Just about to contact the ACLU

Today was another rehearsal for "Nutcracker". The kids had to be there at 9:00. Party scene didn't even get to start rehearsing until almost 11:00 and RH-N didn't let D rehearse--AGAIN!!! D is the only one who is not in A or B cast, so she didn't even get a single run-through. Since RH-N ran most of the main dances over and over, there should have been a chance for D to rehearse each dance at least once. The part of Russian Princess #2 is being filled by three girls--D and two others. One is in A cast and one is in B. D is in C & D. So she was the ONLY party scene girl who didn't get to rehearse.

I asked RH-N why not. She hemmed and hawed about why, but you know--she just whined about time and how she had to do what she could. I basically told her (and JK later) that people don't know who is in what cast and they are paying the same amount for tickets no matter what. She just rolled her eyes and stomped off. JK wanted to go back to the day D left class to throw up after he made the girls do 50 reps of crunches followed by 50 reps of sit-ups and leg lifts. I asked him what that had to do with rehearsing for a show that opens in two weeks and of course he had no answer either. I told him the same thing I told RH-N: they want to complain when D messes up, but then they don't let her rehearse, so of course she isn't as prepared, therefore she messes up and then they bitch again. I also repeated the thing about the ticket-holders paying the same price no matter who is dancing. I know it will get back to VS-K because he cannot help but tell his missus.

My kid isn't there as a "Future Dancer" charity case or on scholarship. I pay the same freakin' tuition as every other parent does for their child and I expect that she get the same treatment. I am not in the mood to hear all the ephemeral crap about "art" and "grace" and "the soul of a dancer" as an excuse for discriminating against my child. And that is what I am seeing--they know D has neurological issues and therefore not "perfect" enough to be in what is fast becoming an exclusionary environment.

Why do I keep her there? Because they were supposed to let the girls start pointe in August...! Now, JK keeps putting the girls off and they haven't done anything with pointe since observation week (and that was only for the parents' benefit). I am seriously considering other dance studios--mainly Fern Adair, but it is too late for this year. If she does switch, Adair's girls get to dance with the Moscow Ballet when they do The Nutcracker (in Henderson every November). I also understand that they aren't as assholish about their students actually having lives outside of dance.

Besides, D is of the mood to prove them wrong. She even wants to write an essay for their silly contest about why she loves dance. I might just help write that one. Let's just say that I could open some eyes with it. Unfortunately, I expect that the silly beotch will "accidentally" lose D's entry. I am still trying to figure out why the receptionist was proofreading entries. Makes me wonder who ghostwrote the pre-selected winner (one of the usual suspects, no doubt).