Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Flip

Original poster

Just found a ballet class for DD - hope she likes it!

23 replies

Hulababy · 24/09/2004 16:06

DD is 2.5yo and loves dancing. She's been wanting to do dancing for a while now - like her auntie did! So I have now found a school that will take her (she just had to be nappy free, which she is).

So she is going to have a look on Monday afternoon, and has the chance to join in.

Told not to buy anything as she can borrow until we are sure she likes it. And then they have their own shop, cheaper than normal.

Not quite sure what to expect. Hope she likes it now!!!

Any hints on what to expect?

TIA

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

006 · 24/09/2004 16:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Hulababy · 24/09/2004 16:34

Thanks!

DD also wants the clothes and shoes!!!

She did do TT too and enjoyed it. Not been there for a year though for various reasons. She does go to nursery too 2 days a week and is used to having to do as she is told, and to joining in with other children.

She will be the youngest there. She will be 2.5 on October 5th. The school normally takes from 3 but as she is nappy trained they said they'd love her to come and give it a try and see how she goes.

It's so handy as it is on one of my days off, and at 4pm. Oh and on a tram route so doesn't matter if DH needs the car. Just didn't want the classes starting to take over the weekend.

My sister did dancing so I remember the pushy mums. LOL!

BTW, cheeky question - how much do you pay if you don't mind andwering? I forgot to ask the cost of the lessons!!!

OP posts:

006 · 24/09/2004 16:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tamum · 24/09/2004 16:48

I've just dropped 6 year old dd off at her ballet. She started at 2 and 9 months and loved it from the word go. It's true about clothes- the first week I took them at their word and she was wearing grey leggings and a t-shirt, and all the others were in pink leotards and party skirts. So was she the next week, needless to say

I think we pay about £4 per week (45 minutes) but we pay in blocks so I can't quite remember. She does jazz and tap now too. It all gets very expensive (ballet shoes, jazz shoes, character shoes, tap shoes.....).

As far as what to expect I was allowed to watch her first time but not after that. They had lots of helpers, there were two teachers and three older teenagers for a class of about 20. They were all very kind (not like my day). The thing I liked best was that they stopped after 20 minutes and gave them each a piece of chalk so they could draw on the floor for 5 minutes. It was a great way of giving them a short rest without them getting too wound up and dashing around.

Hope she has a lovely time

Original poster

Hulababy · 24/09/2004 16:51

LOL @ angeline ballerina. Forgot that aspect of it...

Thanks for costs. Inital lesson costs sound pretty good I think. DD will be doing one lesson a week. The lady did say they had their own shop selling both new and second hand outfits, and said that even new were cheaper than the shops. I guess only time will tell with that. Will have to make friends with mummies with older girls there.

DD won't have to do exams too early luckily as she is starting so young - she'll be in same class a bit longer until she catches up age wise. But I remember them costing - mum and dad regularly complained about the extras! My sister did ballet, tap, modern and jazz!!!

I think we too will avoid the competition and high achievers She only wants to dance. And I think it will help teach her other skills - discipline, posture, etc.

Dd is having a rare nap at the moment so not told her yet. She will be so giddy

OP posts:

Original poster

Hulababy · 24/09/2004 17:03

Thanks tamum. All this insight is great I didn't do things like dancing - I am not reallt girly enough TBH. Guess I will be soon though.

Oh no - will I have to learn how to do DD's hair in funny styles and buns eventually too then???

OP posts:

discoinferno · 24/09/2004 17:07

My DD started dance two weeks ago and she loves it. It is great for posture and also teaches them discipline. She will love it. Agree about the pushy mums. They all think their daughters are prima donnas.

Original poster

Hulababy · 24/09/2004 17:09

DD may well be more like a dancing baby elephant. She is quite clumsy at times!!! At least the grazes and bruise from last week's fall at nursery will have gone completely by the lesson.

OP posts:

golds · 24/09/2004 17:18

My dd is nearly 7 and she started when she was 2.5, she loves it, it turned her into a little girl, I remember her first lession (when all parents where allowed to stay) and she bulldozed across the floor and everyone laughed at her, the teacher told me that is why you are not allowed to watch.

She still loves it now. I pay £3.30 per week, payable in blocks of 10 weeks, her leotard was approx £12, skirt approx £15 and her shoes were £10 - its an ongoing expense as now she is Grade 1 she has to have character skirt and shoes aswell as the ballet gear - but she loves it so much its worth it

tamum · 24/09/2004 17:21

Ho yes, you've got all the hairstyles to come! When dd was in a show I had to help a poor dad who was grappling with trying to put his dds' hair in buns with hairnets round

There are a few websites worth checking out for prices. I've recently used Total Dance who were very good, and cheaper than the school itself, who in turn are loads cheaper than the only local shop.

If she gets to be in a show it really is the sweetest thing to see- dd was in one just after her third birthday. I was amazed that she was willing to do it but she did and it's one of those memories I will always treasure

006 · 24/09/2004 17:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Hulababy · 24/09/2004 17:42

Oh LOL!!!!

DD has very fine hair, with a kink in the back. I am rubbish at hair and have enough trouble doing ordinary pigtails and plaited ones. Have to get my sister on board!

I have just told DD she is going to ballet lessons. She was very excited and wanted to go NOW. Explained it's in a few days. So she is now being a ballerina apparantly. She is prancing round the room pointing her toes , hands flapping and doing the odd twizzle. Ho hum....

Can't imagine her in a dance show. If the grandparents find out about them, I'll never get them away!!!

OP posts:

Original poster

Hulababy · 25/09/2004 09:41

tamum - thanks for the website link - it's great isn't it. And prices don't seem bad at all. Although DD is already making her wish list!

OP posts:

nutcracker · 26/09/2004 22:38

Dd1 has ballet lessons with a Royal Academy of Dance teacher.
I pay about 33 pounds a term (about 12 lessons) and then another 25 if she does an exam.
So far she has done her pre primary exam and passed and will soon be put in for the next one.

Dd's teacher is quite strict which i like as it teaches dd to be disciplined. All of the girls love her and as soon as she says 'prepare' then they all go straight in position, it's quite funny to watch.
We are allowed to go in and watch on the last lesson of every term, which is great.

Dd has done really well since she started 2 yrs ago and her teacher said on saturday that she is more than capable of doing the next exam, which makes me very proud but also makes me think she's going to cost me a fortune in the future

Did think of letting dd2 go too, but it would be like watching a drunk elephant unfortunatly, so we are trying to find something else for her to do .

Hope your dd loves it Hula, i'm sure she will.

nutcracker · 26/09/2004 22:44

That website is great Tamum, i've added it to dd1's favourites.

Thanks

Socci · 26/09/2004 22:57

Message withdrawn

SueW · 26/09/2004 23:12

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Original poster

Hulababy · 27/09/2004 08:25

First "have a go" lesson is this afternoon. DD was very excited yesterday telling her little friend about it. I'll let you know how she gets on.

OP posts:

roisin · 27/09/2004 18:27

How did it go Hula?

Original poster

Hulababy · 27/09/2004 18:50

Mollie really enjoyed it. She borrowed a leotard and ballet slippers, and joined in with well over half the dancing. Also class is 45 minutes long, but half ballet and half tap. There were no tap shoes for her to borrow but she enjoyed watching and having a go near me.

She definitely wants go again, so I have got her the kit:

pink ballet slippers
white tap shoes
pink tights
pink sleeveless leotard

And, as I liked it - a pink wrap cardigan - will look lovely with a skirt I bought her this weekend - for wedding nexxt month!!!

All in all, it was fab And she looked so cute too.

We now have had an evening of practising, and lots of rendition of "naughty feet, ballet feet", and poointing of toes. LOL :laugh

OP posts:

zebra · 27/09/2004 19:04

Oh bummer, I was gonna offer to sell you some size 6 tap shoes (very barely worn), Hula, oh well!

Original poster

Hulababy · 27/09/2004 19:05

LOL - she's size 8 anyway!

OP posts:

zebra · 27/09/2004 19:11

I thought you said something bigger than my DD's shoe size... on that 'How big are your 2yo's feet' thread. But I had to hope to recoup some of the expense... dance class is definitely on hold for us for another 3-6 months. DD is impossible! Has no grasp at all of why she would want to do what the rest of the group is doing.

Flip