https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:53:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2918030 Fri, 07 Aug 2020 07:47:08 +0000 IRunForFun 2918030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are keeping are 3.5 year old in ballet class in the studio unless they are forced to close again. The class is capped at 6 students, and they have 6’x6’ boxes taped off on the floor - each student has their own box and has to stay in it. Students and teachers wear masks. Parents aren’t allowed into the studio - the teacher comes out and brings the students in and then brings them out again at the end. Every student is temp screened and then given hand sanitizer upon entry (and again upon exit.) There is also a 30 minute gap between classes so that everything can be wiped down, including the floors. If it weren’t for all the precautions I don’t think I’d keep her in and Zoom definitely wouldn’t work for her since her attention span for stuff like that is pretty short. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2918023 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 20:50:54 +0000 bhbee 2918023@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@merriment: that’s good to know about your tap experience! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2918022 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 19:29:34 +0000 merriment 2918022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 8 year old did tap and ballet over zoom this summer. The studio is offering in-person and zoom options in the fall.<br /> Between tap and ballet, ballet was much better on zoom than tap. Tap was tricky because we didn't have a place where she could tap without destroying my floors (we tried rugs, mats, etc. but she ended up just wearing socks). It also seemed easier for the teacher to offer corrections for ballet than for tap. Maybe the tap steps are too small, whereas some of the ballet steps were big enough that it was easier for her to offer corrections.<br /> We are also hesitating about fall, but will probably do remote. Sigh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2918021 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 19:14:01 +0000 rpparker 2918021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice. Zoom didn’t work for us. But I was flipping through all the fall classes (my DD could have started a kinder tap) knowing full well that we wouldn’t be able to risk it right now and it totally bummed me out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2918020 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 17:49:59 +0000 agold 2918020@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't like zoom dance classes, but my daughter is younger. My local dance studio is open with very strict social distancing in place. Parents just drop off via outside door, and have to wait in their cars. Temps are taken, hand sanitizer at the door. Kids are spaced out on the floor and class sizes are small. With bigger kids, I can imagine the social distancing is even better than with the smaller kids. Good luck with whatever it is you end up doing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2918017 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 15:41:39 +0000 Mama Bird 2918017@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My five-year-old is doing remote ballet, and it's not going so well. She keeps moaning and moping every time it's time to sign in. The teachers decided to make the class free (they're doing paid classes for the older kids though). She does keep saying she wants to be on stage when that's finally OK, so we're sticking with it. The teachers have been saying that they may be allowed to reopen live in September, so I think we'll manage till then. </p> <p>I'm a little nervous about live class indoors, but DD is hanging out with the same kids in the playground daily, so... As long as they ask adults to wear masks at dropoff, and don't let parents hang out in the teeny tiny lobby afterwards, I'm good with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2918007 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 12:06:58 +0000 bhbee 2918007@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@greencraftycello: I’m with you. We still pay for virtual piano and will continue. I’ve been thinking about it more and I think for us it’s really that COVID is hastening the end that would have come soon anyway. I asked her about the longer term, whether she wants to get to the level of taking more classes per week next year and pointe etc and she was like no way! All her friends she used to go with quit last year also. So maybe it’s just time. And she wants to keep taking an online art class we started this summer and it’s time to reallocate. But still sad to move on! </p> <p>I actually feel like virtual piano has gone pretty well. Probably because her motivation is still high and I can help her some in person as needed since I also play. </p> <p>@PinkElephant: was interesting to observe that here too. We kept paying for everything (despite two months of zero income) but I will say, it made a big difference to me how the organizations approached it. I felt so much better if they said something like please pay what you can so we can pay the teachers, but we understand many people are financially affected. Like a we’re all in it together attitude - both individuals and organizations showed their true colors when they didn’t have that approach. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2918002 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 08:41:45 +0000 PinkElephant 2918002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@greencraftycello: Totally agree with you, which is why we've supported her studio to the extent that we can for the past six months, and plan to continue to do so in some respect.</p> <p>I understand everyone's financial situation is different, but I was gobsmacked by some of my friends (who can definitely afford the lessons/the loss of the $$ for the lessons) calling various studios/school enrichment programs demanding money back from March-June (yet claiming they love the teachers and the program).</p> <p>I definitely want our studio to be there when life gets a little more "normal"! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2917999 Thu, 06 Aug 2020 04:57:04 +0000 greencraftycello 2917999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am a cellist and give cello lessons virtually, so just some perspective from “the other side” for what it’s worth.</p> <p>It stinks when you are paying the same price for something and feel like you are not receiving the same quality of product as you were (zoom lessons are not as good as in person instruction for music either :bummed: ), but I am sure the studio still has to pay rent for their buildings and their instructors need to be paid. Have you shared with the studio that your daughter isn’t really feeling engaged? I would definitely want to know that as a teacher. Also, participating in the activity locally (even though it’s virtual right now) ensures the studio and its teachers will still be there when COVID is better contained. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2917998 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 22:07:17 +0000 PinkElephant 2917998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My six year old has been dancing since she was two; last year was her first year of competitive/"company" dance. Her season was cut short after the first competition, and she continued to do 3 out of her 4 weekly classes on Zoom. Those were ballet, lyrical, and jazz; she did not do acro because the studio felt it wasn't safe if some of the girls didn't have proper mats, trained spotters, etc. </p> <p>I did feel the classes were decently productive - they focused on things like flexibility, strength, balance, etc. and a bit less on techniques that would need physical correction - but the teachers were focusing on the girls (7 in my daughter's group) one at a time to make corrections to them. If it were just once a week, and there weren't other options for in person classes, I might be more apt to go with it.</p> <p>The hardest thing about dance on Zoom is that when they finally got back together to dance at a socially distanced recital, a lot of the girls were doing their routines mirror-imaged because that's how it looks on Zoom.</p> <p>Currently she's dancing in her studio in groups of up to 10 girls in taped out boxes, with all doors open, fans going, and wearing masks when possible. I'm not sure if it will be able to stay that way through fall or not.</p> <p>We made Zoom work in a pinch, but I really don't think I'm willing to commit the time/money/coercion (at the end) into a full season of Zoom dance if it comes down to that. I'm running close to needing to sign a contract for her committing to next year, and like you, I'm very torn... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2917996 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 21:26:35 +0000 bakingdoodle 2917996@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is turning 5 next month and started ballet in February. She did 3 classes before the studio closed because of COVID. Then the studio offered virtual. That worked somewhat... We just changed ballet school and she's about to start pre-ballet in the fall. max 16 per class. We are in the Boston area which is not as bad as other parts of the country. Virtual class has started ... ahead of the fall opening and my daughter will only do it if I dance with her. I was expecting her to be more independent so for my daughter... if something comes up and she can't go to the studio, i will not continue with virtual. ... :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2917991 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 18:21:10 +0000 Miss Ariel 2917991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: we are. It’s actually our first season. They had a summer class so we could try it out to see how it would go and she really liked it.</p> <p>They did make changes for the summer, which I’d assume will still be in place for the fall. They had boxes taped on the floor for dancers to stand in. The teacher wore a face shield. Parents were asked to wear masks if they had to go in and leave the building during class while normally they would stay.</p> <p>They also had room for 20 dancers and only 6 signed up. I’m sure it won’t be as empty for the fall.</p> <p>We’re in Louisiana which is in a similar place as Texas in terms of cases for reference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/ballet-classes-this-fall#post-2917979 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 16:16:52 +0000 bhbee 2917979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone else in this situation? What are you doing?</p> <p>My 8 year old has taken ballet since she was 3. I wouldn’t say she’s super serious - she didn’t want to do her studio’s Nutcracker for example - but she likes it and sees it as her thing. However I’m just not comfortable doing inside activities, even in masks. Texas is still high and the state of that seems really uncertain for the fall but not likely to be great. </p> <p>We can do zoom at her current studio but it’s expensive (no discount) and it’s so much less useful than being in person for such a technique focused type of dance. I hate to take her out though as I’m afraid she won’t go back. Which isn’t really the worst thing, but it was a nice activity to have. </p> <p>I’m wondering if anyone has had good luck with non-local online classes or another option? We like outschool which would be cheaper. We live in a small house with 5 people home all the time so there’s limited privacy for it. I’ve also wondered if other types of dance may be easier than ballet to do online (like tap or hip hop or something). </p> <p>Thanks for any ideas or thoughts! </p>