Why I Will Never Have My Own Dance Studio

I have been teaching ballet for 17+ years.  I absolutely love it or I wouldn't have done it for so long.

I love the girls and I love seeing progress made over years of training.

Last summer, the studio I teach for expanded and moved into a big, new building with 4 studios.

I was asked if I wanted to buy in and be partner with the new studio.

I was flattered but I declined.  I enjoy teaching but nothing more.  I like to show up, teach my class, go home, forget about it and focus on my family.  But the number one reason why I will NEVER own my own studio:

Moms.

Most moms are great.  Most moms are complimentary, and grateful, and patient, and stay out of the way and let me do my job.

Most moms trust me when I say their daughter is not ready to move up a level or get their pointe shoes.

But then there are the small percentage of moms who just ruin it for me.

I don't want to go into too much detail because I want to focus on the positive side of this last recital.

Positives like:

*The little girls in Lucy's dance are so darling I want to squeeze them all to death

*The senior and teen company this year are the best dancers I have ever had.

*The ballet dances blew everyone away and I had dozens upon dozens of people compliment me after the show.

*The dads.  Can I just say that I adore the dads who talk to me after and tell me that they always thought ballet was boring but that I changed their minds and the ballet was their favorite part of the night?

*I have a special bond with my senior girls.  I genuinely love them so much.  I've been with them since they were 6 years old.

*As I was running around, I was putting out fires right and left.  I comforted about 8 girls who were crying for their moms.  I got a piece of a feather out of a little girl's eye, I just happened to pack a spare pair of Lucy's ballet shoes that fit perfectly on a little girl who couldn't find hers, I stopped a serious bout of the hiccups in one of my soloist seniors who was about to go on stage.  I felt on fire and magical, just workin' miracles all over the place.  :)

Like I said, I've been teaching for over 17 years and I have never had a confrontation like I did the night of the dress rehearsal.  I've never been talked to that way before. Never.

I felt so wronged and angry.  I didn't sleep all night.  

Usually I just sit back and take it, but I had an Amy-break-through-moment this time.  I actually defended myself.  This mom was so wrong and totally out of line and I wasn't going to sit back and let her accuse me of all these terrible things.

Anyway, it's over now.  Of course, I've stewed and stewed and thought of a million more things I should've said.  

Whew!  I got that out.  Feels pretty good to vent.  

Back to the recital. 

I think it is so neat that I get to teach my daughter and have this experience with her.

That being said, the backstage chaos is double for me. 

Not only am I worrying about my own dances but I have to keep track of Lucy and help her change her costume 3 times each show.  

Here is everything laid out the night before.  I probably checked and double-checked 20 times to make sure she had each component of her costumes.

Hair in curlers.

This picture has nothing to do with anything but Sam insisted I take it.

I wish I had more time for pictures, but you cannot believe the craziness backstage.  I am literally running for 3 hours.  I had exactly 20 seconds before the show started to take these two pictures.

Wow!  I sure love this girl!