dance studio changing room

[Anonymous]

DD(9) has been taking dance classes for several years, but this is the first year that she needs to change at the studio because two classes are back-to-back. She doesn't feel comfortable doing so in the studio dressing room because it lacks privacy. There are no curtains or any visual barriers so if anyone opens the door, people from the hallway can see everything inside, and there are often parents who sit in the dressing room scrolling their phones while their kids are in class. As a result, DD and a few other students who are in the same situation wait for the two single-occupancy restrooms to change, but this creates a line and some students run late to the second class.

DD talked to the dance teacher but the teacher did not do anything (except to say students shouldn't be taking up the restrooms for changing). I then emailed the studio director and asked if there was any way to improve the privacy of the dressing room or clarify guidelines about dressing room etiquette. I was a bit surprised that her response was that the dressing room is meant to be an open space where big groups can change together, and also that the dressing room is open to all students, parents, and siblings.

I felt like this answer means the studio will not change anything, so I did some research and ended up getting DD a changing robe which she is OK with. However, the whole situation has made me feel a bit weird. I think it's reasonable that DD and her classmates (ages 7-9) who need to change out of a ballet leotard/tights (meaning getting fully undressed) don't want to do it in front of unknown adults with phones out, and I'm surprised the studio is ok with the changing room being sort of a lounge where non-students can hang out. At the same time, DD enjoys dance and has made friends in her classes, so I don't want to overreact if this is just common practice with dance studio dressing rooms.

Can parents with kids in dance please tell me what is the setup for dressing rooms at your dance studio, and what are the guidelines around how people are expected to use them? I am wondering if the lack of privacy is just something dancers are expected to get used to if they start doing multiple classes.

[Anonymous]

Is it necessary she change? Ballet typically has a uniform but she should be able to wear that to any dance classes. Get her the ballet tights with the hole at the bottom of the foot so she can fold up tights for her other class, if needed. Maybe throw on a pair of dance shorts over the tights and leo.

But the owner’s response is odd. Seems like they could at least hang a rod and curtain and put a sight up saying for dancers only- at a minimum.

[Anonymous]

What you’re describing is similar to a locker room. My DD didn’t take private
Dance but did do gymnastics. Some changing rooms are as you describe and some offer privacy. But kids weren’t allowed to use bathroom stalls. The one thing is that phones have always been banned in changing areas.

[Anonymous]

Parents should NOT be allowing in changing rooms with other children present.

[Anonymous]

My dancer doesn't change between classes other than adding/subtracting warm-up gear on top of her leo and tights as needed. Her studio has a dressing room but it is mostly used as a hang-out for dancers with breaks between their classes (they do homework or have a snack). Parents are not allowed in the studio and definitely not allowed in the dressing room!

[Anonymous]

Our dance studio has a dressing room but no parents allowed in there.

[Anonymous]

I'm surprised parents are allowed to "lounge" in the dressing room, but I can see them being allowed in the room, if they are helping young kids change. Maybe if there was a rule that no phones can be used in the dressing room, it would stop parents from hanging out there while students are trying to change. I think dance, and most sports in general, just have open rooms for changing so you shouldn't expect privacy from other classmates.

[Anonymous]

In CA- big open room, parents mostly wait outside. No parent is taking pics into the dressing room.

[Anonymous]

They really should hang a curtain or put a screen to stop people from being able to see in front the hallway, and parents shouldn't be allowed to just hang out, but changing in front of other people is part for the course for dancers.

[Anonymous]

Changing in front of people is part of the deal but changing in front of parents and other non dancers in a very open room shouldn't be. Our classes were at a school and they blocked off one of the bathrooms for the dancers and had signs about cell phones being prohibited. They could use the two stalls or the open space as needed.

[Anonymous]

I agree -- a room where parents are present is not cool.

But changing in a semi-open environment (as in, dancers only) is par for the course in dance.

I agree that maybe your daughter doesn't need to fully change. I'd encourage her to keep it as simple as possible, and get in and out.

[Anonymous]

I have a kid who dances and if they need to do a full change in a hurry (e.g. doing a costume change back stage) they wear a nude leotard under their outfits so they don’t need full privacy. The expectation is that kids are not really naked in these types of environments. It’s too hard for the studio to control.

Add me to the list of people who are not sure why she can’t wear her leotard to the other dance class? She doesn’t want to wear the tights is that it?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the input. Getting convertible tights was one of the solutions I talked to DD about. She prefers the changing robe so I didn’t press her on it, but told her we can get convertible tights anytime if she changes her mind. She says all the other girls coming out of ballet class are also doing a pretty full change, though I am not sure why that is.

[Anonymous]

My DD does dance and the setup is pretty much the same at every studio she has had classes. She has learned to adapt but using convertible tights, etc. she also dances during weekdays and needs to fully change into dance clothes - sometimes just wear them under her school clothes and wears them all day so she doesn’t have to wait for a bathroom.

Privacy expectations just seem to be less in dance studios - kids adjust and/ or you find a way that works for you.

The only thing really odd seems to be that parents are in the dressing rooms - maybe if there are small kids (6 and under) who need help changing? Otherwise that seems odd to me. When I’ve gone into my DDs dressing room at the studio to bring her something she left outside, I get the side eye from the other girls. I just drop and leave - it’s pretty clear it’s not a space for adults.

[Anonymous]

If she loves the dance and not just the social aspect you should look for a more professional school. I’ve never seen one that had parents hanging around the dressing room. The more involved the parents are the less professional their program is.