Dance Class Drama - Pittsburgh,PA

I have worked with many dance schools (as a lighting designer for recitals, as well as various other capacities) and have found a fair mixture of mature, competant professionals working in the field... and others. A good dancer does not a good teacher make. I also find that in a dance school, teachers are given a great amount of autonomy over their classes. This is a recipe for problems, but neccessary due to the specific nature of different dance styles. The only thing to do is make sure the word of the unprofessional conduct gets up the chain. If it is a decent school, they will work with you to make some alternate arrangement. If they don't make things right, sever all ties with that school and find one a bit more professional.

Good luck to you.

i would do what your doing let her finish ballet and then find another school to take her to. she seems like she has a lot of talent and deserves to be taught well.

I would have totally done the same thing! When it comes to our kids getting the short end of the stick our momma bear instincts kick in. You were right in asking about it and right again for complaining about the teacher making remarks within earshot of parents. If your daughter wants out of hip hop then definitely take her out if you are okay with that but don't take ballet class from her because she will always feel it was her fault no matter how you explain it to her. After that, search for a more reputable dance academy or put in a formal request that your child never be placed with that teacher again and why. Good luck mama.

Actually, I am very proud of you for standing up to that hag! That is NO WAY to treat a little kid! Just because a person can perform DOES NOT mean they can teach/coach that sport or whatever it is! My daughter was in dance for 7 years. I was NOT a dance mom. She liked it and did well. But when she got to point (ballet) she said "I'm done." I said"ok". And that was that! Dance places can be HORRIBLE. My daughter's wasn't--but MANY are! They are a dime a dozen! Find one where the teachers are K. and good teachers. Also--a class for 5-10 years old is NOT a good mix--WAY too much developmental differences between a kindergartener and a 5th grader!! You did the right thing! Your daughter deserves a better dance studio! Don't waste your money on taking her there for ballet either. Even if you don't get your money back--it's worth leaving that crappy place!

There are some wonderful ballet schools in Pittsburgh that your daughter would enjoy. These schools take a thoughtful, professional approach to teaching, and you won't find the chaos associated with a 'recital' school. I don't know where you live, but I can tell you that Pittsburgh Youth Ballet, Point Park University Conservatory and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater school are all excellent. If your daughter loves dance enough to practice on her own, she will likely thrive in the environment that she finds at any of these three. These schools also offer live piano accompaniment for the classes, which will contribute to her own love and appreciation of music. Good luck!

Our dance studio was a teeny tiny hole in the wall, but the staff was fantastic! None of that would have ever happened. Our teacher had a basket of goodies and if the kids worked hard, she'd take the basket down and let them choose one item. She didn't do it every class for the older kids, but for the little ones, she gave them a treat almost every class. The kids were well behaved for the most part. Some were impulsive, but she put them in their place. My daughter is very much like yours. I took her to NYC on a ballet/dance trip with our studio. She was the youngest. They took classes at Ailey - some of them my daughter was technically too young to be in, but they let her try. They were all impressed with her focus and her ability...
If I were you, I'd finish out the year and in the mean time look for another studio. Audition them so to speak.
Ask to go sit and watch different classes.
We used to have visitors all the time. Some people were taken aback by the lack of beautiful things, but most people who were looking for a quality dance program put their kids in and stayed.
Make sure you bring your daughter with you - she's the one who will be dancing. She'll let you know if she wants to dance there or not.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
LBC

I would find a better dance school. Here in Austin, there is actually Austin Ballet. They are the professional Ballet company in Austin so they are professional dancers with their instructors and dance coaches.

I bet Pittsburgh has a fabulous REAL ballet school

You daughter sounds like she takes this serious, so I would try to find a better fit for her personality.

I wouldn't even finish the year there!! I know it is hard, bc your daughter is looking forward to her show at the end of the season.
When I started to look into dance studios for my daughter, I called everyone in my area (my daughter had separation anxiety from me!), the one I choose was a bit more than the other ones I had called, but the way I saw her look at the little girls in her class, she loved them like her own, that being sad (this is a class of 3 and 4 yr olds), no one is EVER secluded, if a child is having a bad day (missing Mom), they hold the kids while they dance, and even then at the end of the class they ALL get stamps on their hands and animal crackers, and the teachers ALWAYS what a great day we had!
The studio you are going is acting like they are Julliard Dance school or something, you are talking about a class of 6 year olds, and that is just wrong to single anyone of them out with a "prize"!
I give you a lot of credit for sticking up for your daughters!!! Hugs to your little girl!!

I'm on the fence on whether I'd let her finish there. How much longer is the ballet class? I'd be tempted to let her finish but insist that I be able to sit in and observe every class to ensure she is not treated unfairly due to the hip hop class incident. I'd be wary of leaving her at that school. Maybe a little chat with the ballet teacher is in order. How do you feel about her? I guess go with your gut instinct. If you feel the ballet teacher is very professional and loving and would not ever do a dreadful thing like the other teacher did, I would say OK to finishing out this one class. Next year look for a different school. If all the teachers/director are a tight group, if the ballet teacher seems defensive, or was part of that group you overheard, I'd be leery. I don't know that I would trust them not to pull some passive-aggressive retaliation with my daughter. If it feels like that may happen, it may be best to gently pull her out now, and sign her up at a new school this summer or fall.

Seriously, find another dance studio. I'm sure there are many in your area that you could check out, and others that actually would realize you are paying THEM not the other way around.