I used to love my job. Loved my students, my classes, my dance troupe, etc. One of our teachers resigned at the end of the summer and when she left our class schedules had to be rearranged drastically. Before I mainly taught beginners and a few intermediate classes. I was also the director of our apprentice dance troupe. I was very happy. I was able to keep up with school and work for the last four years. I recently graduated with my dance degree and so it felt like perfect timing when this other teacher left. I was bumped up and took over our main dance troupe, I got the advanced classes, and since I had graduated I could put all I had into work. Things have not been going well though. I can't get these advanced students used to my way of doing things even though some of them were previously my students. The drama over where students are placed in choreography is way overboard. My boss thinks that people are trying to take advantage of my "newness" but I'm not new. I've been here for years. I was a student here before I started teaching. I'm receiving complaints left and right from parents for stupid things. I took my dance troupe to a dance improvisation festival where they took free classes and had the opportunity to perform alongside professionals. The parents were conspiring behind my back to go complain that they had to be there. I didn't force them to participate! Another mother of an ADULT came in screaming at me during a rehearsal. In another recent post I've had several parents wanting to know why I'm putting kids in certain spots for choreography. The back story is long but I assure anyone reading this I'm not an unfair tyrant. I'm doing my best and I try to utilize everyone and play up their strengths. There was another complaint today that I make exceptions to who can be in the studio during class and who can be in the waiting room. My God I'm just trying to teach!!! I don't want anyone in the studio but the setup is so weird that sometimes it happens and I can't always be right on top of that. I'm rambling and I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense or is written poorly. I'm just not happy. I need to be able to support myself so I'm stuck here for now. Not sure if there is advice to be given besides suck it up and be a grown up.

First, give yourself time. People need ages to get used to changes, but they DO adapt in the end. You just have to be patience.

Second, find out if this drama really is new, or the other teacher had to deal with some of this too.

Third, look as old as you can. It's stupid but looking older makes a big change. Since I got grey, people have calmed down a lot. So, no red lipstick for you, but old pink. No screaming t-shirts, but just black. Try a black or grey vest. Hair in a ponytail or a bun. Get the image?
To support this, act more calm than you feel. Whatever happens, react like it happened to you soooo many times before and it really doesn't bother/surprises you anymore. Say things like, "I'll handle that", "O, that again" with a bored voice and walk away. Avoid discussions. Parents love them but only because they want to break you down. Act like you are too busy to stay.
If you do this well, you make clear to parents that they can panic as much as they want, it doesn't hit you in any way. You stand above all their troubles. That makes you look older, more mature. But you have to act like this from now on, it takes time before all parents got this new message from you, and some need several times before they get it.

Fourth. Sit down with the advanced students. You can do 2 things. Let them tell you about why they act like they do (and don't cooperate with you) and have a good talk with them. But to look older (like above) my advice is to tell them: "A dancer needs to be flexible. Whatever you used to do in the past, you now have to do it my way. If you're not able to do that now, you are not advanced enough to be in this team and I will place you in the intermediate level untill you are ready to adapt to my style/way."
This way you also make clear you are in charge and they better work with you than against you.

It could be an extra if you add: "I'm really on your side, I really want you all to look the best you can. I want to see if I can improve you all more. Maybe someone who has been on the background untill now will be my new star, but if you have been the star untill now, you better keep working hard or you lose your place." But you know the girls best to decide if this text is a benefit.

I would have a meeting with all the parents and the SO. It sounds like the parents don't trust your decisions and are unhappy about the new way you do things. Your SO needs to back you up in front of the parents in a United front. Have all the issues laid out on paper for the meeting and make sure you have answers to all of them worked out with your SO. No matter your age, be very confident and organized in the meeting.

I would also speak with all the dancers in class regarding where they are placed in choreography. I would be very frank but diplomatic with them about why they are where they are. Generally, if the students trust you and are happy, so will the parents be.

First off, I just want you to know that you are not alone. I currently teach our advanced classes, only lyrical and contemporary, but the students definitely do not adapt to change. There are even students who roll their eyes if I correct them, since their previous teacher told them that they were at the highest level and couldn't really learn any more (hence why she's no longer their teacher lol)

My advice that is finally beginning to work, is to set up some friendly competition. Make sure that you pick things that each student is good at before you decide to do this. I dramatically compliment students for doing a good job at what they do well. Ex: I have a student with very poor technique (in regards to the others in her class) but her performance value and emotion steal the attention right away. During the dance or combination I'm sure to yell out "great emotion ___! my eyes are drawn right to you!" most of my students react well, and step up their performance value to get that same compliment. I do this with turns, jumps, kicks, technique, passion, etc.

Good Luck! I'm sure you will make it through fine, they will eventually adjust!

There are always problem parents and problem students.
Take charge. Explain that there are always reasons behind your decisions and that you are the one with the education and experience to back it up.
If the child/parent knew so much about dance they wouldn't need your class now would they?!

We have been having a lot of that lately at the studio I work at. We just had to have a meeting with the students and invited parents but did not require them to be there (the parents). We told the students we have been getting complaints from parents about the complaints you are telling them. I told them it was very offensive and hurt my feelings, very much because they are questioning my knowledge of dance and choreography when they say things like that. Our director then reinforced what being a team means. Someone has to be in the front and someone has to be in the back. We place you in certain placesnbecause we need you to be in that spot to make the dance work. You aren't alone, hang in there!

Refer them straight away to the front desk or to the SO, just tell them that at this moment in time you're trying to teach and your students are loosing valuable rehearsal time. Rehearsal time that they, as parents are paying for.

If they won't go it will have to be the, "I'm sorry but as I've explained I don't have time at the moment to discuss this with you, I need to do my job." And turn away from them to your class and start teaching.

Your SO is right, you might not be new to the studio or the job but you are new to them and like all kids (I'm classing the parents as kids too, their just larger ones, who make more noise) they want to learn how far they can push you.

How far are you going to let them push?

My rule was, when I had my school, that all issues were to be referred to me. When I taught for others, the same. All issues were handled by the owners. I would talk to your SO, not the parents. Let them handle it and they should back you up.

I agree with Lidwina, about looking older (maybe a gray wig? LOL). Just kidding!

Your SO should be sticking up for you. This really isn't your battle - it's hers. She appointed you because she felt you were capable and qualified and these parents are basically undermining her authority and questioning her decision. Take this whole mess and put it squarely in her hands.

I do agree, though, with lidwina's advice about trying to look older. Don't dress like the students, especially when teaching the older students. With the young ones I usually do wear leotards, skirts, and tights, but in lots of bright colors while they are only allowed pink and black. When I teach the older ones I hardly ever wear tights, usually gaucho pants. If you wear makeup, wear it like a grownup and not a teenager. If you don't wear makeup, consider it.

Everytime a parent comes to me with an issue about my class or how I run it, to save my own butt, I tell them to go to the studio owner. They should alway back you in front of the parents anyway and if they are upset with anything take it up with you in private.
I have one group that is just awful, when my SO went on vacation, it was like an explosion happend and 1 DAD in the group blew up emailed me swearing at me and everything( for something 1 girl said in a class that wasn't even mine) I wrotre back and said that I was not discussing it with him at all and would be forwrading his email to the studio director and she would handle it when she returned. Of course I cried at my computer cause people are so dumb and hurtful. But what I'm getting at is be strong and you will get the RESPECT you deserve. Ever since I stood up to him, he has been better with me.
Hang in there you will be fine!! I promise give it time it gets better

I understand exactly what you are going through: I was a student in advanced classes then I went to teaching those very same classes and now I'm the owner. It took about a year before the advanced students were comfortable receiving correction from me and for parents to trust that I knew what I was doing. It took very specific actions on my part in order to earn their trust and respect:

1) Dressed the part.
2) Changed my vocal tone to one with more authority.
3) Changed my speaking style such as made more statements and asked fewer questions.
4) Gave equal parts compliments to corrections at first.
5) Asked student's what their individual goals were so they knew I was listening to them and that I was going to help them achieve those goals.
6) Worked on teamwork - goals, mutual support of members.
7) Smiled less. Lol, I don't mean I became grouchy, but I definitely got more serious, less buddy-buddy and students and parents see me as more of a professional.

These things result in more content and settled students which in turn means less complaining to parents which in turn means fewer parents coming to you with incorrect perceptions. But you've got to give it time.

My first year teaching, I was only 19, and given an adult tap class. Most of them were parents of students, some who were in my classes. It was tough, at first, to get some to take me seriously. My own mom was in the classm, and friends with several of them.

She would come in late, to miss warm ups, and liked doing the dance. So, I started putting the dance at the top of class. She complained and I said, "Mom, if you won't take me seriously, quit the class."

I had to pull authority on my own mother!! LOL

^^^You didn't finish the story, dreamchaser, did your mom fall in line? Or did she quit the class?