from surgery. Poor thing. I wish her my best.

 

[UMTerp]

undercovermom - So sorry to hear that your DD had to miss that!!!!

dislurker4toolong - Hope you DD has a quick recovery!

UMTerp

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

undercovermom, that's great for your DD's team. So sorry she missed it.

dislurker, ouch! I have bad knees, so I know what your DD is going through! I hope her recovery time is short, and she is dancing again soon.

Well, DD's duo problem may have worked itself out. I got a call last night from the other mom saying they are back in town, and confirming the girls had rehearsal today (hopefully they will finish the dance today). We have Spring Break next week, and the choreographer is willing to come in one day next week and do a marathon session with the girls to clean it up and prep it for the competition. I'm still very nervous about this duo, but we'll see what happens.

Hairstyles:

Our first year, we had a company hairstyle that everyone used (left part, 2 low braids that were then twisted up in the back). For me, it was easy (other than DD's natural part is a right part!). Others didn't care for it.

Our second year, we had a company style (a "pouf" in the front with a rhinestone barrette behind the pouf, then an "unfinished" bun (ends fanned out over the top of the bun) with another rhinestone barrette on top of the bun under the fan). I hated doing that style! Fortunately, we only ended up having to use it for production becasue the choreographers for her other dances wanted something different for each dance! Her tap dance and trio were 1/2 up, 1/2 down curly, and her jazz dance was 2 low ponies, left part, curly.

This year, I have caught a break with DD1. Her hairstlyes are either low pony, left part with a rhinestone pony barrette or low bun, left part. Thankfully no curls this year (except her trio, but that chroeographer will let us stick with a low pony if we have time constraints). Unfortunately, not so much with DD2. She needs high, right, side pony crimped (yes, crimped!) for her jazz dance, and 2 low braids, left part for her tap. I really hope her jazz dance goes first because it will be easier to go from the pony to the braids than the other way around!

 

[cabanafrau]

I am happy to hear that your duo problem is well on it's way to working out well for everyone, jwrsqrdplus2. I am sure w/ some hard effort put in, the results will be amazing! Best of luck to your DD & her partner.

Dislurker, I wish your DD a speedy & complete recovery. I can't wait to hear you come back & share w/ us her triumphs. We'll be cheering her on.

 

[undercovermom]

Sorry to heear about the injury I hate it when either of my girls gets hurt, and hate it even more if the injury means they can't participate with their teams.

I'm headed back to Orlando for a cheerleading competition this weekend, then in two weeks I will be off to Myrtle Beach for a dance competition. gotta love those frequent flyer miles.

 

[missypie]

My DD's company just started work on a lyrical....they are dancing to an a capella version of the National Anthem. I think that's kind of weird. Will the audience be expected to stand?

 

[UMTerp]

My DD's company just started work on a lyrical....they are dancing to an a capella version of the National Anthem. I think that's kind of weird. Will the audience be expected to stand?

Interesting...you'll have to let us know if they do.