Please tell me what you think of DD's recital costume - Page 2

[hellyaellen]

i would not let my daughter wear that. a leotard under mighte work but i'm not sure..........

[JessicaTX]

I think tap costumes are generally very short. i can't believe you only paid 48 bucks, I have 3 kids in 4 classes and their costumes are 78 each. I think i'm gettin ripped off! I have one in a raincoat outfit this year, but it came with a leotard, hangs to the knees, and has a hat and shoe cover boots with it.

[Needle in the Hay]

Originally Posted by gwen's mom

There is one boy in DD's class...I can only assume he will be wearing pants rather than bikini unders under his ugly raincoat.

You can bet he won't be wearing green underwear! I remember in my tap classes there was usually a boy or two and while our costumes were always ruffled, satiny, sparkly (and often tacky) leotards and some type of headpiece, the boys' costume was always long pants and a real hat, not some silly carboard tiara or headband.

As for the picture, your DD is very cute! The raincoat is awful, but you already know that. I would not be happy with that costume but in your place I'd try to do whatever would bother my child the least. If she doesn't want to do the recital, I wouldn't. If she did I'd put something a little more comfortable under her costume and not worry what the megalomaniacal recital director has to say about it.

[oliversmum2000]

how do the other parents and girls feel? if they also feel uncomfortable maybe you could get together and suggest adding some tights to the costume, after all the girls will not perform their best if they feel inhibited.

[Lingmom]

I had the same problem with a 3 yr old dance class. Weirdly, every other parent thought I was the freak for not wanting to put make up and a slutty off-the-shoulder/too-short/feather-boa outfit on my child. As for your particular costume, I don't know... it's kind of differently bad than I was expecting. I would say if your daughter feels naked, it's not the right outfit. How about a pair of black boy-shorts/bike shorts?

[mamabeca]

The thing I like best about little ones is that you can say - oh, the recital is the same night as ... and then they know that they can't go and it's fine. If she'd be ok with that, it could even be the same night you were planning to take her to see Horton, or go to that mini-golf place you always wanted to check out. We did dance for 4 years and only once did we do a recital (the fourth year). Costumes are notoriously awful and ime inappropriate for little ones. We always bought the costume, because it was required, and one year the costume was actually pants and a tank top! They did a rap song theme. That's the only year she wanted to be in the recital. And she was 8yo. Other classes had significantly skimpier outfits, and they DID look cute on stage, even if they look completely out of character for such small people individually. As a group it comes together.

Anyway, not going to the recital is certainly an option, if that helps your dd - then she got the ugly raincoat (and panties?) for her dress up box. It's an option. You can always tell the teacher that dd was sick that day or something. Eh - it happens!

Angela - kudos for being somewhat sympathetic!

[isra1986]

That is terrible! Completly inappropriate. As she is dancing, she will not be comfortable! I did dance for 5 years as a child and the ballet leotard was revealing as a bathing suit, olur recital costumes were age appropriate.

My sister and I in our ballet costumes. I am in the purple outfit. I was 9
http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m...a19/ballet.jpg

[spero]

If she really wants to do the recital, I'd buy her green bike shorts so she won't be self-conscious and you won't have to cringe at the thought of her dancing in just undies and a fugly raincoat.

Underpants are completely different than a leotard.

[claras_mom]

Bike shorts--or those 100% cotton knit shorts that K-mart starts to sell this time of year--probably wouldn't even show under that raincoat and would be a lot more comfortable for your dd. They're very often on sale for under $5.

When I first started teaching--university--one of our students created a music/theater piece in which he asked his performers to wear speedos and bikinis. I was really proud of one of the young women for speaking up for herself and saying she wanted a more modest option. So they found one, that still fit with the piece. My point being, it's good for girls to learn to speak up for themselves and their bodies, and have that honored; and it's likely you can find a compromise, especially if you talk to the actual instructor. There may be other parents with similar concerns.

Or just do it.

[Jessy1019]

I think it's cute, but I have a daughter who would happily dance around in the nude in front of a bazillion people. She's not at all modest, and I'm really glad for that.

I would just encourage your daughter to think about all the fun she'll have showing off her dance moves on stage, and talk about how excited you are to see her perform. Of course, if she really doesn't want to do the recital, don't make her . . . but hopefully she'll come around.

[amcal]

I pulled my daughter out of our dance recital because of a pink leopard print stripper costume they were going to wear. It was sleezy and tacky and no way in hell was my child going to wear that.

I say you have two choices - pull her or insist that something be worn underneath.

I did go to the director and tell her no way in hell was my child wearing that. They agreed to provide some little skirts but, it was still so trashy and sleezy there was no way.

[journeymom]

Don't pull her from the dance. You might regret it. Bike pants sound like the way to go. But you don't have to insist or demand, either. Just politely, cheerfully inform the teacher your dd is wearing bike pants. The teacher might not even think twice about it. She might not care. She might say, "Oh, yeah, Cindy's mom did the same thing." Or she might have a hissy fit, and then you'll know who you're dealing with!

[paquerette]

And who wants to dance in a VINYL COAT anyway? Those poor kids are going to cook on that stage! Ugh.

[LynnS6]

Originally Posted by loveandkindness

My DD (4) takes gymnastics and EVERY GIRL in that gym, from the 2-year-olds through the college girls, wears velvet gym shorts over their leotard. Leotards without shorts are considered gross by everyone -- girls, parents, and coaches.

: My dd has spent about 1/3 of her time this winter running around in nothing but a little leotard with a tiny skirt (attached to the leotard) and tights. She's in love with the outift. I don't see a reason to put shorts on her. She's 3!! I guess I don't find a plain leotard offensive.

I don't find the OP's daughter's outfit offensive from a modesty standpoint, but it looks really stupid for a dance recital.

[madskye]

I don't think it's sexy at all. I think it would be cuter with black leggings or a skirt though, and am a little surprized it doesn't "come with".

Can you ask what the boy in the class is wearing, and then lobby that they all wear the same thing?

Maybe the teacher doesn't realize how short they are?

Your daughter is cute, too!

[jennnk]

Why not get a bunch of cheap ribbon & some wide elastic (adult-sized cotton stretchy headbands work great for this, you can usually find them in 3-packs at the dollar store) and make a skirt to go with the costume? cut the ribbon to twice the length you want it, loop it over the elastic, and pull the ends through the loop. continue until you have a floaty fairy tutu. super fast and about $5.

[mom2annika]

Wow, that is a short coat. I guess I'm glad I live in a small, super-conservative Christian town (for once LOL). I don't think that would fly here.

I'd try to put something under it. Shorts, bike shorts, hot pants?

GL!

[dubfam]

It just seems like there is something missing from it. I don't get it...it is so WEIRD looking...

another pro about having boys I guess. DS doesn't have to dress up in sexy outfits...

I would just leave it up to your daughter as whether or not she goes. I like the idea about getting some shorts to go underneath, or trying to get the same outfit that the boy is wearing. Which I am sure is much nicer than that. Geez...$48??!!!

this is a little O/T but I couldn't believe how many little girls in DS's Preschool had "Sexy" Halloween costumes.
It must be tough to be a Mama to a little girl this day in age...so much pressure to sexualize them

[Jenivere]

It's ugly and awfully short; if she's not comfortable wearing it then I would approach the teacher about her wearing some shorts with it. My children are in tumbling and have a recital coming up. Their costume is a light blue t-shirt with the studio name on it and some legging like pants.

[mercy589]

I would not let my dd wear that. It would also make me wonder what the dance they are learning will be like - as in too sexual/ mature for my liking?