Anyone's DD/DS dance in a team?

[whatnoww]

DD is 6 and has been dancing for about 12 weeks. Her teacher asked last week if she would be interested in trying out for the elite team. From what I can gather this is for kids that show potential and they train more and take part in competitions and festivals etc.

Does anyone have any experience of this?
Is it going to take over our life? And our non existant bank balance?

Any advice or anyone willing to share experience is much appreciated

Hi there, what sort of dance is it?

She does ballet tap and modern. also does street and musical theatre but I don't think these are included in the team

Kiss goodbye to your old life and be prepared to travel far and wide.
You will pay so much for show costumes too probably.

Absolutely fantastic for your dd btw, well done.

If you are anything like me, now supporting a similar field you will have a great time

Good luck to her.

Thanks for the reply morethan, although I was afraid someone was going to say that. She starts tomorrow at 8am! There was talk of stretching classes and weights? I am in way over my head.

What happens at a dance festival? Do I just go and sit in the crowd or will I be expected to do things? She only started a few months ago, now its all exams and fesitivals

Anyone care to help me realise what I'm signing up to?

Perhaps you could talk to some other mums at pick-up time, or maybe ask the teacher if they have any dates/times you need to keep free. It might also be worth asking the teacher to explain about the level of commitment involved, and the cost of costumes etc.

It might also be worth brushing up on your sewing skills!

We're in the dressing rooms helping with costume changes, hair, make up. Then to join the crowd, briefly, to watch. We also have to have private lessons for our children in order to learn their solos.
Expensive, especially if you have more than one child doing this, time consuming, but invaluable in terms of skills gained.

Kiss goodbye to your old life and be prepared to travel far and wide.
You will pay so much for show costumes too probably.

Yep, pretty much this. My dd is 29 now, but I well remember the years of dance classes literally from 4pm until 9pm five days a week, plus Saturdays, the travelling, and the competitions (and the drama - not just from the kids ).

DD has wonderful memories of it. It was expensive (which meant I drove an old beater car for ages so I could still pay for the activities), but she did enjoy it. Until she blew out her knees and had to cut way back, and eventually moved over the theatre instead. (not that THAT was much better in terms of time involved, but at least cheaper!!)

Thanks for the replies everyone. I now have a massive list of upcoming events and some idea of what's going on.

I have discovered 2 things

1. Goodbye old life
2. Hello second mortgage!

It will be worth it tho. DD has been to try out today and the teachers are all impressed. She has done 6 hours dancing and she's still bouncing off the walls. If she's happy, I'm happy.

It might scare you off but try and watch dance mums with Jennifer Ellison. That might give you some idea of the level of commitment but from my experience (four children currently dancing at festival level) it is well worth it. Our mums don't fight and argue like the ones on that programme though!