I had to wait a few days before posting about this because I was pretty annoyed. Last week I had a rehearsal where I kicked the dancers butts. They left class all sweaty and the dance looked great. THEN....the next day I get an email from 2 of the moms (which BTW, work together, so you know they were just egging eachother on) about how they are not paying me to just run dances, that they want their kids to get technique too!

Well......I have separate technique classes, and these rehearsals are to focus on just one dance. They have separate rehearsals for each dance they take to comp. How do I respond to this? Am I not supposed to run the comp dances now? These moms (who were also both dancers in the past) do not think it's professional to just run the dances. I don't know how to react to this. Of course we break down sections and steps and work on the technique and execution of these steps, so they are getting technique. And this is a modern small group, so we are not spending hours just perfecting "tricks." In fact, there is not one "trick" in the dance.

I guess what I am asking is what do you do in your comp dance rehearsals? Does anyone have suggestions of what ELSE I can do in rehearsals? We only have about a month left of comp season since this is an off year for nationals, so the dances are VERY well prepared now, and I want to keep them from getting stale. I have some other modern groups that are more contemporary, so we are able to talk about the story, emotion, that kind of stuff, but this particular dance is more Twyla Tharp-y....it's a fun upbeat modern technique style with the feel of sipping lemondade on your backporch and swinging on rope ties.....in case that helps!

Any ideas are welcome!!!

If they are on the competition team, I assume they are required to take those technique classes. Break it down timewise for the parents (if it looks good for you).

"The girls are in technique classes x hours per week, we rehearse their dances x hours per week. The rehearsal classes are that, rehearsal classes. We take this time to APPLY the TECHNIQUE they have learned to their competition pieces. Technique is not ignored, on the contrary it is a very important part of rehearsal. What good is all of their technical training if they cannot apply it in a dance? We continually work on ...(spotting, pointing toes, straight legs, using the floor for jumps, etc...whatever technique problems you constantly have to correct them on)...It is one this to use correct technique for a pirouette in an across the floor combination that is 8 -16 counts long, and another to do the same pirouette 2 minutes into an intense dance. Not only are we applying their technique, we are building their endurance."

It needs some work, but their is a start.

*Do you do a warm-up and stretch in the rehearsal classes? Maybe you could do a few tendus and degages and a quick balance study?

My guess is that these competition rehersals are separate from their classes? If I'm correct in this, then the sole purpose of doing this IS to run dances. They get technique as well as choreography in their weekly classes that are paid for by tuition. The competition rehersals are to run the dances, repetitively, and correct only any errors found or make necessary changes. It's pretty much the same as a dress rehersal, we just don't wear the costumes. Don't change the way you are doing things now, they are just fine. Your running rehersals just like everyone else. Rehersals are to practice the things that you learn in class, not to learn something new.

To bad so sad for the moms. If they don't like it, maybe they should quit their jobs and open a dance studio together because obviously they know all about running a studio and competitive dance team.

I would basically write a letter stating something to the affect of...

Dear Mrs. XXXX,

Thank you for offering your concerns but be assured that our dance team is created to give the students the proper balance of technique and performance training.

If you ever feel that you do not want that for your child, I will understand if you want to remove your daughter from the team for next season.

----

Say little, state facts, leave it at that and next year do not have them on the team if they continue with their problems. Focus on the kids.

I run my classes similar you...my rehearsals are strictly for rehearsing.

So for the parents to question you is crazy and regardless if they are "former" dancers who cares. You are a dance professional and should be trusted, that is what they pay you for.

Obviously the girls worked hard if they left sweating and tired, that was not just dancing they utilized technique in there.

I would not change a thing, if they want their children to have more technique I would gladly offer them another technique class.

Don't change a thing!

I second JLL. It's sort of backhandedly telling them to mind their own business.

There is nothing wrong with what you are doing. There is class time and there is rehearsal time. Any sort of performance setting you are in will be the same. Professional dancers take class in the morning then rehearse all afternoon. Actors take acting classes then go to the theatre and rehearse scenes. Competition team is for performance, it's where you rehearse what you will perform. These mom's are being ridiculous.

WOW I would first like to say that I hate parent email! I think it is another way to complain and stir things up. In my case, most of the email complaints we recieve would be things so small parents would never think to bother us in person about the topic at the studio..ugh so anoying. Well anyway, our competition has required 2 and a half hour ballet classes and then technique/conditioning 2 hours a week. The copmetition routines are practiced during the week in the class the students learned the routine in, and on the weekend for certain numbers. ALL classes are mandatory attendance two weeks before a competition and the thursday before each comp the dancers have a specific all black dress code, we open the walls to our extended room and each routine is run through as if on stage and they stay an extra hour. If someone said focus wasn't routines I would have to laugh in their face! Dancers can never get enough technique, which will always be important but they also can never get enough practice. I think if you are a group compeitive dancer, then perfecting the dances is almost as important as technique.

I agree with JLL too, the moment you start to explain yourself you're justifying what you're doing. You don't have to justify anything in this case, a rehearsal is just that and as ex dancers they should know that.

rehearsal is rehearsal. classes are separate. By this time in the season, we are running the dance, give corrections, run again, corrections again, etc. I run it just like you. Classes are separate and used for technique and skill building. Do not change the way you run things for these moms, it's the most logical way and if they can't understand that, then they're in the wrong place