so… Eshiva was recruited for company dance for next year. Apparently this is an honor because normally the 5 year olds have to take a year of normal dance before being allowed to even try out for company. OK, yay Eshiva! Here’s the down side – it means we have to sign her up for three dance classes (for a total of 175/mo which is less than we pay for pre-k right now – 260 – 325/mo depending on if it’s a 4 or 5 week month). That means 3 recitals (470$ total). That means more tights, leotards and shoes (which I admit we’d have need for if it were one class or ten classes). Company is paid for entirely by the parents and fund-raising and, if I understood correctly, is a separate registration fee plus registration fees for competitions and what not. I am going in next Wednesday earlier than usual to find out exactly what company means money and time wise for me.
I asked E how many dance classes she wants to take next year and she said three, no five, no ten, no all of them! OK, so obviously the girl likes to dance.
I asked two questions. 1. How much of a time commitment is this from *me* and 2. Is she really ready for it.
I was told it isn’t a commitment for me any more than any other class. I don’t see how, as I am the taxi. *shrugs* I’m the taxi anyway. I was told that in class she is focused, pays attention and does what she is told. Yay! See, I don’t watch the class because when I do peek through the window she sees me and pays attention to me. So I don’t watch any more. Next year I can drop her off and go. I wasn’t ready to do it this year, although I bet I could have if I wanted to.
There is one other 5 (almost 6) year old who is also going into kindergarten next year who was recruited or company. I like the mom and I could hang out with her during dance and Eshiva likes the little girl. They would be the youngest kids in company. I feel like four days of dance a week is a lot of commitment for a five year old. OTOH, is it work if she loves it? I mean, I am loving my garden right now and weeding it is a pleasure, not a task.
So, long freaking post short, what do you think? I know you all think my dance classes cost a fortune (we went over this last time I posted about dance). I’m more asking, what is your experience with kids this age and so much dance? Eshiva looks forward to Wednesday all week long. She gets excited in the morning when she realizes it’s Wed and again in the afternoon when I tell her to put her dance clothes on (I get to dance today? Yay!)
I guess I’ve answered my own question. I feel like I am being selfish for wanting to say no because it eats into my life. I was prepared for two classes. I wasn’t mentally prepared for four. Plus travel.
Maybe I just need to chat with Kelly next week and go from there? Obviously I don’t have to pick today or else. If she does want to try out it’s on May 22 and she has to make up a 2 minute dance and sing two lines from a song.
If the money isn’t an issue, I would let her do it. I think it’s really good for kids to be able to spend time doing what they enjoy…especially when it’s something productive. Let her keep building that positive self-esteem, kwim. She may get burned out, and then want to try something else, or this may really be HER THING…So when she is being interviewed one day, she’ll talk about how she always knew that this is what she wanted to do, even at a young age, and loved spending hours dancing, etc.