How would you address this? Extra curricular activity drama

[Whereneverever]

My dd2 has been taking a dance class weekly. It's 30 minutes and was $40/ month. She's in the beginner level.

 

I just got an email that they are discontinuing the beginner level class in this location. Driving to another location isn't feasible. They are moving all the girls up to level 1.

 

This class meets weekly for an hour and they are switching from monthly billing to every four weeks with a cost of $60.

 

I don't think the girls are ready to move up. I know my dd isn't. I also don't have room in my budget to pay an extra $260 a year.

 

My dd is going to be crushed. I feel tremendously guilty. Complicating this is that she has some special needs and the dance class has been really good for her physically.

 

Is it worth writing to the dance school and laying this out? Am I being unreasonable?

 

Any tips for breaking this to my dd? :(

[justasque]

I wouldn't hurt to discuss it with the studio.

 

As to level, presumably if they're moving a few kids up, the class will have to be adjusted down a bit to accommodate them. At the same time, there's a big difference between 30 minutes and an hour. I would talk to the studio owner about your concerns, esp. as relates to your dd's special needs.

 

Most dance schools run on a Sept-May/June schedule, and it's odd to change prices in the middle of that year. You might mention that you've budgeted for the year, and don't have the extra $ this year. Of course, that leaves next year as fair game.

 

A 5 year old dancer, if she continues with dance as a serious activity, is worth *thousands* of dollars to a studio owner. She should be respectful of your concerns and see what she can do to make the changes feasible for you. At the same time, eventually you will have to decide whether to pay the higher rates.

[moonlight]

Can you negotiate to do it every other week? I know that means she might miss out on things that are taught, but it is a thought...

[Pippen]

I wouldn't consider this drama. I would let your daughter's needs and your financial situation be known. There may be other families in the same situation but the studio won't have any way of knowing unless you speak up. Also ask if the studio is open to alternatives (such the class taking a break at the 30 minute mark and your daughter leaving then).

 

I suggest having this conversation via telephone or in person and not by email. I also agree that it would be unusual for a studio to change course mid-year unless they had a teacher leave and couldn't find a replacement.

 

When my daughter was six she advanced with her ballet class to the next level--a class that started an hour later and lasted 30 minutes later. It was too late and too long for her so they moved her back down for another year. She's now in her tenth year of ballet.

[lmrich]

Dance is expensive.

 

If you can not pay for it; do not do it. Of course you realize that the cost per hour is reduced with the new class.

[AMJ]

I agree -- talk to the studio manager and present your case. As for the $$ per hour argument, there will be more kids in the class, so they will presumably get less of the teacher's attention. That makes it a wash to me.

 

When my eldest was very young (4) I tried taking her to dance lessons at a studio my SIL used. Other than my DD wanting to do her own thing and getting bored very quickly with just repeating the same routine (1 song) over and over, day after day, I thought it was going well enough. But the "recitals" proved to be a HUGE problem. First of all, they wanted us to pay upwards of $125 for a costume for each number (really hard on those whose kids, slightly older, had multiple numbers), and then there was the scheduling -- evening recitals, with little kids spaced throughout the entire performance. They used the student numbers for costume-change breaks for the instructors' numbers. (Why were instructors taking up half of a "student recital", anyway?) And I hit the wall when we had a recital that had curtain problems -- they refused to let the little kids go on in front of the curtain (LOTS of room since the curtain in question wasn't the foremost one) to entertain the captive audience until the repair people called arrived. When my child's bedtime passed with no sign of the show starting (and they wouldn't even consider adjusting the order of pieces to get the youngest kids through more quickly) I removed my daughter and told them we were going home. They objected, and I responded that I had to consider the health and well-being of my daughter, and not the egos of the instructors. ALL of the younger kids were crying in the dressing room (they wouldn't let them wait anywhere else) and wanted to go to bed. Several mothers and youngsters also decided it wasn't worth it and left, too.

 

I told the studio the next day I was cancelling dance lessons for my DD. They acted quite concerned and asked what they could do to keep me -- I told them after last night's demonstration of the instructors' lack of concern for their students there was no way I'd stay.

 

I know this isn't the norm for all dance studios, but if you haven't already, do inquire as to the cost of costumes and how (explicitly) they schedule and run "student recitals".

[catz]

Having a 5 year old in a 1 hour dance class doesn't seem that extreme to me. My daughter started at 5 and did pre-dance for a year at that age. They always were in for an hour with the 1st year 3-5 year olds. If it doesn't work for you, I'd let the dance studio know exactly why and drop out if it really doesn't work for you. But it doesn't really seem like that big a deal to me. There are often dancers at different levels in a classroom and a good dance teacher can work with that. It probably isn't worth it for them to run a 30 minute class.

 

My 8 year old is level 3 now and dances about 7+ hours a week these days, so it only gets more expensive going forward if your child is doing well and wants to advance. Our studio has no costume or recital fees though, so that is huge.

 

If you really need to drop it, I would just tell your child that you cannot afford it.

[mom2scouts]

My dd is a dancer and it does seem strange to change in the middle of the year. However, a 1 hour class doesn't seem too much for a 5 year old. My 6 year old happily dances 5 hours a week, including 2.5 hours without a break on one day. If you can't afford the time and money for dance, it might be best if you stop now. Dance takes a HUGE amount of time and money and, unless the studio bills itself as a recreational studio, the commitment required and the cost will only increase. Our recitals are huge 4 hour events (costumes, props, stage makeup) and everyone, from 3 year olds to adults, are expected to be there for the entire show .

 

In your case, I would schedule an appointment with the studio owner and see if he/she could work something out with you so your dd can finish the year in a way that works for you.

[Sandsam]

My 3 girls have been dancing for 5 years. I agree with what has been said above. The dance class should not be changed mid-year. I think you have great reason to talk to the studio owner and express your concern. I do think a 5 year old will love a full hour class, however. It's not too much. Perhaps the SO can grandfather you in for the last couple months at the former rate - but then she should do it for everyone.

 

That said, dance is a slippery slope. It is expensive. If you aren't able to fund it going forward, I would channel yoru dd's interests somewhere else next fall.

[Pippen]

Dance is expensive.

 

 

 

Tell me about it. :glare: My daughter's feet are different sizes so I shelled out $170 for new pointe shoes yesterday.

 

It will get more expensive going forward, whether that happens this year or next. Just like the op, dance started out with a cute little leotard and shoes plus a $10/week lesson. We also had a $40 per class costume fee.

[FaithManor]

In our area, dance is VERY expensive and the studios are quite fickle with the charges, often changing mid-season. The recital charge is $50.00 per student and costumes run from $125.00-200.00 each.

 

I would be very, very careful how involved I let my child become if the budget is going to be tight. It's just not the kind of extra-curricular that is reasonably priced in my experience.

 

Faith

[elfgivas]

:grouphug: its hard when you find something that works, and then it stops working.

 

could some of the kids carpool to the new location so your dd can stay at the level that is working for her?

or

could you give the new class a try and see how that goes?

 

our girls love to dance. we have cut a lot of other things to make that possible, because really in life how often do you get to do something you love?

 

fwiw,

ann

[Whereneverever]

To clarify, it's that I hadn't budgeted for this change now. If it had been a change in the fall it would have been different.

 

It's also Irish step, not ballet, and the advanced level classes meet once a week, for 90 minutes, so it's not a form that meets multiple days a week.

 

I just feel like it's been sprung on us. :(

[justasque]

Tell me about it. :glare: My daughter's feet are different sizes so I shelled out $170 for new pointe shoes yesterday.

 

Yikes!!! That's two pairs though, yes? And she can mix the shoes up to wear both pairs? (Two rights from one size, two lefts from the other?) Still, that's a lot to shell out at once. We need a new pair this week too. Ugh.

 

To clarify, it's that I hadn't budgeted for this change now. If it had been a change in the fall it would have been different.

It's also Irish step, not ballet, and the advanced level classes meet once a week, for 90 minutes, so it's not a form that meets multiple days a week.

I just feel like it's been sprung on us. :(

 

I think it's fair to explain this to the studio and ask that you be able to work something out. Think about options you'd be happy with before you discuss it with the studio. Be sure to talk to someone who actually has the power to offer you accommodations.

 

As to the higher-level classes - I'd be surprised if the older students only danced one day a week, unless it is a very recreational studio. My dd does a variety of dance forms, and while each of her classes only meets once a week, she takes multiple classes, in some cases different levels of the same genre (e.g Tap Intermediate, Tap Advanced).

[SKL]

I agree with the suggestion to see if she can leave halfway through the class, or maybe 45 minutes through. I think they should sympathize with the fact that she is young / has special needs so an hour is long for her, in addition to your budget strain. Another option would be to stay in the class until your budget runs out, then tell your daughter the season is over for kids at her level. ... Eventually you would have had to make the decision to quit or pay more, right? How were you going to decide this next year? (Or were you planning on keeping her in the lower class indefinitely?) ... I do understand the studio's decision to cut the number of classes if they aren't full enough to make money. Sounds like that is a done deal. Personally I'd try to keep my kid in the Level 1 class if they would work with me at all.

[J-rap]

I would guess that if the teacher is bringing all the girls up a level, she will adjust what is required in order to accommodate them. I would also be honest with the teacher and see if she'll make an exception in your case about the cost. Just be honest with her.

[Catwoman]

To clarify, it's that I hadn't budgeted for this change now. If it had been a change in the fall it would have been different.

 

It's also Irish step, not ballet, and the advanced level classes meet once a week, for 90 minutes, so it's not a form that meets multiple days a week.

 

I just feel like it's been sprung on us. :(

 

 

That's exactly what you should tell the director of the studio. Call and arrange a meeting, and tell her exactly how you feel. Either she will try to work with you or she won't, but it's worth a try.

 

Good luck! :)

[Ghee]

Maybe it's just where I grew up, but I took dance and my mother says she never had fees change unexpectedly. Now, costumes, yeah....you never knew how much you were going to end up shelling out on them (and they were expensive, I had 4 each year). I'd be very honest with the owner that, had this happened over the summer, it wouldn't have been the hardship that mid-year is for you. Also, moving everyone up a whole level in the middle of the year? I think that is odd. I've never heard of that. We (I) didn't do it, my daughter took dance for a few years a while back and THEY didn't do it. You were this level this year, that level next year. Of course, we (none of us) tested into levels. Once you'd completed x class, you went on to y...

 

I would definitely be having a convo about it with the teacher. She needs to know, this can seriously affect her students (and, possibly, how many students she has).

[Pippen]

Also, moving everyone up a whole level in the middle of the year? I think that is odd. I've never heard of that. We (I) didn't do it, my daughter took dance for a few years a while back and THEY didn't do it. You were this level this year, that level next year. Of course, we (none of us) tested into levels. Once you'd completed x class, you went on to y...

 

We've had situations in our studio where a class with low numbers to begin with had students drop, bringing the class below the minimum number the studio requires for their break-even point. It hasn't happened often but in those cases they sometimes would look at moving the girls out to other classes. They'd let parents know the reasons, though.

[Catwoman]

 

We've had situations in our studio where a class with low numbers to begin with had students drop, bringing the class below the minimum number the studio requires for their break-even point. It hasn't happened often but in those cases they sometimes would look at moving the girls out to other classes. They'd let parents know the reasons, though.

 

My feeling is that if they're going to offer the class, they shouldn't change things midway through the year. If the studio isn't making money on a class, they should eat the loss so the paying customers are not inconvenienced. I'm not suggesting that dance studios shouldn't make money, but if they run a class, they should finish it.

[Dmmetler]

My DD's dance teacher combined two classes this year-a 4th year tap class with younger girls (7-8 years old) with a 2nd year older beginner class. It's working for the most part-the younger girls have better technique (they're all dancing a minimum of 3 hours a week at this point) while the older ones are only doing the one class, but the older ones tend to pick up on the routine better, and the extra maturity in attention and motor skills helps as well. It's working. I do think that the costume, chosen last fall for the younger group, might look a little strange on the older girls, though. There's a big difference in physical development between a 7 yr old and a 12 yr old.

[catz]

 

My feeling is that if they're going to offer the class, they shouldn't change things midway through the year. If the studio isn't making money on a class, they should eat the loss so the paying customers are not inconvenienced. I'm not suggesting that dance studios shouldn't make money, but if they run a class, they should finish it.

 

But unless you're signing a year long contract and paying tuition all in advance, a studio is really under no obligation to do so. I've sat in on some board and fund raiser meetings for our small dance studio. They are running a bare bones budget. They run small classes as long as they can, but sometimes they need to fold in with another class to not break the bank. No one is getting rich there, and I suspect this is how many dance studios are run. It's unfortunate, it may be worth it to say something, but sometimes small businesses need to make hard decisions to stay afloat for the long term.

[LibraryLover]

Dance is expensive.

 

If you can not pay for it; do not do it. Of course you realize that the cost per hour is reduced with the new class.

 

 

Yes on both counts.

 

It sounds like it is good for her, so I can see where you would be disappointed. However, it's not that uncommon for a studio to move, or if it is a rec program, to change venues for different classes. Perhaps their lease agreement was ending/or renegotiated rent? I don't see it so much as drama, but more as "That's life sometimes'.

 

No matter, you said the new location is not feasible, so what choice do you have? Is there another movement program closer to you? A tumbling class? If she benefits from the 'PT' of it, it might be worth a look.

[LibraryLover]

In our area, dance is VERY expensive and the studios are quite fickle with the charges, often changing mid-season. The recital charge is $50.00 per student and costumes run from $125.00-200.00 each.

 

I would be very, very careful how involved I let my child become if the budget is going to be tight. It's just not the kind of extra-curricular that is reasonably priced in my experience.

 

Faith

 

 

That would bug me! We sign a contract here, and nothing is changed mid year. It is a well- established program, thankfully.

 

[SarahW]

 

It's also Irish step, not ballet, and the advanced level classes meet once a week, for 90 minutes, so it's not a form that meets multiple days a week.

 

 

Does your school have its own studio, or do they use space in KoC or the like? If they don't have their own space it may just be because of a scheduling issue with the place they are using.

 

I'm pretty sure when I did Irish dance that I paid monthly. And classes didn't really run on a set sequence of levels. We often switched around, adding ceili class one month, adding a set dance class the next. It all depended on what competitions we wanted to prepare for the next feis.

 

Irish dance is a different beast, really. Whereas ballet will be in a studio that is associated with a certain philosophy, Irish is centered around the Master Teacher. So you're pretty subject to the teacher's whims.

 

If you don't get along with the teacher you should switch.

 

If your daughter doesn't know the steps they're doing in level 1 I'm sure an accommodation will be made to bring her up to speed. If you think your daughter just isn't quite able to do the steps yet you should talk to the teacher, they might let her do the steps she knows while the others are doing the higher level sequence. This is actually pretty normal, in my classes people might be doing a couple different steps, the teacher would just make sure that people doing the same steps would dance at the same time.

[G5052]

Yes, it never hurts to ask. Maybe having a lower-level class wasn't cost effective and was a major drain, so they had to take drastic steps to stay afloat.

 

Our martial arts studio is the process of making a move because they were rapidly going under in the location they moved to 8 months ago after the owner of the previous location went bankrupt. They lost students and didn't gain any new ones at all. So they suddenly announced no classes in April, and that they're negotiating for a new space in a much better location. They also said the rates were also going up. So I asked how much and pointed out that he uses the older students as instructors sometimes, and they agreed to grandfather in the existing older students at the old rate. Whew! I'm glad I asked.