Balancing Dance and School

         Most dancers spend 2-3 hours, 5 days a week, taking dance classes. I myself think that this is ridiculous. You never have time to get some well deserved rest and you might start struggling at school. I know some dancers at my studio who have to come straight from school to class while doing their hair and putting on their clothes in the car. I also know some dancers who, in-between classes, will do their homework in the dressing room. I have no problem with those kids doing their homework there, but there comes a point when you have to wonder, "Which is first? Dance or School?" and you can only answer that question by asking yourself "Where do I spend more time at? The studio or at home doing my homework?"

All my school books!

        I see many of these girls in my class that are sacrificing their studies for dance. I myself wouldn't like to get up at 6am, go to school until 4pm, go to dance until sometimes 10pm, and then go do homework. That would be overwhelming for me, luckily I'm home-schooled so I don't have this situation. However, I have a rule in my house that if the chores aren't done by the time I have to get ready for ballet or my homework isn't done, then I can't go to my class. I do think that this is fair, but a lot of kids just can't do all of their homework 2 hours before class. I actually avoided this rule altogether (The homework rule) by taking classes on Friday night and throughout Saturday. Side note, I get Friday's off. Of course it isn't exactly ideal still, because I miss a whole day of my weekend, but it's the best thing for my school schedule.

My Homework Schedule

         My point of view about this is that these girls are striving to be professional dancers in their future, which almost 99% of them wont, and they think that dance comes first, then school. However, in the future when they realize that they aren't going anywhere with all those classes, they will have to get a job, but won't be able to because they didn't go to college, because they couldn't get in or didn't have any desire too. I don't have this mentality, of course I want to be successful in dance, but I know that I won't get into a fancy ballet school in New York, I won't become a well-known ballerina, I won't win a lot of competitions, and I know that if I don't study I won't be successful at anything.

        Another turning point on this subject is that doing well on your homework, especially math, is actually beneficial for dance. Dancers always do movements in 8 counts, and being able to associate those counts with the music is a hard thing, but it's made easier by not only being good at math but also, playing piano, singing, and doing another sport. I have played piano since I was 7 and have sung since age 6, and I am still continuing with those practices, but I feel like I have an advantage over the other girls since I'm in tune with beats, counts, and even just music!

Ballet is sweat, tears, blood, blisters, time, money, and competition, but the most important part is to always have fun!