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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Ballet lessons in more than one school

76 replies

Oakmaiden · 03/11/2014 11:01

My daughter is interested in taking more ballet lessons than she currently does - she is 11 years old, and when not preparing for a festival/exam she does 45 mins ballet, and the same for tap and modern, as well as 30 mins limber. This is all her dance school offers for her age group - and to be honest I cannot find any other schools in the area who offer more. However, she feels she should be dancing more than once a week to progress, and I am unsure what to do about it. Is it OK to train with more than one dance school? I don't, realistically, think her current school will offer any more hours...

OP posts:
dancestomyowntune · 03/11/2014 15:07

It can cause all sorts of problems and I wouldn't really suggest going to two schools for the same discipline. There are exceptions to this. For example have you looked into associate classes? Are there any Royal Ballet Junior Associate classes near to you? My dd is 11. She dances:

Mondays: ballet interfoundation (1hr 15mins) and stretch (45mins)
Tues: jazz (45mins), Greek (45mins) student programme (this can be anything from a conditioning class to jazz; 45 mins) tap (30mins)
Weds: ballet grade 6 (45 mins) ballet interfoundation (1hr 15mins)
Thurs: tap (45mins)
Friday: song and performance (30mins) modern (45mins)
Saturday: ballet interfoundation (1hr 45 mins) ballet intermediate (1hr 15mins) stretch (30mins).

Then on top of this she has festival rehearsals, extra exam classes, workshops and occasional master classes. She wouldn't go to another dance school because we have seen how it can split loyalties and cause problems (and also she couldn't possibly fit it in!). Also many dance schools don't allow students to go elsewhere!

Have you considered asking at her studios for a regular private to work on technique? A one on one could see amazing improvements worth much more than a lesson with another school.

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