Ballet schools - Unhappy about teachers comment

[balletballet]

Hi,

I was speaking to my DD1's ballet teacher about DD2 starting ballet and how the early classes and progression through them works. She came out with the comment, 'well it depends on a number of things like which school they go to state or private.' I was a little taken a back by this comment and didn't say anything at the time, but now I am wondering whether to remove DD1 from the ballet school as I don't really want my girls discriminated against because they don't go to a private school. What are your thoughts on this?

What an odd thing to say! Can't see why it would matter in the slightest to the ballet teacher where they go to school. Did you ask her to explain what she meant by it? I would have.

perhaps it matters because in the private sector they have ballet? you need to find out, agree tis very odd.

I'm glad its not just me that finds it an odd comment. I did wonder if private school run ballet lessons, but if they did why would parents pay for additional lessons? I didn't ask her for clarification at the time. She is a bit odd and not very approachable, so I'm not too sure about bringing it up with her.

I'm now thinking perhaps I'll just start DD2 at another ballet school and look to move DD1 there once she has done her latest exam.

My DD does ballet during school time at her school (independent).

I wonder if she meant that what would affect things is simply the additional lessons?

DD may come along quicker than another local girl at a state school because DD is getting extra time at school - so an extra hours practice. ( even though she is a chatty little galumph )

I think you may be over reacting when she is just talking about access to extra lesson/practice.
Is that possible?

and fwiw given that DDs ballet is within school time - and she loves it - I also pay for her to have extra lesson, although she wants to change to jazz now and keep ballet just for at school.
I think you are seeing an insult/discrimination that isn't there.

But if you don't like her then probably best to change anyway

I don't think the teacher is dicriminating. It is probably down to the fact that children usually start private schools at 3 years.

Children who have been in school for a while tend to be better at following instructions and dealing with a structured class simply because they are used to it (as opposed to any suggestion that children attending private schools are brighter).

Also my DC's private school has ballet as part of the curriculum so I would imagine she actually has twice as many classes as those who do not do ballet at school.

Don't worry about it.

Was it a logistical thing - did she mean classes are at certain times of day e.g. if DD2 was at XYZ private school she couldn't attend on Saturday morning because they have school lessons then.

[clutching at straws]

As the others have said, it was probably a comment which didn't really mean anything in particular.

My DD (state school) attends a ballet school which has quite a high number of girls from private schools. They are all treated equally, but I know that the private girls have ballet as part of their curriculum.

If anything, the state girls are generally better, IMHO, as some of the private girls are only there as ballet is often 'the done thing' and a few have two left feet, tbh. I'll also add that my DD is not amazing at ballet either but goes because she enjoys it.

So you could look at it from a completely different point-of-view if it makes you feel better!

Did she mean because lots of prep schools do ballet? Dd did ballet at school in pre prep. Lots of girls still did outside lessons as school lessons were more general and didn't work towards exams, etc.

Thanks I knew you would be able to put this into perspective. I was getting myself worked up over nothing.