We skipped the creative movement classes since we do some of that at home. Not that I don't see value in it, but I just didn't feel compelled to add it to our schedule. At 4.5 DD took a drop-in ballet class over the summer, which was great as there was no commitment. She loved it.
We ended up signing her up at a local dance school for preballet 1. She took that this past year, when she was 4-5. She's moving to preballet 2 this year (she's 5.5 now and will turn 6).
Her studio does "whatever makeup you are comfortable with" at the recital. The Nutcracker is optional for preballet 1 students, and is just a walk on role, no rehearsal. We skipped it this past year as we were on a business trip with DH, but she'll probably participate this year. I think we will have separate rehearsals for it, although hopefully not too many. The girls in ballet 1 on up have multiple additional rehearsals per week leading up to the Nutcracker. I found the amount of time quite surprising when I looked at the schedule. Some of the rehearsals for even the young girls go until 8 or 9pm on a school night, which was kind of shocking to me.
My dear friend's DDs take a class at a local university. It is too far for me to drive, but they provide quality instruction (friend was a pretty serious dancer in high school), no huge recital or costumes, just a "show your stuff" thing for parents and grandparents, and it is held right in the studio. If it wasn't a 50 min drive from me I would have gone that route. DD's ballet school is very good, but I would have enjoyed something a touch lower key to start. She has learned a lot at her school, practices a lot on her own, and I've been happy overall.
Even the "creative movement" classes at our dance school perform in the recital, with a costume, etc. Most had on makeup. I put a little blush and neutral eyeshadow on DD...not a big deal to me, but at 3 I wouldn't have wanted to go that route for sure. It isn't exactly mandatory at our studio though.
Oh, DD took preballet 1 and is taking preballet 2 this year. Both consist of 45 min ballet, 15 of tap at our school. DD enjoys the tap but they don't perform any tap routine in the recital (only one costume needed thankfully).
We pay about 60/month, and then there are additional fees (costume, performance fees, photos (optional), families are expected to donate items for elaborate gift baskets that get raffled off at performances, etc.).
eta: each level at our school has a specific color leotard and tights they must wear, hair back (bun preferred) for all classes. A little rigid that way if you aren't accustomed to it.
Last edited by brittone2; 07-11-2012 at 02:20 PM.
Mama to DS-2004
DD-2006
and a new addition-ds born march 2010