ballet moms

[boobybooby]

Anyone here mom to any future budding ballerinas or male dancers? We are a ballet "family", so to speak. My girls and boys take classical ballet and so do I. I also teach preschool ballet. We just moved to a new school (ballet only), after 6 years at a more "competition" type dance school that taught all styles of dance.

I just recently saw ABT's Swan Lake and last spring I was at the world premiere of NYCB's Romeo + Juliet. I love ballet!

Anyone else?

[TattooedMama]

We had a small group in Find Your Tribe for a while "Stage Moms of Male dancers"
I am a ballet mom too!
My 9.5 y/o son has been dancing for 5 years.

[boobybooby]

Very cool! My sons are still little, one is in his second year and the other just started in September. I love that they enjoy it - social expectations don't apply yet at their ages (except for a few snickering moms...), they are just loving the movement, especially the jumping and "spinning" as my littlest calls it!
How, and have you dealt with that day when he realized that it's "mostly" girls in class and boys are "supposed" to enjoy sports... even though BAllet is the toughest sport out there (one of them). I am hoping that my boys won't ever think it's weird to be dancers, I don't mind if they don't want to continue forever, I just would hate them to quit for that reason.

[mynetname]

Former pro, now teach and arts admin with a budding baby in my "tummy".

PS: Good for making the "leap" to a ballet school vis a vis comp school if you are looking for more focused study for the children.

[hattifattener]

Not much to add- just wanted to say "Us too!" Ballerina-daughter is three and a half, and drives her dance teacher nuts with all the "Can we act up Swan Lake? Can we act up that sad ending where they FROW themselves into the lake?"

[Openskyheart]

Another ballet mom here

My dd, 11 1/2, has been studying at a ballet studio for 3 years now, and was at a recreational dance studio (ballet, jazz, hip, hop, tap, etc.) from the ages of 3 until 8 1/2. Ballet is her life.

My dd is at the ballet studio 5 days a week, and at her "old" studio once per week still so she can keep up with jazz dancing - her second love. This summer she'll be attending her first "away" summer intensive. She'll be boarding at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia for a month. She's currently in training for this big adventure, and by "in training" I mean, she's learned how to put in her own very nice bun, she's learning to handwash her leos and tights regularly, she's learning to keep track of all her ballet supplies (pointe shoes, gels, toe tape, spacers, hair pins, hair nets, elastics....), and she's learning to sew her own shoes - phew!

Boobybooby - My dd and I just saw Polina Semionova as Odette/Odile last month. She was guest starring with the Perm Ballet. I love ballet too, and I appreciate it so much more now that I have a budding dancer. She likes to show me what she's learning, and teach me the vocabulary, demonstrate proper placement, etc. so I know a little bit (a very little bit) more about what I'm seeing on stage now.

Nice to meet some other ballet moms here on Mothering.com

[mynetname]

Not to take over the thread, sorry, just wanted to add to the above, The Rock is a nice choice for your dancing child--hope she enjoys her first S.I.

[Openskyheart]

Glad to hear another positive reference for The Rock, Mynetname. I did some research on the various SIs that even accepted 11 year olds, and then made a list of those she could audition for that had good reputations for caring for the young ones in the dorms, and had excellent instruction. I'm glad to hear that you have a good opinion of it. It's a bit daunting to be taking my dd across the country, and leaving her there for a month, but exciting at the same time.

How are you connected to the ballet world, Mynetname? (This thread has been "dead" for awhile, so I hope it's O.K. to continue this particular conversation here.)

[mynetname]

Originally Posted by Openskyheart

How are you connected to the ballet world, Mynetname? (This thread has been "dead" for awhile, so I hope it's O.K. to continue this particular conversation here.)

Former pro ballet dancer, still working in the ballet world just not performing anymore.
PS: I have no direct experience whatsoever with The Rock--just heard it has a good name in the ballet world & that it is difficult to pass the audition for the school.
PS: Sorry, hope I didn't change the topic of the original post!

[Onemagicmummy]

not a ballet mum yet but DD1 (3) has exressed an interest in ballet (mummy can i go to ballets today, EVERYDAY this week!)
There are 2 dance school with in reach of us onpublic transport(i dont drive)
1 i can not afford and the other dance schools owner/teacher thinks DD is a bit too young at the moment but has said she can join the toddler dance class on a saturday morning for now and then move up to different classes as she progresses. im enroling DS2 (2yr old) in the toddler dance class as well. i duont know if he will take to ballet, he is a stocky, cannon ball of a boy, can "larger" children do ballet (he is around 37lb at 2 1/2 5lb heavier than DD1)

Kiz

[Openskyheart]

Congratulations on your pregnancy, Mynetname! I'm glad you've heard good things about The Rock.

Onemagicmummy - regarding your son - anyone can study ballet, but not anyone can be a professional ballet dancer. If your son is interested, ballet would be a great thing for him to study. Ballet is also the foundation of many forms of dance, and often required for jazz/tap/musical theater students. I'll just warn you, though, I had no idea what I was getting into when I took my 3 year old dd to her first pre-ballet class (after she begged me for months and months to go). Now she's at the ballet studio 5 days a week, and a part of my life revolves around her ballet dreams. All that being said, the pre-ballet classes for the little set are wonderful. They move their bodies to music, learn about expression and rhythm, and they're fun! I highly recommend them.

ETA: You never know when your children are little how their bodies might turn out. My dd was a big, round baby, and a normal sized - not fat, not thin - younger child. Now, she has a ballet body - long limbs, long neck, thin, etc. We'll see if she keeps this body through puberty. If she doesn't, I guess she'll have to switch to modern (which I believe they call contemporary in the U.K.) .

[2M's Mom]

I just completed my first year as a ballet mom. DD took ballet and tap last year (as a 3 year old) and LOVED it. I thought the recitals would be too much for her, but she was really into the performing.

This year I have DD in ballet again, and tap, and DS (almost 3) is joining her in tap. Onemagicmummy, my DS is a stocky guy too, he's almost 3 and 40+ pounds. He wasn't really interested in ballet, but LOVES tap (I think he really likes the noisy shoes). I will let him dance in whatever classes as long as he wants to. But, SO FRUSTRATING, I have already gotten comments from family and friends about letting him dance. :

[eponabri]

Originally Posted by boobybooby

Anyone here mom to any future budding ballerinas or male dancers? We are a ballet "family", so to speak. My girls and boys take classical ballet and so do I. I also teach preschool ballet. We just moved to a new school (ballet only), after 6 years at a more "competition" type dance school that taught all styles of dance.

I just recently saw ABT's Swan Lake and last spring I was at the world premiere of NYCB's Romeo + Juliet. I love ballet!

Anyone else?

I was a ballet mom for 10 years when my daughter danced. She took several ballet classes as well lyrical, tap and hip hop. I used to take ballet and modern dance, until a car accident destroyed my leg. But I still love attending dance preformances of all kinds. We also love Irish clogging.

[ma_vie_en_rose]

I am a former professional dancer and am now a ballet mom to one and soon to be two girls when DD2 starts. DD1 just finished her first year or ballet/jazz at a competition based studio. I found a wonderful pre-k teacher that went to college for dance specifically training in pre-k teaching. I am amazed at how well DD did with her this year. Her teacher only teaches until kids are through K, though. So, I will have the girls with her until then.

After that, I plan to put DD1 at an actual ballet school since she seems to love that more than jazz. Plus, I want her to have a solid foundation in technique which her current studio is not great at by seeing their older students. I have not decided if I want to drive into town for Houston Ballet Academy (where I went) or a smaller school closer to us that focuses on Royal ballet.

[Onemagicmummy]

DS1 starts a week of dance summer school today. he has been going to dance for about 8 weeks now and he loves it. DD1 has been going too but is too young for the summer school adn DS2 doesnt really join in yet.

the dance summer school will be doing a performance at the end of the week. im really looking forward to it.


Kiz

[JustJamie]

DD1 will be starting ballet in the fall. We're starting her just with the on-base classes, and will probably look for a real school when she's 4 or 5.

[Onemagicmummy]

jsut reading another post about ballet classes made me remember i havent told you all about ym sons dance school recital he had last week!! stupid me.

anyway here goes

i signed him up for dance school which is a 1 week school 10-4.30 M-F with a dance show on the friday. cost me £75 and money for lunches during the week.

he was to learn the song words to Good Ship Lolliepop. by end of wednesday i was sick of that song. we were given a costume list and told jsut to do the best we could. i was a bit strapped for cash last week so i decided to make it myself. he needed 4 costumes

i bought his t-shirts.
for the good ship lolly pop i bought his shorts (tap dance)
for Nicests Kid in Town i made the shorts and matching kneckachief out of stripy material
for I wanna be like you from jungle book i made a monkey outfit with a monkey hat and a shorts out of brown crushed velvet
for Billy Elliot montage they did i made some dayglo orange shorts
he also did a ballet dance and he wore the orange shorts and im like OMG he has some dark blue shorts in his bag but never mind.

DS1 had a blast. he did really well in all his dances. it looked to me adn DH that he tried harder at the faster/funner dance and not so much on the ballet dance and he seemed a bit lost on the tap. not bad considering he had only been going for about 8 weeks and at first he didnt even want to go. he will be going up to the next class in september (pre primary. i think its ballet tap and stage all in a 1 hour class on a saturday)
DD1 was too young as they have a minimum age of 6 which Ds1 was 4 days before the week started.

he was the ONLY boy in the entire thing (3 groups grouped according to age DS1 was in youngest group) Some of the older girls were brilliant. one of is going to a ballet school this year.

after watching him(and kickingmyself that i left my camera AT HOME!!) i want to start dance classes myself.

Kiz

[BurgundyElephant]

How fun, Kiz! It's nice they let you make his costumes.

Both of my daughters do ballet (DS is too young). This is DD#1's third year and DD#2's first year. They do go to a ballet school.

I feel so odd among most the Mama's there. They're so *dressed*.

[haleyelianasmom]

Hi everyone! I'm really happy to be back dancing right now. I started teaching some classes for younger kids (creative dance, creative tap, and pre-ballet) and I'm taking ballet and in an adult dance company (mixed style, but we've been mainly doing modern) which has been lots of fun! I'm back doing pointe and I started in partnering which is cool. My daughter takes classes from the director (she adores her teacher) and she also comes with me. She's 3.

[Onemagicmummy]

it gets better!!! DS2 has started to join in but ONLY if i hold his hand nad join in too, so there i am, in my jeans and a baggy top prancing around teh dance studio a baby on one hip adn DS2 running next to me holding my hand. its so much fun,
i am even signing up for adult ballet (i went last week but it was cancelled and as they didnt have my number they couldnt call me lol)

DD2 who is 1 is still a bit young to "join in" but she loves it when we join in while i am holding her, when we do a ballet bit jumping and bending and stuff she jogs up adn down in my arms and claps her hands too, giggling all the time, its wicked.

Kiz