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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi, this is OP again, and yes, I am referring to the Citydance recital. I don't see how it can be anything less than 3 hours long based on the number of classes that will be performing, but since one poster seemed to think it would be about 90 minutes long, I'd love to hear how you know, so I can relax a little.

The previous dance school my child attended was geared toward little kids, and the recital was about 15-20 minutes long, very low key.

Also, I'm interested in a PP's statement that Citydance has it's own issues. Would you care to elaborate with specifics? The communications coming from the school this year are often confusing and weirdly adversarial (so much so that I have shared some of the choice emails with my friends for a laugh), but I was giving them the benefit of the doubt, since my child's teacher seems great, and the studio is very convenient to our home. Otherwise I don't know much about the school.

I am PP who said 90 minutes. In past years, that is what it was. However, the old Tenleytown location was not a part of this concert. The issue is this year the new Friendship Heights location is participating in this recital also- so it could be longer, I can't say, because this is new and something they should have thought through. But in past years it worked fine, and then there was a break before the older kids recital in the afternoon. Each dance is more like 2-4 minutes, and they get them on and off stage quickly. It could be they are telling teachers shorter dances of 2 min vs 4 this year? So based on this math that may be more like a little over 2 hours, but definitely not three.

As for the weekend and backstage, the kids hang out, bring activities, and generally have fun during this time. I agree that the dress rehearsals so far in advance of the performance are silly, but I think they want to make sure all the costumes work ahead in case they need to get others. At least at CD you don't need to buy the costumes like at other studios. Other studios have photography days well in advance of their recitals. Kids usually just stay there the whole time from their earliest drop off slot until their latest pick up. The only way I pick up between is if there is a very large time gap, as in 3 hours or more. I agree that communication could be clearer (this has always been an issue at CD).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this by posting about the Citydance recital? If so, I agree with the OP. It’s nuts.

Ooohhhh. Thar place is it’s own issue.

Please elaborate on issues, we are undecided for next year. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Even at 39 pieces in the show it shouldn't be 3-4 hours long. I've been teaching dance for almost 30 years and recital/youth concert pieces are rarely anywhere near 5 minutes plus long. 2-3 minutes is much more the standard and if it is well run you should have music end, kids run off to one side and next class runs on from the other side and sets. It should really be seconds not minutes in between pieces. Youth performance logistics are probably never going to be loved by parents, but there really is a reason for why things are done. Dress rehearsals are necessary so kids can see the stage, learn what it feels like to look out on an auditorium, learn how to enter and exit, and feel comfortable and confident the day of the performance. There are also reasons for requiring kids to stay for the length of the performance. I taught at a studio years ago where parents were allowed to take their kids home as soon as they finished and it was terrible for kids performing onstage seeing the audience leave. The poor kids at the end ended up with an auditorium with about 10% of the seats filled after working all year for the performance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even at 39 pieces in the show it shouldn't be 3-4 hours long. I've been teaching dance for almost 30 years and recital/youth concert pieces are rarely anywhere near 5 minutes plus long. 2-3 minutes is much more the standard and if it is well run you should have music end, kids run off to one side and next class runs on from the other side and sets. It should really be seconds not minutes in between pieces. Youth performance logistics are probably never going to be loved by parents, but there really is a reason for why things are done. Dress rehearsals are necessary so kids can see the stage, learn what it feels like to look out on an auditorium, learn how to enter and exit, and feel comfortable and confident the day of the performance. There are also reasons for requiring kids to stay for the length of the performance. I taught at a studio years ago where parents were allowed to take their kids home as soon as they finished and it was terrible for kids performing onstage seeing the audience leave. The poor kids at the end ended up with an auditorium with about 10% of the seats filled after working all year for the performance.

+100. Longtime dance mom and former dancer here. The logistics are hard for families but important for kids to feel prepared. And skipping out on other kids’ performances is the height of disrespect.

[Anonymous]

Yep. This sounds like the 7th circle of hell. One of the many reasons to not put your daughter in dance. So many other enjoyable sports and activities

[Anonymous]

You don't have to attend. Just drop your daughter off and pick her up when it's over. The logistics are youth but very very important.

[Anonymous]

How was the show? Did your kid have fun? Was the show 4 hours long?

[Anonymous]

Three long acts that pretty much ran the entire day. Turned into a super spreader as the kids were allowed to take off their masks. 🙄

[Anonymous]

My kid was in one of the acts, which ran 90 minutes. She loved it. We only saw that act, and DD wasn’t expected to be there all day. Did some kids have dances in all acts? That would be hard.

[Anonymous]

Yes, some did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, some did.

Ouch

[Anonymous]

The kids in all three acts were generally older (I would say age 10/11 or up). Little kids were only in the first act. Many older kids (age 11 and up) were in the second two acts that were back to back. Very few were in all three, but a handful were. Yes, it was long, but very few dancers were in all three, and the youngest kids were only in one act. They really should have made sure there were not any kids in all three.

[Anonymous]

My mom took up tap dancing as an adult when I was in my 20s. I went to her dance recital where she was the last performance of a 2.5 hour show. I hugged her so hard after that knowing that she sat through so much of my horrible recitals, concerts, games, etc. I wish strength upon the dance parents.