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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think this dance school is being manipulative and underhand

21 replies

Lauriefairycake · 15/11/2008 13:16

My head is throbbing at how irritated I am right now.

She started 7 weeks ago at a saturday dance school (for an hour and a half). When she started she only needed a dance school t-shirt and some tap shoes according to the receptionist.

In the last 7 weeks she has been told she needed the following:

jazz pants
leotard
tap shoes (they said the silver ones (I had some old ones) had to be black
jazz shoes
ballet shoes
dance school t-shirt

so far it has cost me even with shopping around on ebay for stuff - £250 (£130 of that was the lessons so I was happy with that)

Today she comes homes and is told with one days notice that they have to have dance school sweatshirts with their names on to appear at a show next week (which they have been practising for the last 5 weeks) and that £23 has to be paid tomorrow for the sweat shirt.

This is the straw that blah blah for me as we were told at the beginning that she only needed a t-shirt and tap shoes.

I think they should be telling parents in advance and not just sending the kids home every week with yet more stuff they need for next week - last week it was ballet shoes, the week before jazz shoes.

OP posts:

IllegallyBrunette · 15/11/2008 13:19

Unfortunatly this always seems to be the case for dance schools that do shows and competitions.

Dd1 did ballet at a school that did no shows or comps, just their exams and all I ever needed to buy was new leotard or shoes when outgrown.

I think it does get ridiculous.

Dd1 is starting cheerleading in Jan and I just know it is going to cost me a fortune in 'stuff'.

OldLadyKnowsNothing · 15/11/2008 13:21

YANBU.

mazzystartled · 15/11/2008 13:21

I would have a word, and say you feel you were misled
I would possibly also speak to the other mums and stage a rebellion

posieflump · 15/11/2008 13:21

write to the managaer and complain maybe?

Original poster

Lauriefairycake · 15/11/2008 13:23

The show is going to the town centre to sing a song at the Christmas Light switch on - the worst part is they have told the children unless they come in tomorrow with the 23 quid for the sweat shirt they will not be allowed to take part

The second worst part is I know the sweatshirts cost £6 - they just add the logo as my friend buys them for his brewery - so they want to make money on this at short notice too

OP posts:

Original poster

Lauriefairycake · 15/11/2008 13:25

thanks for the tea

I should complain but I'm ranting on here today so i can be calm tomorrow - my biggest question tomorrow will be "Is there any other shite we have to buy before you fleece us for next terms fees".

OP posts:

wheresthehamster · 15/11/2008 13:26

Going by your list she is doing three disciplines so it was always going to add up to a lot eventually.

This time next year she will have outgrown most things, then when you think she could probably last another 6 months in the old leotard they change the uniform!!

Most schools have a 2nd hand list and you can always pass things between friends so it's not all doom and gloom...

wheresthehamster · 15/11/2008 13:28

Agree though about the sweatshirt - bit of blackmail there.

Regards to other expenses - exam fees, pianists, hall hire, extra lessons....

Original poster

Lauriefairycake · 15/11/2008 13:30

that's it, she's not doing three disciplines, they just pop the shoes on for 10 minutes and ponce about - she's not actually learning ballet or tap - this is a little introductory fun course. They do however also do ballet and tap lessons on different days which they have sent letters home about.

This was sold as a fun hour and a half on a saturday where they would get introduced to dancing and singing. It's now seeming like a sneaky way to get you in there to then get them to do the extra days and take up the disciplines properly

OP posts:

wheresthehamster · 15/11/2008 13:36

Hmm, yes I see.

The list of items - was that your dd just telling you that or was it a letter from the school?

If it was a letter from the school I'd be a bit , if it was your daughter saying she MUST have them, EVERYONE has them - you've been conned! (My dds are well known for doing this!)

dilemma456 · 16/11/2008 10:56

Message withdrawn

Tee2072 · 16/11/2008 11:10

Yup, total scam. If she is not studying ballet, tap and jazz, she has no need of the shoes. And I would say that to the school. And tell them you'll not pay £23 for the sweatshirt and that your DD will be going to a different school next year where they don't fleece you.

Freckle · 16/11/2008 11:50

I have no dds so have never been sucked into the whole dance school thing. A friend has two dds who did do dance though and the thing that struck me was that they would do lessons all term, aiming for an exam. Then, after friend had been told that her dds had been entered for the exam, she was then told they would have to do extra lessons to prepare for exam. Well, excuse me, either they are ready for exam, in which case enter them, or if not (i.e. they need extra lessons), don't. Complete scam.

Original poster

Lauriefairycake · 17/11/2008 19:28

No, they have never sent letters out. I found out it wasn't just coming from her as I called up Sunday. The woman didn't even apologise or explain. But then my dh went down to pay for the sweatshirt to find 3 other parents having a complain too. Thankfully there was a proper explanation - the radio station have moved their counter to outside the shopping centre in the cold with a weeks notice hence them needing warmer sweatshirts.

Still, £23 is a bit much

She's 10 dilemma. And it's £8 per week for the lesson.

Funnily enough my dh did ask if there were any other costs next term apart from the lessons and they said 'only the exams' but they were optional.

OP posts:

ChippyMinton · 17/11/2008 20:37

YANBU. DD does a dance class which is turn up & pay on the day, no uniform required. If they can do it...

The girls could've been asked to wear their t-shirts over a plain sweatshirt.

remote · 17/11/2008 21:02

Aaaah the joys of the performing arts.

If I may be harsh - the reason these people do this is often because they have never acheived their ambition to become professional performers so they are now trying to make themselves look like they are some high flying dance teacher.

My DD went for 2 years and every term it got more and more ridiculous. When I did complain, the "principal" said - "we are a professional learning institution and we aim to teach children to dance to a professional standard. Therefore pupils must be dressed accordingly" FFS. My internal reply, which I wish I'd had the balls to say was "Well why are you teaching in a draughty church hall with no heating and no working toilet if you're so effing professional!"

(Can you tell I'm bitter?!)

May I please add that I am not making a sweeping generalisation - I now they're not all like this!

tissy · 17/11/2008 21:20

my dd goes to an hour and a half on a Friday evening, which is 45 mins ballet and 45 mins jazz/ tap. Most of the jazz/ tap class are doing a class exam, which involves the whole class being observed during a lesson by the examiner. As long as they behave they get a medal and certificate .

However.....one little angel is doing an individual modern exam, and has been having an extra one-to-one lesson each week for the past term. Sadly she's not terribly good, so the whole class have been doing nothing but this child's exam work for the whole term, in order to give her extra help .

PussinWellies · 17/11/2008 21:25

Give it up! Step AWAY from the tap shoes.
Get 'em all trumpet lessons instead. Preferably with a nice keen local band who give you free instruments on loan, help pay your exam fees and lend ties to all the kids at big events...

God I love our local band

MrsSnape · 17/11/2008 21:26

My friend's daughter goes to drama/dance class and they are constantly bringing up letters demanding money for this and that. New outfits, new shoes, entrance fees, show fees ... it's not unusual for her to come home with a letter demanding a load of stuff adding up to over £100 'to be in by Friday'...and she brings this home on the wednesday.

I wouldn't do it myself. I couldn't afford to for a start but even if I could, I still think its ridiculous.

YANBU.

hatwoman · 17/11/2008 21:31

it's not just you. my rant here. Like you it's largely the lack of warning that I think is out of order.

hatwoman · 17/11/2008 21:37

and btw - now (after a mere 30 odd years) I feel oodles of sympathy (and respect) for my mum. In the 70s when my dance school was a bit "home-made" they used to send sewing instructions home and mum (who has always hated sewing) spent hours I tell you making costumes. by the 80s (when my dad's company went bankrupt and we had the phone cut off and couldn;t afford to heat the house etc etc) they started getting a bit big for their boots and all teh costumes had to be professionally made. lord alone knows how mum managed that one.

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