Many of the questions that I get regarding dance at the competition (our studio calls it “company”) level are in regards to the time commitment and money. This week, I’m going to tackle time. I’ll do money soon.
Last year, our studio had mandatory classes and optional classes. This year, they’ve made very few of the classes optional. Piper is 6 and on the youngest team, so she has 1 class that is completely optional on Thursday and a class on Saturday that she is allowed to miss twice a month. But, we’ve also picked up a class that is intended for the older kids, but is covered by our tuition. Can you follow that?
Here’s how it breaks down:
Day 1: Ballet tech for 90 minutes
Day 3: Jazz & Tap choreography for 2 hours
Day 4: Jazz and Tap tech for 2 hours
Day 6: Ballet tech for 90 minutes and Modern tech for 1 hour
That’s 8 hours per week of dance. I’ve all but changed my mailing address to the studio.
Honestly, all kidding aside, it is a lot of time and a huge commitment. It’s a team-sport and everyone needs to be there all the time to improve at the same rate and to the same level. It’s not for everyone.
Piper is the type of kid that thrives on activity. Don’t get me wrong; the kid loves her sleep and her naps, but she is my go-go-go kid. Avery could not keep up with this type of schedule. You need to know your child and be real about whether they can handle it ALONG WITH their school work and anything else that they are involved in.
You also have to take into consideration your family schedule. It pains me to think that Avery would have to sit in that studio 8 hours per week playing his iPod. We’ve arranged our family schedule so that he is only there one class session. He has his own activity on another night, and then spends 2 additional sessions at home with his dad.
I’m fine to sit in the studio during the classes. I’m not comfortable with leaving Piper there during class although many parents are … and it’s fine. She likes me to be there and I don’t mind. I’m sure as time goes on, I’ll begin to run errands and do shopping. It’s the perfect opportunity.
Finally, realize that Piper is only doing the group dances that her company is preparing. There are opportunities for solos, duets, and small group ensembles. These pieces meet during other times – mostly on the weekends. We opted to just go the “basic” route this year. I thought it was important to fully understand what we were getting into before we add on the additional options. I’m glad we did. It would be too much for us right now. Next year, we may add on one additional group dance … we’ll see. 🙂
Welcome to the world of competitive dance Stephanie!! My daughter Lexi is now in her 10th yr of competitive dance. The biggest challenge is to learn the word “balance” on many levels! Also as you stated you have to know your child and what they can and can’t handle. I find many parents forget that one and it ends up being what mom wants not what is best for the child. Just found out tonight that Lexi was chosen for a solo again this year so her schedule for now is as follows:
Day 1- lyrical 1 hr- pointe 45 min- ballet 45 min – tap 1 hr – jazz 1 hr
Day 2- technique 1 hr – tumbling 1 hr
Day 3 – volunteers as an assistant 3 1/2 hrs
Day 4- technique1 hr- ballet 1 1/2 hrs
Routine classes are usually on Saturdays 4 to 5 hrs
We also have additional rehearsals for parades and local festivals and events where they perform for the community. As well as a Christmas extravaganza and a spring showcase. So as you can see it can definatly take over your life. We are lucky she is old enough we can drop off and pick up. In the early yrs we sat at the studio as well. Also don’t be afraid to carpool, this has been a great timesaver for us. I will also throw out there that until now I didn’t have a second kid involved in activities but I know many who do and several who have 3 or 4 kiddos in different activities so I know it can be done. Ryan starts flag football this weekend so I am taking on the role of sportsmom ( yea me!). All in all you get out what you put into it. If you commit do so fully not half way cause it isn’t fair to the rest of your teammates. Lexi has learned more than dance skills from dance as well. She has learned sportsmanship, respect for her elders and others around her, responsibility to keep up with her belongings and her commitments, gracefulness, and is able to balance this with an 3.8 honors gpa. It has also afforded her with some great opportunities, such as performing in the nutcracker with the Louisville ballet two seasons, has been filmed in two children’s videos with mediak productions, and an instructional video with Cathy Roe productions. Never forget it isn’t always about winning the trophey! The adventure is in the journey! Our motto and what I tell Lexi before each performance is this “Remember to have fun do your best and always dance from the heart!
Stephanie, I am excited that Piper is dancing on company:) Claire just turned 8 and is in her fourth year on team (we are at a much smaller studio in KY). Her first year we only had one class (a combination class – tap, jazz and ballet), one team (jazz), production. Her second year (6yo) she did tap, jazz and production teams and an hour of ballet, 45 minutes jazz and 30 min tap technique. Last year she did tap, jazz, production and a lyrical solo. Then had lyrical, tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop technique. (this was the year I started dropping her off and not sitting up there all the time. She had long blocks of classes and Andrew started having soccer, basketball and baseball schedules to fit in).
(We don’t start 2 ballet classes until 10 yo at our studio.)
This year we are doing tap and jazz teams and a lyrical solo. She only has tap, jazz, ballet and lyrical technique classes.
Monday – 30 min tap tech
30 min tap team
45 min jazz tech
30 min jazz team
Tues – gymnastics (she is also a competitive level 4 gymnast) 3 hours
45 min lyrical tech
Wed –
30 min solo
75 min ballet
Thursday – 3 hours gymnastics
Friday 3 hours gymnastics
We homeschool so we have the advantage of no homework to fit in at night. Claire’s sports provide much of her social connections, her PE and fitness and such love for the sport (s).
We will probably have to choose gym or dance next year, but time will tell:)
Claire is always excited to learn her new dances and sad after recital or nationals to say goodbye to that year’s dances.
Wow! Dance and gymnastics … that is a full plate 🙂 Seems like you’ve got the scheduling down though. The first couple of weeks, I was like a crazy person – but I’m settling in now!
10 years … and you’ve lived to tell about it!!! That’s success for you and Lexi 🙂 Your studio sounds very similar to ours. I’m excited to see how this all plays out for us!
OK. Y’all are going to think I’m crazy…I have 2 girls in dance and we spend 4-5 hours Monday thru Thursday at dance between the 2 of them. My oldest has been dancing 10 years & youngest has been dancing 5 years. We have been involved in competitive dance teams for 6 years. Like you, I worry about them being able to balance dance and school but they really do work hard to keep up their grades. We keep a homework box with all their supplies in the car. They know that as soon as they hit the car to start working. Then they complete their homework during any dance breaks they have. I also have blankets and pillows for each in the car so they can sleep on the way home after an evening at dance. As far as competition dances, my girls are in 12 dances + 1 solo + 1 duet. I wanted to decrease the number of dances this year, but they keep asking for more…especially my older one.
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My week as a dance mom, here we go:
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Monday = Company dances:
6 dance rehearsals for 30 – 45 minutes each
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Tuesday = Â dance classes:
Ballet  1.25 hrs (each)
Jazz   45 min (little sis) / 1 hr (big sis)
Tap     1.25 hrs (big sis)
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Wednesday = Company dances & Technique:
5 company dances for 30 min – 1 hr each
Technique 45 minutes (little sis) / 1 hr (big sis)
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Thursday = dance classes:
Ballet  1.25 hrs (each)
Tumble 45 min (each)
Tap      1.25 hrs (lil sis)
Pointe  45 min (big sis)
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Friday = solo practice for now
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Saturday = choreography for 3-4 hours.
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Oh yeah, did I mention its a 45 minute drive to our studio each way. Plus, I work full-time so I have just adjusted my work hours  to get off earlier. Yep, I get no sleep…  But like you say, they love it and it is so worth it. They love their team, their teachers, and everything about their experience there. In fact, the majority of their friends are the ones they make at dance versus at school. I’m tired & I’m sure they get tired too, but as long as they want to keep going and working hard, I will support them whole-heartedly.
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