The book is divided into 2 sections: Recreational Dance, and Competitive Dance. They are definitely two different worlds! It is full of everything you could possibly want to know, from graphs showing the average cost of dance training + recital fees for a year, stage makeup, health, stretching tools, finding the right studio, costume prepping/stoning instructions, and more.


Some of my favorite pages include:

Recital Readiness Checklist

2 full pages of dance bags and organizers (102-103)



A great section about picking the right studio, including points to consider and questions to ask (70)



A whole chapter on conventions!

A whole chapter on boys in dance!

Just got my copy of Bitten by the Dance Bug today! Expect a review soon! @thedancebug #ballet #dancemom #dancemomtips #competition

A post shared by MissHaley (@beyondthebarres) on May 26, 2018 at 2:46pm PDT

This book is designed for dance parents with little to no understanding of the dance world, which I think is really important. For instance, check out this little excerpt on technique:




And this graph showing the different forms of dance:



I also thought the section on competition scoring (in the competitive section) was really important! It breaks down how the score is calculated from one judge to another, and how final scores are calculated.

The only topic that I can think of that this book does not cover is conservatory or pre-professional ballet life. However, that is a highly-specific demographic and I think this book is more a catch-all for general dance students and competitive dance students, rather than those on a professional "three letter school" track.

>>>>You might like: Dance Class Etiquette + Recital Etiquette

My only complaint? There are a lot of colors. Personally, I like to keep formatting simple and uniform, and there is just so much happening on each page that it can be overwhelming. But I promise if you read the content, it'll help you a lot!

I think this book is an extremely valuable resource for recreational and competitive dance parents who need a reference guide of sorts. What an awesome item to have available for sale in your dance studio or dancewear boutique!

Get a copy of Bitten by the Dance Bug here! 

Are you someone or do you know someone who is new to the scene at local dance studios? The most current (published in 2018) and comprehensive parent's guide to recreational and competitive dance. This resource is ideal for new dance parents. This book provides a wealth of information and keen insight into the world of recreational and competitive dance at local dance studios, for children aged 2-18, to accelerate the learning curve for up-and-coming dance parents. Within this CONSOLIDATED resource, PARENTS will learn: - Practical dance basics, including dance genres, dress code, level progression, and the importance of technique. - Factors to consider when choosing a dance studio and its recreational and competitive dance programs. - All aspects of dance recitals. - The ins-and-outs of competitions and conventions. - Insight into expenses-time, energy, and costs. - Ideas for managing relationships with studio staff and other parents and dancers. - Tips to enhance you and your child's dance experience. Buy a copy @www.bittenbythedancebug.com!

A post shared by bittenbythedancebug (@thedancebug) on Jun 17, 2018 at 12:43pm PDT

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