There should be a sign at the dance studio that reads "Please surrender limbs for payment" because this little hobby is costing me an arm and a leg. Make that an arm and a leg times two. When I signed the girls up for dance lessons it was with the false misunderstanding that the only money I would be forking out would be for the monthly tuition.
Wrong.
If you want your child, make that children, to participate in the recital at the end of the year, you must fork out the recital fee that is not included in the aforementioned monthly tuition. Said recital fee covers the cost of costumes, rental of the facility, and liability insurance, just in case we crazy dance mothers go wild and trash the auditorium. The following items are not included in the recital fee: tights, tickets for we crazy dance mothers and fathers and every single relative in the family over the age of 3, trophies, Olympic-style dance medals, recital t-shirts, professional portraits, and video of the performance. Oh, and you can have your child's hair professionally styled at a local salon, too. We opted out of that one.
Excessive? A bit.
Someone once described the roller coaster of parenthood as the highest highs and the lowest lows. Today, watching my girls dance on stage, was one of those highs. Seeing smiling Kate wave to the audience when the curtain opened, dancing in sync with her classmates, Annie executing multiple ballerina twirls without toppling over, putting her heart and soul into her routine. These are the moments that make my heart sing.
Worth it? Every. single. penny.
8 comments:
Oh, I am so glad you posted! And especially about this! I nearly cried as the first curtain opened, but I really did tear up seeing first Kate and then our little girls up there on the big stage. I felt exactly the same way. I know we've griped a lot about the cost of dance, but it was so worth it. I am so glad we stuck it out and I couldn't be more proud of our little dancers!
Aw, that's wonderful. I'm glad it all paid off for you and the girls! How fun.
I can't wait to see the pictures! And I'm sure your girls will get lots of dress-up wear out of their costumes. There's always Halloween!
I started ballet when I was three and quit somewhere around my 7th birthday. I wish my parents had encouraged me more to stick with it. And, yes, those recitals are some of my earliest memories. Worth every cent!!!
Awwww...priceless, indeed! You brought back my own memories of early dance classes and being one half of a heart in a tap routine when I was about 6. I can still see it in my mind's eye. Sigh...
Lori- Yes, I have done a lot of griping about it too, but I will be signing both of them up again next year!
Jordan- The girls had a blast which made it all the more fun to watch.
Amy- Expensive dress-up clothes!
Kristen and Niksmom- I remember my recitals too. Once a dancer always a dancer.
Very expenisve indeed! I remember having M in dance class when she was three and we spent a small fortune as well. Unfortunately, we bought everything for the recital and she became sick with what we now know is CVS. So...I cried and cried because I knew we would probably never have the experience you describe here. And to this day she has never been able to do group activities like that. The stress is too much.
I do love seeing and hearing about other kids doing it though. They are truly precious moments. Well worth the money!
Sounds wonderful. Something to look forward to, I hope ...
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