Mixing religion and ballet

[Danimal]

So our 4 year old daughter had her end of year ballet/dance recital. The organization she does it with is conservative christian but not affiliated with any church. I was aware that they shared a scripture before each lesson, but didn't know much more than that until today's recital (her lessons are during work and Marsupial takes her). So it was much to my surprise today when the recital was as explicitly religious as any church meeting I've ever been to. Between dances, teachers and students talked about "dancing for Jesus", "being called to dance", and other very explicitly religious statements. The recital started with a prayer. In the final dance, the culmination of the night, evil looking dancers construct a wall of vices -- divorce, abortion, self-image (I have no idea what this meant), and same-sex marriage (there were others but I can't remember the others). Dancers dressed in white came and destroyed the wall and conquered the evil ones.

This recital made me very uncomfortable for 2 reasons. First, it seemed really weird to turn dancing into such an explicitly religious event. Second, if it promoted generic christian or humanitarian values (e.g., love your neighbor) I woud have been fine with it, but putting up such divisive and controversial vices (some of which I'm on the completely opposite side on) was beyond acceptable to me. Having our daughter participate and paying money to attend made me feel like I was somehow tacitly endorsing this worldview. My daughter loves the dancing and I don't want to burst her bubble, but we'll be finding a new dance company next year.

Anybody else run into situations like this? I realize that this is largely a function of living in the south.

On a final note, for non-BYU regulars attending BYU sporting events, prayers to start must seem so out of place. At least that's how the prayer tonight seemed to me.

[wuapinmon]

So our 4 year old daughter had her end of year ballet/dance recital. The organization she does it with is conservative christian but not affiliated with any church. I was aware that they shared a scripture before each lesson, but didn't know much more than that until today's recital (her lessons are during work and Marsupial takes her). So it was much to my surprise today when the recital was as explicitly religious as any church meeting I've ever been to. Between dances, teachers and students talked about "dancing for Jesus", "being called to dance", and other very explicitly religious statements. The recital started with a prayer. In the final dance, the culmination of the night, evil looking dancers construct a wall of vices -- divorce, abortion, self-image (I have no idea what this meant), and same-sex marriage (there were others but I can't remember the others). Dancers dressed in white came and destroyed the wall and conquered the evil ones.

This recital made me very uncomfortable for 2 reasons. First, it seemed really weird to turn dancing into such an explicitly religious event. Second, if it promoted generic christian or humanitarian values (e.g., love your neighbor) I woud have been fine with it, but putting up such divisive and controversial vices (some of which I'm on the completely opposite side on) was beyond acceptable to me. Having our daughter participate and paying money to attend made me feel like I was somehow tacitly endorsing this worldview. My daughter loves the dancing and I don't want to burst her bubble, but we'll be finding a new dance company next year.

Anybody else run into situations like this? I realize that this is largely a function of living in the south.

On a final note, for non-BYU regulars attending BYU sporting events, prayers to start must seem so out of place. At least that's how the prayer tonight seemed to me.

My children have both been indoctrinated by their Protestant pre-schools.

[marsupial]

So our 4 year old daughter had her end of year ballet/dance recital. The organization she does it with is conservative christian but not affiliated with any church. I was aware that they shared a scripture before each lesson, but didn't know much more than that until today's recital (her lessons are during work and Marsupial takes her). So it was much to my surprise today when the recital was as explicitly religious as any church meeting I've ever been to. Between dances, teachers and students talked about "dancing for Jesus", "being called to dance", and other very explicitly religious statements. The recital started with a prayer. In the final dance, the culmination of the night, evil looking dancers construct a wall of vices -- divorce, abortion, self-image (I have no idea what this meant), and same-sex marriage (there were others but I can't remember the others). Dancers dressed in white came and destroyed the wall and conquered the evil ones.

This recital made me very uncomfortable for 2 reasons. First, it seemed really weird to turn dancing into such an explicitly religious event. Second, if it promoted generic christian or humanitarian values (e.g., love your neighbor) I woud have been fine with it, but putting up such divisive and controversial vices (some of which I'm on the completely opposite side on) was beyond acceptable to me. Having our daughter participate and paying money to attend made me feel like I was somehow tacitly endorsing this worldview. My daughter loves the dancing and I don't want to burst her bubble, but we'll be finding a new dance company next year.

Anybody else run into situations like this? I realize that this is largely a function of living in the south.

On a final note, for non-BYU regulars attending BYU sporting events, prayers to start must seem so out of place. At least that's how the prayer tonight seemed to me.

They say a quick prayer at the beginning of class and share a bible scripture. At the end of class they get a sticker for being good and sometimes the sticker says things like Jesus loves me. So class hadn't been that over the top and in your face evangelism like it was tonight at the recital. Their schtick is Christian-based ballet and I asked them what that meant before I signed her up. The lady said it meant that the girls wear modest costumes, danced to decent music and said a prayer at the beginning of class. I chose this company because 1) the class time and location was convenient 2) it was the least expensive option 3) her best friend was taking it from there.

Most of the recital was just dances to the evangelical equivalent of Janice Kapp. Really, it just reminded me of EFY. But the finale was a bit much. The knocking down the "same-sex marriage" wall just seemed too political for a youth recital. I am fine with Jesus and ballet. It's the conservative agenda mixed with ballet that bothered me.

[pellegrino]

We only believe in secular dancing in our family.

[SuperGabers]

Were Mormons included in those wearing black?

[Moliere]

Most of the recital was just dances to the evangelical equivalent of Janice Kapp. Really, it just reminded me of EFY. But the finale was a bit much. The knocking down the "same-sex marriage" wall just seemed too political for a youth recital. I am fine with Jesus and ballet. It's the conservative agenda mixed with ballet that bothered me.

And thus the reason the whole Prop 8 Mormon fiasco will never happen where I live because it won't be the Mormons bank rolling the majority of the cause. I know Texas isn't the south like Mississippi is the south, but it's close enough.

And this post is worthless without video.

[BoylenOver]

On a final note, for non-BYU regulars attending BYU sporting events, prayers to start must seem so out of place.

This is true.

[Clark Addison]

This is true.

Unless they are used to attending NASCAR.

[UtahDan]

My objection to what you have described is that I'm not sure those "vices" are age appropriate for a four year old. I definitely wouldn't want anyone trying to teach those concepts to any four year old of mine. I don't believe in sheltering kids from reality, but I also so see any purpose served in exposing them to ideas they aren't ready for. Maybe I am splitting a hair here. I suppose that by the time your kids are in school they are going to need to know something about divorce and probably same sex couples depending where you live. But abortion?

[Sleeping in EQ]

I have no problem with the idea of religious or worshipful dance (see Psalm 149, Psalm 150, 2 Sam. 6).

I think a reasonable person could object to the "vices" scene you describe, though.

[marsupial]

I just sent the following email to the owner of the studio:

This past year at [name of studio] has been great. My daughter has loved attending each week. [Name of teacher] has been so sweet, patient and loving with the girls. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher to introduce my daughter to ballet. We we were really looking forward to the recital. We were impressed with how organized the rehearsals were--everything went so smoothly. And we were enjoying the recital, until it came to the finale. It seemed that in the finale your intention was not to glorify God, as your studio would suggest, but instead promote a rightwing political agenda. It was quite out of place for a youth recital. We left the theater feeling regret that we had been supporting your company each month with our daughter's tuition.

We hope to continue with ballet next year but we will be looking for classes elsewhere.

Sincerely,
marsupial

[I.J. Reilly]

I just sent the following email to the owner of the studio:

They'll just chalk it up to you being Mormon. Of course you wouldn't have the same values as they do.