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JOEBunny
member
WWYD?
JOEBunny
member
DD has taken pre-ballet for 2 years from a great teacher. No massive recitals, not super expensive, very patient teacher who is great with the girls. The class is only offered on Monday and DD is going to have a small group Occupational Therapy session on Mondays starting in the fall, so she won't be able to go to that dance school anymore.
She is also starting school full time and takes Ice Skating on Saturday. DD says she really wants to take ballet. The classes that I can find for her are all at more rigorous ballet schools and start around 5:00. I have to sign her up now for the whole year (you can pay monthly, but get a discount to pay for the full year). She currently goes to bed at 7:00, but in the fall will probably need to go to bed by 6:45 to get up for school. She normally eats dinner about 5:30.
She really wants to take ballet, but I am afraid that she will be too tired. I have to sign her up now and it is fairly expensive $60 a month for 1 hour a week + recital cost of about $100 at the end of each session. I don't mind the cost, but hate to pay if she will just be a mess by the time class starts.
Would you sign her up or wait another year, until she is 6, and then let her start at the more intensive ballet school after I see how she does with the rigors of school?
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Re: WWYD?
Man that stinks- that is quite an important choice.
Shame it is at that time- are there ANY other schools that offer classes any other times? ~ i am sure you looked- or you wouldn't have this problem lol.
If it were me I would probably skip ballet and have enough down time after school- eating and playing before a good bedtime. But that is me.
Does she realize that this ballet will be completely different from her other classes? I think that that's a tough decision and tough to explain to a 5 year old
I would say to maybe try to change her schedule to get her used to eating dinner later if she says she still wants to do it.
In my area, they do a kindergarten readiness day where kids who will start kindergarten next year go to a part day event where they are tested, partially so the teachers can spread the kids out evenly and partially so that the parents know what to work on over the summer- do you have anything like this? I would say that if she did well there she shouldn't have too much trouble in school and maybe ballet would be good for her as a release?
Could you switch out the ice skating for ballet? you mention she wants to do ballet but what about ice skating? THen you might be able to find a class on Saturday mornings?
Also- I'm not sure if you're close to a YMCA but they offer ballet up here. I can't imagine it's "intensive"...just a few thoughts! GL!
The Y has ballet, but it is on Saturday.
Ice Skating is a definite. It is something my DH is passionate about, and they spend time together doing. DD loves it.
I am leaning toward having her wait another year. She would still be in pre-ballet this year, so not really getting "behind". I think she could start at 6 and be fine, if she really got into it.
Mind you, I don't have older kids yet, but strictly from a scheduling standpoint, MHO is that you should just keep her out of ballet this year. Perhaps you could do one or two sessions per month with the old ballet instructor on a one on one basis if it's not too expensive? Maybe get a couple of girls together whose families are willing to pitch in for a "private" lesson? I dunno... just reaching here.
Good luck!!
I think I would skip it. I would worry that the late day when she has ballet would throw the whole week off. But J&K has a good idea; maybe even one private lesson a month with her old ballet teacher would be enough to keep her excited about it.
When we moved, I had to drop DD's Gymboree class, which she loved. It was just too far away. She asked about it for a little while, but got over it pretty fast.
This!
Although, I have my DD in an intensive ballet school, so my thoughts my be skewed.
My 6 year old takes dance lessons one evening a week along with doing one other sport most of the year. It's never been a problem for us and I'm a stickler on getting enough rest at night. I always plan an easy dinner for those nights so we can come right home and eat.
A lot of sports actually start later so it may be a good way to ease into it. My dd does cheer & track which practice from 6:30-7:30.
This is actually a great idea. My neighbors 11 year old is excellent at ballet. I am thinking I could hire her to come 1 time a week for 30 minutes or so. DD adores her and she has danced in the Nutcracker production here for the last 3 or 4 years. She is great and very patient with DD.