When I signed Gianna up for "classical ballet" I imagined performance costumes would look something like
this, or
this. Instead her company chose
this one (in blue) for her spring recital. Huh? Please, someone, tell me this is beautiful and I just don't see it. Please.
20 comments:
Once it's on her then it will be beautiful!! You'll just see your little ballerina and won't even notice that it's not what you had in mind. And maybe blue won't be quite as "shocking" as the yellow seems to be!
Oh,it could be so much worse. So much:-). She will be beautiful because she can't be anything but...
Thank you, Jen and Elizabeth - I do hope you're right. Right now I can't even voice the comment in my head on this one! The gold-sequined one-shoulder effect I think is what bothers me the most. I think I'd be fine with the same dress in cap sleeves.
Oh Kristen! I see your disappointment! It is nice... but i can understand your feelings, it's not very little girlish, or classical looking in the least!
But i wonder sometimes if the teachers dont choose what they think will make the little dancers feel fancy.
I hope the recital is still amazing!
I don't think it's all that bad. Compare to MC's classical ballet costume (w/ $75 price tag!) from last year:
http://blairandsteven.blogspot.com/2008/05/ballet.html
At least Gianna's has a tutu! I'm hoping this year's choices will be better, but my hopes aren't set too high. Mary Clare is a "Hebrew child" and Ellie a "lamb" for their Moses ballet. We'll see!
I think she will be beautiful regardless and I agree that it could be worse but I think I see where you are coming from. The shoulders would bother me as well. I was chatting with a mother last spring at our ballet dinner - her daughter danced professionally in our ballet. She said the best way to evaluate a ballet company's philosophy is to go to one of their recitals and see the outfits. And I'm not trying to pass judgement on your school, about which I know nothing. I'm just saying that we've been in a place where we definitely didn't feel comfortable with their ideas on what was appropriate clothing etc.
I agree with the previous posters. I have twin daughters in their 4th year of ballet. And still, there is something about recital day. After seing the girls in class all year with slightly disheveled buns and sometimes dirty ballet shoes. I've always been struck by the beauty of their entire class on recital day. I've always loved their costumes in the end.
The sequins will not be too noticable when they're on stage. If the costume doesn't grow on you, have black & white pictures taken. You'll barely be able to see the squins and "sparkly stuff".
Oh, how I feel your pain!!! When Ellie took ballet the first time at age 5, the recital, which included a strikingly similar uniform to the one you posted, was the straw that broke the camel's back for us. She did not enjoy the recital process at all, and it was very eye opening for me. Her class's outfit was by far the most conservative in the entire program. I was mortified by the dances that the older girls were doing. When she wanted to try ballet again, around age 8, we found a much better fit at a different school. They actually just use their class leotards for performances and add skirts, scarves, etc. Much simpler, and I think, much prettier.
FWIW-that year with the sequined costume had me running to the fabric store at the last minute to get velvet bias tape to sew over all of the seams in that ridiculously expensive costume. It was so scratchy, I couldn't blame her for not wanting to wear it. I'm sure Gianna will look lovely, but I know it's hard to not be disappointed.
*blinks* It looks like a figure skating outfit.
I, personally, would have a problem with my daughter wearing this and she is 9. (Disclaimer: I am quite conservative, by US standards, in terms of what she wears in general, and for swimming etc).
I'm sorry! I guess I am not helping you see the beauty of it!
I think that is the exact costume I wore (in white) in 1976!!!
She will be beautiful in it, and I agree...it could be much worse!
I can't convince you...too many sequins! I'm sorry.
Hm... I don't think it's THAT bad, although I really prefer the second picture. Honestly seeing the girl I babysit for in the costume recitals has totally turned me off of dance for M. Luckily for me (and her) it doesn't look like she'll have ANY talent in this area anyway - or anything athletic for that matter :) She can be a drummer instead!
Hmmm...what is it that bothers you, Kristen? Is it the one shoulder or the sequins? I'm pretty modest in dress but I honestly wouldn't have a problem with it. My 9 year old has been taking classical ballet since she was 3, she is now in pointe and some years the costumes are prettier than others. But I think the 'yellow bird' will be lovely on Gianna! Let us know what you think after the recital! I hope you're pleasantly surprised with the look on stage, under lights.
Dee (www.GracealaMaison.blogspot.com)
The sequins are a little much, I think. But little girls often love sparkly, shiny things. You know, now that I am thinking about it, it could be worse... I am old enough to remember the old Sonny and Cher show. When I was Gianna's age, I wanted to grow up to look just like Cher! My poor mom! Well, I turned out okay. At least my kids and husband think so. But seriously, Gianna will look beautiful.
Ah, I get it. Had the same problem w/ my girls when they took dance, at about the same age. It's the hyperspeeding up of our culture..it's sad. A touch warped. BUT, I doubt your sweet girl will have all the makeup on (and thus will look much different) and she can have a cardigan on before/after and it could be SO much worse. And maybe the director will listen to your ideas for next time? Hang in there, she will be beautiful because glows, from the inside out!
Isn't is a shame that little girls can't just be little girls any more? Why must they look grown up even for ballet? Having only a son, who went to Catholic school from pre-K to 12th grade and wore uniforms, I was spared the clothes issues that my friends with girls have - and thank goodness he didn't like the saggy, baggy pants either, or my staple gun would have gotten a good workout!!! (only kidding)
Kristen, I sympathize with your disappointment. The sparkly costume looks more like a dance competition or jazz costume. It does not evoke the classical ballet spirit.
When we chose a ballet school for our family I researched what costumes they chose for recitals and what clothing they allowed in class. Those choices can say a lot about their discipline, philosophy and methods.
As others have said here, Gianna is such a beautiful little girl and I'm sure you won't paint her up with makeup, so that will help immensely.
But would it be wrong to say that this song popped in my head when I saw the yellow outfit?
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
With yellow feathers in her hair.... ;)
She will look beautiful. And, yes, it could be much worse as Elizabeth says.
It's all about what it looks like on stage under the lights. While the two you pointed out would look pretty in a dance studio, or pretty to most of us even... they are looking at what looks good on stage. Sequins and bright colors just look better.
That's also why stage makeup looks so garish under normal lighting and like barely any makeup at all while on stage.
I agree that it could be worse, and also with the last commenter who pointed out that things look very different under lights on stage.
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