Career Development Plan - Preparing My Daughter For Her Future

by Jennifer
(TX)

Career Development Plan - Preparing My Daughter For Her Future

Odette,
My daughter is 11 years old and has been dancing since she was 4. She has been with the same school. I believe the teachers and most students in her classes are dedicated to helping and growing in dance. The school has a preprofessional ballet and jazz companies residing there. They do both the Nutcracker and a spring ballet every year. My daughter has participated in them every year since 2nd grade. My current concern is whether I should find her another school. There are many to choose from, with a little bit of travel time. The reason I questions this is; we live in an affluent neighbor hood, and many family have large wealth, and other mothers don't have to work. They can give large sums of money and devote time for voluteering. I volunteer every show, but can't afford to pay my daughters way to the top. Both her teachers and other dance parents remark on how hard she works, and how well she dances, but I am afraid that she will be shunted aside because I can't throw money out there. Should I see where this goes or switch her schools?
Thanks,
Jennifer


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Career Development Plan - Preparing My Daughter For Her Future

Reply by Odette

Hello Jennifer,

Thank you for contacting me, it is a pleasure to hear from you.

I understand your concern regarding the best place for your daughter to be, as it is expected to be aware of her future. I feel that your daughter has grown up and developed with this school; she has blossomed and found a place for herself as a dancer. It appears as though the people have genuine care for her progress and it sounds like a very close, family environment. If this is the case, it would be a gamble to switch her to another school. It takes time to build recognition and settle into a new place, as well as the teachers getting to know your daughter both as a dancer and an individual.

I am fully aware of the money concerns and it is natural for you to worry about this aspect. Yet if the school is the close, family environment then money should not be used as an advantage or benefit to elevate the dancers. The dance school will want to present their topmost and leading dancers, and money can not pay to create this sort of talent in a dancer.

If the dance school appreciates your daughter for her hard work and beautiful dancing, then it would be wise to keep her where she is known and valued.

Best Wishes,

Odette