Dance Recital looks like it's going to be 3-4+ hours long - is this normal?

[Anonymous]

So the lower school (tiny kids up to age 12) of the dance school is having a recital which will feature performances from 34 different classes. Even if it takes only 5 minutes for each class including getting on and off stage, we are looking at 3 hours minimum. I am having trouble imagining how I will be sitting in my seat for that long, much less how a 5 year-old will do it.

Also, this just occurred to me: There might be 200-400 kids involved, which would mean tons of family members in the audience. Are we going to be forced to be in a theater with more than a thousand people in it? I know the Covid rates are going down but that's a little too crowded for me . . .

Is this standard for dance schools in this area??

[Anonymous]

Volunteer behind the scenes. It makes the time pass faster and it’s really fun. You’ll still get to see your kid perform.

[Anonymous]

Yes, normal. If you’re fortunate the youngest kids dance first and you can sneak out with your kiddos at intermission.

[Anonymous]

My child's recitals are 90 minutes tops. Maybe move to a more considerate studio next year.

That being said, it is a bit dramatic to be fussing about this now. It is a day 1 question not a few weeks to show question. Remember, you don't have to attend. You could volunteer and help out. I'm sure they will appreciate the help.

[Anonymous]

Why join dance if you don't want to go. Your dancer is probably over the moon about recital and being back stage.

[Anonymous]

Go to a real dance school where they don't have recitals.

[Anonymous]

Many larger dance schools divide their recital weekends into somewhat smaller recitals. Some do it by age and level, some by type of dance if they teach many types of dance (so a ballet recital and then contemporary recital for example), others by more random groupings, whatever works to get the timing a little more manageable. I've never seen my kids perform in a show that ran more than 2 hours including an intermission, and they've been dancing for a long time.

[Anonymous]

You made me have a flashback to my youth when I had to sit through these for my sister. Always 3 hours and brutal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child's recitals are 90 minutes tops. Maybe move to a more considerate studio next year.

That being said, it is a bit dramatic to be fussing about this now. It is a day 1 question not a few weeks to show question. Remember, you don't have to attend. You could volunteer and help out. I'm sure they will appreciate the help.

+1

[Anonymous]

You need to ask the studio. Not dance, but when my daughter was in a large music school, they made the beginners stay for just a short while on stage. The entire concert lasted 2 hours, but it's easy to sit and listen, even if the little ones get fidgety. You can take out bawling babies, of course. I assume your child's class will have its slot and you'll just sit and watch the rest. No big deal. Note that it's very rude for performance arts to just attend your child's portion!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Not intending to be dramatic, but I had no idea that such a long recital would be a possibility. Really developmentally appropriate for the kids (and the adults ). It's good to know other studios won't necessarily do something like this - I will make sure to ask before signing up for next year.

[Anonymous]

OP again - I mean developmentally inappropriate

[Anonymous]

The “developmentally inappropriate” stance seems a bit judgmental. For the most part the younger students enjoy watching the older students ans their performances for a variety of reasons. Take the stick out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not intending to be dramatic, but I had no idea that such a long recital would be a possibility. Really developmentally appropriate for the kids (and the adults ). It's good to know other studios won't necessarily do something like this - I will make sure to ask before signing up for next year.

They probably have the little kids hanging out in rooms where they get snacks, get read stories, have coloring books and play doh. What’s developmentally inappropriate about that. I used to supervise that time when my kids were little and the kids loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Not intending to be dramatic, but I had no idea that such a long recital would be a possibility. Really developmentally appropriate for the kids (and the adults ). It's good to know other studios won't necessarily do something like this - I will make sure to ask before signing up for next year.

They probably have the little kids hanging out in rooms where they get snacks, get read stories, have coloring books and play doh. What’s developmentally inappropriate about that. I used to supervise that time when my kids were little and the kids loved it.

Oh, I thought they had to be in the audience or on stage the whole time, which would seem tough for little kids for that long. Good to hear they don't have to sit quietly the whole time. Is there usually a place for siblings to hang out too? Trying to figure out how the family can watch the show.