The Waiting Game
Conventions are wonderful opportunities for young dancers to take classes in a variety of genres, form new friendships, and push themselves to grow as they develop their craft. The whirlwind schedule makes for long, exhausting days (for the dancers AND their families).
The “Baby” Room
When the kids are very young, they’re placed in the “baby” room. For the conventions we’ve participated in, one observer band has typically been included in the price of registration for each little dancer. When this is the case, dance moms enter the ballroom, stake out their territory, and make a small encampment for themselves and their dancer. They’re likely to spend upwards of four hours in that chair, so the words “comfort” and “relaxation” will not be a part of their vocabulary for a large chunk of the day.
These sideline dance moms come prepared with snacks, whisper words of encouragement to their children between classes, take tons of pictures, chat with other dance moms, help their children change their shoes for the next class, run to get lunch and drinks, and are generally their dancer’s “pit crew” for the entire day. The whole process repeats the next day, so both the mom and the dancer are pretty worn out by the end of the weekend.
Moving Up
As our dancers get older, they move out of the “baby” room and enter the Mini room (or its equivalent). These groups are more likely to fill to capacity with dancers, so the convention company may not offer observer bands to spectators to make more room for additional dancing kids.
After being in the “baby” rooms for a couple of years, being told that we wouldn’t be allowed into the ballroom came as a bit of a surprise the first time. My girls were just seven, and the thought of them having to go it alone was a little scary, if I’m being honest. They did not have phones back then, so I was naturally concerned about what would happen if they needed something. The studio staff assured us that one of them would check in on the kids regularly, and would let us know if we were needed.
On Their Own
After I dropped the girls off to their first convention class without me (NYCDA in Philadelphia) I wandered around aimlessly for a little while. I felt like a lost puppy, without home or purpose. As tempting as it was to go for a walk around Philly to explore the area, I thought better of it. What if my girls needed me, and I was too far away to get to them quickly? Plus, I’m notorious for getting lost (my sense of direction is severely lacking), so I figured it would be better to stick close by.
To say I was bored is an understatement. I’d brought a blanket and laid it out, picnic-style, and tried to get some work done on my laptop. But the constant hustle-bustle of toddlers running around (and exasperated mamas chasing after them) and other distractions was not conducive to a working environment, and I often found myself staring into space. I would get up and walk around occasionally, but there wasn’t much to see within the convention center. It seemed like an eternity until my daughters came out of the room for their breaks. Even though I hadn’t done anything, I was completely exhausted by Sunday night.
All Alone
This past weekend, we attended the Nuvo dance convention at Harrah’s in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Because of COVID, there were no observer bands offered whatsoever (understandable, of course). Thankfully, I had a hotel room this time, so I had a default place to crash (let’s not even mention the casino). Also, my girls have phones now; I feel much more comfortable leaving them for hours at a stretch, so the tides of boredom have turned into low-stress periods of freedom.
To dance moms that are being “kicked out” of the classes for the first time, my advice is: Don’t fret. You’ll eventually find things to occupy yourself, and may even begin to look forward to having this free time. Go find yourself a coffee shop, bring a blanket, and settle in for the long haul!
For the girls’ first time in the dressing room without me, read On Their Own!
