The Dance Mom Thread

[missypie]

Please continue to pray for my DD's company director...she's going through chemo, under age 30 and is now bald and very ill. We are doing all we can for her, but nothing we can do can help her feel better physically.

 

[luvflorida]

Please continue to pray for my DD's company director...she's going through chemo, under age 30 and is now bald and very ill. We are doing all we can for her, but nothing we can do can help her feel better physically.

My heart goes out to your company director and I will certainly say more prayers for her and continue to send good thoughts her way. I can't imagine what she is going through right now.

I bet, though, that she knows everyone around her is doing everything possible to help her feel better and just knowing she is surrounded by loving, caring friends and family WILL have an impact on her physically as well as mentally.

I would love to send a card to her, if you think she wouldn't mind getting a card from a stranger. Please PM me with an address if you would like me to send a card or a little something to her, or if there is something else I could do to help.

 

[EvieGirlsMommy]

I was reading through some of the older posts about the costumes they're putting small (and even bigger) children in. One of the reasons I didn't pick a certain studio in our area is because they not only have a cover girl and cover princess.... they have a centerfold. The 2007-2008 centerfold girl was maybe 9 or 10. The girl can really dance good. She was on that TV show about Americas Got Talent or something. She's in some tiny little pink outfit and shes STRADDELING a Harley!!!! I saw that and I told my MIL that that will NEVER be my daughter. I'm talking the kids legs were on each side of the seat and she was leaning forward and since she's starting to sprout, there was the tiniest bit of cleavage. I wasn't impressed. Now, the dance was to Material Girls I think it was. Something like that. It was a precious dance. But, it'd have still been cute if the girls were covered. And the one boy had this whole pimpin suit on. Not like, purple suede with a big feather hat or anything... but the boy was looking good. They gave him an awesome costume. Sparkles and everything.
They had this other costume where it was a bikini top that was gold with big sequins. Maybe they weren't sequins. You know those purses that were popular a few years back where they were silver or gold circles that would move as you walk?? They were attatched by like some thread or something. Yea, I'm not that great at the whole describing stuff thing. Well... The bikini top and bottom were made of that and it was two separate pieces. Some costumes have a flesh color mesh material to make it look like they have a bare tummy, but I was seeing belly button and the little indentation we have by our hips. I thought it was a bit much. I do not want my 6 year old dressing like she's out walking the streets trying to make some money for her pimp. NOT my idea of cute. Ohhh, and in a number the older girls did in a hip hop number... they had this awful lime green belly shirt with these tiny little shorts and suspenders with a newsboy cap. Well, this girl was a bit too big for a belly shirt. Why do they make girls who are probably already self concious about their tummies prance around on stage with that?? Hell, I'm half her size and I wouldn't wear a belly shirt. And with her size, she had a pretty large chest. The top needed to be a little bigger. Those things were about to fall out of her top. I was covering my eyes because I thought there was going to be another Janet jackson moment!! If I was her mother, I'd have had some serious problems. So... we went to a different studio. All the teachers are former Saintsations (New Orleans Saints dancers) or VooDoo Dolls (New Orleans Arena Football dancers) and one of the women is a choreographer for Janet jackson for her tour and videos. And... the girls are all covered by their costumes =) I can't wait for her to start!!!!!!

 

[czycropper]

I just found this thread and decided to post after reading the first 10 pages. It's nice seeing some of the posts.

The studio that my DDs dance is pretty unique in that it doesn't do a recital every year, every other year it does a MS Dance fundraiser since the Director of the school has MS and it only competes in a couple of competitions a year so we don't have a super crazy schedule like some other schools in the area.

I have two DDs that dance:

DD10 1/2 - been dancing since she was 2 1/2 - that's if you call that first year dancing
She's been competing since she was 7 and did her first solo at 8 (which received Gold & High Gold at the two competitions she performed).
She just got back from dancing at Disney through Disney Magic Days-I should said we all just got back and she can't wait till they go again possibly in 2010
She absolutely loves ballet and will be going on pointe sometime this year and hopefully it will be towards the end of the year since I'm just scared and she's just excited. She takes jazz, lyrical, ballet & production-all with higher level girls than her age.
She aspires to be a Broadway Dancer like one of her teachers who is currently touring with Smokey Joe's Cafe and will be in Gypsy in the fall-so my DDs schedule has been switched around so that she can take classes from her on Mondays.

DD8 - been dancing since she was 5 and is not into ballet just jazz. She competed for the first time this year in an ensemble jazz number which won High Gold so of course, she's hooked. She's not as committed as her sister but is a pretty good dancer.

Now, I'm going to continue reading all the posts

 

[dreamer17555]

I was reading through some of the older posts about the costumes they're putting small (and even bigger) children in. I do not want my 6 year old dressing like she's out walking the streets trying to make some money for her pimp. NOT my idea of cute. Ohhh, and in a number the older girls did in a hip hop number... they had this awful lime green belly shirt with these tiny little shorts and suspenders with a newsboy cap. Well, this girl was a bit too big for a belly shirt. Why do they make girls who are probably already self concious about their tummies prance around on stage with that??

Our Studio does have our girls tend to show their stomachs. This year Cat's main dance was to Itsy Bitsy (Polka Bot Bikini). The costumes are custom made in NY and do not have any mesh covering her stomach. I thought she looked fine. A little stomach showing doesn't bother me as long as the moves aren't suggestive. My DD loves to wear booty shorts and dance tops but she can only wear them at dance. Even to and from dance she has to have some sort of cover up on. She has been told a million times she can show her stomach at dance and no where else until she is in college.

Now at Showstopper East Coast there were another six year old group that was wearing what was MADE to look like hot pink underwire bra and panties with black lace on them. They even did the "bra clasps" is rhinestones and they danced to "If You Got It, Flaunt It." The moves were very suggestive, the clothing was over the top and the song isn't six year old appropriate. I was so shocked that 15 mom's would agree to that routine.

And not all dancers (even the bigger ones) are self concious about their bodies, in fact some of the bigger ones at our studio seem to care the least. They know they work hard and they are fine with whatever size they are. Just because you thought she looked bad maybe she thought she looked good.

-Becca-

 

[EvieGirlsMommy]

Our Studio does have our girls tend to show their stomachs. This year Cat's main dance was to Itsy Bitsy (Polka Bot Bikini). The costumes are custom made in NY and do not have any mesh covering her stomach. I thought she looked fine. A little stomach showing doesn't bother me as long as the moves aren't suggestive. My DD loves to wear booty shorts and dance tops but she can only wear them at dance. Even to and from dance she has to have some sort of cover up on. She has been told a million times she can show her stomach at dance and no where else until she is in college.

Now at Showstopper East Coast there were another six year old group that was wearing what was MADE to look like hot pink underwire bra and panties with black lace on them. They even did the "bra clasps" is rhinestones and they danced to "If You Got It, Flaunt It." The moves were very suggestive, the clothing was over the top and the song isn't six year old appropriate. I was so shocked that 15 mom's would agree to that routine.

And not all dancers (even the bigger ones) are self concious about their bodies, in fact some of the bigger ones at our studio seem to care the least. They know they work hard and they are fine with whatever size they are. Just because you thought she looked bad maybe she thought she looked good.

-Becca-

A little bit of tummy I can handle. But these girls were esentially in a bikini bathing suit flaunting what God gave them. Save it till they're older. We bought my angel some shirts and pants to wear to and from class once it starts up.

the girl I was referring to seemed to have an issue with it. She kept trying to pull her top down some to cover her tummy. There was this other girl though who, not quite as big, had no problems what so ever with it. She went out there and danced her heart out. Good for her. It's great to have that kind of confidence in yourself. But, the teachers get to know these students for a little while before they get the costumes... so why not make sure that it's a suitable costume for everyone? I felt bad for the girl because you could see from how many times she was tugging at her top and bottoms. Seems to me she'd have preferred a little more. I mean, would it have really taken away from the dance to have the top made a little longer so as to completely cover her up?

And I completely agree about the suggestive moves. They had some little tiny girls (i think 4) in a bee-bop class. I know there is a name for this move, but I have no idea what it is... I think something like popping. I THINK. It's like they stand with their legs shoulder length apart and they move their hips back and forth really fast to make their booty jiggle with their backsides facing us. I'd have a bit of a problem if this is how they were teaching a 4 year old how to dance.

This doesn't happen at the studio I have her at. All of their little girls are dressed like little girls. They are allowed to wear make up, but not to the extent that the older girls do. And the director said no tummy showing till they're 12. I get to keep my little girl a little girl =) Not everybody will see her (kinda round, but soo cute) belly.

 

[missypie]

My heart goes out to your company director and I will certainly say more prayers for her and continue to send good thoughts her way. I can't imagine what she is going through right now.

I bet, though, that she knows everyone around her is doing everything possible to help her feel better and just knowing she is surrounded by loving, caring friends and family WILL have an impact on her physically as well as mentally.

I would love to send a card to her, if you think she wouldn't mind getting a card from a stranger. Please PM me with an address if you would like me to send a card or a little something to her, or if there is something else I could do to help.

I PMed with a link to a web site where you can read about our director and leave a message if you want. If anyone else wants the link, PM me and I'll be glad to give it to you.

 

[missypie]

We were also at Showstoppers East Coast and I was amazed at how "un" suggestive the teen and senior dances/costumes were. Here in Texas, we seem to have a lot of groups that only need a pole; I half expect the guys in the audience to rush the stage with ones and fives to tuck into their costumes! What makes us mad is that those dances do well!

Our school is very conscious of not being too suggestive and for costuming girls appropriately. It was kind of funny a few years ago, however. The girls were in 4th-6th grade and they had a one piece bell-bottomed costume with the sides cut out. It looked fine because all the girls were built like Gumby....only by competition season, one girl "blossomed" and the costume looked quite different on her new curvy "figure."

 

[dreamer17555]

This doesn't happen at the studio I have her at. All of their little girls are dressed like little girls. They are allowed to wear make up, but not to the extent that the older girls do. And the director said no tummy showing till they're 12. I get to keep my little girl a little girl =) Not everybody will see her (kinda round, but soo cute) belly.

See I am fine with her showing her tummy now but as she gets older I don't know why but our studio seems to have the preteen and early teen girls covered up the most. Maybe they understand that it is a tough time for the girls and they don't want the girls to feel uncomfortable. I agreee it was a shame that a teacher would pick something that they knew a student would feel uncomfortable with.

Our girls all wear the same stage maekup but after being in competition for awhile I can say our studio is SO much better than a lot of them. What is with the fake glitter eyelashes for five year olds? Really? I can't even imagine trying to stick those on my DD! What a nightmare!

-Becca-

 

[kaysmommie]

Please continue to pray for my DD's company director...she's going through chemo, under age 30 and is now bald and very ill. We are doing all we can for her, but nothing we can do can help her feel better physically.

Thoughts and prayers for your Director .

We were also at Showstoppers East Coast and I was amazed at how "un" suggestive the teen and senior dances/costumes were. Here in Texas, we seem to have a lot of groups that only need a pole; I half expect the guys in the audience to rush the stage with ones and fives to tuck into their costumes! What makes us mad is that those dances do well!

Our school is very conscious of not being too suggestive and for costuming girls appropriately. It was kind of funny a few years ago, however. The girls were in 4th-6th grade and they had a one piece bell-bottomed costume with the sides cut out. It looked fine because all the girls were built like Gumby....only by competition season, one girl "blossomed" and the costume looked quite different on her new curvy "figure."

I'm so thankful, like you that our school never has any suggestive dances in their shows or recitals. I would not send DD to a school that is inappropriate. it's a shame those kinds of dances do well. My DD has a friend with a teenage sister. even though DD and her freind are 8 after she spent some time over there she wasn't dancing like and 8 Yr. old . I was very nice about it either, told her that was very "hoochie mama" for a young lady. Certainly not something she learned in dance school. DD is taking a break this summer, she did a week of dance camp and that is all. But we start up again the middle of August.

 

[dreamer17555]

Kaymommie-

Did you decide to look into different studios for your daughter? If she really loves to dance she might be better at a studio with a solid competition team. Our company team starts at age four and they compete at 5 competitions a year, the older girls compete at 6 a year.

Our studio doesn't do levels per say but to get on company you have a very hard audition process which means all of the girls are close to the same level. The better ones tend to get spotlight parts. They also keep the same girls together for their ballet and dance technique classes so those girls are very close and learning at the same level. Its a good system imo.

Trust me once you get into comp it is a whole different world. Really.

-Becca-

 

[jen0610]

the girl I was referring to seemed to have an issue with it. She kept trying to pull her top down some to cover her tummy. There was this other girl though who, not quite as big, had no problems what so ever with it. She went out there and danced her heart out. Good for her. It's great to have that kind of confidence in yourself. But, the teachers get to know these students for a little while before they get the costumes... so why not make sure that it's a suitable costume for everyone? I felt bad for the girl because you could see from how many times she was tugging at her top and bottoms. Seems to me she'd have preferred a little more. I mean, would it have really taken away from the dance to have the top made a little longer so as to completely cover her up?

I know first hand that some times the ill fitting costumes on the larger girls is not all ways the teacher or studio's fault. Some times, yes they don't pick the best costumes for the heaviest of the dancers, but as a parent you need to make sure the costumes being selected, is ordered in a size that will cover your child.

Take my DD11's tap class two years ago. They were tapping to a Dixie Chicks song, so they went with a cowboy girl outfit. Their outfit was a short jean material looking skirt trimmed with red checkered material and white lace. The top was a sleevelss blouse that tied in the front. It was to show about 4-5 inches at the midriff. There were 2 heavier girls in the class. The company that these costumes were coming from, the sizes run small. The one mom, listened to the studio and order her DD 2 sizes bigger than the book said. The other mom, told the studio to just order the size the book called for. Trying to be proactive, they actually ordered this girl 1 size up.

Needless to say, when the costumes came in, the one girls fit her just fine. The other girl, the gap between the top and the bottom, became a 10 inch gap. The girl kept trying to pull the skirt up and the shirt down. But every time she moved, they moved right back to where they started. Her mom insisted that the costume company sent the wrong size. The studio had to get the costume book and her order form and the actual order form sent to the company out and show the mom that in fact, the costume ordered and sent was actually larger than what she had put down on her sheet.

Because of this one mom's refusal to listen and her girls total discomfort in the costume as it was, we had to go get tank tops for the girls to wear under the shirt and tucked into the skirt. While it looked ok, it wasn't as cute as it should have been.

And during recital, guess which child kept pulling up their skirt and trying to pull the shirt down.

I know from being heavy myself growing up and dancing, that costumes can be a pain. Some of my costumes looked good on me and other times, not so good. But we always made sure that the size ordered would cover me. If they ran small, we ordered bigger. If ordering bigger, ment that we might have to take it in a little, so be it.

 

[missypie]

I dunno. I think that the teachers at some studios must not even LOOK at the girls in their company. If you have one girl with a huge jelly belly, why in the world would you choose a bare belly costume when there are SO many other options? There was one dance we saw this season where the movement of one poor child's bare belly was so distracting that it was hard to look at anything else. Poor thing! Again, with a seemingly limitless number of things you can do with costumes, that choice was unneccessary. We've also seen very well endowned teens in tops that were terrifyingly scanty....if the AUDIENCE is in fear of involuntary exposure, what must the poor dancer feel like?!

 

[dreamer17555]

See our studio has rail thin girls and some bigger girls. The teachers measure the girls and then order the costumes so us moms never really have a problem, in fact they tend to order a little big and on occasion have had to have a few costumes taken in and up.

I feel blessed that our company director really knows and cares about all of the girls and chooses costumes they are comfortable in. A lot of the bigger girls are fine with showing a bit of tummy but some of the them aren't and she keeps all of that in mind and our studio has some amazing costumes.

My question is don't the parents see the rough draft or mock up of what the costumes will most likely look like before they are ordered? And couldn't they bring an issues to the teacher? We always see a mock up design the second week of August. The costumes are ordered in October allowing time for changes. Of course ours are custom made meaning any design changes are easier than having to use a catalog for a whole new concept. I had thought all studios were similar.

-Becca-

 

[AZMickeyfans]

See our studio has rail thin girls and some bigger girls. The teachers measure the girls and then order the costumes so us moms never really have a problem, in fact they tend to order a little big and on occasion have had to have a few costumes taken in and up.

I feel blessed that our company director really knows and cares about all of the girls and chooses costumes they are comfortable in. A lot of the bigger girls are fine with showing a bit of tummy but some of the them aren't and she keeps all of that in mind and our studio has some amazing costumes.

My question is don't the parents see the rough draft or mock up of what the costumes will most likely look like before they are ordered? And couldn't they bring an issues to the teacher? We always see a mock up design the second week of August. The costumes are ordered in October allowing time for changes. Of course ours are custom made meaning any design changes are easier than having to use a catalog for a whole new concept. I had thought all studios were similar.

-Becca-

This is pretty much how our studio does it. On company all of the girls are very thin but we have some length issues so they have to be adjusted. For instance, my daughter is the tallest of her age/level. This year since she will be with 9-11 year olds it might not be such a problem because she is the same height. Last year she was about 8 inches taller than the next girl in the class but is really thin around so they have to get the costume larger then take it in around the tummy to fit so its not so baggy. Even with the customs there is a height issue sometimes.

I've seen some ill fitting costumes at performances and I wonder why there wasnt any alterations going on beforehand.

 

[missypie]

We order our costumes but have a great relationship with a lady who makes the warm-ups, etc. She does the alterations if the fit is not perfect. We parents do not see a draft of the costumes before they are made, however.

This year the girls thought the tap costumes were "boring" when they arrived, so off they went to the alterations lady so one leg could be cut off each one.

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

At our studio, we get to see pictures/mock ups of the costumes before they are ordered/made. Fortunately, the teachers tend towards the conservative, so I have never had a costume issue. I will say that while our dancers are always covered appropriately, the teachers (for both company and recital) do not always take into account body types. For example, DD1's tap company costume was adorable (except for the blasted hat!!!):

But as you can see, my DD is fairly tall and thin. We have a couple of girls who are heavier, and that red unitard with a belt cutting them in half sis nothing for those girls.

And my DD also has height issues! She is very long all around including her torso. So a 1-piece costume has to be ordered 1-2 sizes bigger than a 2-piece costume. Then is has to be altered to fit. Fortunately, we have a dance mom who does alterations to help pay her bill!

 

[missypie]

Early on in this thread I believe I told the story of a girl who quit Company as a sophomore on a Monday when there was a competition 4 days later; the rest of the Company had to work late all week to redo the dances without her. Her reason for quitting: She didn't want to have to miss the drill team banquet, which was also on Friday night.

Fast forward a year and a half later. The same young lady is one of two Senior drill team officers. Today was an 8 hour at-school practice and they leave for camp tomorrow. The young lady came in, not in dance attire, and told the drill team instructor that she was quitting!!!

 

[dreamer17555]

Back to dance. My DD's studio starts up this week. She has had three weeks off from Dance and has been driving me nuts asking when she goes back.

I am in the middle of a seperation and thought I might have to pull her from some of the company teams, luckily her studio really wants her on those teams and has offered me tons of time to pay. The only thing they care about is that she is in class. It is so nice to be at a studio where they care about more than money.

So what about everyone else? Classes starting up soon? Everyone excited for new songs and costumes?

-Becca-

 

[Xcited4Disney]

Just found out yesterday that our studio was the victim of a fire early Saturday morning. My dd is devastated. Classes usually start the first week of September just like regular school. The rumor is that the owner will be looking for a temporary (or permanent) space starting this week. I hear that the most damage was done to the 1st floor. She has a 2nd location, but it is too small to accommodate everyone.

I'll keep y'all posted.