Help! Overpriced ballet outfit

narabanekeater

2 of my 3 children dance and the 3rd isnt even walking yet. Things do get a lot more expensive as they get older. My DD goes to festivals 3-4 times a year and also does the shows. I have also spent a lot more than £35 on an outfit. The good news is that they keep the value quite well on ebay so wear then recycle unless youll be needing them for festival etc. Maybe you could ask the dance teacher to set up a weekly 'club' type thing where you can out away a couple of pounds a month towards costumes. I the last month alone ive paid out £300+ on deposits, shoes and socks. One of the girls where DD dances wears a stunning and most beautiful Irish tap dance costume. These costs upwards of £500. Another option could be to ask for money for birthdays and Christmas to put towards costumes as I do for DD.

Madmel

I'm in the "tell her to shove it" camp - sorry! I'd also look for a more understanding teacher.

Our DDs' dance teacher also sells uniform and second hand stuff that people have grown out of. I have had some good stuff from her, but she charges quite a lot. She does have catalogues from the main suppliers and after browsing them, I found new character shoes online considerably cheaper than the second hand ones she was trying to sell me. I showed her and she then asked me to order some for her. She even paid half the postage without me asking her!

They are putting on another show this summer but have asked the older ones to sign up, rather than involving everyone. My 2 DDs are busy at school and with their musical activities so have decided not to bother. The teacher is absolutely fine with this, especially as their reason was that they didn't feel they could demonstrate the commitment that such an event would need. This has the advantage of saving me a fortune too .

Gingham_R

Nicki wrote: »

Maybe, as the tutu is for a show, she wants all the kids to be in identical tutus. Even if the one you have seen online looks similar to the one she wants to sell, the dye could be different, and your little one could look very different to all her friends on stage? That kind of very small thing can be very upsetting to little ones, especially when they are nervous and overwrought anyway.

At 3 years old? Really? Is that a usual reaction for a 3 year old? I thought all that upsetting nonsense kicked in much later.

shandyclover

If your little one loves dance so much it really is worth shopping around to find a dance instructor/class you are completely happy with, because it's almost like a long term relationship. My DD didn't start dance till she was 12. The first school she went to neither of us really liked, the teacher was good but very businessy. I looked around a bit and found another teacher who was absolutely passionate about teaching dance. Being as DD took it up so late she had alot of catching up to do but the teacher was fantastic, she could see DD had a gift, I could only afford 3 classes max a week so the teacher had her come in with some younger ones for an extra class she didn't charge me for. The lady was completely committed, taught all the way through her pregnancy and even with a cast on when she broke her leg. Thought up ways to keep the costume costs low and for the end of the year show organised a cake sale. She became a big influence in DD life and like a mentor. DD is now 21 and volunteering for 6 mos teaching ballet to orphans in Colombia. She is still in contact with her teacher.

Gingham_R

duchy wrote: »

I may be slightly biased as I was expelled from ballet school at the age of 2 for inattention :rotfl::rotfl:

:rotfl::T I got kicked out of our lunchtime cross country club for being crap at it.

I don't remember my ballet lessons lasting very long either.

Managed a whole term at Highland dancing though. :j:D

Oh God, the horrors are just flooding back into my head.

Netball. My PE teachers were all cruel.