WWYD - Disney or Dance Recital?

[KristinBelle]

If you do not do the recital you may be asked to leave the dance class. From now until the recital they will be practicing for it & your DD will not have a spot. The recital is a money maker for the school.

If you have other places to do dance next year I say go on the trip.

At that age the kids are going to be lined up in one or two lines, there won't be any drill work. The teacher can put her on an end and let her dance during class and then at the recital she won't create an "open space" in the line up. It would be different with older kids that change spots but with 2-3 years olds it's no big deal.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I say--whatever you want. She is 3...so she won't remember that her first recital was skipped.

Around here, we had to have our decisions and costume payments in full before Christmas..but we know from the beginning what week the recital is.

Honestly--she will be just as cute at age 4 in her "first" recital as she would be now.

The 3-4 yo's is such a cute age and at ours they get the biggest AWWWWWWWWW!

With my 2nd--she had been looking forward to dance the entire year she was 2 and when she started dance she knew about and looked forward to the recital. For her, it would have been complete devistation. So with our 2nd-we did schedule around it. But again we knew when it was.

How they behave in class is not necessariliy an indicator of how they will do on stage. They could be Shirley Temple in class but then b/c on stage--and I have seen the reverse as well.

But I wouldn't fret that she is missing the recital this year.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Another vote for "go to Disney"! My DD3 is in her first recital this spring. DD11 is in her 9th year--beliee me, I know recitals! At the preschool age, the "dance" is very simple, and basically, you're praying that your child doesn't wet her pants or fall off stage. They're adorable, to be sure, and do love the costumes and hair and make-up and all. I would pick the recital for an older child, where the routine is more complicated and there's more of a commitment. But at 3, I would say Disney.

I would inform the dance instructor as soon as possible. As someone else said, they can put your DD on the end, so she won't be missed by the other girls.

And I'm also surprised that they didn't inform you of the recital dates early on. We knew ours when we signed up--all the particulars (dates, times, cost of seats, that you would be expected to work at one date, refund policy, etc.)

Have a magical time in Disney. I'll tell you, it seems like yesterday when DD11 was in her first recital--now she's actually skilled and graceful. Sometimes I miss the little 3yo!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

If you do not do the recital you may be asked to leave the dance class. From now until the recital they will be practicing for it & your DD will not have a spot. The recital is a money maker for the school.

If you have other places to do dance next year I say go on the trip.

They don't do that around here. Recitals are always optional and they will position the child who will not be there on the ends where her absence won't be bad. They just don't go to the dress rehearsals.

If a school asks you to leave--I would question the school.

These are 3yo's....not professional dancers.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

One more thought--if the costumes are not expensive, just get her one any way. That way she can still be in pictures and such. I've known families to do this. The children we have known have been much less disappointed--b/c all they really care about is the fancy pretty outfit.

It's like "Recital? What Recital?"

 

[Tinkim]

I would say go to Disney this time since she is so young. From your post it sounds like she may not be thrilled with being on stage with so many people watching. Maybe she will be more ready next year. My DD has been doing dance for six years now. Every year, I see a bunch of little ones up on the stage who are so unhappy and crying through the whole thing. My friend and I find the recital very stressful as adults every year with the practice and make-up, costume, hair, etc. and I know it can be stressful for the kids being separated from the parents and having stage fright. My friend has two DDs and the older one gets up on the stage and she always looks like she has no clue what is going on. I think she is just nervous and has never adjusted to it. She decided on her own not to do dance this year and I really think she just wanted to avoid the nervewracking recital. I would be worried about your DD doing the recital before she is ready and then not looking forward to it next time. If she is more confident and having a good time then she will probably want to keep doing it. Good luck in whatever you decide.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

They waited this long to let you know the date of the recital?

I would definitely keep the trip-
At first when I read the title of this thread- I was thinking an older dd or one with a committed role in the recital-

I'm sorry but as great a dancer every mom thinks their 3yo is- the fact is very few are Shirley Temple and at most she will be on stage for a mere 2 minutes- and when it is all over you will have to rush home to throw a party for the adults who come to see her (something you'd probably do anyway.

Or you could be in WDW with your dd on her birthday with the birthday button and making a fuss of her special day in such a magical place

No question for me. Go to Disney

Your daughter has a great birthday btw (best day of the year to have a birthday if you ask ME)

 

[tink1978]

I would probably keep the Disney reservations, JMO. You could always ask her what she wants as well. She may tell you she wants to do the recital...or she may say she would rather go to Disney.

I had to ask my son this year whether he wanted to go to the Tennessee Bowl Game in Tampa or Disney World. Although he is a huge football fanatic...he wanted to go to Disney. He even still said he wanted to go to Disney even after he found out we could just drive to the game and come back in one day.

Even though your daughter is young, it would still be good if you asked.

 

[jcsbama]

I don't think she would be asked to leave the class if she doesn't attend the recital. As I mentioned previously, she takes ballet while she is in daycare, this is at our church. Her dance teacher works part-time at the church, goes to school and also teaches at traditional dance company.

 

[ElizaB39]

Yes, we just have the one daughter. I do have a concern that Sydney would just stand there or cry. The only reason I have that concern is because I took her to school late one day that happened to be the day they have ballet. So, I stayed to watch. She froze up and wouldn't do anything. When the teacher asked if she wanted to show mommy a particular dance step, she came running to me and tears just started streaming. She cried so hard to the point I had to remove her from class because she was being too disruptive. It was all because I was there watching. She was embarrassed or something.

This is the reason why you should keep your ressies and wait to make next year her first recital. JMHO with a daughter in her 9th year of dance, she is 13, there is usually only one or two of the toddlers that actually do the dance, the rest stand their and sway, cry, have their fingers in their mouth aor just look petrified in general.

 

[ElizaB39]

At that age the kids are going to be lined up in one or two lines, there won't be any drill work. The teacher can put her on an end and let her dance during class and then at the recital she won't create an "open space" in the line up. It would be different with older kids that change spots but with 2-3 years olds it's no big deal.

Exactly, this is what they do at my dance school for anyone of any age that doesn't participate in the recital but wants to take the class.

 

[ElizaB39]

One more thought--if the costumes are not expensive, just get her one any way. That way she can still be in pictures and such. I've known families to do this. The children we have known have been much less disappointed--b/c all they really care about is the fancy pretty outfit.

It's like "Recital? What Recital?"

GREAT idea! Then she can wear the costume for Halloween (thats what we do) and wear it at Disney if she wants because she will be a pretty princess!

 

[ElizaB39]

Oh, and one more thought, our dance school has a standing Saturday recital which is always Father's Day weekend and has been for 8 years now. We ALWAYS know when the recital is, and for the new parents, they are informed at the begining of the year when dance classes start (September).

 

[ilovejack02]

1 dd who might just stand there and stare at the audience... I say go with Disney. Now next yr, make sure you know when recital is before planning trip!
Have fun!

 

[antkim]

I don't think she would be asked to leave the class if she doesn't attend the recital. As I mentioned previously, she takes ballet while she is in daycare, this is at our church. Her dance teacher works part-time at the church, goes to school and also teaches at traditional dance company.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go to WDW!!!!!!!!!!! You would be cancelling MANY MANY memories for a 2 minute dance that she may or may not even do!!!! I can't tell you how many little ones just end up standing there because they are nervous etc.! Plus (I mean no offense) this is almost like an extra activity that she takes during daycare....she is not in a dance company yet! She is not even 3. Let me ask this...if given the choice do you really believe that she would choose go to her recital over a visit with Cinderella and Mickey Mouse????

Kim

Oh...1 more thing. The dance teacher should know better than to give 2 months notice..that is NOT FAIR at all!

 

[daisyduck123]

Believe me....if she keeps up with dance lessons, all of those recitas will "blend together" after a few years.

I'm speaking as a mother whose DD took dance for 7 years. UGH!!

Keep your WDW reservations.

 

[hello kitty]

My girls all dance and I wouldn't dream of missing their recitals....I am the nutty Mom that loves recital weekend when most other dance moms dread it.

Me too! I'm not a stage mom though.

My daughter is going on her ninth year. We are fortunate enough to have an instructor who books the venue for recital one year in advance. Not everybody who takes dance participates in the recital. It's a personal choice and nobody is made to feel bad about it nor should they. Personally, we've never missed it. My daughter is a VERY serious dancer and puts A LOT of hard work into it. However, she's 13 and not 3. If she was 3, her butt would be going to Disney!

This year is going to be fun, she's in 12 pieces not including her 2 solos!

 

[DisneyPhD]

I think you just answered your own question!
It really doesn't sound as though she's ready for a recital at this point. Why not give her another year before putting her (and you!) through the stress of performing?

I agree.

My 5 year old just had her 1st dance recital. It was really cute, we taped it and my 2 year old loves watching it (and does all the dance moves.) Still if it had been at the same time as our vacation I would of felt bad, but we would of missed it. There will be another dance recital. At this age she most likely isn't even aware of what she is missing.

Also it is questionable weather DD will be ready for it and if the recital will be a positive experience for her at this time anyway.

Can you imagine if you canceled the trip for the recital, and then she felt shy and didn't even dance? (my DD would of done that at 3 years old.)

It is likely that my DD's next recital will be in May during our DCL trip. If so I will be sad, but won't change the trip for the whole family over it. I am crossing my fingers it isn't.

Besides if you cancel now for this, it is only going to get more complicated as DD gets older and is in school.

 

[JVL1018]

Go to WDW!

My DD is in dance and the toddler class recital dance is really nothing big at ALL-they just kind of stand there sway a little and look cute for 2 minutes.
The dance teachers expect that some of the little ones may get stage fright, so they will be fine with a missing girl the day of the recital--they may even have girls there that will not go out on stage once they see the crowd.

If she was older it would be a whole different story-my DD is 7 and has been in dance for 3 years-all of the girls have a place to be during the dance and if one is missing its a big deal.
But not for the baby class

 

[mickeyfan2]

Being that she is only 3 she would much prefer Disney. Go to Disney.