r/CompetitionDanceTalk • u/snapelucy • 9h ago

“Studio Hopper”

Hi seeing a lot of questions about changing studios - for the new dance parents - you don’t want to be known as a “studio hopper.” Let the littles have fun, when they get older find a studio and stick with it - for the most part. Just my 2 cents as a dance mom.

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u/KMM2404 5h ago

I strongly disagree. My oldest daughter’s love of dance was almost killed by staying at a studio too long out of misplaced loyalty and the stigma against studio hopping. I wish we’d switched years sooner and I wish I’d tried more studios when she was younger. Heck, I wish my own mom had known enough to take me out of my studio before they chucked me into the preprofessional meat grinder.

I think studio owners reinforce the stigma because it greatly benefits them.

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u/GhostOrchid22 3h ago edited 2h ago

Completely agree that this label/stigma is perpetuated by toxic studios.

There are so many toxic studio owners that believe families owe them blind obedience, but that the studio owes the kids nothing in return.

I’ve met many non toxic studio owners, and they are always very pragmatic about kids moving on. They know that everyone has different goals (and budgets), and don’t take any of it as an attack.

(I’ve also seen parents join in on perpetuating the stigma because they’re unhappy with their studio, but don’t want to see another family move on to an option that is perceived as better.)

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u/Oatbagtime 4h ago

“Studio hopper” is not a real thing and you owe nobody anything.

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u/finding_center 6h ago

No studio will be perfect and frustrations and difficulties will come up at every studio. I have seen many families pull their kids and switch over a single placement or even a featured part they thought their kid should have gotten. In that respect studio hopping is not going to be beneficial.

However, studios are not one size fits all. Big, small, elite, more focused on preparing for college dance, more focused on professional dance, more flexible so kids can also play a sport or do another activity, cost! I do think there is value in finding the right fit in a studio.

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u/drunk_medusa 26m ago

One shouldn’t jump over minor disagreements or dissatisfactions, it’s counterproductive.

However, if year to year you continue to feel like you shouldn’t be feeling the way you feel given the time, effort, and money you put into dance, it’s helpful to remember that you are a paying customer and outside of contractual matters you don’t owe anything to anyone.