Forum for Dance Majors

MomOf3Stars
Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:19:53 +0000

WOW OCS!!! Your post illustrates exactly why we need a Dance Majors forum.

In a lot of ways you could be talking about my own D. She is 13 now, at a Pre-Pro school for the last 2.5 years and apprentice the their company (which is an officially sanctioned professional company).

She started off the same as you, at a competition school taking clog, tap, jazz, and lyrical. She did very very well on the comp circuit and won many regional overalls, scholarships at conventions etc. but something was always lacking. Her comp SO suggested ballet training outside of their studio (she just didn’t have the experience) and my D auditioned, started w/ a class of kids slightly younger than her and by the end of the summer had moved up to the level of kids her own age and now is taking classes at one level under the senior company dancers. I never thought the ballet would last, but she is hooked.

Many of her classmates have the same attitude that your classmates do, that anything but classical ballet is a waste. D still enjoys,in moderation, her tap and modern privates at the other studio as well as a recreational hip hop but we are thinking that for her future it is better to start tapering off. Also, this year we have had to stop competing as the ballet schedule of rehearsals and classes is way too intense to commit to a competition schedule as well. I cannot wait for her to read your post.

One thing I do notice, and I think our ballet teacher as well does, is that the ‘competition’ students bring a lot to the company. We have several and their comfort level and presence on stage is amazing. I am sure you have noticed the same thing.

Thank you for your advice and good luck w. Julliard.