Hi,

I'm a dance instructor in Italy and would like to know more about being a dance instructor in America.

I heard some things, which are very different from where I live. Is it right that teachers can compete together with their students? Do they have to do that, or is it up to them? Do you have little couples consisting of two students, and teachers have to fill the gaps for missing dance partners? What kind of people do compete in America?

I mean, here teachers only dance with their students to show them something, but not on comps or for whole lessons.

I hope some dance instructors can tell me about their work in America, I'd like to know everything! Also students' answers are welcome, tell me what you'd expect from a good teacher.

Regards,
Mary

Mary. Nobody is answering. I don't live in the USA. Untill very recently there were no Pro-Am but now only on a small scale. I believe in the USA there are competitions that are all Pro-am, somebody will put me right if it is not so. The teachers don't have to be in this, it is by choice. In a slightly different way it is like the Dancing with the Stars, except the partners can be of a very high standard and are not beginners. We last year at one of our bigger comps. had a group of ladies from Japan, fully dressed, dancing with some local professionals. They only had a very short time to become accustomed to each other. I was there and the dancing was extra good. Right, lets hear some input from over there.

the pro-am comps are for students who do not have partners who wish to compete or for students who wish to compete with a professional to improve their own dance ability. Usually the student pays the his/her instructor's fees for attending the comp.