I would strongly suggest looking into a dance studio that doesn't do competitive dance. My DD goes to a studio that focuses on ballet but also does tap and jazz. They do a recital in the spring and the classes are engaging with great teachers. She has made friends through the studio and looks forward to all her classes.

At no point do I think to myself "you know this is great but wouldn't it be better if we were required to commit to 10-15 hours of dance every week, traveling to competitions where we sit around for hours and hours indoors on a Saturday waiting for her turn?" I don't even understand what that is for. What is the added benefit? You can't even delude yourself into thinking your kid will be recruited for college because they did "competition dance," the way travel sport parents do. It seems like such an odd thing to do to your own family when it's not at all necessary for your child to learn to dance and get a social benefit out of the activity.

Anonymous wrote:In my neighborhood most of the kids go to one place and we go to there too so my daughter has friends.

I’m fine with most kids getting selected for the teams. I think it’s inclusive. Some kids get larger roles and front and center.

Yes, this. Competitive dance can get crazy, but it doesn't have to. I'd ask around to gauge which studios spend $$$$ to compete, and which keep it a bit more casual. Our local one does only a limited number of competitions, recycles costumes when possible. They keep it down to earth. Staying local and having friends is our vibe.

Hi - Can you share which ones are toxic?

Anonymous wrote:Auditions at our studio is to determine placement in routines.

I agree with picking one close if possible. We were there 5-6 days a week last month and it was exhausting and we aren’t even that far away.

Make sure you go to a studio that emphasizes technique over rehearsing dances to death. Competition dance can be toxic if you end up at the wrong studio. Chat with parents in competition dance if possible. They will be able to give you the jist on each studio. There’s some in our area that are amazingly talented, but we’d never go there because the environment is so toxic.

Anonymous wrote:Competitions are a joke and money grab. Everyone gets first place.

Just find a good dance studio that teaches well, perhaps that puts on very good productions in your own community.

I would encourage convention competitions instead. There's no levels, so not near as many awards and there's also the training component that regular competitions don't have.

Competitions are a joke and money grab. Everyone gets first place.

Just find a good dance studio that teaches well, perhaps that puts on very good productions in your own community.

Anonymous wrote:Wow! So many different responses. It sounds like I need to be careful.
So one of the studios is very near us and it seemed "welcoming" and my daughter said the girls were super nice to her when she tried out (it wasnt an official audition but they let her try a company class).
Another studio she auditioned at is kind of well known and I think it is a bit more of a "dance moms" kind of place and very high level. The "dance mom" vibe scares me but does it mean it will be very good with teaching technique? Or not necessarily?

What the h**** am i getting myself into? Lol!!

PP here. You can find a studio that welcoming and has good technique. Just because a team wins a lot, does not necessarily mean they focus on technique. Could mean they just rehearse a TON. That’s why you need to dig and ask around a bit.

But above all other things, do not knowingly put your kid in a questionable environment and hope it will be fine. Your kid will spend a ton of time with these kids, teachers, parents and you want it to be a positive experience.

Join the welcoming one.

- signed, recovering dance mom

Make sure you understand the commitment required. DD’s bff is in competitive dance and it’s really harmed her social life outside of dance. Evidently she’s only allowed to miss two practices PER YEAR for dance company classes. So that means she has to miss birthday parties and movie nights and Girl Scout activities and family events. That’s an unreasonable commitment for a 10 year old, in my mind.
I have no idea if it’s just her studio or if that’s standRd, but I’d want to be very very clear about that first.

Wow! So many different responses. It sounds like I need to be careful.
So one of the studios is very near us and it seemed "welcoming" and my daughter said the girls were super nice to her when she tried out (it wasnt an official audition but they let her try a company class).
Another studio she auditioned at is kind of well known and I think it is a bit more of a "dance moms" kind of place and very high level. The "dance mom" vibe scares me but does it mean it will be very good with teaching technique? Or not necessarily?

What the h**** am i getting myself into? Lol!!

"Competitive dance" like in Cuties?

Soccer is "competitive" too, and everyone gets into a team, but it's not because it's a money grab, it's because it's a sport and competition is fun.

For dance, you can join a class and perform at a recital, or audition for a group that gets paid gigs.

Avoid like the plague

Anonymous wrote:Yes, as others have said auditions are typically to place kids on teams/dances, and to decide who gets invite-only dances (like solos).

Definitely make sure you understand the commitment the studio is asking for. Specifically, do they require a certain number of dances? How many competitions are required, and are they local? Is "nationals" required?

Those are the things that will really determine the time and cost commitment. My DD participates and a lot of good has come from it, but the actual "competitions" are a bit of a joke and the costs can spiral up without any real benefit. Personally, we made a choice based on a minimal amout of competitions.

This right here. The benefit is social and emotional for my kid. We are stuck in a subpar studio. It’s a complete money grab and my daughter has stalled and not developed as a dancer. The owners are hostile if you question them. Choose wisely!