ballet show costumes

Poppy9

What is a shame is that most formal dance tuition is only available to those who can afford.

Music lessons with instruments are often available in schools but not so with dancing. Its a real shame as we are no doubt missing out on talented dancers.

I and other parents used to moan we were skint after paying dance fees, outfits etc. but the truth is we could afford it or else we would not have been able to pay it. For many parents they simply don't have this money to spend on extras and dance teachers seem happy to keep the lessons elitist.

They decide on costumes etc with no or little regard to cost. They do nothing to stop the practice of new shoes/leotard etc for exams. Also they capitalise on the need for extra lessons by making more money out of the kids.

Trix

I did ballet, tap and modern when I was little and my mum made all my costumes! My eldest daughter has been doing jazz/freestyle/stage/cheerleading for 6 weeks and they have just had their first show (school has only been going for 9 months). The dance school kept as many of the costumes as they could down to what you might already have. My daughter was only in one dance doing 'the Blues Brothers'. The school provided the hats and sunglasses and we were asked to dress her in white shirt, black tie, black trousers and an adult black jacket (meant to look daft and big - they threw them off after 30 seconds of the routine so didn't actually have to dance in them) so no cost for us. The only thing we bought were her jazz shoes which were £12 but they said they could just wear black sandshoes if you hadn't bought any. Some of the older girls had a few costume changes but for all of them, including shoes, the most was about £40.

The dance teachers kept apologising about the prices and have now set up a scheme where you pay £1 per week which goes into each childs 'costume fund' so no big cost when they do need an outfit. My daughter does 2 lessons a week - one is £2.50 and the other is £2. It isn't a school that thinks all pupils should want to do it for a career, they just encourage them to have fun and do their best.

The show was just held at a social club (meaning cheap drinks!), they're kids having fun after all, not kids in training to be professional dancers. Tickets were £5 each which included a disco, buffet and raffle so was really good value. Each child was also called to the front individually for their own round of applause and given a medal for performing which was a lovely touch.

It does seem to come down to the choice of school. I would not be sending my daughter if the school was the same as the one eml was talking about. Between the attitude and the cost they don't seem to be doing it for the kids, just themselves.

susieb

My dd does ballet, tap and modern, has just done a show, costumes were each £24 plus new ballet shoes, tights etc, plus ticket to watch were £4 each, its not a cheap hobby at all, but she loves it so we go with it. She also goes riding which is much more expensive for lessons, but if you add it all up, its compareable to dance. I'm hoping she will soon drop a dance class and favour just one ot two.

Ratty_2

I think you were really proactive in your approach to the teacher, and you're absolutely right to move your daughter to another class - they are all clearly bonkers, not to mention made of money if they think £27 is a reasonable sum to find in 2 days. I'd need a month's notice to factor even a modest sum like that into my budget at present!

I don't have kids of my own yet, but I did dance as a child (30 years ago now...), and I remember a roaring trade in second hand shoes, leotards, etc. at my classes. The teacher's attitude there was that kids grow so fast that there's always plenty of wear left. I don't think in 10 years of dancing, I ever had anything "new". I don't remember costs of show costumes, but I do remember that everything was carefully planned months in advance with mums, and that every effort was always made to choose things that kids would be able to wear afterwards, even if only as party clothes.

If you've not been too put off by The Barking Mad Ballet Teacher, perhaps when you take her to another class the teacher will be agreeable to a similar "swap" programme?

Best of luck - my interests were eventually directed towards music, and unfortunately that's NEVER going to make me rich...

Ratty

homersimpson_3

It is true ballet is expensive and £27 in overall budget of things is not that much but no, you're definately not over reacting.
£27 at 2 days short notice is unreasonable. £27 is alot of money for anyone but particularly for people on low incomes and alot of famalies have more one than child who do classes. Also why was it £27- its nearly double compared to last time (then only £10) and secondly it seems you were assured it would cost no more than £25. Where do you draw the line?
The worse thing seems to be the teacher's mother calling you at home. What interest do she have in this issue? Does she make the costumes? Why didn't the teacher call you herself and explain? How many students attend this class? Would the other parents support you? Could the parents make the costumes themselves? Are they on limited budgets? If so may be more likely to support you. Also if you daughter likes ballet could you buy ballet things for birthday/x mas pressies to reduce costs. my cousin buys her daughter ballet costumes as presents and she loves it - shows them off and parades around house whilst everyone tells her how wonderful she is. ask family to buy ballet things?
suggest you have a word with teacher and explain. if no joy and teacher not prepared to comprimise move your daughter but speak to new ballet school about their policy on costumes, paying for shows etc. do they know anywhere you can get discount if you cannot make them yourselves? can they do a deal with ballet shop or are other parents prepared to sell them?

Savvy_Sue

Ratty wrote:

I remember a roaring trade in second hand shoes, leotards, etc. at my classes. The teacher's attitude there was that kids grow so fast that there's always plenty of wear left. I don't think in 10 years of dancing, I ever had anything "new".

Similar attitude at the dance school my kids also attended - unfortunately mine were boys and were always the only one in their class so I had to get everything new. It didn't last long with the eldest and youngest, but middle one kept it up for quite a while. No shows, mercifully, just a couple of exams.

rainee

way to keep the costs down on the uniform good old ebay ....
i have made a note of my daughters next grade uniform and keep an eye out for it at a reasonable price she has a large box full of bits and bobs. like this month after the holidays she needed new ballet shoes character shoes tap shoes and a new coloured leotard (luckily i had all of them!!)