Under 5's dance class

[nappyaddict]

DS has so far been to 2 classes and I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't allowed to watch considering 1) he had never been before and might not settle in and 2) I would like to know exactly what I am paying for. First week he was fine but today one of the boys was crying for his mum which set DS off. The mum took the other boy home in the end because he was having a tantrum about staying but even after he'd gone DS was still crying. In the end I went in to comfort him but the teacher didn't look very impressed and soon ushered me back out.

Am I wrong for wanting to stay for the first few sessions to see how he gets on and to see whether it's worth continuing with?

good heavens - we kidnap all the mums for the first few lessons! Just so that if their little princess/prince wants mummy in the middle of the lesson, they can nip out for a cuddle and then run back in, it saves a fortune on tissues

so what's their secret? scared you'll nick all their dances

are you a dance teacher then gigglewitch?

yup, 'fraid so

what styles do you teach?

for "fun" on saturdays
have been doing it for more years than I am willing to own up to erm more than 20. Am not really that old!!

modern/stage, ballet, tap, hip hop, street, anything bonkers.

DS loves HSM and says he wants to dance like that (whilst pointing at TV ) - any idea what the best sort of class would be for that? The class he is in at the moment is a general fun dance class but from 4 or 5 they move into specific dance classes - ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, jazz, street, disco, rock and roll etc

i stayed in dd1's class for first 2 weeks. Her teacher wasnt too worried but i know they dont like parents in as sometimes it is better for parents to just go. If your unhappy ask to stay.

I was going to mention it to the dance teacher today about how he was poorly and that i was worried about the older children knocking him over but i was bit worried that she would a) think i was being really precious and b) think that i thought she wasn't capable of keeping an eye on him so he didn't get knocked over

yep - that's our style, heaps of HSM, Camp Rock, disney stuff ... we take a big lead from what the kids like and lots of them bring cd's. Go for something called Musical Theatre or pure fun "group" rather than 'School' iykwim, although it isn't always obvious from the title because ours has a pretentious 'school' title but most certainly is a community fun thing and we couldn't give two hoots about our exam successes. Although don't get me wrong, our senior classes are incredibly good, but because they enjoy it.
What area are you in (vague as you like) and see if we can point you in any direction? (my teacher friends have moved all over the uk so somebody's bound to know something?!)

I'm in the West Midlands (Dudley/Stourbridge area)

oooh. now I've got some lovely contacts over that way [ish]. tell yer what - my email's on my profile if you're brave enough drop me a line and I could pass you a couple of the area bods down there. They run one of the large associations and have lots of schools affiliated, so are likely to match you up with the sort of thing you want.

your profile isn't showing up.

I stayed the first two times for ballet then left - but dd (3) couldn't handle it and we went home. That was last term and I'm hoing to try again (she's begging to go back) - but I'd stay for at least one lesson. It is fantasically cute to watch - wich I could stay every time!

It's a lot to expect a young child to go in firts time without mum. No preschool or nursery would expect that.

DD started ballet when she was 2. It was a ballet/tap class really. Now that she is in year 1, she takes three classes back to back. They are ballet, tap, modern. Around age 3 or 4 the teacher started kicking the parent / nannies out. This is because the children tend to act up more when mum/nanny is in view. So, much better for everyone if mum will go away. Sometime I think oi, I'm paying you oodles of manoey and I can't even observe?!?! But her teacher is fab and have complete faith that she would bring any concerns to my attention. And I figure it's her class and she's much better qualified to make these choices than I am. So, I have accepted that my role is to do as I'm told and pay the bill. DD has gotten quite good at her dance now and I am absolutely thrilled with school (and with DD!).

sorry - will fix settings properly this time