What is wrong with my dd's ballet school??

[mummyloveslucy]

Hi,my daughter has just turned 3 and loves music and dancing. I've recently taken her to our local ballet school, that has a good reputation. When I arrived I wanted to talk to the teacher about my daughter, as she has very delayed speach and basic understanding so wanted to just let her know. She walked streight past and in to the dance room, and drank her coffee in there on her own. When we started the lesson it seemed quite strict and structured and Lucy didn't really have any idea of what she was ment to be doing.
It just seemed so ridged and not really much fun. Lucy loves music and dancing to it and when she hears the music, she just wants to dance and have fun expressing herself. I just wondered wether all ballet schools are the same or are there any dance schools around that are more fun and friendly? I feel as if this school would destroy her love of dance.

My DD's ballet school is lovely, relaxed, fun, nothing is a problem, the teacher is lovely, just strict enough to maintain order but wonderful caring personality and the children adore her.

Definitely keep looking, dancing is wonderful and should be fun not strict and regimented, especially at age 3!

If you are in SE London I can recommend one...

You might prefer finding a "stage-school" school of dance more helpful than a classical ballet class. I did pure ballet (not even tap or modern) and loved it but I started my dd with ballroom dancing at first. After a year I moved her to ballet/tap classes where she's thrived.

3 is young to start ballet IMHO.

I'm dreading the hairstyles kicking in at DD's school - they don't seem to care what their hair looks like in the baby class, and pre-primary don't look particularly kempt either (they'd all come from circus day at school yesterday, and were dressed as clowns and performing dogs and heaven knows what else). They had to have proper hair for the Christmas show though - DD has long hair, but a fringe, they managed that, they even managed her little friend who has a fringe and extremely thick hair in a bob. I have NEVER seen anything so cute in my life, they were will-o-the-wisps in The Water Babies, they had sparkly dresses and things on their heads.

Erm, yes, the class is really lovely and informal too, it's just half an hour and combines ballet AND tap AND modern AND drama - pointy toes, sad and happy faces, and poncing about to the theme tune to Mr Ben.

Nailpolish - I used to wear an alice-band type hairband when I did ballet - in fact this was part of the uniform. We didn't have to have buns until we were in grade two. It's girls with long swingy ponytail tails or bunches that need it securing back. Chin length hair on a little girl isn't too much of a problem .

you know, im glad you told me that
its always kind of worried me

Mummyloveslucy, just wondering where you are as I know some dance schools in Scotland that seem to be a bit more fun. My dd has done highland dancing for years, but some of the dance schools that come to competitions do other forms of dance too.

dd has been doign ballet since september when she was 4. it is very informal but they did do a little show a month bacj which was lovely. i really have no dreams of her becoming a prima ballerina but it gets us out of the house on a saturday morning and gets her moving and exercising.