I am definately all for expanding a child's exposure and encouraging them to learn from other teachers. I'm not sure that I would want to encourage everyone to take from nearby schools or studios though. It would have to be the right kind of student that would do it in a professional manner. Remember - we are teachers, but we are also doing this for a living. I think that taking them to workshops, local company performances and encouraging them to do the same on their own is great. In Utopia where everything is love and sharing - it might be fine to encourage them all to dance with everyone, but here on planet Earth, we have to make money to eat and live. I strive to give them the diversity within my own studio in order to stay afloat - not send them and their money elsewhere.

BTW - it kind of sounds like you're putting down the other studio's recitals you saw. I don't think that unless you are in the classroom during the year, you can really judge what you see at a Recital. They may be very beginner or uncoordinated and what you saw was their very best. I have several that way and I couldn't be prouder of them!