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Nearly banned from dancing lessons :-/

3 replies

motherofsnortpigs · 21/02/2012 23:00

I was summoned into the dance studio today after dd1's tap and modern lesson to be told that unless she can refrain from weeping and wailing for 15 mins before the lesson starts, she will not be allowed to do the class as it is 'upsetting for the whole dance school'. Dd1 finds her tap shoes uncomfortable so cries in anger until the lesson starts. She stops as soon as the lesson starts and LOVES it. We can't just turn up at the last minute as dd2 is already in her ballet lesson. I've offered to try different shoes/insoles/socks. Any ideas what I should do? (Teacher was very nice about it and I can see her point tbh)

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outofbodyexperience · 21/02/2012 23:07

find something very important to do whilst dd2 is in ballet. (go next door to the supermarket, whatever) turn up just in time to slide her shoes on and collect dd2.

failing that, there is a chance that her tap shoes really are uncomfortable... Grin they don't have to be. i recently spent a good hour with dd1 trying on tap shoes at a local stockist and found it a little like goldilocks and the three bears. dd1 eventually settled on a particular style, but one size was too small, and one was too big, and the manufacturer was out of stock of the middle size. so we called every single dance stockist in the city, and two weeks later, have found a pair. Grin

you do have my sympathy though, dd2 has just decided that she is giving up tap, after begging to do it (much to our fear that it would be impossible for her).

orrrrrrrrr.... take her nintendo ds and let her play it until just before her lesson starts (wait in the car if the mere environs of the dance school triggers a meltdown) and same again, shoes on just before they line up to go in.

it is likely that it has just become a habit now, tbh, and you need a new one so that it doesn't ruin her fun. ds usually works to avoid meltdowns here (unless removing it causes a meltdown lol)

but either way, distract or busy elsewhere until it's time to line up, then shoes on. Grin

mariasalome · 21/02/2012 23:34

Could the school switch the lessons? Tap first then ballet?

Might not be possible for this term, but certainly next term or next year, looking at her timetabling options would surely be a reasonable adjustment to disability.

motherofsnortpigs · 22/02/2012 22:41

Thanks for the replies. I think that habit is a big part of it now. Another friend has suggested making a timetable and telling her it is a rule that shoes are put on at a certain time and we don't cry. I've got the offer of trying a different pair of shoes too. The teacher rang today to let me know that she has to go on a course next week so there will be a different teacher. I think that was quite considerate, so feeling a bit better about it now.

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