I just spent the last 1/2 hour reading this post from the first one.....and let me tell you how much I needed to see that I am not the only one with these thoughts.

On that note.... I would like to vent. Here it goes......

Iam SICK SICK SICK, of overbearing dance mommies, that think they know more about dance then me. And no your daughter is not as great as you would like to think she is. Please stop making excuses for her when she can't do what I want her to do. Or why she does so poorly in competition. And PLEASE stop telling me that she "only smiles and really pulls it all together on stage". Because I have taught her for 3 years, and I have never seen her really do a good job.... PERIOD!!!!!

And just because I called your daughter in for extra tech classes.....does not mean you get to tell the other parents that all the new dance education Iam recieving, has gone to my head.

I know you are paying for the costume, but unless I have asked your daughter to wear something that is not age appropriate..... YOU DO NOT GET A SAY!

One of my SO's is trying to not have a high heat bill, so it is freezing in the studio. My dancers are cold ALL THE TIME. And yes, this particular SO would never listen to me if I tried to tell her to turn the heat up. This particular SO will also come into my class and tell my students how to do the steps better, and how I should really teach them to do it. In front of the students!!!!

Students who DO NOT practice or even go over their dance and say they did. I am not stupid....I can tell when you haven't.

Students who can do the steps but completely lack energy and the ability to PERFROM, and somehow they get to do Competitions!

Students who whine to their parents that I was being mean to them in class. The only time I get stern is when I have competition kids that Don't put forth the effort and disipline that they need. And the kicker is that the child that does this the most...is the SO's!!!!! Yet I remain the bad guy!

Hmmmm....well that is a little better! Sure I will have more soon.

Parents whose checks bounce. It helps when you write checks, you have money in bank to cover them. If you don't have the money, be up front and we'll work something out. I'm getting tried of NSF and then I have to chase you. We have sponsorships and other plans to help. Don't make me chase you. And then play stupid when I catch you. NO ONE likes to feel like they're being used.

Teachers who insist on getting paid but don't show up to teach. Please quit and allow another who wants to teach to be here. I'd ask you to leave, but you're never here....

Students ages 12 - 14 who were moved back. Yes you are no longer dancing in a junior clas but in a beginners. You were warned repeatedly that you needed to step up your effort in order to stay. What you didn't believe me when I warned you? You think you can do it now? Why not the other 24 times I had asked you nicely? You don't want to dance with the babies? They're the same age, just a beginners class. Work hard.

Don't roll your eyes at my assistants. They're working hard and are giving excellent help to you. Don't push their hands out of the way. They are giving you the correct corrections. Perhaps you should consider working harder then you won't need the help. Don't flop around like a fish out of water, you'll end up hurt, you're spoiling it for everyone else who does want to try and quite honestly, why are you taking dance when you appear to not like it?

No I don't hate you if I give you constant help. It means I want you to do the best you can as I've seen it before and know you can do it.

Head up means lifting your chin off your chest. Why do you always appear to want to look down your own cleavage, yes they're suppose to be there, but why must you always check to see if they're there?

You're one of the tiniest girls in class yet you insist on letting it all hang out. Pull it in.

You are in pointe class with pointe shoes... why?

Nice of you to join us finally. You do know classes began in September? You wanted to make it in time for choreography? So what about all the steps you've missed learning for choreography? OH?

Parents show up on time to pick your kids up! And for goodness sake, it's December, put a coat on them!

Parents give us a telephone number that works before you decide to yell at us for not calling you, when we fevorishly attempted to find you when classes were released early due to a storm. I am sorry you are angry you had to go out of your during a storm to pick your child up at my house... that is 5 minutes from the studios.

Parent, don't send your boyfriend of the month and expect us to release this five year old to him. Because it's not happening.

Arrrg!

I think we all can relate to this one;

Dear Parent,

Please do not arrive fifteen minutes early, see that I'm in the studio, drop off your five year old and LEAVE. First off, see that I'm over by the connecting door to the other studio, talking to my boss? This is the only time of the week we have to catch up on important details like recital and class issues, believe it or not we're not just chatting. Second, I'm here a half hour early to prepare, not watch your child. Who is now running in circles around the studio. Third, you're the first to complain when you come to pick her up and she's not behaving well at the end of class. Well, she got here fifteen to twenty minutes early and was running around the studio. She's now over tired and over stimulated. And, while I know each and every child is special, it does detract from the other student's experience if I have to spend all my time attempting to keep your child under control the last ten minutes of class.

Sincerely,

The Fed-Up Dance Teacher

Dear 11 year old student-
Stop doing your left foot when I tell you to use your right and stop rolling your eyes at me when I tell you your on the wrong foot! Do I need to put a sticker on your right foot like I do with the 3 year olds. I know left is your strong foot but you need to do right as well so it can become strong and the only way that will happen is if you do the same foot as the rest of your class. The reason I didn't ask you to do your pirroutte for a diva buck at the end of class was because I knew that even if you tried it you would turn the wrong way or lift the wrong foot. I still asked you to show me your leaps. If you start out in the correct form each time we do your pirouttes you would do it correctly and stop rolling your eyes at me everytime I correct you. I know you want to dance and improve but it won't happen unless you LISTEN AND STOP TALKING WHEN YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO- that is way I ignore you if you want to tell me something- get to class on time and tell me or wait till the end. If you have a question raise your hand- your in 5th grade been dancing since you were 5 please act and dance your age THANK YOU!!!

Ok, when I say your hair has to be in a bun, that does mean A BUN, sorry but a pony tail doesn't count, and no I don't have any extra hair ties, you knew where you were coming when you got in the car so why didn't you come prepared?!?!?!

"Do we have to dance today?" What the heck do you mean by that? What are your parents paying for? Where are you right now, and what else did you think was going to happen here today?

You need to go to the bathroom before class, not during your least favorite exercise on the barre! (Although I do understand if you have to go right before grand jetes)

YES STRETCHING HURTS!!!! GET OVER IT!!!! In fact if it doesn't hurt, then you aren't getting anything out of being in that posititon! And if you are talking while you are stretching inclass stretching anyhow) then you are not in enough pain!

Wow this feels fabulous, I didnt know I had this much on my chest!

Dear Super Sweet Seven Year Old Student:

Why is it that before class you are the kindest and sweetest thing in the world. You help me carry my stuff inside the studio, say "please", "thank you", "you're welcome" and are just a pleasure to be around BEFORE CLASS and as soon as you walk into the dance studio everything you say is so loud it's as if you are yelling? Also, why is it that you don't listen to a single word I say? Perhaps it's because you're talking so dang loud that you can't hear me! The other students are getting annoyed by you because you always go across the floor when it's not your turn and never get out of their way. When I tell you for the 10th time in a 45 min. class to "use your inside voice" and you tell me I've already told you that then WHY AREN'T YOU USING YOUR FREAKING INSIDE VOICE???!!! Ugh!

Part I:
Please do not sign your child up for dance because they need to lose weight and then get mad at me for not producing any miracle results within weeks when you feed the kid Big Macs and french fries after every class.

If your child is acting up in class, please do not bang on the windows and yell at them. Think about it-has this ever really worked?

Please do not give me any advice on how to conduct my class or handle a particular kid. I have a very good knowledge of what I am doing, and if I get to a situation that I cannot handle, I will let you know!

If your child is not getting a certain step, for crying out loud, NEVER come into the studio yourself and "demonstrate" how the step is supposed to look. I got news for ya - you don't know how to do it either.

Please don't ask me in August after the first class what song the kids will dance to in the recital, what their costume will look like, etc. I can't even think about that right now.

When I tell you that I don't pro-rate, I think that means...uh...THAT I DON'T PRO-RATE! I sincerely can't tell you how sorry I am that your child was sick last week or that you were having a funeral for her pet gerbel in the backyard. You still must pay full tuition unless I cancel a class myself.

How many times do I have to say it-BALLET SHOES AT WAL-MART,TARGET, AND PAYLESS ARE NOT BALLET SHOES! Especially those stupid bedroom slippers. Hello, just because they are pink and have a bow on the end does not mean you can wear them to class. Here's an idea that will save you a lot of trouble-read the freakin registration form before you sign your kid up and you'll know what to get! Just a suggestion.

TO BE CONTINUED....

Those things on the end of our legs are called feet, POINT THEM. Those things on the end of your feet guess what....those are called toes can you please point those too

Yes stretching hurts, no wonder your not flexible you never stretch and when you do stretch you don't hold it long enough or do it right.

You have a date? But your only at the studio 2 days a week! Can't you schedule your date for one of the other 5 nights that your NOT dancing!!

DO NOT MARK your dance! If your lazy now and don't do it full out guess what, your going to do it the exact same way on stage!!

DO NOT wear street clothes, or PJ's to class(ballet, tumbling and so on). I had a little girl about 6 or 7 come into my tumbling class wearing jeans.

It's called a set. No you can't just fling your body around and call it a back tuck. You have to go up first then flip.

You are in dance class so wouldn't you think that these girls should own at least ONE leotard??

Once again it is dance class WHERE ARE YOUR DANCE SHOES! No, socks do not count as shoes!

How are you going to dance or tumble with hair flying in your face. Please put your hair in a ponytail!

"I can't" YOU HAVEN'T EVEN TRIED!!!!

AcroDancer I hear you. Turning up for tumbling classes in Jeans, or with their hair out. To us it seems like the craziest silliest idea, but it actually HAPPENS!!! How can a parent feel safe dropping their child off for tumbling when they have their hair out, what do they think we do in those classes.

What a fabulous thread!!!! I saw this and thought I had so much to say. But after reading many of the replies, I feel that it has been said. I really feel much better seeing that everyone is having the same problems. I have often felt that teaching would be soooo much better if we could just get rid of the parents. What do they think the rules are for? For someone else? This venting thread is going to become my favorite, I think.

I think I finally need this page...

To the SO who thought that paying me next to nothing for so many years would keep me loyal....phtttt ! I don't love you, you are my boss, not my second mother as you told my actual mother!

Fix your studio when the roof is going to fall in...don't complain how much it's gonna cost, you save so much money by paying me $10 a class! And YES, it is a health and saftey issue and YES I WILL call the council if you don't get it fixed.

Don't belittle my choreography just because you don't understand modern dance...I know that if it's not set to music from the 50's you don't get it, that doesn't mean that judges and especially the students don't appreciate it. In fact they love it and wish you would stop embarrassing them by making them do your terrible routines!

Don't berate my students an hour before a competition and then expect them to smile and say "yes, you're right. We are all lazy, and useless." How do you think they're gonna perform when they have been crying!!!!!

SPEND SOME BEEPING MONEY!! I feel awful everytime I have to tell the students who have worked so hard all year, that they have to wear those 10 year old leotards with bits of rubbish hanging off them, again! Where does the money go?

Don't promise a better working environment and not deliver. And when I leave to start my own studio, you don't have to tell everyone that I left because I didn't get what I wanted...that's painfully obvious.

And finally, BE THERE. I know you go off examaining etc but if your studio is called "Miss Jane's" people kinda expect to see Miss Jane there and teaching. Don't leave all the orgainsation up to me, I have 3 other jobs as well and I don't have time to pick up all your loose ends. (Then try to act all concerned that I am spreading myself too thin.)

I may as well be doing this for myself not for someone else's studio.

As you all might be able to tell, I have now left and find it liberating to vent. If any of you are in the same situation with an SO please don't despair, you are not alone!

xxxK

Why is it that no teacher can correct a kid without a parent flipping out? That is what they pay us for. It is getting worse and worse. I am also so sick of the the diva syndrome so many of these girls have. So rude to each other and always putting each other down in class-nobody wants to be wrong these days....aghhhh .

Dear teens,

SHUT UP!!! I'm so tired of having to yell over you and spending half the class getting your attention. From now on, I'm only going to focus my attention on the students who listen, want to be there, work hard and are respectful to me and the other students. The rest of you - good luck improving! And, I hope you have fun being in the back for the recital dance. UGHHH!!!

Sincerely,
Your hoarse dance teacher

OMG! I am crying in pain from laughing so hard at some of these! I wish I could think of something to add but it's all been said! What a release!!!!

Hi everyone!

Guess what I did... I fell down a flight of stairs and ended up flat on my back for three weeks. (shaking head)

Here's my vent:

To my teen classes: Yes you must listen to Miss Jessica, she is taking on my classes until I return. She does this differently, she does that differently... So? She is there teaching you what she needs to, suck it up and let her. Yes you are 14 and yes she is 22.... your point? You should give her the same respect you give me, she is currently your teacher and working hard maintaining your training at the level required.

To My Training Assistant: No you are not suddenly "God" do not treat the students like they are inferior simply because I am absent, I still hear what's going on even tho I'm not there... surprise! Leave the ego at home before coming to the studio.

To Parents: The studio is equipped with many fully trained teachers and they can handle their classes without me hovering over them. Relax... I will be back...

To Students: Your classes haven't changed, there is a teacher present doing her job, there is no need to simply quit trying. Take advantage of the moment and get experience from a different perspective that this teacher is bound to offer.

To Self: Don't panic! Let your teachers, assistant teachers and helpers carry on. You chose them well and they are doing their jobs... let them. It will all work out in the end.

To Student Wanting to Quit: You were corrected in class, assisted one on one and you feel you were being picked on? You're upset because you weren't allowed to get a drink of water right in the middle of a lesson? You were brought to tears because an Assistant Teacher told you that you weren't doing the step right and then tried to show you the proper way? You went to your mother in tears and told her that you don't want to dance anymore because this Assistant Teacher was mean??? Have I not corrected you in class and then shown you the proper way? Have I not said no to drinks and washroom breaks when I'm in the middle of a lesson? Hmmmm Are you here to learn how to dance or to just take up space? I'm not sure what the problem is here....sorry.

Whew! Ok I feel better now...thanks!!!

I have some! I have some!

These first ones are from my very first year of teaching- I had been an assistant for many years prior to becoming a teacher, so I sort of knew what to expect, but seriously, I was a junior in high school, so these things really pissed me off:

#1- the parents of the preschooler class COSTANTLY poking their heads in to check on their little girls. YOU'RE OUT OF THEIR SIGHT FOR A REASON!!! You want them to do things with other little girls without you having to hold their hand every second? Then GO AWAY! Yes, you're more than welcome to wait in the lobby, especially if there's a major problem with your child, but DON'T keep coming in and interrupting the class! That's what makes your little girl not want to leave your side! LEAVE HER ALONE FOR 5 FREAKIN' MINUTES!

#2- Just because I was 17 and not 18 DOESN'T mean I don't know how to run a dance class. I've been trained by the director, for God's sake! STOP telling me how to run my classes! You're a brand new dance parent, you don't know squat! Have YOU been dancing for 14 years? NO. Have YOU been an assistant teacher for 5 years prior to being a teacher? NOOO. So shut up and get out of my classroom.

#3- Just because your child is 10 years old DOESN'T mean they don't know how to dress appropriately for class! When I say NO JEANS, I mean it! Don't come in the next week and bitch at me for making your precious little kid upset. You AND your kid know what's appropriate for class! I've gone over it in parent meetings, individual conferences, etc! Just because I'M not the director doesn't mean I don't still have rules and policies in my classes! Also, STOP letting them dress like hoochies for class! They're 10 years old, not 18! Stop letting them wear almost nothing to class! [Hell, stop BUYING them clothes like that!]

#4- Just because your preschooler picks up steps a little faster than the other little girls DOES NOT [I repeat, DOES NOT] mean she will be moved to a class taught by the director that's at a higher level! SHE'S 4 YEARS OLD! She will NOT be in class with 11 year olds, and THATS THE WAY IT IS!

#5- I KNOW HOW TO MEASURE KIDS FOR COSTUMES! I also know how to pin costumes for alterations! Just because you're almost 50 doesn't mean you have to show me how to do these things! Your children's costumes are being altered by a professional that's been hired by the studio for the past 10 years! Jeez!

Sorry, got a little mad there. Those things just really pissed me off my first year of teaching. Now for some things that piss me off NOW:

#1- [This is to one of the secretaries at the studio I transferred to when my first one shut down, this one was much bigger]- Yes, I'm a teacher. Yes, I get paid. BUT, you also grant us teachers time off...ESPECIALLY the nights that we aren't even scheduled to teach! DO NOT call me during a college class 10 times, then when I call back demand to know where I am. YOU KNOW WHERE I AM, IN COLLEGE CLASSES! IT'S WRITTEN DOWN RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE! And today is Wednesday, I'M NOT TEACHING! I have plans, you know, a social life?! I also have a paper to begin writing! I dance/teach 4 nights a week! This is the only night [aside from weekends] that I have to spend with my friends! I also happen to have a boyfriend, and I'm not about to deprive him of any more time with me than he already is deprived of! There are 7 other teachers, get one of them to teach, preferrably one that lives in your town!

These are more from a dancer point of view..

#1- THIS STUDIO OBVIOUSLY DOES HAVE FAVORITES. [I know all teachers say we don't have favorites. But this studio, ohhhh boy does the head teacher/director make it obvious.] Being such a big studio, maybe it's hard not to take to certain students more than others. BUT... don't make it so FREAKIN' obvious! It really does hurt all the other students' feelings! Are YOU in the student lounge listening to the non-favorite students talk about how their feelings are hurt because of the "special treatment" the favorites recieve? No. But because I am both a student and a teacher, I can relate. I hear the feelings and I definitely agree. The favoritism in this studio NEEDS to STOP!

#2- STOP putting the SAME people up front for 95% of the dance! Putting us back-liners up front for 8 counts each doesn't even it out in any way! We are JUST as good as your favorites! [If I weren't, why would you make me a teacher?]

#3- The "everyone kick to your head" line won't make some of the class that can't kick completely to their heads, kick completely to their heads! Just because one student you favor can bend in ungodly ways does NOT mean that by telling us we all should look like her this time around that we'll magically be able to do it! Maybe if we did more technique that would strengthen our stretching abilities, we'd be closer to her capability!

#4- Your favorites aren't the only ones who get sick. Don't think we don't notice the fact that your 4 favorite students can be sick [or more often than not, espcially in one case, "sick,"] and can sit out of class, leave class early, etc... but the rest of us get bitched at if we're ill ONCE in a year or if we get a nasty headache and want to sit out of class for only a few minutes, or, if a couple of us have asthma [thatd be me and one other student] and if we can't breathe, we still can't take a break?! But your precious few that dont even have asthma get inhalers and get to sit out for half an hour even though they can clearly breathe just fine? That's pure B.S.!!!

#5- The fact that your flexible favorite dancer can get "sick," [shes the one] and suck up to the teachers to get out of class, and it WORKS?! But if someone else has to leave because gee, I don't know, maybe they really are sick, she gets to degrade them and tell them they should just deal with it and continue class. SHUT UP, you suckup!

#6- Also that the SAME girl can whine and cry when she doesn't understand a step or excercise, so the ENTIRE class has to go back over it 50 more times, yet if someone else doesn't get something her automatic response is, "well, you should be paying attention." Screw you, you snotty little witch!

#7- Yet AGAIN the SAME girl... comes to class late half the time because she was socializing or eating in the student lounge, and doesn't get in trouble, but if someone else is late, she's the first one to comment, even before the teacher. Also the fact that when she does come in late, she socializes instead of catching up on the class. But if someone else even breathes wrongly, she's in their face shutting them up.

wow...thats gotta be THE longest post EVER.

I'm sorry...:[ I just had a lot of venting to do! eek!

♥MissAsh





Whew, sorry. Got a little angry there. That stuff just really made me mad.

Dear Teenage Studnets....

I understand that at your age there is a ton of emotion and hormones running through your body, but please leave the drama queen act at the door. I enjoy how the look on your face can go from I am having the time of your life to, why the HELL am I here... Stop complaining to the dancer beside you that I did not go over your counts yet, I showed you the step and now I will give each and everyone of you the counts to which you will be dancing the step. Calm down....

Yes stretching does hurt, but I remember each and everyone of you at the beginning of the year wrote what you wanted to work on to better yourselves this year in dance and almost everyone wrote THE SPLITS, so how do you think you can do the splits without stretching.

To the student I allowed to come into the jazz class beacuse your friends were in it, and we are a small studio and had no where else to put you. At least try in dance!!! I think if you really wanted to be here, you would have atleast been able to do a clean single by now, and not look like a train wreck!!! And complaining about stuff is not allowed from you cause you have not done the time yet. Oh yeah, and when you are waiting on the side for your turn to come across the floor would it kill you to ask another dancer to go over the step with you, so again you do not look like a train wreck!!!! Sluffing it off does not look good either in my eyes.

To the parents so let their 6 year old daughter tell me they are moving and this will be the last class, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING!!! You need to talk to me and make me aware of this, not allowing your daughter to tell me like 3 mins before her last dance class. No it is not cutie in my eyes, it makes me sick to think that you are not woman enough to tell me, cause you are possibly scared of me. I am only scary when I am pissed off... Which you now did by doing this. Oh yeah and then not wanting to pay for the costuem, cause you are not going to be dancing with us anymore. Sorry, it states that you have full responsiblity of that costume, when your child signs up for dance.

ahhh I think that feels better......

I haven't had to do this in a while....but here goes

To the mother who had the nerve to tell another mother of a 5 year old that I did not want her in my tap class but just wanted her money- screw you!!!! I love my little 5 year old and she can tap!!! To that same mother - conspiring with another mother to pull your kids from the tap class that they are in with the 5 year old so the class will be cancelled is just plain mean!!! it won't work, I am not going to cancel the class because you pulled your 2 and another mother pulled her 1 leaving me with 2 in the class. If i have to make it into a duo then so be it. YOur kids are going to suffer because when they register for tap next year they will have lost half a year - boo hoo!!!!! Its a rec class - anyone can be it, your kids aren't that great anyways - sweet, sweet kids, but no more talented than that 5 year old who you are trying to belittle. Maybe you should take a clue from your kids who love my class and love the 5 year old and let them have fun for god sakes!!!!

Ok.....*breathes* I am good

My entire class of 5 yr. olds were HORRIBLE today! I finally ended up putting the entire class in a "Time-Out" for a few minutes. (Partially to give me some time to calm down.) One of my students is always a pain in the butt. She's always crying because she doesn't want to go last or pulling on the other girls or even trying to call me by the wrong name which I quickly put an end to. It's always something. Today, while we're doing plies she kept saying "blah, blah, blah" etc. That didn't stop. So, I decided I would just ignore her. I asked the students questions and no matter what I wouldn't call on her. Then she started crying about it so I told her that I'm not going to call on her b/c she's not paying attention. Well, her behavior continued to be horrible throughout the entire class. And of course it caught on. The worst part though is that I could tell that this girls mom was watching the entire class through the window. That said, I was soooo surprised that when class was over (and after I very publicly announced to the entire lobby that I had to put the girls in Time-Out for not behaving) she went on and on to her daughter that she did such a great job and she's so proud of her and her jumps were fantastic. And I'm like YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!! I'm going to have to talk to this girl's mom before next class and clue her in on what really goes on when you take the rose colored glasses off! Ugh! Why are some parents so delusional?!?!

A main vent I right now is that the studio owner where I teach gave me five weeks to teach the highland dancing's Reel O'Tulloch to the Irish dancers. I taught them the four easiest steps in the dance. (Of course, I had to teach the easiest steps since they have had no experience in highland.) She made sure to attend the first two or three classes. During the class, she barged right in and began to try to teach the movements and steps while I was teaching. I don't know why I didn't say, "Please let me teach. I thought I was supposed to be teaching this!". After those classes, she did not attend for the rest of the five weeks. After the five weeks, she came to see how things were going. It has upset me that she has tried to teach the movements and technique. I've barely had a chance teach the movements and technique, since she's been doing that, even though she's had no experience in highland. I've tried to come up with a way to tell her respectfully to let me teach that but not put her on the defensive.

Understand that I respect her very much as a teacher and as the studio owner. It's just that I feel she has undermined my authority while I taught the dance.

WHYYYY are parents so nuts?!

I started all classes on recital dances last week. Things are going really well. Im very impressed with the girls. BUT NOW...

Last night, one of the mom's comes up to me after her daughter's class, and asks when the recital is (as if it hasnt been posted on every newsletter for the last 3 months). I tell her May 19th and 20th. She says "Yeah, I was afraid of that. Well, can 'Susie' only be in Sunday's show? My sister is getting married on the 19th..."

Oh, sure. I'll just make up two dances with two entirely different formations and make the class of 20 eight-year-olds learn both in order to accomodate to your daughter.

ARRRRRGGGG !

maureensiobhan wrote:

I've barely had a chance teach the movements and technique, since she's been doing that, even though she's had no experience in highland.

Whoa! Why is she teaching highland if she's had no experience in highland? I run my Irish program out of a mainstream studio, and the studio owner has asked me questions and watched a few of my classes out of curiosity, but he's never, ever tried to take over. Which is good, because he doesn't know any Irish!

5 weeks to teach the reel? Are you kidding?! How many hours per week and for what purpose? Is it just a performance/recital thing? You can't cram years of technique into just a few hours.

I would have a real (no pun intended) heart-to-heart with the Studio owner. It could be a communication thing. She might have an agenda type thing you aren't aware of. I would be a little miffed if that happened, but my big mouth would open and I would privately ask why she felt it was necessary to intervene. Actions like that can undermine your work, even if it wasn't her intent.

With so little time to teach a dance with so much intricacy, two types of timing and a multitude of steps, I don't envy you the job. But somehow Maureen, I have a good feeling you will do a great one! I hope you let us know how it goes!

To the new 3 year old mom---- yea you started classes in the end of November then had the 2 weeks in Decembe and only 3 classes thus far this year but please arrive on time with your daughter and MAKE sure she goes to the bathroom before we start class I'm tired of her coming into class and 5 minutes later having to go to the bathroom the other girls hardly ever go to the bathroom during class and starting next week I won't have my assistant to take her to the bathroom and I can't be helping her in the bathroom and dancing with the other 4 girls in class at the same time!

To the senior jazz class -
You are the highest level jazz class at the studio and the majority of you have been at the studio longer than any other students. So I expect that you know the studio is open on Presidents Day and you have class! It's always been that way! The studio is never closed for any Monday holiday. YOU KNOW THIS!!! So why did noone show up for class tonight?! I better not hear ANYONE say next week "oh, I thought the studio was closed..."