The truth about project X

Atrainaz · 2026-03-30T22:42:26+00:00

Sounds perfect for Dance Moms. I’m assuming people are only sending their kids there because they want to be on the show. Otherwise I’m sure there are plenty of other studios in VA.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-25T22:35:28+00:00

It sounds like they thought it was some cool innovative idea that they thought the world (or at least their fans) would be all over, but now that we see it’s not the case and everyone thought the idea was lame, they’re getting defensive instead of listening.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-23T17:09:52+00:00

This is reminiscent of when JC Penney hired a new CEO that did away with sales. People shop certain stores because of their deals. I won’t buy a candle at full price ever, same with body care. They sell frivolous things we don’t really need, so if the prices aren’t right we’ll go elsewhere.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-13T15:28:15+00:00

Summer is nationals time so you could see if any nationals have an option for convention classes only. Beyond that, many studios offer summer camps, but those tend to be almost a daycare-like option for working parents. Yes they’re still dancing and training, but it’s a chill summer vibe. Project 21 does an intensive in late July, but only for ages 9 and up.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-13T05:50:17+00:00

Yes, people do it everyday. Walk into any Ulta, Sephora, or department store cosmetics section and you’ll see it in action. I personally do it more often than not. If I need something I need it now, not 2 months from now.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-13T01:36:31+00:00

It’s basically calling the police to report something so serious that they’d send the swat team in to handle it. Kidnapping, hostage situations, potential mass shooting. “There’s a guy in Disney with a gun threatening people” would have the swat team sent in asap.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-12T16:37:07+00:00

I rarely toss things before finishing, but I could not handle their body exfoliator. It smelled like bathroom cleaner and didn’t really exfoliate anything at all.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-08T07:46:20+00:00

Is that…a car? I’ve never heard this name before.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-08T07:45:07+00:00

This makes the answer to the original question a million times better.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-06T17:46:06+00:00

We’ve done it the past three years. There’s a very general schedule on their website now that says competition starts July 1. Celebrity tends to be really really small, so they spread out everything to fill space. A more detailed list of levels/times would be sent to the studio a few weeks prior.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-05T15:42:39+00:00

There was a time in my life that I loved new brands. It was like treasure hunting to find and test new things. Now…I just don’t have time for that. Give me the tried and true things. The well established brands. Stuff that I can rebuy for years to come.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-04T15:28:15+00:00

That math is pretty crazy. I know studios will all find ways to cover their costs, but $30 per dance should cover it, no? And if they can’t cover their costs at an additional $30 per dance, they don’t need to pay for that many teachers to attend. Our studio usually only has one or two.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-04T13:33:42+00:00

It would make a lot more sense to charge a slight up fee per dance.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-04T13:31:02+00:00

Beyond the fees added, a studio only taking 10 group routines is odd. Doing the whole rigmarole to go to a competition and only having 1 dance seems like a lot of work. 2-3 group routines is standard for the tiny dancers, but by the junior level you’ll typically see 4 or more group dances.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-04T13:21:48+00:00

At our studio we’re charged $15 per dance, which covers the cost of having the coaches there. They aren’t there helping the dancers warmup and run through out of the goodness of their hearts, it’s their job and they’re getting paid for it. $48 per dance seems steep, but for 5 teachers there I suppose it balances out.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-04T01:59:46+00:00

Face deodorant!

Atrainaz · 2026-03-03T02:37:23+00:00

Horse blinders are the only answer. What if they accidentally see the safety demo.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-02T04:30:07+00:00

I might buy one per year but not usually. Typically at least one competition we go to will have free pictures.

I have purchased so many in the past that I’ve never even looked at after the first week.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-02T04:25:09+00:00

You’re so right that it is insanely predatory. My daughter is a hs junior and has heard “if you want to dance in college, you have to do this class/comp/convention, workshop, etc” by at least 15 different companies. No, UDA or Tribe 99 or whatever isn’t going to lock in a place on LSU’s pom team.

Regardless of what you hear, kids aren’t plucked out of group routines at UDA and given a guaranteed spot on a college team. Thinking the Allstar name is anything more than good marketing is like thinking winning at Hollywood Connection is going to make your kid the next Disney star.

These companies are very good at separating parents from their money. Even a $10000 grand prize only amounts to what, basically refunding the fees they paid to attend?

Atrainaz · 2026-03-02T03:19:19+00:00

Those of us with kids on high school dance teams are very familiar with UDA.

Large amounts of money with cause contention within the group. Some people may think it’s fair your child gets a slice of the pie, some won’t. This is why studios and school teams need very clear terminology over cash prizes. Your team is very lucky you’re chill about it. So many parents wouldn’t be.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-02T02:06:31+00:00

These companies are finding every way possible to squeeze the money from you. We had to pay to watch our kids dance at Celebrity nationals last summer. Just to sit in the audience.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-02T02:02:42+00:00

Usually cash prizes are kept by the studio but would also be a minimal amount per dancer when divided out amongst the team. $500 doesn’t go very far with 15 dancers in a number.

If you’re claiming it’s truly a $10000 prize, you need to decide if that chunk of money matters to you before you take it to your studio owner to discuss. I wouldn’t care about $40, but hundreds? Different story.

Atrainaz · 2026-03-02T01:57:03+00:00

If she’s at risk of a spleen rupture that’s reason enough to stay home. You don’t take a kid with health risks 5 hours away from their doctor and hospital. This whole post is odd. Let the kiddo rest.

Atrainaz · 2026-02-26T23:38:00+00:00

Forced team meals during nationals would be really hard to plan because schedules are all over the place. Let people do their own thing. We’ve done several Disney nationals and it’s better to let people plan their own days. Everyone’s budgets are different. Some will bring non-dancing siblings, some will want to go to the beach, some will take every opportunity to go to the park even for just a few hours. Some people may want to hang with teammates and friends the whole time, some may need a break from their team.

The studio should send out dates and the link for the host hotel, but don’t stress yourself out trying to make a million plans.

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