So, dance camp is officially over, and we’ve settled on the kids’ new studio. (For those of you who don’t recall, their former studio closed in June.) It has been an emotional roller coaster, trying to decide what we’re doing in the fall. Like anything with parenting, it’s hard not to worry and second-guess. I’ve been back and forth, weighed the pros and cons, and factored in the kids’ feelings.
The problem for me has been that after six years at the same place, it felt like home. The staff, students, and parents were like family. It was the perfect storm—the right place, time, and people. For us, it was as near to perfection as we could have hoped. There is no way to recreate that, no matter how long we search or how hard we try. I worried that we would end up settling for second best, or even something that wasn’t good at all, just because we needed to find something.
The truth is, though, that I had to lay my own feelings aside and make a decision with the kids, instead of for them. We ended up deciding that the place where they had camp was the right one, and here’s why:
1. From the minute we walked in the doors, the kids felt at home. Jack said he knew where everything was, because he’d taken a class there before. Sarah was excited because the studio has expanded since then, with a whole new room. They had fun exploring the territory.
2. The other parents put me at ease. They talked about how much they like it, how happy they are there. They were warm and friendly as they welcomed us. And there was not one “dance mom” among them. In fact, one of the girls was stressed because she didn’t have the same clothes as the other kids. Her parents took her outside and talked with her about how it was okay, and they helped her relax. She likely has a highly competitive spirit, and her parents were wonderfully caring with her while talking her down from her ledge.
3. The kids bonded with their teachers. This, to me, is significant. These are the people who will be teaching them. It’s important that they like and respect them. The instructors seem to go out of their way to generate an inclusive environment. For example, after the first class, the kids said they had their songs lined up for the mini-performance on the last day. Both kids used the word “we” when describing the process of choosing the songs. I don’t know if the classes actually chose their own songs or if the instructors did, but my kids had the sense that the students were part of the process.
4. The kids bonded with their classmates. Again, this is important. Sarah came home to tell me that another girl shared her snack, so she was going to share hers the next day. Both of them said the other kids are nice and that they’ve made friends already. I had the chance to talk to one of the more outgoing girls about the classes she takes. She listed 4 styles and said she loves dancing there. I know this says more about the parent than the studio, but the girl was polite and respectful, as well as enthusiastic about dance. I like that there are kids like that for mine to interact with.
5. Jack gets to keep his previous teacher. Hooray! One of his instructors will be there this fall, and he wants to take her classes. For Jack, this is critical. With his ADHD, he needs people who understand him and can handle his quirks. We know how good she is and Jack trusts her. Believe me, this is huge.
6. The kids will have two recitals next year, and we know there won’t be a conflict. Jack is thrilled to be back to Irish dance after a year away. Sarah is itching to start. They won’t have to worry about the scheduling.
7. It has my friend’s stamp of approval. I have a friend who’s been there for several years, and he says it’s great. I like that someone I know personally can speak from experience and tell me it’s good.
8. The woman who owned their previous studio will be teaching a class there. It’s for adults, so the kids won’t be in her class. But just knowing that she endorses it is big, too.
So there you have it. I can’t predict the future, so I have no idea what will happen after next year. But at least for now, I can stop worrying. My kids, at least, are happy, which makes me happy too.
Irish Dance? holy heck that would be awesome. We’re starting my 5 yo in ballet this year, and after watching her ‘recital’ from one week of ballet camp this summer, my 6 yo boy said he could do it better, and now he wants to do ballet too…..which I really want to let him, just to make a point that boys can do ballet, lol…but I don’t know if he really wants to or if he just thinks he can jump higher than his sister. But I hear you on the agony of a decision. The big one that is closest to us is pretty skanky for little girls, plus super expensive, so we’re going with one farther away but is more of a classical ballet school, and we know some of the people who teach there….but if that ever closed we’d be up the same creek you were.
Yeah, the Irish dance at this studio is great. It’s recreational, which is really unusual. Most Irish dance studios are competitive, in part because to go professional you have to start young and compete a lot. But this one is just for fun, with beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels for both youth and adults.
I hear you on the skank thing. The kids’ former studio owner always said she wanted 8-year-olds to dress and dance like 8-year-olds. The new studio seems to be in line with that, at least so far.