Calling all dance moms!

My daughter is 3 1/2 and dances at a small, local studio that is on the newer side. She absolutely loves dance and she has been going since she could walk. A few things have been bothering me lately but I don't have anything to compare it to as I did not dance growing up. Please tell me if my expectations are too high or if I am being unreasonable.

-The recital is on a SUNDAY night at 6. I assumed the recital would be during the day. My daughter goes to bed at 7/7:30 and is usually falling asleep by 6:30. I can't believe I spent $100+ on a costume!

-The students in her class range from 3-5. The behavior of half the class is horrible. She has a few special needs children who have melt downs, run in and out of the class, slam the door. There is NO discipline. My daughter knows the recital routine and sits and colors now while the teacher tries to teach the other students in the class.

-There is NO time in between her class and the next class. I have girls climbing all over me and my son while I wait for my daughter to come out. Again, the behavior is just out of control. That I realize is more on part of the parents.

I know that they are very young but I wish there was more structure and discipline. Are the things I stated above the "norm" in other schools?

Calling all dance moms!

My DD is almost 5 and she's been going to a dance studio in our area since she's 2 1/2. When she was that young they had a "showcase" for her age group that was on a Saturday at 11:00. Last year her recital was also on a Sunday (Father's Day) that started at 6pm. Her class want on about 6:45 and then I went and picked her up and we left (she's in bed by 8pm). This year it falls on Father's Day again but this time it is 3pm. (It didn't bother me that it was on Father's Day because we just celebrate it the week before) Some of the mothers were upset by it but I was more annoyed it was at 6pm! As for the age group in her class, it is just 4&5 year olds and once in a while a kid would have a meltdown but the teachers quickly calm them. There is about 15 mins or so in between classes so none is getting trampled running into the class. Hope this helps!

Calling all dance moms!

Ok a few things. My dd is also 3 1/2 (almost 4). This is her second year doing dance at the same school and second year with a recital. Their recitals are on a Saturday and they have four show times depending on your day and time of your class.

Last year dds was at 10am? Their class went on right after the opening act.

This year her recital is at 1130am and again her class goes on right after the opening act. They know they're little and won't last waiting to go on until the end.

Yes the class times are on top of each other. I'm always there with my 1 1/2 yo and it get stressful as I'm trying to get my older dd out in her regular shoes, keeping a crip on dd2 so she doesn't run and all while the next class is trying to get in.

As for structure, I would be annoyed at what you described. So your dd basically sits their while the teacher is with the other kids? I wouldn't be happy with that.

Re: Calling all dance moms!

My girls are all dancers. My 3.5 year old is in her second year performing in a recital (she went to "play" dance before that). Our recitals are Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday midday and Saturday night. Sometimes the little ones are in the evening shows, but usually first and we have to take them at intermission.

I would be upset wth the lack of structure and I would totally say something. I pay my studio a fortune each month (more than a car payment!) and I don't feel bad standing up for what I need to. My daughters class had some children with behavioral issues and the owner flat out told the parents that they should stop coming and think about waiting until they were older to try again. The teacher would bring them out and hand them to their parents when they became disruptive.

What are the ratios in the class? My youngest daughters class can only go to 12 at that age and they have a teenage helper in the class. She has 8 and I think that is a lot when they are 3 and 4 years old.

Classes pretty much always run back to back because they there are limited hours they can schedule after school so I'm sure they are trying to fit in as many classes as they can. My studio lets the next class in before the class lets out so it's a little calmer.

My girls love dance, but I will say it is an expensive thing as they get older. I am in it for a hefty sum each month for tuition, plus costumes, shoes, tights, stage makeup, competition fees, recital tickets, and private lessons.

Message edited 3/29/2017 8:35:09 PM.

Re: Calling all dance moms!

Message edited 3/29/2017 8:35:30 PM.

Calling all dance moms!

Our class times are 5 minutes apart. There isn't enough room.
They all practice the routine together. No one knows it well enough to sit out, but I doubt they would sit out even if they did.
There is usually a 2 yr age range for the classes, but children outside the range can sign up.

Re: Calling all dance moms!

My dd is 4 and this is her second year.

Class discipline is good - never experienced an issue. The parents all do stay should something arise.

There's no time between classes. We get run over.

Recital is one of 3 shows on a Saturday. Last year and this, hers will be at 5.

Costume is $90

Re: Calling all dance moms!

- Our studio has several shows over the course of a weekend, and yes Sunday night too. They usually put the little ones on as one of the first numbers and once they're done dancing, you can pick them up and leave.

- There is no time btw classes and the lobby/waiting area is jam packed during transition time.

- Costume was $95.

- No issues with class discipline. The recital routine is taught in a very low-pressure way. They start after the holidays and do it like 2x each class. They just follow the teacher in the mirror, and by the time June rolls around they all pretty much have it down pat, and if they do t- well it's still pretty cute. Class should all be participating at the same time. There are 12 girls, one teacher, one student teacher. The director is often present to observe.

Re: Calling all dance moms!

Re: Calling all dance moms!

My girls have been dancing at the same studio for 3 years. Our dance studio has 5 recitals over a weekend. My girls have danced at almost all of them including the 7pm shows. The first year my little one was only 2.5 and she danced at 7pm on a Friday night. This year they will be in 3 recitals each. There is no breaks between classes so the studio is always crowded but it's not something that bothers me. Costumes are $90-$130 this year.

The lack of stucture or discipline is tough. They are so small you don't want to constantly disciplining little ones in class but if it's the same child acting out they should talk to parents. At that age I never expected dance class to be much more than an introduction and just a fun experience.

Calling all dance moms!

Some of this sounds very similar to dd's studio.

Recital is 6pm on a Sunday. They do put the young kids in the first half so we just leave at intermission. The 2/3 class doesn't do that one and does a small daytime recital with the 3/4 class (although that class also does the big recital).

No time between classes so transition time is crazy.

Last year in the 3/4 class there were kids who were in and out a lot but most of them were good. The teacher/owner is great at engaging all of them and making it fun. I would not be happy if dd was sitting on the sidelines coloring. This year she's in a 5-7 class which is pretty much all instruction but in the younger class they only practices the recital dance a short time most days and they did fun movement activities and general instruction that was very age appropriate.

Re: Calling all dance moms!

Thank you for replying! I think my biggest frustration is that there is no discipline and that it's a free for all during the class. Although I love the teacher/owner I really wish she would speak with the parents about their children's behavior. I know this is an issue with the 5-7 year old class to as I have spoken with moms who are also unhappy.

I am definitely going to look around this summer for a new school. There are so many great ones around!

Re: Calling all dance moms!

i am glad you posted this! I am frustrated with my current dance school and was thinking of changing, but it seems it is the norm
To answer your questions, there is no time between classes; and it is a tight squeeze trying to change the kids shoes (dd is 4) before/after class because of all the kids/parents
The behavior in the class seems ok, but we are not allowed to watch them so I am not 100% certain
The dance recital is also on a Sunday, and I was just informed they be the early show (around 11am) or the later show (around 3pm). I was shocked at hearing the little kids wouldnt perform in the morning...dd still naps (i know it is rare at that age) and younger DS naps at 3pm so that would mean him and DH missing her recital. Not to mention the photos were supposed to be end May and I just got notice they are the day before the recital.

Calling all dance moms!

Dd is in the 2 year old class at her studio. This year, they are having 3 recitals, all on a Saturday, and she happened to the the 1 pm slot. She usually naps then, but I'll gladly take that over the later time slot (5?).

I feel like until they're 5 or so, unless they're a prodigy, most classes are going to have a wide range of levels/focus. I'm actually hoping to switch dd to a more serious studio around that age, and the studio I'm hoping to switch her to doesn't even have recitals.

They usually work on the recital routine 2 times or so a class, and there is a teacher/two assistants for 10 girls. If the girls step out of line they'll correct them back to the line, but apart from that nobody is sitting out for the teachers to work with someone else.

Classes overlap (there's 2 rooms), so it is quite chaotic when classes are starting/letting out, but I just tend to make do.

Calling all dance moms!

I thought I was the only one annoyed with my dance school. This is my second year and second dance recital that my almost 4 year old DD is in. Last year it was once recital on a Sunday and she was the second group going on. I was not thrilled with her costume, looked like a Halloween costume that I could buy. I liked the fact that we could leave after even though I understand that for some parents who have to stay the whole time getting up and down is rude.
This year I love her costume but her recital is at 4:30 and she is number 18 to go on right during dinner and before bedtime. They split the recital in to two times so I thought she would be in the 12:30 show but she is not. She has to come dressed up and sit there in her costume for 18 acts to go on. Last year I was given my tickets this year I had to log on to a website at a certain time to pick my seats. This is the first year they did this and of course there was a glitch and it did't work. I sat on my computer for 45 minutes trying it over and over till it worked.
Her class is very small one set of sisters and another girl. This one girl is disruptive but her mom takes her out of class and the teacher will get the mom when it is necessary. Her class is in the morning, there are only two rooms and the other room is a music together class. The class right after is only two students so I don't have an issue with overlapping. I like going early but I know as she gets older it will be an issue since she will be in school during the day. I am very friendly with the owner but I do think I will look into other schools, problem is Im comfortable there and I know what to expect.