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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Ballet shouldn't charge the same

85 replies

wholelottahistory · 15/04/2020 08:16

Dd is on grade 2 and we've just had an email saying classes will go ahead as non-sylabus classes on instagram live.
There has been no reduction in fees - dd does 2 hours per week and it costs about £11.50 per lesson.
Our school fees have been cut by 25% for next term, and a musical theatre class she does has been cut by about 45% as it will be on zoom.
Conversely, her individual singing lesson with peripatetic teacher is still £20 for 30 mins on skype, but that is 1 to 1.
Wibu to email ballet school to mention I feel there could/should be a small reduction?
I think she will get governmental help although I know it is slow....

OP posts:

Ilikefresias · 15/04/2020 20:19

I’m with you OP, I think it’s a lot to still pay the same for the lesson. My DD does a lot of dancing, they have started to offer zoom lessons but it’s a much reduced rate for the online classes. I’m happy to pay the reduced rate to hopefully keep them going, I would not be paying full rate for such a reduced service. It helps my daughters dance school that they run classes in a mainstream day school, therefore they will not be paying any room hire charges at this time

daisypond · 15/04/2020 20:21

Fee-paying schools are a blot on a civilised society.
An after-school dance class is a blot on society?

Mummyoflittledragon · 15/04/2020 20:22

Wth are the posts about this being an upper class post and fee paying schools being a blot on society??

These are dance classes, not Eton. A hobby. Like football but a bit more expensive. Or rugby. Or piano lessons etc.

jakeyboy1 · 15/04/2020 20:22

I am getting a bit fed up by the automatic assumption everything can go online and I will just pay the same for it. Some things maybe, others absolutely no - an extra maths club for example that we had paid for at school that they chose not to do anything with until the Easter hols then schedule it over lunch?!

I have had a pay cut, I can't afford to pay everyone the same. I want people to survive but we are all having to compromise.

Shoppingwithmother · 15/04/2020 20:25

My immediate reaction is also “be thankful you’ve got 25% off school fees, which is the big expense. We have got no discount and I am furious!!
I do think ballet should be reduced though as well.

Someonesayroadtrip · 15/04/2020 20:26

Our ballet we pay in advance per term. We had three lessons left and she said she would do 6 zoom lessons to make up for it. It's not ideal but we will keep to it for now. I intend to keep paying so she can survive this as it's worth it, although the report lessons and a bit of a PITA.

Comefromaway · 15/04/2020 20:27

My daughters fee paying school/college has produced artists who have given joy to many.

And the government decides how much of the fees an individual family pays on a sliding scale from £0 to £14k a year.

But the difference between paying fees in full for a full time college where it’s more than just the classes (and the classes that are running are interactive anyway) and not wanting to pay full fees for a sub standard service.

ilovemydogandmrobama2 · 15/04/2020 20:30

DD 1 is in Grade 5 and intermediate ballet.

DD2 is in Grade 1 and Modern.

There is zoom but neither are happy doing it, and the ballet school say the fees will transferable to September if there aren't physical classes.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 15/04/2020 20:33

Its such a hard call because there are probably a lot of overheads that may still have to be met. I am glad to see someone say they are still paying for cubs. We are currently offering Brownie sessions on line, and not at all sure what to do about subs. We will have to charge for any badges earned whilst we are meeting like this, but as yet we have no idea how much rent reduction if any we will get, and also if our annual membership charge will be reduced so it would be lovely for the parents to decide they still wished to pay us. That said my main concern is keeping the girls interested so they all come back when we eventually get to meet up normally again.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/04/2020 20:38

I'll ask the same question as on every other thread about someone still wanting full fees (though I've never had an answer) ...

What arrangements are they proposing to protect your money in case they have to close permanently?

Comefromaway · 15/04/2020 20:42

I don’t understand the question puzzled.

Pipandmum · 15/04/2020 20:45

My personal trainer who does our sessions online hasn't reduced her prices- why should she? I'm paying for her time mainly. She still has to pay rent on her studio and has to invest in getting equipment (lights, a computer, proper microphone etc) to do online properly. I can't use some of her equipment but then again I don't have to drive over to see her.
My daughter's piano teacher is doing her lessons via skype. Same again - I'm paying for her time.
Luckily our school is giving us a 25% discount next term even though they have worked up a full schedule of online classes and are open for key worker children over the extended Easter break. They said it's not that their expenses have gone down 25%, in fact they've gone up as they cant rent out the buildings to foreign language students as they normally would have, but they are of course worried about student retention and mindful that many will struggle with fees.

Soontobe60 · 15/04/2020 20:56

@LaureBerthaud
Sorry, do you know me? Your comment was precisely what you accused me of being; judgemental and critical. Have I hit a nerve?
OP, having read everyone’s comments, I still think your dance teacher is being very cheeky expecting full payment for a vastly reduced service. My yoga class is now being done via Zoom but the teacher isn’t charging us at all.

YogaFaker · 15/04/2020 21:01

Do you want your ballet studio to be open again once the lockdown and other restrictions ease?

If so, think very carefully about not paying, OP

HerRoyalNotness · 15/04/2020 22:01

Our gym class (which also has a dance class) has reduced zoom classes for about 60% of in person cost. I didn’t sign up as how on earth can they do zoom gym classes. We have no equipment and my toddler would not be interested anyway. If they’re still in business we’ll go back for sure, but I can justify the expense right now

LaureBerthaud · 15/04/2020 22:37

Sorry, do you know me? Your comment was precisely what you accused me of being; judgemental and critical. Have I hit a nerve?

Of course I don't know you @Soontobe60 this is an anonymous chat forum. I cringe when that coy little phrase is trotted out. You knew what the OP was asking and it wasn't whether you thought her DD was doing too many activities. And don't worry - you didn't hit a nerve

Unescorted · 15/04/2020 22:43

Can you afford it and do you want that service to be there at the end of this? If the answer is yes then pay it.

We are paying for music and driving lessons even though neither are taking place Our income hasn't dropped but our out goings have. We are passing along some of that saving to some people who are in a less fortunate situation to us.

AlexaShutUp · 15/04/2020 22:54

I'm voluntarily paying for dd's dance classes, even though they're not happening right now, because I want the school to be there when lockdown is lifted. Lots of other parents are doing the same. Of course, some have lost their jobs and can't afford to do so. I'm hoping that those of us who can pay will be able to help our amazing teacher stay afloat until things get back to normal.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/04/2020 22:56

I don’t understand the question puzzled

I'm not really sure how else to put it, but the general thrust of these threads is "Don't you want them to carry on? Better pay them or they won't be able to"

So for those who aren't currently receiving a service, I asked how money paid in good faith in the expectation that they'll carry on would be protected in case they don't

Smellbellina · 15/04/2020 22:57

Depends on your ballet school, I’m not going to argue with mine because a) she scares the shit out of me and b) they a waiting list

LalalalalaLlama · 15/04/2020 23:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

FVFrog · 15/04/2020 23:04

@Soontobe60 your yoga teacher is in a very fortunate position if she can afford to offer her online services for free and obviously doesn’t rely on her income from teaching yoga to pay her bills. She is, however, doing a massive disservice to those of us who teach yoga or similar, who are desperately trying to keep an income stream, offer a viable alternative online via zoom or similar, and keep our business afloat and hopefully come out the other end.
I teach via zoom and replicate as closely as possible the experience in the studio, I limit the numbers and can offer meaningful corrections as I can see every person and know my clients. I am however working for a reduced rate.
I also see it from the other viewpoint as my DS is also continuing his ballet lessons online (trying to keep in shape for his Advanced 1 exam which was cancelled ) and the feedback I’ve had from clients and from my DS is that it’s a really nice to actually see everyone and do something normal!
Many of us are taking a financial hit, some more than others, if you can afford to pay please do so, but if you’re genuinely struggling but would like your DC to continue online classes then contact the dance school and see if they can offer a reduced fee or a payment holiday.

RubysRoo · 15/04/2020 23:07

Honesty if you still have income please help small businesses. They won't survive otherwise. In addition you can't stop paying rent straight away, many friends who run gym/dance/music still have to pay studio rentals, sometimes giving 2-3 months notice. They don't know what to do. Do the right thing, pay it and put good into the world.

LellyMcKelly · 15/04/2020 23:07

2 hours for £11.50 is a bit of a bargain for a decent ballet teacher. What are you hoping for? A discount of £3 a week? You are under no obligation to pay for any classes. You can withdraw your daughter any time you want, or you can support a small local independent trader who probably really needs the money right now. I’m gladly continuing to pay my kids’ gym fees of over £200 a month because I want there to be a club they can go back to at the end of this.

lovemelongtime · 15/04/2020 23:08

Sounds like an awful lot of classes, perhaps give the poor kid a break for a few weeks.

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