I began taking lessons at a studio again after 3 years of not dancing due to an injury sustained through improper training. Within 3 months I was hired and "trained" as a teacher and while I can lead and follow a sizable number of steps through bronze dancesport and dance a number through silver I know my form isnt all that good and I have alot to learn. I love the dance and want to be a good dancer for my students and myself. My boss and coworkers are rather preoccupied with enrollements and could care less if Im any good. They go by the "what do the students know anyway" motto and its driving me nuts, I dont have time to take lessons at another studio but how do I get a job at one when I cant mature as a dancer now....what experiance do I have to show????? HELP

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? Rella ?

While many of us love to cook, some of us also love to teach people to cook. Some of the teachers are training future chef to be a world class. Some of the teachers are teaching housewives/househusbands to cook a delicious meal. Not a thing wrong with that.

You need to ask youself some basic questions:

Do I want to cook the best I could and keep learn more of the cooking art?

Would I enjoy teaching the basic cooking day in and day out?

Regards,

Keh Gough

Dear Morella:

Especially for someone concerned about keeping her job, and how everyone in the dance world knows everyone else and tattles to your boss, this is too public place to be complaining about your employer! Anyone interested in dance might happen upon this message board and see what you post here.

If I were in your position, I would delete your first message, and with it this whole thread. But first copy Joe's message so you can check out his studio.

Good luck!

[This message has been edited by Finell (edited 10-26-2000).]

Flip for a few lessons at another private studio. You can go to Dancesport on 61st and take three lessons with Ronen Khayat as the man and three lessons with Cecilia Sayat as your woman. It will improve your tecnique greatly. Go incognito and enjoy yourself! Lord knows, Paul Pellicoro might give you a job!

Diamondizediamondize@aol.com

Dear Morella,
Check this out, My studio needs instructors willing to learn more and excel at their craft.Go to rhythmsinmotion.com and see for yourself. I'm sure you will be happy with a change of pace.
joe

I am working for a chain. A chain that seems to be the majority in my area so going to another studio is almost immpossable. You have no idea what I have been told by some of the most respected studios in New York.

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? Rella ?

Rella:

I had taken lessons from different "Chain" studios to know their way of operation. And I had been to some of their inter-studio's competitions which were not very impressive. It is not hard to image what the other reputable studios had told you in NY area. Well, I know you are a consciencious teacher and you will teach the best of what you can. To teach beigner's class well and to give beginers a sound foundation in ballroom dancing is quite important. Keep up the good work and enjoy your teaching !!!

Regard,

Keh Gough

Rella:

It is very shocking to learn that you were unable to get a coach to improve yourself because of your studio's policy or the studio owner's policy. ( It is not clear if you are working for a chain or an individual studio. ) Since you are paying for your own improvement which also will benefit your studio as your future teaching skill is concerned. As the studio owner should be much happy to learn that you are trying to upgrade your skill and not interupting your further study. I would like to hear other teachers' comment and studio owners' comment, pro or con.

Regards,

Keh Gough

Morella, PLEASE...remember this. A studio hires you to be a TEACHER. They do not hire you to be a DANCER!!! There is a very big difference between the two. Be flattered that they offerd you a job...this means that they felt you are a generally natural dancer with a good personality, AND they don't really have to invest a whole lot of time in training you to dance! The main job of a teacher, as far as a studio owner is concerned, is that you are able to get people to enroll and produce an income for the studio. As long as you are a few steps ahead of the students then honestly they have given you enough training. This is sad but the BASIC truth. But don't let that get you down. I was in a studio for a very long time, and while they provided me with enough info for my bronze students, I really had no real substantial technical info for my more advanced students(Hi Len!), or for my own dancing. So I started going out to get the knowledge for myself. I got my own coaches, payed for my own training, and payed for my own certifications. The studio benifited hugely from my knowledge, but they were not obligated to provide it because it did not help sell bronze programs, which, are the meat and potatoes of their income. It is rather disheartening for new teachers to realize this. Please don't get me wrong...there are studios out there that do care about their teachers training, but really they are not obligated to give it to you. Studios like this generally lose lots of teachers after awhile. But as long as you understand this and love what you are doing enough then nothing can stop you from being the teacher AND dancer you want to be.

Steve,
Thanks for asking. Not much has changed. My boss decided to have a slew of shows, with merely days to prepare routines containing all 10 dancesport figures in each dance and each level..bronze,silver,gold my following skills have just about doubled in a matter of weeks. Not to mention silver dancesport really has some nice ones for the lady. While I still cant lead most of them I am happy that I at least got to improve myself as a dancer. I have found little to no progress on branching out. My coworkers have become less caring about their jobs but I found a rather advanced new student that has just joined my college team. Me and him are trying in our spare time to prepare for Black pool if we are lucky. It probably wont happen this time around but I will settle for the eagerness of another at this point. For there really is little else to do. Still thanks so much for asking and as always. Any advice or information is a blessed thing. Hope your enjoying your holidays.

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? Rella ?