<p>My husband and I spend a lot of money on dance tuition. I disagree with the treatment my daughter has received from a teacher and want to explore other studios. My daughter will be a senior next year and does not want to bother switching studios. Am I being unrealistic to expect her to try other dance studios? There are many within half an hour and I have finally realized that things are not going to change at her current studio. We’re currently arguing about this and I need to figure out how to handle this situation. Thanks!!</p>
<p>Will your DD major in dance? Will the switch facilitate her ability to work with a particular instructor in a particular college?
If not, it is DDs call.</p>
<p>I guess it depends on whether it’s worthwhile to switch at this point. Your D probably has accepted the treatment for so long that she’s used to it and can’t be bothered having to be reinitiated into another dance community. </p>
<p>Are you trying to make a statement to the teacher by withdrawing your D? I doubt he or she will care if she subjects her to bad treatment. It is a frustrating situation to be in.</p>
<p>My beautiful dancer of a daughter was the perpetual “back row girl” in her dance company…it was totally her call how many years she stayed at the studio.</p>
<p>I am far more frustrated than my daughter. She is one of the best dancers at a recreational studio. She is better than most of her teachers. She wants to dance in college, and there are other studios that could help her with auditions next year. I am so frustrated that I don’t think I can watch her dances at the moment. I can’t bring myself to write the January tuition check because of all of the drama. The statement I want to make is that I don’t want to sacrifice financially anymore for poor treatment. We’ve danced at a studio with a nationally known teacher and never encountered problems because he controlled the environment. The director at the current studio is aware of the problem but says she “needs” this teacher and refuses to get involved.</p>
<p>It sounds to me as if you have reasonable grounds to discuss this frankly with your d and require that she at least try out another studio. The issue of preparing for auditions is particularly relevant.</p>
<p>Agree with the above posters regarding auditions. You should discuss this aspect with your D. You may also want to listen to her reasons for not switching. After both of you state your reasons you can discuss the pros and cons of switching. Ultimately it is your D’s life. She may not be aware of the difference better instruction could make, or she may not be as intense about it as you believe. Now is a good time, before senior year college decision making.</p>
<p>I don’t know much about hip hop or styles other than classical ballet and clearly that was from 30 years ago, but I know for classical ballet we were always encouraged to take master classes and classes from other instructors who taught in a different style. My dance mistress was Royal Academy but we all used to take a Chechetti class or American modern or even folklorico to broaden the experiences. Several boys and girls went off to dance with major companies after high school from our middle of no where ballet school so it was a pretty sound foundation. Like I said I don’t know much about today’s dance environment, but one of your arguments (in addition to the audition preparation) might be that if she continues (if she’s classically trained) she will benefit from learning from masters/mistresses that are in a different style. I genuinely believe that no matter what class you are in there are always “pets” so I can’t imagine it would “hurt” your D to switch at this point, it might be an entirely enriching experience.</p>
<p>Will the other studios allow your daughter to “audit” a few classes this year, without making the commitment to switch? If not, you may be going from the frying pan into the fire. What guarantee would you have that your daughter would get any better treatment at the new studio?</p>
<p>It takes time for a teacher to get to know a dancer and her strengths and weaknesses. While the other studio may be more able to help your daughter with auditions in the abstract, would they be able to really prepare a student who they do not know? They will have their own senior class to prepare, students with whom they have worked for many years. While it may not be intentional, that’s probably where their primary focus will be.</p>
<p>Being “new kid on the block” is never easy. Being one as a senior may not be worth it.</p>
<p>Why not sit down with her and together you make a list of the pros and cons. Or ask her to write out her reasons for wanting to stay. Looking at the situation in writing (seeing it in black and white) may be helpful. </p>
<p>Could it be a self-esteem issue? Is her self-esteem at a place where she does not see her treatment as ‘poor’? Just tossing out an idea. I may be way off.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the advice. My daughter is at a ballet based studio, and while she is strong in ballet I think she is best at tap and hip hop. She’s been exploring college dance teams that perform at football and basketball games. She is also interested in a dance minor or major. However, she wants to double major with something more practical than dance and does not see herself dancing professionally since jobs in dance are difficult to get. She has not been able to take hip hop classes for years since nothing is currently available at her studio. The main problem is that she feels she can’t complain about her treatment since a teacher is the main cause. She’s dealt with jealous girls for years, and I have no problem with her dealing with another teenager. I don’t know how to help her assert herself with an adult. Since the studio director won’t help, the choice is to ignore the nastiness or leave in my opinion. Since she isn’t being challenged, I would like her to at least visit other studios and see their programs.</p>
<p>animalover, I don’t think that is an unreasonable request. She has nothing to lose by looking around (with an open mind, of course).</p>
<p>Can’t she just add hip hop and tap at another studio? Wouldn’t that be okay as long as it’s not a competition company?</p>
<p>Just a heads up - you may know this, but I didn’t think about it. Most dance teams that dance for basketball have to spend most of winter break on or near campus. It works out fine if the student lives within commuting distance. But if the student wants to spend that time at home, or, multiple plane tickets will be cost prohibitive, it’s something to think about.</p>