In this blog, we offer insights and guidance based on our years of experience raising serious ballet dancers. We cover a range of topics, including the benefits of ballet, selecting the right ballet school, supporting your child’s training, and navigating the challenges of the dance world.
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Our Summer Intensive Reviews Are Live!
Ever wish there was there was a place online that offered something like Yelp, but for ballet summer intensive reviews? Well, we’ve got you covered! Our Summer Intensive Reviews are now live! We remember when our kids had just turned 12 and they were finally eligible for the “real” summer intensives, not the one and
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Finishing The Ballet Year Strong
The end of the ballet year is looming and we know your dancer has all the feels right now. And, clearly you’re seeing it as well because we recently got several questions about how to support your dancers through the home stretch. Are you noticing that your dancer is seeming a bit unmotivated to go
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The Value of Social Media
I bet you thought we were going to talk about how your dancer needs to build their brand on Instagram and TikTok. Nope, we’re not going to touch that. While we have our own opinions on the good, the bad and the ugly of social media, this post is about you, and how you can
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Is My Studio Toxic?
We recently got a question from a parent saying that they were concerned their dancer’s studio was “toxic.” As much as none of us wants to believe it, there are studios out there that have this reputation. This post will talk about what to watch out for and also how to research your local ballet
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The Path To Professional, Part 3: Trainee and Second Companies
We are heading for the home stretch in our series, The Path to Professional! Once a student gets through the finishing levels, this is where it gets even more confusing! You’d think that at this point, students are auditioning for company spots, right? Nope! At this point, your dancer is starting to look at what
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The Path To Professional Part 2: Finishing Programs
We’re back for our second installment of The Path to Professional and this is where it gets a little confusing. Ok, maybe a lot. Once it has become clear that a student is not getting what they need from their home studio, it’s time to move on. Some students leave their home studio and enter
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The Path to Professional Part 1: Your Local Studio
Ever wondered what the path to becoming a professional ballet dancer is? We wondered that too when our kids were younger. It never occurred to us what a long and winding road it often is. Not to mention, it’s not the same for everyone. But, there is a pretty general path that most dancers follow.
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What You Need to Know About Boys in Ballet
I’ve been really conflicted about writing this post. There is an Instagram account called @BalletMoods that is clearly run by a professional dancer. Recently, they posted a meme that was meant to be funny. And, to some, it was. While there is merit to what this meme says – I’m looking at you Swan Corps
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A Little Friday Fun!
Hello and happy Friday! We’re having a little fun going into the weekend! A lot of questions have come in from parents about ballet fashion! So, we’re running a poll on favorite dance wear. So, grab your dancer and tell us what you think below! (If you have trouble with the form, you can always
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Ballet Competitions: To Compete or Not to Compete
It’s that time of year again – competition season! That means it’s time for everyone’s anxiety closet to open. Every year, we get questions about whether or not ballet competitions are worth it and if they’re necessary to have a career. Like with everything in ballet, it depends. Let’s start by saying you absolutely do
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Ah, the Dreaded Ballet Exams and Evaluations!
Yes, it’s that time of year! Snow is melting, flowers are blooming and for some angst is through the roof! Why? It’s exam and evaluation season in ballet studios! End of the year evaluations and meetings always bring a flood of emotions. Whether your school holds formal exams or simply provides a written evaluation for
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Is My Dancer “Good Enough?”
Yep, we’ve all heard that parent talking about their kid who cleaned up at all the ballet competitions. At age ten. That’s great, but from what we’ve researched, just over 50% of dancers, who have won the big awards at ballet competitions at ten, are no longer dancing five years later. So, how to tell
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Q & A Wednesday Launches This Week!
We are happy to announce that Q&A Wednesdays will be launching this week! Each week (or so), we’ll be answering questions that we get from all of you! We’ve already gotten several good ones and we’re looking forward to giving you all some good advice. If you’d like to have us answer anything you’ve been
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What Does Your Dancer Want Out of Ballet?
At ten, my son said he wanted to dance professionally. We patted him on the head and thought “ok, hotshot, you keep dreaming.” We just assumed it was like all his friends who said they wanted to play major league baseball or go to the NBA. Little kid delusions! Over the years, his friends tempered
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So Your Kid Wants to Do Serious Ballet and What We’ve Learned Along the Way
Wow, we never saw serious ballet coming! But, after ten years at the barre, it’s pretty clear this is the direction she’s taking. So, here is a little blog entry that I’m calling Ballet Parent 101. Your dancer is going to learn a ton as they continue down this path. But, guess what? You’re going
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Welcome To The Ballet Help Desk!
Welcome to Ballet Help Desk. We’re so glad you found us. Ten years ago, our kids said they wanted to dance professionally. We scratched our heads and said “well, we better figure this out!” Since then, we’ve basically gotten PhDs in how to be dance parents. So, never fear! We are here to help bring