Hello!

33 Comments

Is the School Dance Group just another racket?

Before I get started I should mention that I’m not suggesting that my child is in any way shape or form a gifted or talented dancer.

She’s a child and dances as such.

Make Her Happy

It brings her joy, lights up her face and seeing her happy fills my heart, the same way it would any parent seeing their child doing something they love.

The downside of being able to experience this tremendous excitement for one’s child is, of course, that it works both ways – we feel their highs just as deeply as we feel their lows.

Kicked Out Of The School Dance Group

“Mummy I got kicked out of school dance group,” I heard her say in the meekest voice… for a third year in a row.

She was hurt. And I was hurt for her.

How Can This Happen?

How can this happen for three years straight?

I was under the impression that a primary school dance group was for the enjoyment of movement, the sense of school community spirit and just plain fun.

Crazy Competitive

I had no idea it was this competitive!

Who knew that a prerequisite of gaining entrance into this exclusive club is that you are already a dancer outside of school- I most certainly was not aware!

It does make sense though. I can understand the children with prior dancing experience being chosen over the children who need to learn to dance from scratch.

How else would a school be able to gain recognition for their students’ talents if they didn’t include the children who haven’t already had years of professional dancing lessons under their belt?

I get it.

It’s just another competition.

It’s Not About Fun

It’s not for fun, it’s not for learning, it’s to compete! And that’s fine.

Realistically I could simply send her to dance lessons outside of school. Sure, it wouldn’t be the same as dancing with her friends. But eventually, she would make friends at her dance school, she would learn the skills that the children at school already have and she would have fun doing it!

They Don’t Deserve Her!

Once she is a capable dancer I wouldn’t want her wasting her time participating in her school dance group however.

After all she wasn’t excluded from dancing by mean children who believed she wasn’t as capable as them. She was removed by adults who didn’t want to give her a chance to see if she would blossom.

It wouldn’t be good enough in my eyes to accept her only after she’s put in all the hours in a separate dance school- it would almost make me feel as though she were being exploited.

What About Another School Dance Group?

There is nothing stopping a separate dance group being created at school for children with no prior dance knowledge. At least that way it wouldn’t make anyone feel left out based on their ability.

I guess it can’t work that way, there obviously is nothing to gain from a secondary dance group at school which is why one hasn’t been created over the last three years.

One thing is certain though, I won’t keep filling my child with false hope. I know what they are looking for now, and I also know it’s not her. She doesn’t meet the requirements – yet.

When she does, which she will one day, they won’t be taking a moment of her time!

Where Are Their Qualifications?

She may have lacked ability each year that she tried to join, however, it’s become apparent that the individuals hosting these groups don’t even have any dancing qualifications, to begin with. They were merely harnessing the talent which hundreds of hours of lessons and thousands of dollars of parent’s money had brought to some children.

Perhaps this explains why she was kicked out each year. Not only is it easier to exclude someone rather than teach them, but, how can one possibly teach something they never held qualifications to teach in the first place?

Do your kids participate in the school dance group? Have you had good or bad experiences with the school dance group? tell us in the comments below.

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • I am wondering if this is a private school. I would love to know.

    Reply

  • Poor little girl. I had no idea you have to be a dancer outside school to be allowed there. I don’t think it’s fair

    Reply

  • Wow… honestly never heard of such a thing as having to have experience outside of school to be able to join!!!
    What school is this if you don’t mind me asking as I’ll make sure my kids don’t go to it for fear of being excluded in anything they want to participate in?
    My daughter does dancing lessons but really she just does whatever she wants during the class as she is the youngest lol.

    Reply

  • Students should be encouraged not discouraged. This form of discrimination is disgusting.

    Reply

  • What a nasty thing for them to do. Inclusion should be practiced not win at all cost.

    Reply

  • If you are not allowed to join in such clubs how can you get better

    Reply

  • That is totally unfair. I thought schools were supposed to teach children about inclusion but this is just the opposite. Sounds like they only care about winning.

    Reply

  • Thought these sort of schools taught everyone and there was no problems with skill or otherwise.

    Reply

  • Wow that is terrible , they should teach all levels of abilities

    Reply

  • I think everyone should be included and taught. There is a time for competition but not in these situations

    Reply

  • Poor kid it’s a school they are supposed to teach them

    Reply

  • What an awful thing to do to a child

    Reply

  • Why they can’t let kids have fun I will never now. My daughter goes to paid dance classes and loves them but she isn’t going to be a professional now or in the future. But that’s not the point

    Reply

  • If this being treated as a competition I am sure there should definitely .be a teacher with appropriate certification and hopefully a First Aid Certificate. Personally I would be tempted to contact the Education Dept in your state. If it is a private school(especially one connected to a church) I am sure there would be an Education Association of some type. They may not be aware that the teacher/organiser doesn’t have the qualifications to be teaching or making such decisions.

    Reply

  • I would be upset too, mostly for my daughter. But it’s easy enough to find an out of school dance class that caters to her age and level of dance

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join