So I signed Chloe up for ballet at the Recplex instead. It is only $30 for two months and the Academy is twice that for one month, so it was a no brainer. I have not heard anything real impressive about the Recplex dance program. It is not really progressive since it is a small program at a gym and not a ballet school. No recitals at all. Other moms told me that after a couple sessions of it I will probably want to move her on to a real studio, but it is the perfect way to introduce her to dance and let her find out if it is something she wants to continue, before I commit to a year long program.
We are going to bring a friend day at the Academy with Kayleigh in a couple weeks and I do plan to tell them (nicely of course) that I had planned to enroll but was deterred by the Sunday only recital thing. Maybe they will add a Saturday show next year?
For now we are going to take a few sessions at the Recplex and then maybe a session or two of ice skating and taekwondo since Chloe wants to do all three and is still pretty young to commit to one sport.
Did I ever mention that Mr. Pettis invited Alyssa to taekwondo for two weeks free? Did I tell you that she LOVED it? Of course, right? But right now she does not want to give up either of her instruments, (even though she refuses to practice them) so she is going to keep thinking about it, because I am not paying for all three.
Anyway, back to my ballerina.
Here she is all set for her first day. Grandma Ann sent ballet shoes for Christmas and we already had the bag and many leotards and skirts from the 3 months of ballet that Alyssa took when she was 3.
As usual, I did not pose Chloe. She just started to dance and I started to take pictures.
Can you tell she was excited?
She loved her first day! It was Seth's last day off work (Monday) and I dragged him with me to watch her since I knew he would never be home at 4:00 to go again. But the room is too small and parents are not allowed in. Ha,ha! I assume she actually participated but we do not get to observe until the finally lesson of the session. She did not want to show me what she had learned but she was quick to point out that another little girl, who was showing her mom some moves, was doing them all wrong. Such a little stinker!
12 comments:
It was a nice class but definitely not where to go for a dance career! :) Abi really enjoyed going there too. I think she would enjoy a more progressive dance school but they are so expensive out here.
Chloe looks so adorable. Such a cute little ballerina.
Cheryl, That is basically the feedback I have gotten from all the moms at the RP as well. They do a fine job, but it is not a long term dance program. Even the instructor told us that. But since she is barely 4, I figured it would be a good intro for her and it was so cheap that I just signed up on a whim when I was signing Alex up for his next session of TKD. The Academy is expensive and strict. They gave me instructions on how to make an acceptable bun and you have to wear different colors with each class you move to. Angels Art is terrible. Alyssa went there and the lady just put on a precorded tape every week that would say plie, first postion, etc and they would follow it exactly with no variation and no guidance from her. Laurenzi Dance is downtown but I have yet to find one person who has gone there. It is about the same price as Academy but closer to me. And I just heard about Step by Step in Pershing Plaza. How have I never seen or heard of it in 7 years? About the same price as the others though. Dance can get super pricey and I am already up to my eyeballs in TKD so at 4 years old I am not ready to commit to anything major. Glad to know Abi liked the RP class though. I am not trying to make Chloe a pro...just trying to let her do something she really wanted to do.
Love those black and white pictures. I'm toying with the idea of enrolling lexi next year, she's a lot like Chloe~poser and all. I think you should start basic at first and if she loves it move her up but I totally agree at 4 RP is a no brainer!
So funny you blogged about this because I have been dealing with the same thing! All day today, I have been driving around/googling/calling all my options for Dance and Gymnastics for Brooklynne. I think she is ready for a "real" gym, but they are way expensive! She shows talent, and she is 5-So, it may be time to bite the bullet and sign her up, but it's so hard knowing how expensive it is. Especially, since Grayson will want to do a gymnastics class with her. Do I put her at the more expensive gym, and let Grayson take at the smaller (and cheaper) recreation center where Brooklynne started? I'm still so torn....Plus, I need to find Kaden a piano teacher still.
Chloe looks so cute, and mature, in those pictures! I love the black and whites!
If you find a good place let meknow because I have been scouring out here for dance for McKenna & have yet to find a reasonably priced place. There were tons of decent priced places in Surprise but she was too young then. Grrr....so frustrating & she is so stinkin' cute!
Katie, I feel your pain. If Brooklynne has already done the inexpensive classes and learned all she can there, maybe it is time to move up, but that is easier said than done when you add up tuition, uniforms, recitals...ugh! I woudl definitely make Grayson go to the rec center classes first to see if it is even going to be his thing before you fork over a ton of time and money. Piano is pricey too. Do you have a teen in your ward that plays? That's what we do and it is $10 a lesson, which still adds up quick but better than $20. My sis in law found a kid in her ward who charged $5...awesome! Keep looking and praying and GOOD LUCK!
Jess, I have never looked out in the county, but I will let you know if I find something. In talking to parents in other states I have learned that all sports and hobbies are more expensive in WI. Maybe cause they know we are trapped inside half the year freezing and will pay anything to have a warm place for our kids to run off some energy. Ha,ha!
Aww, she looks so cute and sweet in her ballet outfit. I definitely think dance will be the perfect way for her spunky and outspoken personality. Good luck, Chloe! We have the girls doing gymnastics here and just started them up for a second hour each week (surprisingly it was Mike who suggested we do that), and we only pay a little more than what you said the "real" studio's classes cost for only one class. That's one thing I can say about living out here in the boon docks is that the living expenses are so much cheaper here.
I love seeing all these cute ballerinas. I love living vicariously through them and through you mom's that get to sign them up. Although, I must say my pocketbook is thankful. I had no idea it was so expensive here.
I do know there's a place off of 75th or Highway 50, whichever it's real name is. It's Kenosha Music and Dance? I don't know the prices but maybe it's decent??
Good luck. If you have any questions about if their training is accurate. I mean if you want to make sure you're getting your dollars worth, I'd love to sit in on a class and tell you if it's any good.
Chloe is destined to be a star. She looks older in these photos and so beautiful.
LeShel, the one on 50 is the Academy I am talking about. The official name is Kenosha Academy of Dance Music and Drama and I am lazy so I just call it the academy. I have heard good things and even the price is pretty much the same as everywhere else around here but the Sunday recital thing caused me to put it off another year. I am fine with a Sunday recital. I am not offended by it or all holier than thou, I just want one on Saturday too. I may still send her there next year unless skating or TKD turn out to be her thing but I would secretly, or not so secretly maybe, love to have a little dancer. I may have you check it out with me when the time comes.
Chloe is a terrific model! Bet she makes a great dancer, too. So fun that she is willing to model for the camera!
What a cute ballerina! A lot of the city league sports in Michigan play their games on Sunday which is a huge bummer, especially because James really wants to do them and I would much rather have him involved in sports than sitting at home playing video games!
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