Definately check out other classes - but seeing as new teacher is on the PTA, could you have a quiet word with her? (Not during PTA time of course, but after ballet, or at school?) Purely because you are going to be working along side this woman on the PTA...
I would however also let her know that you overheard her describing you as one of the difficult parents... Because otherwise that would nibble at me... And perhaps joke that you obviously got off on the wrong foot...
And actually, that comment would make me actively want to look for another school. Because whenever you will have a genuine question for her you will feel awkward approaching her in case she sees you as 'difficult mum' again.
Well that is how I would feel anyway...
I do remember from E's brief foray into the ballet world, that bouncy, grinning, in-your-face dance teachers are horribly annoying!
And finally, just because they are putting on a show does not mean they have dropped the grading. My friend's dd's very prestigious (well, apparently) ballet school does both, as well as putting the children forward for competitions (which are not called competitions but something else...)
Hope that helps (probably not, have just read back it 'tis more like the ramblings of a mad woman...)
O and E both had a friend back yesterday, so a lovely afternoon was had by all. According to dh I have taken my anal - retentiveness to the next level because both friends names began with H
'Twas lovely though, O's pal H had not been here since they were in nursery. They went into seperate classes after nursery and never really mixed with eachother again. And then suddenly just before christmas they started asking could we the parents sort out a day for tea!
Next week O is having a lovely quiet girl for tea, again, she was his best friend at nursery, they went into sepearate classes after nursery (M went into all the same classes as H), and guess what, they have 'found' eachother again and want to do tea! Am very pleased