“Up (and Down) with the Arts!”
A Run-down on Dance, Drama and Music
By Cabell Smith Melson

As parents we know we need to address our children’s minds, bodies and souls, and an extracurricular artsy option might just be the ticket to hone all three areas. Indeed, they all require physical involvement, regular practice and commitment. In this summer of “Camp Rock Mania,” few question the appeal of music, dance, and movement as a viable option for developing the self-esteem and talents of young people. Here is the low-down on some extracurricular fine arts options in the words of some local parents and students.

Dance:
These questions were completed anonymously by a local mother of 13-year old daughter who just quit dancing competitively this past year. She had danced since she was five years old.

The Best thing about Dance/The Worst thing about Dance:
The Best thing:  The opportunity to develop as confident, disciplined individuals.
The Worst thing: Studios that forget how much fun it is to dance and are more concerned with revenue streams.

Average cost: On average, about $35-$200 per month depending on age and amount of classes taken per week.  Costumes approx $30-$40 per costume per dance class, (tap, ballet x2 classes, pointe, musical theatre, jazz, modern, Irish step).
Competition tap and jazz dance fees, competition entrance fees, private lessons-approx $1000-$1500 per year.

Surprise expenses: Required classes in order to participate on Competition Team as well as other non-recital events.  Some studios force advanced students to take classes with less advanced students, creating a situation where a parent is spending money for their child to not learn/progress.

Time commitment: Significant time; 13-16 hours per week for advanced student.

Travel commitment: For weekly classes, to the studio.  For competition team, 3-4 competitions, approx. 1-2 hours away/staying overnight in a hotel/food (added expense but not unexpected).

"Heat index": If by this you mean TEMPERATURE, the studio we attended would not allow the instructors to turn on the air conditioning in the summer months for the duration of 1-3 hours of lessons.
-If you mean pressure, it comes more from the parents than from the kids, but if it is left up to the kids, any pressure that they put on themselves is offset by their love of their dance.

Season commitment: All year, including mandatory summer camps and classes.

Drama
As completed by mother and daughter team: Holly and Courtney Clyde (HC and CC). Courtney is a rising 5th grader at Grafton Village Elementary School and enjoyed her first season as a drama student of Drama Kids. (You decide if she is a happy customer!)

CC says: - “Express yourself through Acting!”  (Use it or not, your choice!)

 The Best thing …The Worst Thing…. Nothing!  CC LOVED it!

Average Cost: $60/mo. (Plus reasonable registration fee and a small fee for end-of-the- year performance.)

Surprise expenses: None

Time commitment: 1 hour a week plus driving time.

Travel commitment:  Locations are at the Stafford Gymnastics Center or the Stafford Community Center, so for us the travel commitment is 40 minutes, 20 min ea. way.

 "Heat index": None

Season commitment: Drama Kids starts in Sept. and ends in mid May.

Music
The following responses are those of Kellie Frank, mother of Sarah (age 13) and Emily (age 10). Sarah and Emily are piano students and attend Fredericksburg Christian School.

The best thing and the worst thing about music: The worst would have to be the practicing. Some days were without argument and others were like pulling teeth! The best thing was our experience at with the girls’ instructor. And also just watching my daughters play the piano.
Piano has been a wonderful experience for Sarah and Emily for many years. They have had the same teacher for eight years. She’s a wonderful individual and her passion for teaching children to play the piano is exceptional. As a parent who can not play, I love to sit and listen to my daughters play. I will always have their piano teacher to thank for that!

Average Cost: This varies from year to year, but we spend $1630 in lessons last year. Broken down over 10 months, that’s $95/month for private lessons for the two girls and $68 /month for Emily’s group lessons. Private lessons were every week for Sarah and every other week for Emily. Group lessons met once a week. There were also expenses for Sonatina Festivals as well as festivals at the University of Mary Washington (which also varied in cost).
Surprise expenses: None really. Additional expenses for festivals and new material were always brought to parents’ attention well in advance.

Time commitment:  Half an hour each week for Sarah’s private lessons. Half an hour every other week for Emily’s private lessons and one hour each week for Emily’s group lessons. On average, seven hours of lessons each month. Plus practice time.

Travel commitment: Not far to lessons since we live within the City of Fredericksburg and the piano studio is located in the downtown area. There are also yearly trips to Manassas for the Sonatina Festival.

Season commitment: 10 months (September through June).

So dance, sing, and be merry! (Or at least let your children be!).

HOME | CALENDAR | RESOURCES | CURRENT ISSUE | ADVERTISING | CONTACT US

©2008 Nuture, Inc