My parents offered to pay for a dance class for Gleek. This is a wonderful development because Gleek needs something to enrich her life and she loves both music and moving around. I’ve been feeling like a dance class would be good for her, but with our budget so tight I was holding off on enrolling her. With my parent’s offer I tackled the project of picking the right dance class.
Not all dance classes are created equal, so I knew I wanted to choose carefully. My first step was the yellow pages. There were more than 30 dance studios listed. I rejected any that were more than a 5 minute drive from my house. That brought the number down to 5. One of those only taught irish step dancing, not what I was looking for. I wanted a combination class that would introduce Gleek to several styles of dance. Another one answered my inquiry about classes with the information that enrollment was closed until May. That left 3 studios for me to evaluate. I figured that Gleek should be able to participate in the selection process, so I piled her in the car and we went to go see the three studios.
I was predisposed to like the studio that had “Ballet” and “conservatory” in the name. It sounded so high class and artistic. Once I got there and began talking to the lady behind the desk I realized that “conservatory” is a code name for “expensive.” The monthly class fees were reasonable ($37), but then there was a registration fee ($30). And you had to buy both ballet gear and tap gear which they’d be happy to sell at premium prices (about $50). And of course you had to buy a costume for the upcoming recital ($40), only they’d already ordered the costumes, so there would be a late fee (probably $30, but maybe more). I knew it wasn’t my money I was spending, but $187 sounded steep for start up costs on a beginner class. I decided to check out the other studios.
The next place had “club” in the name, which appealed to Gleek. The lobby was half waiting area, half shop for glitzy dance gear. This one actually had a class running that Gleek could watch. She loved it. She loved the shiny things in the lobby. I asked about prices, the registration fee was comparable, but they’d pulled a trick with the pricing. The monthly fee was $55, but if you paid before the 15th of the month they gave you a $15 discount. Why they didn’t just say $40 per month with a late fee? This studio didn’t require recitals or costumes and didn’t require any specific dance gear. I liked that part. I also liked that this studio focused on jazz, ballet, and tumbling. Gleek loves doing tricks, so tumbling will be right up her alley. What I didn’t like was the glitz. I looked at all the pictures of little girls on the walls wearing little slinky outfits with make up and I felt uncomfortable. I want my daughter to be able to dance, not to grow up fast.
Gleek loved the “club” and voted firmly in favor of it. I was tired and ready to just go home, so I was ready to accept the club. We didn’t have to decide right away because Gleek was allowed a trial class before we spent any money. But before we could go home we had to acquire the all important dance clothes. I happen to know that Kmart is a better supplier of dance clothes than Walmart, so we went there. Gleek fell in love with a pink leotard with silver stars. We got that, ballet shoes, and some tights. Yay, mission accomplished, we went home.
At home my brain wouldn’t stop running. I called some neighbors and asked where they had taken their daughters for dance. They’d all gone different places, but several provided low opinions of the “club”. They said it was pushy. I decided that it was worth my time to try the last studio.
This last studio failed to impress me over the phone because an unknowledgable teen answered and because they had no ad in the phone book to give me information. But it was closer to home than the other two (walking distance even), so I decided to give it a look. It was small without big shiny windows. The only thing they sold was dance lessons not dance gear. There were two classes running and I liked the interactions I saw. The classes were all combination classes of Jazz, Ballet, and Tumbling. But what I liked best of all were the group photos on the wall. The girls were all simply dressed and there were smiling confident girls of all body types even on their performing teams. The message was clear, you don’t have to be skinny to be good at dancing. The classes and registration fees were cheaper by about $5 each and there were girls in the classes wearing sweats and socks.
Gleek will be having lessons at this last Studio. For awhile she was holding out for the “club” but what she really cares about is getting to dance. Right NOW. Unfortunately her free trial class isn’t until Tuesday. I’ve got five more days in which to answer incessant reiterations of “Is it Tuesday yet?”
See if your library has a dance with kids vido for her to watch over the weekend
and congrats on making such a wise choice
(16 years of dance class)
See if your library has a dance with kids vido for her to watch over the weekend
and congrats on making such a wise choice
(16 years of dance class)
Kudos on involving Gleek in the choice. My parents enrolled me in dance classes as a kid and I never wanted to do them and hated them. Ditto violin. I loved the art classes though, and I guess by that age either I was old enough to coherently explain what it was that I wanted, or else my parents started listening, b/c eventually I got to continue the art but not the other stuff.
Kudos on involving Gleek in the choice. My parents enrolled me in dance classes as a kid and I never wanted to do them and hated them. Ditto violin. I loved the art classes though, and I guess by that age either I was old enough to coherently explain what it was that I wanted, or else my parents started listening, b/c eventually I got to continue the art but not the other stuff.
This is a good time to introduce her to a calendar and the days of the week. Emily ticks off the days on her own calendar in her room so she can keep track of what day of the week it is and what day of the month. (And which month… etc.) We always get several free calendars around Christmas time so she gets one of them.
I have a similar problem with Em’s dance class that you had with the ‘conservatory’… especially the very expensive costumes for their recitals. However, since my Mom picks her up from school, she chose the studio… I don’t get home early enough any day to take her. 🙁
This is a good time to introduce her to a calendar and the days of the week. Emily ticks off the days on her own calendar in her room so she can keep track of what day of the week it is and what day of the month. (And which month… etc.) We always get several free calendars around Christmas time so she gets one of them.
I have a similar problem with Em’s dance class that you had with the ‘conservatory’… especially the very expensive costumes for their recitals. However, since my Mom picks her up from school, she chose the studio… I don’t get home early enough any day to take her. 🙁
We’re doing the same thing with Blueeyes. He’s going to his Meemaw’s this weekend, and we’ve been literally counting off the days.
Just this morning we were having a discussion of how many months it is ’til Christmas. yeesh. The boy is way too precocious.
We’re doing the same thing with Blueeyes. He’s going to his Meemaw’s this weekend, and we’ve been literally counting off the days.
Just this morning we were having a discussion of how many months it is ’til Christmas. yeesh. The boy is way too precocious.
My parents enrolled me in dance classes (tap and tumbling) when I was about Gleeks age. They were held in the basement of Mrs. Lymon’s house. I think she sold tap and ballet shoes but that was it. I loved thoses classes. I was a short round child but there were girls of all shapes in the class with me. She had comstume bits for recitals like hats, canes and tutus that we could wear so our parents didn’t have to pay for costumes. (We all did have to have a black leotard.) I don’t dance very well but I have fond memories of my dance classes as a child.
My parents enrolled me in dance classes (tap and tumbling) when I was about Gleeks age. They were held in the basement of Mrs. Lymon’s house. I think she sold tap and ballet shoes but that was it. I loved thoses classes. I was a short round child but there were girls of all shapes in the class with me. She had comstume bits for recitals like hats, canes and tutus that we could wear so our parents didn’t have to pay for costumes. (We all did have to have a black leotard.) I don’t dance very well but I have fond memories of my dance classes as a child.
That’s the way I took many dance classes as a child, in the garage of a woman who taught at home. I would have loved to find something like that, but no one in my neighborhood is doing it.
That’s the way I took many dance classes as a child, in the garage of a woman who taught at home. I would have loved to find something like that, but no one in my neighborhood is doing it.
The monthly fee was $55, but if you paid before the 15th of the month they gave you a $15 discount. Why didn’t they just say $40 per month with a late fee?
Because people are more likely to protest that they shouldn’t have to pay a late fee when they’re late, than they are to insist that they’re entitled to a discount they don’t qualify for. “Discount” trips different psychological buttons.
The monthly fee was $55, but if you paid before the 15th of the month they gave you a $15 discount. Why didn’t they just say $40 per month with a late fee?
Because people are more likely to protest that they shouldn’t have to pay a late fee when they’re late, than they are to insist that they’re entitled to a discount they don’t qualify for. “Discount” trips different psychological buttons.