My Daughter Loves Ballet!  Now What? Dad?

By Darin Zehr

I have to admit, when our daughter started ballet, my comfort level of how to engage with anything more than a “so, how did it go?” was not real strong.  Not an area I had been around before.  “Hut Hut”, I got it, “Tutu”?, eh.  Fortunately, my background doesn’t dictate what our children engage with in life. 

Our youngest daughter has now been involved with LWB for somewhere just short of a decade.  I have zero excuses for not supporting her.  

You, Dad, may be in a similar situation I was in.  So, with the support of some other ballet battle tested Dads, here are a few thoughts on what NOT to do in supporting your daughter(s).  

• Don’t go to her performances.  If you do, she will think you care about her and what she has passion about.  Also, it may be overrated being impressed by how much she has improved.  As a bonus, you won’t have to speak with any of her teachers.  That may be awkward, they may tell you how great your daughter is.  And then there’s the other ballet parents...  enough said.
• Make sure you don’t talk to her about her teachers and what she is learning. The ballet technique discussion is weird enough, but the truth that she is being taught about life can be a bit over the top.  That truth which will help her grow into a strong young lady, will also help you grow, and who wants to learn because of their children?
• Buy yourself a tutu and practice ballet.   YouTube videos could work as a guide. Your daughter will be so impressed with the effort and possible injuries that you overcome. As a bonus, the odds your wife will think you look fantastic in a tutu are greater than winning the lottery. 

For more advanced guidance, talk to your wife. 

Darin

PS. On a more straightforward note.  LWB is a great blessing to our daughters. To have a group provide such great character development, love, and life lessons for our daughters through teaching and activation is amazing. The ballet is great, but the life impact is greater. God has blessed the mission of LWB and we, as Dads, get the benefit of them helping raise our daughters.  I would encourage you, especially during these challenging times, to love and support your daughter greatly, and look for ways to support LWB in all ways you can.  May God bless you and your family.