Where do public school teens learn to ballroom dance?

[Anonymous]

DC was at a private school for several years and attended Mrs. Simpson's Dance Classes. This year he is at a public high school and most of his friends from the private school didn't sign up again. He is giving me lots of grief about having to go. He is afraid he won't know anyone. Is there a place where public school kids go to learn to dance? Of course, it isn't taught at school like it was when i was growing up in the 70's.

[Anonymous]

Lots of BCC cluster middle schoolers do Capital Cotillion, but among my sons' friends I know very few high school kids in private or public who continue with it. It was pretty much the same pattern back in the day when I took ballroom dance lessons. There are just too many other issues to negotiate with teens; ballroom dance is not one that many parents choose to go the mat over, If they really want to learn, they'll have a second chance in college -- there are ballroom dance clubs on many campuses

[Anonymous]

Why does he need to learn to ballroom dance? If he doesn't want to do it, just drop it. He's in high school, right?

[Anonymous]

College.

[Anonymous]

Cotillion is a MS thing. Let him drop it. At Mrs Simpsons the 9th grade class is combined with the 8th grade class and the 9th graders hate it. He will be invited to the holiday dances in 10th and 11th grades.

[Anonymous]

Chevy Chase Ballroom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cotillion is a MS thing. Let him drop it. At Mrs Simpsons the 9th grade class is combined with the 8th grade class and the 9th graders hate it. He will be invited to the holiday dances in 10th and 11th grades.

OK I would let him drop but I already paid. I told him he only needed to go to 3 classes out of the 10 offered.

My other concern is if I let drop altogether his sister won't be allowed back and she loves it. Does anyone else have experience with this? I'm hoping it's a bluff.

[Anonymous]

Many never learn, and yet go on to lead interesting and productive lives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cotillion is a MS thing. Let him drop it. At Mrs Simpsons the 9th grade class is combined with the 8th grade class and the 9th graders hate it. He will be invited to the holiday dances in 10th and 11th grades.

OK I would let him drop but I already paid. I told him he only needed to go to 3 classes out of the 10 offered.

My other concern is if I let drop altogether his sister won't be allowed back and she loves it. Does anyone else have experience with this? I'm hoping it's a bluff.

That is a valid concern - but not sure she will enforce it for a HS age boy. Good luck with the 3 - we only succeeded in getting our 8th grade boy to 3 last year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College.

Ballroom dance is very popular at Brown, where my oldest is a student. I asked him why; his theory: the scene from "Wedding Crashers" where Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughan trip the light fantastic at reception after reception, then bed their dance partners.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College.

Ballroom dance is very popular at Brown, where my oldest is a student. I asked him why; his theory: the scene from "Wedding Crashers" where Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughan trip the light fantastic at reception after reception, then bed their dance partners.

A good reason to not help your child learn how to ballroom dance!

[Anonymous]

Let him take Lindy Hop at the Chevy Chase Ballroom with Tom and Debra. Some of the high school students are the best dancers.

[Anonymous]

Glen Echo has fun classes for all ages.

[Anonymous]

Hilarious. My middle schooler would kill me if I tried to make her take ballroom. Of course, we're not in the BCC cluster...

[Anonymous]

For all you Fred and Ginger fans out there, you (and your kids) might enjoy the movie "Mad, Hot Ballroom". It's a documentary about a ballroom dance competition for middle-school/upper-e.s. kids in NYC. Don't let the title fool you; it's totally G-rated.