My DD was waiting for her sister to get out of her class when she saw the ballet class next door. She decided she wanted to do ballet. For the record, I HATE BALLET. However, I promised that if any of my daughters wanted to do it I wouldn't stop them. I don't mind ballet for exercise, I just hate the costumes and recitals part of it. That being said, is there a studio for my 6 YO who has never danced to just dance and skip the other stuff? So far no sports have stuck with her and I want her to be involved in something so I am not against her trying dance but I really don't want to be pressured into buying all that stuff for her recital. If it appears she likes dance and wants to stick with it, I can deal with the other stuff but just to start where should I go? Thanks.
at Von Heidecke in Naperville at 75th and Naper they have a recital, but no costume/no specific routine for the recital. I liked it a lot -- they just had the younger kids demonstrate what they learned. The older ones did a full-blown recital. The kids all have to buy a specific leotard in the color that matches their grade level, but then you wear this same leotard to the class and the recital.
Ballet is the foundation for all sports. It will provide her the flexibility, structure, It will give her confidence in movement, grace and will remain with her , her entire life. Football players have ballet instruction for dexterity, it will allow her to be better at gym in school, it will develop her core early. I am certainly not a ballerina, but I am grateful to my Mom for giving me the opportunity. I see that I have an extreme advantage over my peers who never had that. I am a better dancer for fun. It gave me a lot of confidence to be infront of people. The costumes and recitals are the girly part of the whole process. It works for some, not for others,.... if you can afford it, give her the opportunityl.
We have done the park district stuff. it is reasonably priced and the recitals are fun. Have also done the storm dance alliance which my son loved and did well in but which is buku expensive. For the first classes I would stick with the park district or the Y.
My daughter has taken dance at studios in St. Charles, Geneva, and Elburn. The recitals at each of the schools have been optional and we certainly did not feel pressured to participate if we chose not to. If your other daughter is already taking dance at a studio, ask the owner what the policy is on recitals. Or try something through the park district. Also, just because you don't like the recitals and costumes, who's to say your daughter won't enjoy it?
Most studios have 1 recital a year in the spring or at the end of the school year. You usually sign up in semester type increments. So like the one downtown Batavia sign her up for fall. In spring take a "break" to find out if she misses it then resume in summer and you effective miss the recital, the outfit and also the most technical teaching occurs during summer and fall and the spring is spent learning the steps and choreographing the recital.
