How much dance each week?

[Kitschqueen]

Hi, I agree it can be a dilemma as a parent as to how much extra curricular activity is okay especially in yr 10 and 11 when schools are cranking up the pressure and the homework as GCSE's approach. I also find that sometimes comments from extended family can be unhelpful when they are expressing "concern" that my 14 year old DD is doing "too much".
My daughter also attends a CAT scheme having gone into the first year in September. At the initial tutorial they drew up an individual training plan with her looking at her school commitments, other dance commitments and what level of training she would be doing with them. This was really useful and she decided to drop modern jazz as a result of this. ( like yours they are very reluctant to give them time off from the CAT training to compete in festivals etc). My daughter is also 14 and in year 10 at grammar school. At present she does
Monday- 1 1/2 hours contemporay technique and fitness (at CAT)
Tuesday- 2 hours syllabus ballet and tap
Wednesday- 1 1/2 hours creative (At CAT)
Thursday- FREE to chill and catch up with homework but usually goes to the gym!
Friday- 2 1/4 hours advanced ballet and pointe
Saturday- 4 hours contemporary, creative, ballet and pilates.
Sunday-FREE to chill catch up with homework and mates.
I think the other issue to factor in for children not in vocational schools is the travelling to and from activities. My DD's CAT scheme is not local and we spend a lot of time (and money!) getting there and back. Still, she absolutely loves it and I agree with others who have said that all our children are individuals and what is right for one won't be ok for another.
Children and young people in general get really bad publicity in our society but I think more people should come onto this forum (and ballet.co when it existed) and see the level of hard work, commitment and dedication our dd's and ds's put into their chosen hobbies/career choices in order to succeed. ( Not to mention all the supportive parents there are!)
Good luck to your daughter I'm sure she will decide what she can do and what she can't. I always think too, that whilst my dd is at dancing I know exactly where she is, who she is with and what she is up to!! The girls and boys she meets through dancing are always lovely too.

[riverdancefan]

My DS is currently just 11
he is dancing at RAD GRADE 5 ballet - 2 and 1/2 hours per week

tap and modern at grade 3 ISTD

Jazz, musical production and street at 1 hour each

Irish dance - his great love, at 2 hours per week,

thats not including the 1 hour singing, one hour drama plus the odd privates here and there when needed.

This does not include after school dance and production as well, he is busy every night apart from Fridays, all day Saturday at a performing arts associate school (scholarship) and Sunday he is either at a feis, or Singing or some other project. (I cannot wait for school holidays)

This does not also include any paid work or castings he does via his agency.

If I suggest dropping something he is adamant he will not. Currently the Irish is not interfereing with the tap (he is strong in both and adapts well), but the irish has confused him with his spotting in ballet, totally different techniques.
I feel like a full-time PA fitting everything in and keeping his friends outside dance happy. plus homework. At the moment he is grammar stream and his Dad and I are determined he will keep his grades up !

If he had got a ful scholarship to Italia Conti instead of 1'4 this year he woulld have been there and made everything a whole lot easier but it was not to be
I feel he is spreading himself too thinly, he does not get time to practice each dicapline and is achieving distinctions in exams, but that will not be forever I am well aware of that.

I hope he will see for himself in a couple of years something has to give .....

[Anjuli_Bai]

It has been my experience as a teacher that eventually "something has to give" not only for the health of the student but also for the benefit of whichever avenue is chosen. Each art form does help the other - such as ballet being of aid to modern/contemporary dance - but eventually choices have to be made and the emphasis put on what the student realistically can achieve. In the example of ballet and contemporary dance - ballet class an continue but if contemporary is chosen then the ballet class time is cut back in the general overall schedule.

[Katymac]

She is doing 2 Btecs & 2 GCSEs this year too

I think Ballroom & Latin might win out over everything; but we will see

[Katymac]

I think part/most of the problem is that I don't understand dance/PA and it's all a bit odd to me; like being abroad where you aren't exactly sure what's going on

[Anjuli_Bai]

In reply to your comment about not understanding dance.....

Generally speaking ballet class helps with almost any other dance form and thus most dancers who are specializing in other forms of dance will try to keep a ballet class or two in their weekly schedule. However, if ballet is the chosen speciality of the dancer - then the reverse happens. Ballet classes dominate the schedule. If ballet is the chosen route to go - other forms of movement can have a negative impact in how the body is shaped for ballet. So while a ballet dancer might take folk dance class - or some contemporary work - it will be limited. Other activities (if regularly done) can have a negative impact (especialy for ballet) such as horseback riding (works the opposite to turnout).

All dancers - no matter what kind of dance - need at least one day off for the body to recover.

The student should also have some time for friends - other than those in dance class.

There should be time for regular school work.

Nutrition is very important - especially to a young and growing body.

Dancers are athletes in every sense of the word.

Adequate weight should be maintained - especially for changes during puberty - this is essential.

Is the student happy (generally speaking - we all have down days) with her/his life? Or is she/he on a treadmill?

Does the student realize that it is OK to say "no" ? Sometimes the student gets caught up in a wanting to please syndrome.

Is the student energized or tired much of the time?

Is the student suffering from recurring injuries? Colds? The body may be tired.

Many of the considerations for dance are the same as for sport.

As the parent - sometimes take a step back and look at the overall picture. Trust your intuition - you know your child. If everything seems positive - then accept that until proven otherwise.

Unfortunately - parenting doesn't come with a User's manual - I sure wish it did. Being a grandmother is much much easier.

[Katymac]

Thanks - that really, really helps; plus it is very similar to what my brother (a serious athlete) has already told me (but you never beleive your brother )

Taking it point by point:

All dancers - no matter what kind of dance - need at least one day off for the body to recover. I've arranged 2

The student should also have some time for friends - other than those in dance class.She is in a 'gang' of 6 friends at school & they have a very healthy friendship group - never static always changing

There should be time for regular school work.This is a problem tbh - school wants her to do 12-14 GCSEs and I think it's too much; but I have a meeting request in for January

Nutrition is very important - especially to a young and growing body. Again a bit of an issue but we are getting there - but breakfast has been won

Dancers are athletes in every sense of the word.

Adequate weight should be maintained - especially for changes during puberty - this is essential. She weighs about 7 stone & is 5 ft 2 so we are close; she put on 2 stone since Easter

Is the student happy (generally speaking - we all have down days) with her/his life? Or is she/he on a treadmill? Joyful even; happier than anything since she left junior school

Does the student realize that it is OK to say "no" ? Sometimes the student gets caught up in a wanting to please syndrome. Voluntarily gave up Glee/Street as it wasn't working for her

Is the student energized or tired much of the time? tbh tired the last week or two; but not more so than her friends who do on or 1 after school thing, this term is very hard on them - she is healthier than in several years too

Is the student suffering from recurring injuries? Colds? The body may be tired. see above

Many of the considerations for dance are the same as for sport.

As the parent - sometimes take a step back and look at the overall picture. Trust your intuition - you know your child. If everything seems positive - then accept that until proven otherwise.That's the hard bit as I know it shouldn't be healthy/right

Unfortunately - parenting doesn't come with a User's manual - I sure wish it did. Being a grandmother is much much easier. Tell me about it; I run a nursery other people children as SO much easier




Thanks again - that was so kind of you

[Katymac]

Of course the big problem now is we are on holiday & she is missing her dance