She has only been going for a few months and already wants the costume, treble shoes, and to go to a feis every other weekend.
I have only allowed her to go to one Feis so far, and despite it just being the local one of the school and for age 10 and under, mostly beginners, there were plenty of wigs and fake tan and make up, glittery socks etc.
I can see where this is going and I wish I had never let her start at all. But the classes are literally next door to us in the community centre, so for the last 2 years she has seen her friends go and I guess I just thought she would try it and not be interested. All her friends go.
Or I thought naively (?) that I could allow her to go just to the lessons and not compete. But the teacher really seems to push the feis “hope to see you all there” etc. I can’t believe how many there are! I don’t want us to spend our weekends going to them and I hate the stuff that everyone hates about them - the pageant vibe.
She is already pretty good but as well as liking the actual dancing, she’s showing every sign of liking mostly the lure of trophies, the costume, the glitz, and she already wants to compete, compete, compete and win, win, win!
The school costume costs £200 new and given how short they wear them, looks like it would fit for about 6 months, if even.
Can’t believe I’m in this situation. I have, up until now, been all happy clappy and willing to let her lead the way with her interests - not push her into anything or away from anything. She has tried ballet, drama and football. She quite liked all of them but it was definitely the social side she enjoyed. She still does football. But this Irish dancing has got under her skin in a different way.
She is 8.
Advice? Solidarity?
Craicnet
How do I get my DD away from Irish dancing?
ObjectsInTheRearviewMirrorMayAppearSexierThan · 09/05/2023 21:47
mumtohatty · 09/05/2023 22:18
Ugh Irish dancing is the worst, the makeup, the mahogany legs, the wigs, the competitive bitchy parents. Honestly get out now while you still can!! Not to mention the fact you'll need to sell a kidney to afford a solo costume when the time comes. And heaven forbid you wear it for more than a year without getting a brand new even better one. It's a money racket.
LilylilyDaisy · 09/05/2023 22:40
Isn't it just stage makeup though? Costumes, stage hair and stage makeup is standard for any and all types of performance. If it was ballet being performed on stage by a troupe, there'd still be stage makeup and matching hair pieces etc.
I'd personally be delighted to have a DC so excited by a hobby/activity especially one which is physically demanding and disciplined. Surely she'll make lots of friends too and/or deepen existing friendships, so there's a good social element too. I think DCs with good hobbies and interests keeps them from being bored/away from the screens. It's good to think of the positives as well as the negatives.
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