OMG. The twenty-first century is seriously out of control.

[sylvia_rachel]

This year SP wanted to take ballet classes instead of the kiddie music-and-movement classes she took last year and the year before. Being a total newbie to the scene, I enrolled her in a "junior dance" class at the dance studio downstairs from us, reasoning that it would be easy to get to, etc. It was pretty expensive ($650 for the year, plus a $70

Comments

[pernwebgoddess]

that just pisses me off. One of my inlaws' nieces is a dance instructor, and another of my friends is one... kids are supposed to ENJOY dance, especially at that age.

[elizabeth_welsh]

Poor SP, though I think I must tell you that it isn't just the 21st century. Years ago when I was taking piano lessons rather than teaching, there was a little boy who was going to the same teacher. His lesson was on Saturday right before mine. I went on Saturday because it was a fifty mile drive one way. He did because it was the only day he could squeeze it in. His mother was one of those "stage mothers" and if he had lived in California, he probably would have been doing television. He was in ballet, tap, sunshine generation, acting lessons, karate, singing lessons, and piano. That poor kid was beyond stressed. And a couple of times, we'd chat in that brief interim while his mother talked to the teacher before my lesson started. He HATED all the crap he had to do and none of it more than the dance lessons, which were given by a man he referred to as the "dance nazi". When he was twelve, Jonathan ran away from home. I've always thought that illustrated why children should not be forced into lessons and why teachers like that should

[sylvia_rachel]

Yeah, I had a friend when I was a kid whose schedule was like that. She did ballet, piano and flute lessons, speech arts, and I don't know what all, and she was never able to tell her parents that she didn't want to do any of it, she just wanted to draw and paint (which she was really, really good at -- not that she wasn't good at the other stuff as well). But she was an anomaly among my friends, as were the few kids I knew who were "hothoused" in particular areas, mostly on musical instruments. There have always been "stage mothers" (and fathers) and probably always will be

[sylvia_rachel]

So, yeah, that's not gonna work. T, it transpires, has an older sister who also takes classes at this dance school, and their mom is right into the whole thing. So never mind.

Aside from all the sitting around, the "stage rehearsal" (it was a tech rehearsal, sure enough) wasn't all that bad. And the kids are cute, and nobody cried or got upset. But I'm still looking for someplace else for next year.

[anonymous]

Children in Dance was never that abusive.

Though they *did* make me wear a hot pink leotard with a rainbow belt.

And I liked it.

Is that why I've needed so much therapy?

Seriously, I hope that you and Shaina can find something more relaxed and fun for next year, with a less silly and stressed-out teacher!

[sylvia_rachel]

I don't remember it as being abusive like this, either. Although I'm glad to have that confirmed, because, frankly, my memories are pretty vague.

I do remember that they made me wear a yellow, orange and hot pink zinnia suit. And I loved the zinnia suit. (That was the same year you were a dragonfly, I think -- maybe a butterfly? -- and P was the Violet Goblin.) Safe to say I probably had Issues ;^)

[undergroundsea]

That's hardcore. It's not the Bolshoi after all! That kind of queeny carry on always annoys me, but with small children there just seems no place for it. What an ego! I hope you find a new place for her. And it is wonderful how articulate she is and how she can understand, with the rest of the kids, that's what happening is not okay. It's a pity though the effects it could have on more fragile children like T!

[sylvia_rachel]

I'm really glad that she told us about it and that she understands that it's not appropriate. (We've been trying to reinforce that.) I think she'll probably really enjoy the whole being-on-stage-in-a-fancy-outfit thing -- she's that kind of child, I fear -- but we need to get her out of there before she loses that understanding and starts to think the yelling is OK.

I hope that T also told her mum.

[undergroundsea]

oh and p.s. you are a lovely mummy! *s*

[sylvia_rachel]

I do try ... some days I do better than other days ;)