Is competitive dance a scam?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ballet schools breed eating disorders more or less than competitive studios.

This. Eating disorders are crazy common among both. Ballet would eliminate some of the other stuff you don't like though. I am so glad my kid ended up passionate about a team ball sport after trying all the things, including dance. And, bonus, girls/women of all shapes and sizes play my DD's sport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Travel sports is definitely a scam.

We were thinking about doing travel soccer because the rec league is so disorganized. They cancel practice yesterday because of some high school tournament. Are you telling me they had no way of knowing this in advance and couldn't have told us earlier? This has happened several times. Sometimes the board is posted showing which field they are on, sometimes it isn't and you wander around trying to figure it out. I get it that in rec leagues you get volunteer coaches but that's a big commitment to ask of people and it would be nice to have a paid coach.

Is there something other than travel that fills these requirements? If so, open to that.

[Anonymous]

The problem is there is such a huge gap in ability between travel and rec teams.
The rec organizations are starting to recognize this, but no real solutions are forthcoming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think ballet schools breed eating disorders more or less than competitive studios.

This. Eating disorders are crazy common among both. Ballet would eliminate some of the other stuff you don't like though. I am so glad my kid ended up passionate about a team ball sport after trying all the things, including dance. And, bonus, girls/women of all shapes and sizes play my DD's sport.

Interesting… there’s girls of all shapes and sizes at my DD’s studio. My DD is not overweight at all, but she’s tall and muscular. Not your typical dancers body at all. I’ve never even remotely thought this was a problem. There’s even a few actually overweight girls and literally no one cares. Let’s not lump all dance studios together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have daughters in both comp dance and travel soccer (at the same time!) and here is my perspective: find the right team/studio.

Are there studios that make their girls take 5+ classes per week and travel to competitions 8 times a year with 8 dances each, with revealing costumes, crap technique and degrading instructors? Absolutely. But are there also studios where the weekly class requirements are manageable (2, maybe 3 days per week), less competitions with 1-3 numbers, age-appropriate costumes, and warm/engaging instructors who teach technique AS WELL AS self-discipline, confidence and a love of dance? ABSOLUTELY.

Are there travel teams that require several FAR AWAY tourneys per season, mediocre level of play with coaches that degrade/berate their players? You bet. But are there also teams that have a few tourneys per season, with an hour drive, who emphasize fun/respect for the game and never yell at their players? ABSOLUTELY.

If your daughters (or sons) are REALLY into dance/travel sports, then each of these things are worthwhile. If they're lukewarm on the activity, obviously find the more relaxed rec option and be done with it.

But for many, including my girls, they LOVE dancing and/or soccer. We've taken great care to find supportive programs, rather than simply join the "elite" studio with 100s of awards / super competitive soccer team that assumes soccer is the only sport your entire family needs to prioritize.

It's not scammy to us, because we're also not in it to win the most awards or trophies, or even scholarships. We just want the girls to learn a skill, be comfortable "performing" on the stage/game day, and have a ton of fun doing it.

To piggy back off of this, you can have a down to earth studio like you describe AND be an elite studio that wins a lot. My DD is at one. Very supportive, no crazy class or routine requirements, 4 required comps. The class requirement is under 4 hours a week and the routine requirement is 1 dance. Now most do more (like my DD who is obsessed) but I know several that do the bare minimum or close to it. Now those kids are less likely to dance advanced and probably novice instead. But there’s room for all types of dancers. I’m also the PP that commented about diverse body types at her studio. It IS out there, you just have to really vet studios first. We never intended to do comp, only rec, but watching the comp program at our studio after one rec year, we changed our minds and DD has been thriving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is it a scam? It’s not any different than travel sports, except it’s primarily joined by girls and travel sports are primarily boys at the younger ages. Seems sexist to say one is worth the money and the other is not. You can argue against the cost and time commitment but the argument applies to both. I’m sure most parents putting their sons in travel sports secretly hope it’s their ticket to D1 college sports scholarship, even though that’s unlikely.

I think t's sexist to enroll your kid in comp dance. Dance for art and performance...sure. comp dance is degrading to the person, the art of dance, and the gullible consumer. Have you seen the ridiculous outfits these children are wearing? The overstressed overstretched? The lack of safe technique? The judges are brought in at crazy fees to tell the kids exactly what their teachers tell them, kids are given a meaningless award, and parents are shook down for every dollar the can possibly be extracted. When soccer kids start showing up in less that a bikini for a game, when boys start needing butt glue for their wrestling uniforms to keep their crotch covered we can start talking sexism.

My comp dance DD has never worn anything inappropriate (unless you think a bit of tummy is inappropriate, but I don’t sexualize belly buttons 🤷🏼‍♀️). We also have excellent teachers who put safety first and provide excellent technique (can confirm as a former dancer)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, competitive dance is a scam.
-a professional dancer

How so?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have daughters in both comp dance and travel soccer (at the same time!) and here is my perspective: find the right team/studio.

Are there studios that make their girls take 5+ classes per week and travel to competitions 8 times a year with 8 dances each, with revealing costumes, crap technique and degrading instructors? Absolutely. But are there also studios where the weekly class requirements are manageable (2, maybe 3 days per week), less competitions with 1-3 numbers, age-appropriate costumes, and warm/engaging instructors who teach technique AS WELL AS self-discipline, confidence and a love of dance? ABSOLUTELY.

Are there travel teams that require several FAR AWAY tourneys per season, mediocre level of play with coaches that degrade/berate their players? You bet. But are there also teams that have a few tourneys per season, with an hour drive, who emphasize fun/respect for the game and never yell at their players? ABSOLUTELY.

If your daughters (or sons) are REALLY into dance/travel sports, then each of these things are worthwhile. If they're lukewarm on the activity, obviously find the more relaxed rec option and be done with it.

But for many, including my girls, they LOVE dancing and/or soccer. We've taken great care to find supportive programs, rather than simply join the "elite" studio with 100s of awards / super competitive soccer team that assumes soccer is the only sport your entire family needs to prioritize.

It's not scammy to us, because we're also not in it to win the most awards or trophies, or even scholarships. We just want the girls to learn a skill, be comfortable "performing" on the stage/game day, and have a ton of fun doing it.

To piggy back off of this, you can have a down to earth studio like you describe AND be an elite studio that wins a lot. My DD is at one. Very supportive, no crazy class or routine requirements, 4 required comps. The class requirement is under 4 hours a week and the routine requirement is 1 dance. Now most do more (like my DD who is obsessed) but I know several that do the bare minimum or close to it. Now those kids are less likely to dance advanced and probably novice instead. But there’s room for all types of dancers. I’m also the PP that commented about diverse body types at her studio. It IS out there, you just have to really vet studios first. We never intended to do comp, only rec, but watching the comp program at our studio after one rec year, we changed our minds and DD has been thriving.

If you are in the DMV can you share the name of the studio?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have daughters in both comp dance and travel soccer (at the same time!) and here is my perspective: find the right team/studio.

Are there studios that make their girls take 5+ classes per week and travel to competitions 8 times a year with 8 dances each, with revealing costumes, crap technique and degrading instructors? Absolutely. But are there also studios where the weekly class requirements are manageable (2, maybe 3 days per week), less competitions with 1-3 numbers, age-appropriate costumes, and warm/engaging instructors who teach technique AS WELL AS self-discipline, confidence and a love of dance? ABSOLUTELY.

Are there travel teams that require several FAR AWAY tourneys per season, mediocre level of play with coaches that degrade/berate their players? You bet. But are there also teams that have a few tourneys per season, with an hour drive, who emphasize fun/respect for the game and never yell at their players? ABSOLUTELY.

If your daughters (or sons) are REALLY into dance/travel sports, then each of these things are worthwhile. If they're lukewarm on the activity, obviously find the more relaxed rec option and be done with it.

But for many, including my girls, they LOVE dancing and/or soccer. We've taken great care to find supportive programs, rather than simply join the "elite" studio with 100s of awards / super competitive soccer team that assumes soccer is the only sport your entire family needs to prioritize.

It's not scammy to us, because we're also not in it to win the most awards or trophies, or even scholarships. We just want the girls to learn a skill, be comfortable "performing" on the stage/game day, and have a ton of fun doing it.

To piggy back off of this, you can have a down to earth studio like you describe AND be an elite studio that wins a lot. My DD is at one. Very supportive, no crazy class or routine requirements, 4 required comps. The class requirement is under 4 hours a week and the routine requirement is 1 dance. Now most do more (like my DD who is obsessed) but I know several that do the bare minimum or close to it. Now those kids are less likely to dance advanced and probably novice instead. But there’s room for all types of dancers. I’m also the PP that commented about diverse body types at her studio. It IS out there, you just have to really vet studios first. We never intended to do comp, only rec, but watching the comp program at our studio after one rec year, we changed our minds and DD has been thriving.

If you are in the DMV can you share the name of the studio?

I’m not, otherwise I totally would! But I’m sure there’s one in DMV, you may just have to drive longer than you’d like to. We drive past 3 studios on the way to DD’s studio. I feel like Goldilocks with studios - 1 we went there and it is a positive environment, but lacks technique training, 2 never went there, is an elite studio with your stereotypical elite studio issues, 3 we went there as a rec family and their rec program was a joke.

I wish the 1st one that’s literally 2 minutes from our house would’ve worked out for us, but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

OP's misogyny isn't helping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is it a scam? It’s not any different than travel sports, except it’s primarily joined by girls and travel sports are primarily boys at the younger ages. Seems sexist to say one is worth the money and the other is not. You can argue against the cost and time commitment but the argument applies to both. I’m sure most parents putting their sons in travel sports secretly hope it’s their ticket to D1 college sports scholarship, even though that’s unlikely.

I think t's sexist to enroll your kid in comp dance. Dance for art and performance...sure. comp dance is degrading to the person, the art of dance, and the gullible consumer. Have you seen the ridiculous outfits these children are wearing? The overstressed overstretched? The lack of safe technique? The judges are brought in at crazy fees to tell the kids exactly what their teachers tell them, kids are given a meaningless award, and parents are shook down for every dollar the can possibly be extracted. When soccer kids start showing up in less that a bikini for a game, when boys start needing butt glue for their wrestling uniforms to keep their crotch covered we can start talking sexism.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are a judgy b about the outfits and cheerleaders are athletes. You could not do 1 150th of what a cheerleader can do. Very different from dance.

A lot of studios, the clothes and the dances have input from the dancers. I've seen a very fun tap scene done with overalls and neckerchiefs, with non-revealing moves. There's going to be a mix. And dance is about seeing the human body. Stop making it into something shameful

Oh please most dance competitions or cheerleading are not about seeing the human body in the way you suggest. While I personally do not think it is shameful and could care less whether someone puts their daughters on one of these so called teams. I guess team in working together, however there is really no reason the outfits are the way they are or the makeup. Like the makeup makes one participate in the sport better LOL no.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are a judgy b about the outfits and cheerleaders are athletes. You could not do 1 150th of what a cheerleader can do. Very different from dance.

A lot of studios, the clothes and the dances have input from the dancers. I've seen a very fun tap scene done with overalls and neckerchiefs, with non-revealing moves. There's going to be a mix. And dance is about seeing the human body. Stop making it into something shameful

Oh please most dance competitions or cheerleading are not about seeing the human body in the way you suggest. While I personally do not think it is shameful and could care less whether someone puts their daughters on one of these so called teams. I guess team in working together, however there is really no reason the outfits are the way they are or the makeup. Like the makeup makes one participate in the sport better LOL no.

I can’t speak for cheer, but for dance, all of your features are washed out in bright stage lighting without makeup on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are a judgy b about the outfits and cheerleaders are athletes. You could not do 1 150th of what a cheerleader can do. Very different from dance.

A lot of studios, the clothes and the dances have input from the dancers. I've seen a very fun tap scene done with overalls and neckerchiefs, with non-revealing moves. There's going to be a mix. And dance is about seeing the human body. Stop making it into something shameful

Oh please most dance competitions or cheerleading are not about seeing the human body in the way you suggest. While I personally do not think it is shameful and could care less whether someone puts their daughters on one of these so called teams. I guess team in working together, however there is really no reason the outfits are the way they are or the makeup. Like the makeup makes one participate in the sport better LOL no.

I can’t speak for cheer, but for dance, all of your features are washed out in bright stage lighting without makeup on.

Drama nerd here. It's true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are dance studios that have modern, jazz and ballet which may be a better fit. Most do twice a year dance recitals.

This! Try something other than ballet.