the Price of Dance Lessons for Kids

Unfortunately, my daughter was determined that she enjoyed dance, and wanted to take dance lessons. We were in a forsaken province, so the quality of dance available was minimal, and the music was deplorable. I allowed her to take classes, however, and paid approximately $100 monthly for three hours of dance class each week.

The quality of dance was deplorable. When we moved to a proper city, my daughter (who had taken dance for seven years) was so far behind that she had to begin again in a basic introductory ballet class; her instructor was amazed that she could take dance for seven years and lack this critical education in dance. My daughter, however, was one of the better dancers in the school; she regularly participated in dance competitions.

1. Live in a city or town large enough to offer dance classes that teach excellence in dance, as well as basic ballet, control, and expression.

2. If you don't live near a city large enough, commit yourself to drive there, or talk your child out of dancing. Nothing is more heartbreaking than to see a child who loves to dance be told that she has wasted too much of the last seven years learning poor habits and failing to be taught the basics.