The place my five year old goes has no requirements unless hair is super long (like waist length it seems). Then the hair needs to be secured so it won't bit other people. I've sent my daughter in regular clothes before (vs leotard when I couldn't find it) and no one said a word. Love that school!
The studio I took ballet at and taught at was fairly strict about hair but I think the wording was something like hair must be secured back away from face and off neck and not flop around (so no long ponytails). For most girls, this meant a bun but for girls with short hair or natural hair that is short, this might mean just using a headband or a clip for bangs and for longer natural hair, a puff. So long as the hair was off the face and neck and not flopping around, it was fine.
Post by ChillyMcFreeze on Jul 23, 2014 19:51:52 GMT -5
I danced for 12 years at a really great* studio. Buns weren't required, but they were the easiest style to deal with. There's nothing more annoying than going across the floor and having your ponytail fall out or having to constantly sweep the hair off your face. But certainly exceptions would be made if necessary.
*I say great because the technique was amazingly professional and they really trained us to be ballerinas, not just learn a dance. But the body shaming was out of control and the hours were grueling. (Rehearsal until 10 at night for the high school girls.) It wasn't the healthiest activity, but I loved it and I'm still glad I did it.
Most studios require a bun for ballet though but will make exceptions. I'd probably dip out of a school that was very strict on principle because I assume they would be the kind that would fat shame a kid who gets pudgy around 4th grade.
I went to a bun studio and I was fat shamed and put on a diet at age 12.
I took ballet for many years. And it was a real studio, not some YMCA class or Little Gym or something. Pony tails were fine for class. Buns were for performance only. I'd be salty of I were your friend. That sounds like some bullshit.
Oh she is. Trust. The whole issue was handled poorly, including the suggestion tha she should try a different type of dance.
I took ballet for many years. And it was a real studio, not some YMCA class or Little Gym or something. Pony tails were fine for class. Buns were for performance only. I'd be salty of I were your friend. That sounds like some bullshit.
Oh she is. Trust. The whole issue was handled poorly, including the suggestion tha she should try a different type of dance.
Wut?
Ballet is the fucking foundation of dance, ffs. I'm going to guess they suggested hip hop.
"Not gonna lie; I kind of keep expecting you to post one day that you threw down on someone who clearly had no idea that today was NOT THEIR DAY." ~dontcallmeshirley
Post by sparrowsong on Jul 23, 2014 23:02:08 GMT -5
At my niece's studio they have the same kind of thing on their website, buns or braids, no loose hair, black leotard/pink tights in ballet, appropriate dance clothing in jazz/hip hop classes, absolutely no pajamas. They definitely don't seem that strict about it though. I assume it is only there in the rules so they have something to point to when a student's attire does become an issue.
Oh she is. Trust. The whole issue was handled poorly, including the suggestion tha she should try a different type of dance.
I'm sorry. What?!? No. You know, that's really just a shame. I took ballet for seven years and I was terrible. Ter.ib.ble. I lack flexibility. I have no natural coordination or grace of any kind. I actually lost my first tooth pirouetting into a support beam. But I do not regret those classes. My teacher is my friend on Facebook and I owe her so much for the discipline and physical strength I developed in those classes. And to this day, I love seeing ballet performed. I sincerely hope your friend finds another studio. What a shame for this to be her first experience with dance.
well this was an eye-opening thread into the world of dance. i will might reconsider ballet now
I've heard so many terrible things that I'm totally sour on the idea. I like tumbling or karate to achieve hand eye coordination and those gross motor skills you get in dance, but I don't think I would ever consider putting a daughter in dance. Ever.
well this was an eye-opening thread into the world of dance. i will might reconsider ballet now
You just have to choose your studio carefully, and it helps if you have the flexibility to sit in on class now and then. Ballet was one of the most formative experiences of my life. I still have some of the strength, flexibility and balance I got in dance even though I haven't practiced in 10 years. I learned to have control over my body in space. And I learned a lot about classical music! I wouldn't discount it altogether, but just be aware.
I took ballet for many years. And it was a real studio, not some YMCA class or Little Gym or something. Pony tails were fine for class. Buns were for performance only. I'd be salty of I were your friend. That sounds like some bullshit.
Oh she is. Trust. The whole issue was handled poorly, including the suggestion tha she should try a different type of dance.
I've heard so many terrible things that I'm totally sour on the idea. I like tumbling or karate to achieve hand eye coordination and those gross motor skills you get in dance, but I don't think I would ever consider putting a daughter in dance. Ever.
i never thought about it. i was worried about gymnastics b/c of the pressure to preform, perform hurt and be as skinny as possible, so i was just considering ballet/tap for dance and tumbling for movement. but damn, this ballet stuff is crazy
major, not every studio is going to be that crazy strict. If you are wanting to put LB in dance, I wouldn't hesitate to do so, just do some serious shopping around of the different studios in your area, and find one you click with.
I think dance has it's downsides, and I'm not entirely sure Scarlett will stick with it for a long time, but I do prefer it over some other activities we've been in (gymnastics, little gym, etc.).
IDK, maybe it's naive, but I think if you're aware of some of the downsides (like body shaming) and are watching out for them, it's a good activity that she can do year round. I think a lot of the downsides exist in a lot of sports/activities honestly. There's no perfect option.
Of course, the hair thing that the OP is talking about would really upset me if I was part of that studio. The class after Scarlett's includes an African American girl, and her hair is natural. It's not in a bun for class; it's just pulled back off her face in some way (I've seen her with braids and other styles). I'm not sure what she did for the recital, but the recital was really the only time they were strict with the younger kids (although this little girl is in a class or two above Scarlett, so she is older). I don't know how they are as the kids get older, because we go during the day, so I don't have any interaction or chance to observe the older girls. I do know that the girls in the performance (the ballet classes did Peter Pan and the older girls were the main parts) were not all white; it was actually surprisingly diverse.
@majorwife - when we looked at dance studios, my main concern was not picking one that focused on the competitive dance that I am not so much a fan of. I wanted something that would focus on proper technique and teaching her ballet. I think a lot of times that means you run into a stricter dress code, and possibly a strict hair requirement, but I'm okay with that, within reason (flexibility depending on hair type/style during class/strict during recitals).