Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you've already made your decision, and just want people to agree with you to reinforce it. I don't agree with you. There's nothing wrong with a kid dancing with people older than her. It is totally normal for a dance school to group people according to ability rather than age.

Yes, this.

It's fine if you wait in the lobby. If a kid doesn't drive that's usually where people would wait. I think you're over-thinking this, OP.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this situation, and you know it, OP.

But if your daughter wants to be with people closer to her own age, that's perfectly legitimate too.

At Maryland Youth Ballet and other dance companies, there are classes with teens and adults. As far as I can tell, these teens seem to be older than 13 (maybe 16?), and the adults range from young to elderly (and extraordinarily supple!).

I'm in my 30s and take a dance class at a local studio with people in their early teens through 40s. In our suburban neighborhood, if you're not good or motivated enough to drive to an elite studio you just take the highest level local class which includes "kids" that have graduated out of the kids classes.

What type of people exactly are you worried about taking a dance class at a local studio? That would be a very convoluted and strange way for someone to prey on a teenager, especially given that its a group class.

It sounds like you've already made your decision, and just want people to agree with you to reinforce it. I don't agree with you. There's nothing wrong with a kid dancing with people older than her. It is totally normal for a dance school to group people according to ability rather than age.

what type of dance?

If she's enjoying the class, I think it's fine. but if she would rather be with peers, I would find something else. My daughter's dance studio sometimes offers something like this - a beginner class for teen/adult. This is because a teen or adult can learn at a much faster rate than a younger kid. these classes don't tend to be popular and i do think it's a little awkward, but it's harmless.

OP again:

As I said it is a new dance school and my daughter was the only student first couple of weeks.
I did not feel comfortable leaving her alone there. I sit in the front office.
Later when other students started joining and I noticed that they are all much older, I really could not decide if this is the right class for her or not.
I am not able to guess their ages accurately.
one lady (the dance class) is a project manager. so your guess is as good as mine about her age.

Once I have noticed that they are mixed age groups, and DD is the youngest of all, I am all the more uncomfortable to leave her there.

Hence I just stay outside of the class room.
just wanted to see what other parents think of such dance school

I am seriously considering taking DD out of the class and look for another dance school which has classes based on age groups.

If your daughter is 13, you should not be there. I could see if it were a 45 minute class staying in the lobby if home was too far away and there was nothing else in the area. But if the class is long enough to have a water break, then it's long enough that you should leave.

By you staying there, and by the other students seeing this girl run to talk to her mommy during a break in a class, she is cementing herself as a baby in their eyes. If she wants to make friends, she needs for you to be gone.

I was a dancer as a kid. I danced with people at the same ability level, once I hit around 11 yrs old.

would you continue sending your 13 year old to a dance class where the age group is different?
There are varying age groups.
20, 18, 16, 13 etc ages. Both boys and girls.
some even hold jobs.

is it okay for a 13 year old to continue lessons there? would it be better if she is with her own age group?
should I pull her out of that dance class? (DD is a rising high schooler)

I just registered her in the dance class so that she will enjoy music and dance.
and initially she was the only student as it was a new dance school.
slowly new students started coming.
to my surprise, most of them are already graduated out of college and working.
my daughter does not have anything common to talk to them during break time.
so she just walks to me during water break.