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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP, what level?  For little kids, management might be more receptive to feedback.  Older girls, no way. Their way or the highway.[/quote]

Level 2. So not older, but not a wee kid either and they are supposed to be preparing them for pointe next year.

I think I'll keep my mouth shut (for now) and see if my DD can't soften her with kindness and eagerness to learn. [/quote]

That's a tricky age. I would trust your instincts. I do think there is a very firm line between strict ballet instruction and bullying/body judgment. I would not tolerate the latter. If a teacher is trying to break students or is making comments about their bodies, even if those comments are couched about a bodies suitability for ballet, I do not think it is appropriate and the risk of long-term damage is high. Especially with younger girls, who will internalize those comments.

The vast majority of these students, even at TWSB, will never dance professionally. They may dance in college and may dance semi-professionally as an adult, but most are not going to wind up in a ballet company. Learning the discipline of ballet can be enormously rewarding, and I have very fond memories of some of my most serious instructors, the ones with the highest expectations who really pushed me to focus and master my skills. I learned so much from them that went beyond ballet and has helped me in many parts of life.

But the ones who fixated on my turnout (which was never going to professional caliber, I am not built that way) or made comments about my weight or proportionality? Those are the voices I heard in my head in my 20s when I struggled with self-esteem and eating issues. And for what? Those comments didn't help me learn ballet. And the issues with my body were always going to keep me from dancing at the next level, whether those teachers had been cruel or kind. Ballet is what it is, and you aren't doing a girl a favor by making her feel there is something wrong with her. The industry will reject her, and she will move on.

Sorry about the long post; I just have strong feelings about this kind of behavior from ballet instructors. Trust your gut, OP. These virtual classes are a good opportunity to make sure your daughter isn't being exposed to damaging ideas about women's bodies.[/quote]

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