Oh gosh. I've been reading a bunch of these vents and BOY DON'T I KNOW SOME OF THIS STUFF! haha. Seems like everyone is griping about lack of discipline/committment/motivation. yeah, we have that problem with our studio as well. The owner lets the parents walk all over her, and well, her business is going right down the drain b/c of it I'm sure it'll survive for awhile, but it's just not that great of a place.

Oh, so the vent about other teachers. Well, I take one class at the studio I teach at - it is a beginning high school & college age hip hop class. Now, I've been dancing my whole life, I am taking the class for fun...most of these girls have very little if any dance experience. What gets on my nerves is the teacher who goes through the combinations we're working on so quickly and without explaining anything....now I KNOW if I am barely picking up these steps, the girl next to me is getting NOTHING out of the class. I believe 8 (yes 8!) people have dropped the class since the beginning of the year. I wonder why? But the studio owner doesn't care to do anything, b/c somehow we keep getting more students..... so while 8 have dropped, we just got 7 new students this month! So basically, the class size hasn't really changed. Luckily this teacher is a a senior in college and will be moving away for next year. As much as I enjoy taking the class, I'm going to ask the studio owner if I can take it over next year and hopefully keep some of these people around a little longer.... We don't do too much in the summer but I'm going to try and see if she'll let me start up a class in June to keep them going until next fall.

You are a teacher at the school too? You should nicely let her know your thoughts about the class. If you keep a respectful relationship with her, she will be honored that you took the time to let her know your thoughts....plus, everyone will benefit from you helping her.....just do it after a class, so she has a week to re-plan her class, and she won't feel threatened or embarassed in front of other students. Then, while people enjoy the class, they will be back next year.
I use to teach my hip hop too fast too, then one of the students said "you know, you could probably take three of those steps and work on them for the first 45 miinutes of class, don't worry about boring us....and then for the combo at the end of class, you could probably cut it in half and we would feel more accomplished at the end of the class" I was so glad she told me this.... It takes me half thetime to plan class, the students get the stuff better, and they love class!

Constructive critisism is wonderful!

ugh - the thing is we HAVE told her to slow down and try to explain steps better. I guess this last week at least we repeated the combinations a tad slower and a few more times than we had been.... but it still very confusing to the poor girls who've never danced a day in their life. I mean, a ball change can be really confusing if you've never done one before, ya know? I am trying to help out where I can......I don't think she notices that some of the girls aren't understanding that well. Last class we did a combination and she asked if we could go on....everyone just sort of sat there without saying anything....so I suggested we do it again a little bit slower. I'm trying to speak up for the girls who don't understand!! I guess that's all I can really do until we get to this summer.

Well said!

urgh! I have to vent about the studio owner now!

Ok, we have NINE children in my middle school hip hop class. The costume she ordered for them comes in THREE colors. You would THINK we'd have 3 of each color. Right? Wrong!

She ordered 2 of one color, 4 of another, and 3 of the 3rd color. why, why why???? *goes off to figure out how to make my formations look somewhat color cordinated*

I seriously thought about asking her why she did this, but then figured *what would the point be?*. sigh.......

OOOOh! Sorry to be the optimistic one always disagreeing with you about your vents.....'cause a vent is always legitimate if it is what you feel! BUT...
I think the different colors could be fun! Sometimes the same number of each color is what people expect...so to do something different will be fun and "wild"

You could do things in a trapezoid pattern of 3 in the front line; two in the middle line to the outside of the three; and four in the back line.... and then do a "pyramid" of 2-3-4; reverse the trapezoid....... then you could do a little dance off, where each group is one "street team" and they play off each other.

Use it as a challenge! Good luck!

Lol

See, I am the extremely symetrical dance teacher. I LOVE for everything to be the same, hehehe. Anyways, I might consider that, except the 2 people who got the green color, well one is the shortest girl in the class and one is the very tallest! And I mean this girl towers above the rest. And she's my worst dancer So I don't like putting her in front for those two reasons.

I have another idea too! And this will work with your tallest and shortest. A line.......with the two on each end then 2 of each of the four on the inside of them and then the three in the middle..... if you can, organize them tallest to shortest....or close to that.

The tall/short thing might be "funny" where the pairing off goes and do a dance off.

Don't forget too, that everyone (regardless of how bad) needs their time up front. I find myslef doing the same thing....putting kids where the dance will look the best.... but they need their chance.

Choreography is my favorit thing to do, so I love these type of challenges!
Good luck!

a ha! That'd be a good line up. I may be able to pull that one off....

Way to stay positive..... now on the whole studio owner thing.... maybe you could ask her if she could check with you when it came out to picking out costumes for your classes.... you know, just for your input....of course she would have the last say, but you should be able to put in a little info!

ok so here's my vent...i worked (yes, past tense). I am planning on opening my own dance studio this year and where i use to work was let's just say someone close to me. Well, they found out that i was going to open and became pissed. Not happy for me in the least. All i received was crap from them. I had classes pulled and then when i have one of my best and biggest classes i'm told i have to split it up because it's too big. At that point i was tired of it and i decided to quit. I know it's bad to do middle of the year but there is only so much you can take before you blow, not to mention it's not fair to the students.

OOOOh, I know how you feel! You shouldn't have quit though. You should have beat them at their own game. Thay wanted you to quit, so they could tell people you didn't work out because you were not reliable....now when you open your studio.... you won't look so good.
But, I completely feel for you. it is so hard. I went to the same school from the time I was in 6th grade until I graduated. I was their top dancer from the time I was about 15 -18. Then, I went to school, got a degree in dance and came back nd taught for them for 3 years. They "lovedme". I taught all of their advanced classes and they even used to have me show the other teachers some of my techniques to teaching. During the summers, I travelled and studied as much dance as I could, but always did right by them. The problem was, I couldn't make a living off the hours they gave me and always had to wait tables or find a second job. I understood, but I didn't want to wait tables. So, after three years, I moved to New York and took classes down there. I came back that October (not really liking NY), and immediately came to them to see if they needed a teacher. They had of course already written their schedule.... no big deal. I decided to travel around the US taking classes different places.....and then returned and opened a school 50 miles from them...and my family! I called them to tell them I would be doing it, sent them a card.... nothing. They never even acknowledged that I had opened. One of their teachers is a friend of mine.....and they talk badly about me all the time. She asked them why they couldn't be happy for me.... and they just grumbled.... that she needed to understand that doors go two ways, and that I shouldn't be trying to compete with them! Some owners think you owe them. I think they just make themselves look bad.

I am a leader of a dance team. It so frusterates me when the mothers expect me to be the Mom i.e. feed, dress, break up conflicts, be the taxi driver, not change the choregraph, etc. The thing that so gets me is when they don't like that I keep on changing the choregraph. The great choreographers didn't always keep one dance the same. No they switched it around and the student has to be prepared for that. If they don't want to be prepared for that QUIT the team!

I've been teaching for over 8 years and for me to list everything would take another 8 yrs. So here are my top 5.
1. I have a student who is just not with it and moves herself up each year only to be moved back down by the advanced teacher and back in to my class.
2. Students who refuse to perfect anything.
3. Students taking 2 different levels of class w/ 2 different teachers.
4. Students that don't come to class then wonder why they are behind.
5. Teachers of younger students (4-6 yrs old) that try to cram information in their heads that they can't possibly understand.
- Where I teach we have a set sylubus for our beginner combo (4-5) and 2nd yrs (5-6). It combines basic ballet (1st and 2nd pos. demi plie and tendu)basic tap (shuffles, toe taps ect),tumbling and creative movement - lummy sticks, bean bags - stuff like that. Anyhow - We give it to the new teachers along w/ music and anything else they want and they basicly refuse to follow it and want to create little prima ballerinas - we have lost sooooo many students becuase of this. At that age - it needs to be fun and stimulating.

To my DARLING students:

1. Class starts at 6:00 SHARP! You are here 15-20 minutes early goofing off in the waiting room...DO NOT waltz in at 6:02 and decide to sit down and put your shoes on while the rest of us are stretching!
2. If you missed class last week (and again you are here 15-20 minutes early), wouldn't it make sense to ask the other girls what you missed & ask for a little help before class? HMMM?
3. It is FEBRUARY now - where are your dance shoes?
4. If you play soccer; you don't play without your shin-pads, cleats & uniform - If you are on the swim team; you don't go in the pool without your bathing suit & cap (so on and so forth PLEASE do not wear your PJ's to class and your hair down because you just spent sooo much time straightening it - I DON'T CARE!
5. The mirrors on the walls are to be used as a tool to assist you - not to check your makeup or to see if you can lip-synch as well as Ashlee Simpson!
6. This is for my little monkeys - the barres are not for swinging!
7. Instead of carrying on that the step is "too hard" - why don't you try it first?
8. The newsletter I sent home with you last week and that is also posted in the waiting room is there so that you don't hound me with stupid questions - like when is the recital?
9. I don't care if your 8th grade semi-formal is on the same day as dress rehearsal at 7:00PM and you have a hair appointment at 12:00 because that is the only time your stylist can get you in. I am not changing the entire schedule for you - and besides, your hair will look like S*#$ by then anyways!
10. Last but not least, I am the teacher, I chose the costumes, the music and the choreography. I don't care what Sally down the street is doing with her kids. If they want to wear hoochie-mama costumes and dance to tasteless music - then go right ahead and dance with Sally down the street!

OMG - sorry this is so long-winded. This is my first "vent" and I gotta say it feels GREAT!

A couple new vents for me...

I had a parent ask me to give her daughter a ride home which is very much out of my way. I was nice enough to say yes and then she says "well I know you are because I'm gettin sick of driving her to all these practices. I just can't do it anymore." Um ok. Is it my fault you signed her up for gymnastics, cheer, soccer, basketball, etc.? Um no. Am I her chauffer? Um no. Then she asks me if I'm planning on ordering a pizza or something to feed all the students because our makeup class is during dinner time. Um no, again, YOU are the parent, not me. I don't feed kids. Heck, I barely get paid to teach them (non profit agency).

Amen!!!!

We have had parents who freak out about us having a valentines party with the babies. They say well they just had one. YEAH at christmas!Also no matter how many signs are put up and how many times we tell them their tuition is still LATE!!! That's all I have for now.
God Bless

I LOVE this thread! lol

- It's truly a pain in the butt when you don't pay on time. Think of me as a utility bill... if you don't pay, the service ends.

- Stage make-up is worn ON STAGE don't freak out if it looks different in person than on stage! It does look different from what you wear to work. Surprise! Also, after I've just taken the time to make your daughter look her best, don't run and wipe it all off! I've been doing this all of my life, don't you think I know what it takes to win?

- Your child can perform when they are ready. Under general circumstances I will not allow you to walk on stage let alone compete. Your child will be bumped up when, and if, they are ready. Surprise, surprise, I happen to know what I'm doing.

- Don't corner and threaten the CHILDREN your kid dances with. If you have beef, take it up with me and me only, don't rant and rave to others. How I wish I could make "don't show your ass" a rule!

- Yes I know there are tons of better dancers out there and yes maybe one day you will look like them... but, you must realize you have to PRACTICE to get that way, it doesn't just happen and I am certainly NOT a miracle worker. Oh and did you know if you worked together outside of class your kid would excel at a decent rate instead of having to repeat everything the following week.

- I don't ask for perfect attendance, I ask for GOOD attendance. Be on time, don't come in eating - or with candy, be ready to work, shut up and dance! Talking shouldn't be an issue. You can catch up with your preteen social lives before or after class. I for one am getting sick of hearing about the woes of the latest celebrity, social function, or how terribly wrong your parents are for whatever reason.

- Don't forget your shoes! Don't crumple your costume and pull it out of a baggie at competition!

- If you want to compete think ahead of time... longer classes, extra practices, entry fees, travel, misc. expenses, costumes, the fact you will be competiting on a WEEKEND so don't take up a hobby that you can't step away from for a weekend here and there for dance.

- Now this one left me dumbfounded... I have a mom who schedules other hobbies during dance time. When I asked where her daughter was for the past month - her response? Oh, she has piano at this time. Before that, it was swimming, before that...!!!! Now she has modeling. Keep in mind she paid the whole session up front before signing up for these other hobbies. What can you possibly be thinking???

- Understand that this hobby costs money... yes! Real money! Don't cry every time you write me a check and then give me an attitude and throw a hissy fit when I suggest ways to lower your dance expenses. That was the last time I ever suggest anything for their benefit. I'm so sorry for thinking about you!

I don't have many kids... but the ones I have cause constant trouble. That's my vent for now.

Here is my situation..... I teach at this studio and I also take the high school/college beg. hip hop class at the studio. now obviously, I am a teacher - I have been dancing all my life and am not a begginner, but I take the class for fun. It works out b/c when the regular teacher can't be there, I'm the sub and since I know the dance we are working on I can take over the class pretty well.

Well, last week I got to teach. I stressed SPACING (b/c this is something the regular teacher never talks about!) B/c hey - I'm in the 3rd row but I'm still supposed to be SEEN. I do not want 5 of you right in front of me when there is plenty of room on the side of the stage - where you are supposed to be!!! I also went over the mechanics of some of the steps excrutiatingly slowly...so that everyone would know what the heck they were doing (regular teacher tends to go too fast for them at times....).

We have been working on this routine for FIVE weeks now. Tonight, the teacher says *ok, do we all have the beginning?* One girl says No. you know what I said? I shouted *Hey! Maybe you should try coming to class* Another group of girls was constantly chatting while the teacher was giving instructions. Again, I shouted *hey! Dance time, not talk time!* (This teacher is incredibly too nice. She comes to me after every class and complains about these things. I figure I'll be the one to say something). I was really rude tonight...but you know? It felt good - and it was stuff that needed to be sad. Fortunately I am sort of the jokester....so even though I said these things, I tried to laugh about it.... Shoot...I'm tired of them messing around in class. I don't want the dance to look bad (besides, the regular teacher will be gone for the last 2 classes plus dress rehearsal - which means I will be in charge and the one ultimately responsible for how the dance finally comes together).

So:
Teacher - please slow DOWN. These girls are begginners and can't pick up everything at lightening speed.

Students - shut up and listen and maybe you'll learn something.

Ok thanks. *whew*

also, lately I can't stand it when correction is given 5 times and the students don't take it..... the conversation usually will go something like this:

Me: Jane, what did I just say 5 times to do?
Jane: Walk into the group, and then walk out.
Me: Is that what you are doing?
Jane: Um....no.....
Me: Why not?
Jane:: Um...I don't know....
Me: Well DO IT. When I give a correction, it is for EVERYONE. So please listen to EVERYTHING I say, and take the correction.

I can't stand it when I have to hold someone's hand through each and every step b/c they just choose to not listen/pay attention.

This post makes me sound like the mean evil teacher. I'm really not. I am strict, but I try to joke around and have fun with my girls at the same time. We joke about mistakes....I often show them how NOT to dance....

Here's my vent, and I'll try and keep it short.

1) Parents that do not care enough to ever come in and see what their child is doing, or have never even stuck their head in to see who I am. (it's like that public service spot on TV, that goes, "quick, name three clothing designers, now, can you name three of your child's teachers?")

2) Parents that have written me a long single typed page email on how I should run my class, and after I address them on the phone, and thought we had a good exchange if ideas, they have the nerve to write me back with more ways I can run my class. By the way, these parents are not dancers themselves, and I am treated as if I am beneath them. I wonder how they treat their housekeeper, etc....I think I know. By the way, I am an adult and parent of two.

3) Lastly, kids that do not turn out their feet no matter how many times I ask them, kids (actually one child in particular) that do not know even the basic steps that I have been working with them on since August, and then say to me when I try to help them "I know how to do it!"

I want to say that I work for a wonderful studio owner, who runs a well organized, clean, friendly studio, they have good music, with modest costumes for the recitals. I cannot say enough good things about the studio, and I am happy teaching there.

latest pet peeve:

I have a class of girls in 2nd-4th grade, with most of them being in 3rd.....

We are working on our tap dance and they keep saying *This is so easy!!!* And yes, they CAN execute the steps well.

HOWEVER

They can't memorize ANYTHING at all. No matter how many times we go through the combination or how slowly we go through each step - once the music comes on their little minds go blank! And if they do happen to remember? They can't dance to the music to save their lives.

One more thing that's just been really eating me up lately. I don't like it when we're rehearsing in a place with not-so-great acoustics, I have to issue directions and corrections while the music's playing and I can barely hear myself think, and then a parent gets on my case for "yelling at" the dancers. (Never mind that the dancers know it's only to make sure I can be heard.) At any rate, every dance teacher I've ever known either used a microphone or raised his or her voice.

That's it! I've had it! In the hip hop class I take at the studio, the SO called the teacher tonight to let her know that she didn't order everyone's costumes right away and that THREE people were going to have to get different costumes!!! How do you FORGET to order costumes? How can three people wear a completely different costume???? She is INSANE I swear!

Arhhhh Just got back from class tonight lost 5 pupils tonight [no lose really] but wait until you hear why they have left... don t like the class uniform and don t want to wear it or the correct shoes etc for their class lol

I wonder if they would go to swimming lessons without their costume
xx

I just realized I come to this thread every monday night (or the next day, talking about monday night...).

Today I was super stressed, and I should have been.....well, I dunno. When I got there, I was talking to the teacher who taught the 1st graders before me. She was telling me how the SO had a specific song she wanted her to use, but has still not gotten it to her yet. It is MARCH. The recital is in MAY and this class has not started their dance yet.....b/c the SO will not get the music to this teacher. Yeah, smart.

My classes go ok.....at least the tap class is finally remembering their dance now. They should be fine for the recital.

Then we go into the costuming issue again with the SO for the high school/college hip hop class. If you've read my other post, 3 people in the class must wear different costumes - UGH. Ok, 14 people in the class.....9 will be wearing a goth/punk costume consisting of (basically) black pants and a red top....2 guys in all black costumes, and then she wanted the 3 oddball people to wear completely different costumes, a skirt - possibly purple...... I flat out said "No way!" I don't even teach the class, but I was just being honest..... the teacher of the hip hop class was around to, and I know she didn't want that, but she wasn't saying anything - so I spoke up for her. Eventually we found a costume that sort of cordinated (it is all black). I guess it's ok, but it will still be weird.... The So tells ME (yes me, not the teacher.... ) that she wants the guys and the 3 oddballs to dance together in part of the dance. Why she tells me this, I have no idea....The whole thing just stressed me out and my stomach was in knots during class.

One girl came to class, and just sat there b/c she was "having a bad day" Why did she come then? Dance or leave would have been my answer, but I wasn't the teacher..... another girl had to console her....another girl also didn't feel like dancing and sat out for some parts. What the heck! That wouldn't have been acceptable in my classroom!

This is truly awful, but I'm thinking I'm going to recruit some of the older dancers over to my own studio this fall...a couple of them I was friends with before this dance class anyways..... I've talked to some of them and they said they'd come.... I think they enjoy class when I teach, and the current teacher won't be around next year either so they might as well.

I was also stressed out b/c I was in a really scary car accident last night (obviously I am ok, but like I said - it was scary!) and telling everyone about it sort of got me riled up again. It was just a bad night