Total for December 2015

Session 4 Tuition - $260
Dance Studio hoodie - $35
Dance Studio sweatpants - $25
Jazz choreography fee - $11
Tap costume balance - $10.25
Lyrical costume balance - $12
Acting class credit - ($8.75)
Dance outfit - $11.98

Total for December 2015 - $356.48

December 26

Lindsey received this from me for Christmas. Hoodie and sweatpants from her studio. (I know I had the prices added in another update, maybe the one before? I think the hooded sweatshirt was around $25-27 and the sweats were around $20).

Dance Hoodie and Sweatpants

Another dance related item for Christmas was a dance outfit from me. I'm including this in the price of dance for the year because I did buy it for this purpose. Both pieces came from Boscov's (big box department store) and I apparently got them on a killer sale. LOL Both the top and bottom were $5.99 a piece. I'll take that!

Miss Priss as sooooo not
in the mood!

Dance outfit (tank top and capri bottoms) - $5.99 each = $11.98

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my cuties to yours!

December 19

Costume balance for Tap - $10.25
Costume balance for Lyrical - $12.00
Credit for cancelled Acting class - ($8.75)

I was able to pick up her Lyrical costume and take that home. It looks plain on the hanger, but so pretty on. When she gets home from her dad's after Christmas I'll post a picture.

I also picked up her studio hoodie and sweat pants. Those are a Christmas present, so I'll take a picture when she opens them.

I hope every reader has a very happy holiday! See you all in 2016!

December 12

 Jazz choreography fee - $11

December 1

Session 4 Tuition - $260
Dance Studio hoodie (Christmas gift) - $35
Dance Studio sweatpants (Christmas gift) - $25

Total - $320

Total for November 2015

Not too much went on this much spending wise. Yay! After last month, this was welcome.

Session 3 Tuition - $260
Parade Fee - $30
White shoes for parades - $5.87
White lace ruffle socks for parades - $5.97
Black gloves for parades - $0.97
Clear rain jacket for parade - $9.47
Credit to account for 2 cancelled classes - ($17.50)

Total for November - $294.78

November 30

Yes, there is such a thing as a refund/credit in the dance world.

I received 2 credits ($8.75 each) to my account in November for my daughter's acting class being cancelled. WooHoo!

Total credit - ($17.50)

November 29

Happy Thanksgiving, readers!

Just a few updates...

1)We had our last Christmas parade of the season last night. All the girls did a fantastic job and I love watching all of them.

Parade #1

Parade #1

Parade #2

Parade #2

Parade #3

2)We added 2 extra classes to my daughter's dance schedule. In her solo she has two turns that she needs extra work/help on, so an extra jump/turn class was added. An extra stretch class was added as well to help stretch muscles for flexibility. Both of these classes were extra this last summer, and her and I felt that now was a good time to have her continue them. So, more money will be added to her tuition for each session. 

I thought she may have to give up on Pointe class for November and December due to a play she is in, but she's able to take a class in between her jump/turn and stretch class, so no giving it up. It would have meant that I wouldn't have to pay for it for 2 months, but nope, didn't happen. LOL

3)She picked out her solo costume last week at dance. Yay! Can't wait to get it in and see it in person. I'm sure I will still owe money on this costume once it gets in, but at least a majority will be paid from the deposit. She's doing a jazz solo and her song is called "Glamorous Life." It's pretty much finished, they just have to clean it to make it perfect. 

I think that's all the updates I can think about for now. My daughter was happy that all the parades are over for the year. The next time she really has to perform is for the dress rehersal they have before going to competitions. Lots of hard work will be going into all the dances now. 

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! My kids went with their dad, so I had a few quiet and relaxing days at home, well other than having to work. My house is clean, some of my Christmas decorations are up, and the kids and I finished decorating the tree today. I love this time of year and Christmas will be here before we know it! 

Until next time, best wishes readers!

November 28

Our very last parade for this year and of course it has to rain. So, we were off to Walmart for a clear rain poncho/jacket.

1 rain jacket - $9.47

November 17

I'm a procrastinator by nature, so of course I wait until the very last minute to get the rest of the parade items We need.

We have 2 Christmas parades this week and one next weekend. I'm hoping we don't freeze this year!

White shoes - $5.87
White lace ruffle socks - $5.97 (for a 3 pack)
Black gloves - $0.97

Total - $12.81

November 3

Session 3 Tuition - $260

Parade Fee - $30

Total for October 2015

Holy cow this was a big month for spending!

Session 2 Tuition - $260
Costume Deposit - $455
Parade Practice Fee - $30
Parade Prop - $18
2 pairs of tan tights - $30
Black tap shoes - $72
Choreography fees for Production, Acro, and Lyrical - $33

Total for October - $898

Ahhhhhhh! Just seeing that number makes me want to cry. LOL The only good thing is that it was spread out over the month and not all at once.

October 31

Choreography fee for Lyrical - $11

October 24

Choreography fees for Production 2 and Acro - $22 ($11/session)

Since my daughter moved up to Senior 2, choreography fees are added to our tuition. Each session has been 2 hours and the dance is usually finished within this time period.

October 19

Black tap shoes - $72

These are a half sizes bigger. It didn't look like a huge difference to me, but I'm not the one wearing them. 😛

She'll now be tapping all over my house in order to break them in. Having hardwoods all over downstairs really is a bad thing.

October 13

2 pairs of tan tights - $30

We'll need these for the parades next month, so I ordered them now to be in on time. I now just need to get her some white Keds and black gloves.

October 12

A few more parade items added to our bill...

Parade Practice Fee - $30

Parade Prop - $18

October 3

Session 2 Fall Tuition - $260

Costume Deposit - $455 ($65 x 7 costumes)
I'm assuming the 7 costumes will be for jazz, tap, lyrical, ballet, production, acro and her solo. I don't think they are reusing any this year, but I could be wrong. I'm sure we'll get to see what they look like in the next couple of weeks. That's always fun! :)

We found out our dates for competitions for the year and I'm excited for them! I don't feel comfortable sharing the when and where just yet, so until the time comes, I'll have to leave y'all hanging.

Total for September 2015

2 pairs of pink tights - $30
Tan jazz shoes - $43
Open Gym - $10
Stoned/Airbrushed denim jacket (Christmas Parade costume) - $100
Red & White skirt (Christmas Parade costume) - $33
Santa hat (Christmas Parade costume) - $7

Total for September - $223

How sweet is this?
Love our dance girls 

September 28

Christmas Parade 2014

Parade costume time! My daughter has finally outgrown her parade costume. It was getting small last year, but we made it work. She's had 4 years use out if it so I can't really complain.

Stoned/Airbrushed Denim Jacket - $100
Red & White Skirt - $33
Santa Hat - $7
Total - $140

I ordered a new red turtleneck last year. We still have the white ruffle socks, tan tights and black gloves from last year as well. I need to get her a new white pair of Keds since she has outgrown the ones from last year.

I'm not sure what they'll be using as a prop this year. I think my daughter said it will be a snowflake, but I don't know the price on this yet.

A $30 parade fee will be added to our monthly bills, but I haven't gotten that one yet. 

September 26

Open Gym - $10

September 5

Two new pairs of pink tights for ballet - $30

This child channels my mother from time to time and it scares me. We have two pairs at home, but some one is too dirty and dingy looking and the other has a teeny, tiny run in them. This is unacceptable to my OCD daughter. :sigh: So two new pairs have been ordered
and she is a much happier child!

One pair of tan jazz shoes - $43 (I think? I haven't gotten the actual bill for these yet,  just ordered them. I'll update once I have the receipt).

This was a needed expense since she had a hole in her other pair. Now it's time to break the new ones in.

Total for August 2015

Tuition for 2 weeks of summer - $120.32
1 optional ballet class - $5
2 dance outfits - $45.98
Summer Intensive classes - $220
Session 1 Fall classes - $260

Total for August - $651.30

August 30

And we're back to dance. We've had a nice break after intensives and auditions,  but it's time to get back to normal dance classes.

Lindsey had her first Acro Choreography and Production 2 classes this afternoon. I think she said her Acro dance is going to be 50's themed, with poodle skirts and swing dances. Production 2 will be a Latin theme. I believe she said the song is Hot, Hot, Hot.

Of course I had our first bill in our mailbox. Her monthly tuition will be $260/month. She has a total of 12 classes that fill out our weekend and Monday. To say I'm busy with 2 kids (my son plays baseball on a select semi-travel team) is an understatement.

Our studio will also be having a convention coming to our studio in October. It is optional, and I sure as heck don't remember saying Lindsey would be doing it, but that's on our bill as well. LOL I need to talk with our secretaries tomorrow about it. While I'm all for her doing it, we have a busy weekend with baseball, so I have no idea how I'd be fitting dance in there. The only thing I can think of is sticking a light on top of the car and calling it a taxi. My poor car! LOL

August 21

First day of summer intensives!

Lindsey's group is offered 15 classes, plus a 2-hour audition. The total cost is $220 for 3 days of classes.

An acting class was offered at the end of tonight and us moms had a good time watching the improv that was going on. It looked like the girls had a lot of fun, though.

August 19

We did some back to school shopping today and I of course had to pick up a few new dance things. New dance outfits are part of the dance mom expense, so I may as well add this to my dance total.

She'll be needing a new black leotard for ballet because she's out growing the one she has, but I'll have to pick that up at the studio.

I picked up 2 bra tops and 2 capri leggings at Aeropostle. The bra tops were in the sale bins for $7.99 each and the leggings were on sale for $15 each. I don't think there were any other percent off, and I don't have the receipt in front of me right now to even look. The capri leggings will be nice for the fall and winter time since we get cold, snowy weather. I did earn reward cards for all we bought there, so I'll be able to pick up at least another 2 outfits in a few weeks. Pretty good deal! (Well, for me at least).

Doesn't she look thrilled to be taking a
picture for me?
Bra top - $7.99
Capri leggings - $15

She's got a little more pep in her
step this morning.
Bra top - $7.99
Capri leggings - $15

August 10

The last week of summer dance classes are upon us. I paid the remaining balance of $120.32.

We are officially at $0.00. WooHoo!

This will last a week.

August 7

Optional ballet today - $5

Total for July 2015

Tuition for July - $240.68
3 Optional ballet classes ($5/class) - $15
Lyrical & Pointe shoes - $134

Total for July - $389.68

Miss Lindsey on location getting
ready for dance. LOL

July 31

Optional ballet class today - $5

July 28

Another day of dance, another bill in my studio mail box. :sigh: LOL

This time it was for shoes...

Half soles for Lyrical=$26
Pointe shoes, toe pads & sewing for elastic & ribbons=$108

Total for shoes...$134

She's now complaining about her jazz and tap shoes. Yeah, those are going to have to wait until next month or in the fall.

July 27

After a week off dance for vacation, we are back at it. I checked my studio mailbox last night and had our Summer Intensive form in there along with the schedule.

It's recommended that all competition students take the classes, but it is open to our studios recreational students and outside students as well.

There will be teachers coming from NYC, Chicago and Pittsburgh to teach.

The intensive is 4 days and my daughter will be taking 14 classes during this time. Twelve classes are 45 minutes, ballet is an hour and a half, and pointe is an hour. A 2 hour audition will be given at the end of intensive.

The price for her group is $220.

Breaking that down, it's $15.71/class.

We have never attended a dance convention since this is only our second year dancing competitively, so I really have nothing to compare it to. Last year our studio offered a dance convention in October at our studio, but we didn't attend. I believe they will be doing it again this year, but I'm not 100% sure, I can only guess at this point.

July 17

Optional ballet class - $5

I told Lindsey she didn't have to go earlier in the week, but I bribed her with getting her hair cut and colored when she got back from camp. It worked. She went and had a good time with dance friends and got some good one on one time with the teacher and corrections.

July 13

OK, forget that last bill! Lindsey was moved up to Sr 2 so we have a new one.

$361 for 11 classes/week for 6 weeks

That's $5.50/class. That's $60.17/week. That's $240.68/month.

Again, not bad when you see it like that.

(The extra $5 is from ballet on 7/10).

July 10

Optional Ballet class today - $5

July 6

Lindsey started classes today. Three and a half hours later and we are home!

Of course our bill was in the mail box... $345!

Well, at least that is for the entire 6 weeks of summer session, and takes 10 classes in the period of 3 days over the next 6 weeks.

So the math geek part of me wants to break that down...
$5.75/class
$57.50/week
$230/month

I really can't complain about the expense when you see it like that.

 

So You Want to Be a Dance Mom?

Last year my daughter joined our dance studio's competition team. It was her first year to dance on the team, and boy was it an experience! In a good way of course!

The one thing I wish I had done was keep track of our expenses throughout the year. From eyelashes to tuition, it got to be expensive. I'm not complaining, I knew what we were getting in to, but I decided that I wanted to keep track this year and blog about our experiences.

Yep, even eyelashes get to be expensive!

My daughter had 4 years of recreational dance before she joined the competition team going in to her 5th year. Both of us felt she needed the challenge and discipline that the competition team would give her. She wants to improve her dance skills, and hopefully continues her dance career into college or beyond. She really has improved over her first year of competition dance and is still working to improve.

Fifth Year Dance Award

Our dance competition season started this year on July 6. It is a requirement in our studio that she takes 6 weeks of summer classes and take part in the summer intensive. Our intensives this year are at the end of summer classes. They hold auditions during this time period to be placed in the level you belong in. My daughter moved up to a different level after the first week of summer classes and I can guarantee that she'll stay with this group into the dance season as well.

Right now we are at the studio 4 days a week. I basically live my life at the dance studio and baseball fields because of my son. LOL Two days are for my daughter's regular competition dance classes, the third day is for a couple of extra classes our dance studio owner recommend she take in order to help improve her flexability, and the last day is an optional ballet class. This all will change come fall. I'm not sure how many days we'll be there, but I don't think it will be four. LOL

Our studio only competes group dances in two competitions (along with the solos, duets, and trios) during the season. They do offer optional competitions for those that do solos, duets, and trios, but because my daughter didn't compete her solo last year, we didn't go to them. She is competing her solo this year, so we might attend at least one optional one this year.

Tap, Jazz, Production 2, and Acro

Taking a break from her Science project to
get ready to go on stage.

She doesn't take Hip Hop but feels like
she qualifies to help out and coach.

We are already three weeks into summer classes. I received my first bill last week in our studio mailbox, but it had to be revised due to my daughter moving up a level. Plus, she added Pointe class to her schedule. I'm pretty sure I'll be receiving another one here shortly because I just bought her Lyrical shoes and ordered Pointe shoes. She's also talking about needing new Jazz and Tap shoes. Goodness we are already getting there with the expenses! 

We have always had a positive experience with dance. We have a great studio and the teachers and owners are fantastic! Looking forward to another year of fun!

ETA: This is just how our dance studio works and how much our expenses are. Some studios could be higher or lower. But, like I said above, we like our studio and choose to stay because of the people and quality of dance and technique my daughter receives.