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Original poster

Childrens dance classes...do your DCs do them? How much do you pay? What discipline(s)?

30 replies

SlightlyMadScientist · 16/06/2007 19:19

Looking at an 'exatra-curricula' activity for 6yo DTDs. Considering dance classes, the ones we have looked at are 45 mins - consisting of 15mins each of ballet, tap, modern jazz.

Sounds like it will be a whistlestop tour of the 3 and that they won't actually pick up anything from any of them.

Also is there a difference between IDTA and BDTA accreditation for the school?

OP posts:
cornsilk · 16/06/2007 19:20

My ds does stagecoach which is a mixture of dance, singing and drama. He likes it and it helps him to burn up some energy.

Skribble · 16/06/2007 21:50

DD is 7 and she does 1 hr of ballet (RAD Royal Academy of Dance) 15min break then an hour of jazz/tap (half hour each). Ballet was 45 min last year.

I like the fact it isn't competitive and they work together especially for their shows, they do 2 small shows at CHristmas and at the end of the week long summer school and one big show a year in the local theatre, we pay for costume hire so at least I don't have to sew on thousands of sequins (like disco). The idea of endless competitions where they compete against each other doesn't appeal. Its a big school often with 4 classe running at a time and there is a coffe shop where the older girls help out and they get a chance to help in the younger classes too which I think is great experience.

45min isn't long for each disipline considering shoe changing time, but would be a good way to see what she enjoys before comiting to longer lessons.

IDTA is International Dance Teachers Association so I guess BDTA is a teaching qualification too.

Original poster
SlightlyMadScientist · 16/06/2007 22:00

But it is only 15mins of each including shoe changing.

I think BDTA is Britisg Dance and Theatre Academy or something. We were just looking at one school which is IDTA accredited and one which is BDTA accredited and wondered is one is better that the other etc.

I did ballroom when I was little and loved it...can't find anything like that round here though...

OP posts:
Skribble · 16/06/2007 22:06

It really isn't all that long especially at 6 yrs, at 6 DD was working towards her Grade1 so def needed longer to train and even then they have 6 extra lessons before the exam.

Original poster
SlightlyMadScientist · 16/06/2007 22:09

They have never done anything like this before so they will be starting scratch. I am just worried that they literally won't get anything done in that 45 mins as they will be constantly changing shoes and recaping on the 2 mins that they might have done last week.

I might try and find somewhere that will do 45mins of just one discipline. I don't really fancy 'funky stret dancing' though. I was hoping for something a bit more 'girly'.

OP posts:
Kbear · 16/06/2007 22:09

Ballet - from age 4-7 it was Royal Academy of Dance but now 8+ she is studying the Russian Vaganova system, which doesn't have exams here yet (yay!).

Sounds very serious but she has the nicest teacher in the world where nothing is a problem and love for the music and the ballet is the whole purpose of being there, not to get exams and be Darcey Bussell.

She is dancing a fete tomorrow in fact - should be good.

Fimbo · 16/06/2007 22:10

My dd does ballet & tap. 1/2hr each. Each lesson costs £2.00.

She also used to do modern & acrobatic but gave that up recently.

Her dance school put on a show every 2 years and they work towards exams almost every year.

Katymac · 16/06/2007 22:10

DH thinks that the sections might be too short 3 classes at one time might be confusing

(He is an ISTD qualified teacher)

He mentioned a warm up cool down - so in a half hour class 5 min warm up 20 min class 5 min cool dwon

If they aren't warming up /cooling down that's not good

Mind you he only does Ballroom/latin/disco/rock'n'roll/salsa/line/tap/jazz no ballet

BTW he only teaches Ballroom/latin/disco/rock'n'roll/salsa/line/jazz to children

Skribble · 16/06/2007 22:12

Ballet is the girly one, jazz can be really funky (dep on teacher) and tap in between (again dep on teacher and style of music etc).

DD loves the funky stuff .

Fimbo · 16/06/2007 22:13

It can be quite expensive if you have more than one child.

You have to pay for extra exam classes for instance.

For the dance shows, although they have some stock costumes, the parents have to contribute towards the costumes. Last year dd was in 3 dances and the costumes cost me £50.

They also have multiple fund raisers to raise money for costumes and you are expected to contribute towards this as well.

Thankfully so far ds (3) has show no desire to dance!

WelshBoris · 16/06/2007 22:18

DD will be starting ballet when she is 3 in September. My cousins little girl is in the class I'm planning on taking her to and she has a show next week so I'm taking DD to watch.

VoluptuaGoodshag · 16/06/2007 22:21

Ballet for just now. She's 3 but once she starts nursery 5 mornings a week, it'll clash with her class so shall probably give it up for a couple of years until she can decide what things she'd like to do.

multitasker · 16/06/2007 22:23

My dd has been doing Irish dancing for a few years now and loves it. She goes twice a week and it costs £5 for the 2 lessons which last an hour and a half each. It has given her great strength in her legs and good posture.
BTW I also do Irish dancing - not competitively but a 2 hour class each week keeps my bum where it should be

Original poster
SlightlyMadScientist · 16/06/2007 22:31

Hmmm - lots to think about. The class I was looking at was £4 for 45mins which sounded expensive. KatyMac TY for your comments - that is exactly what I was concerned about.

I guess they are trying to give them a taster of all of them - but I would have thought it would be more sensible to do 1 discipline one week and a different one the next.

I have just googled and foudn some other schools. I might make further enquiries.

OP posts:
Katymac · 16/06/2007 22:34

Alternate weeks is what he suggessted

He does 5-8 min warm up & cool down with a 45 min class then 20/25 min of serious B/R or whatever then 5/10 min party dances at that age

Original poster
SlightlyMadScientist · 16/06/2007 22:34

KatyMac - do you know the difference between B.T.D.A and A.I.D.T.A.?

OP posts:
Katymac · 16/06/2007 22:36

Not really I used to do IDTA but have also done ADA

Now I'm all ISTD I'm afraid

Don't recognise BTDA

Have you googled it?

Katymac · 16/06/2007 22:38

the A in A ITDA will be associate it's a "level" of education....iyswim

Student
Associate
Licensiate
Fello w

Original poster
SlightlyMadScientist · 16/06/2007 22:42

Is A good or so you (or DH) not know?

OP posts:
Original poster
SlightlyMadScientist · 16/06/2007 22:44

British Theatre Dance Assoc.

Still means nothing in relation to teh others.

I just get wary of random letters after names cos I know in some industries you can pay an annual fee just to get the letters and it doesn't really mean anything in terms of qualifications IYSWIM

OP posts:
Katymac · 16/06/2007 22:46

Well it's the first level of professional teaching - you shouldn't teach without it

But an associate in any brancjh can allow you to teach in all

So although DH is an Associate in Ballroom, Disco & Rock'n'Roll he can still teach the others

An associate in a branch implies much more in depth knowledge

But each associate is like a year of a dgree (kinda) involves very hard work

Fimbo · 16/06/2007 22:49

Katymac my dd's classes are just outside Norwich they are affliated to UTD (United Teachers of Dance)

Katymac · 16/06/2007 22:52

Don't know the qualification

What school is it? Have I heard of it?

Fimbo · 16/06/2007 22:54

Yvonne School of Dance but they only do ballet/tap/modern & acrobatic - no ballroom

Katymac · 16/06/2007 22:55

Sorry I don't know it - is it west of Norwicjh (we're east)

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