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Hustled
Many years ago when the Hustle was in popular mode around
1978-79, our studio owner took away our teacher of private lessons and
we were taking 3 a week because she said on some nights she needed him
to teach a class of about 60 and she made more money that way than a
measly private hour. We were mad and still held on and lo and behold the
Hustle became unpopular and she had no BIG group classes to make more
money on.
I was not going to let her, Mrs. Bigshot owner deprive me and us of this
thing called dancing we had come to love.
She was wrong in that attitude and she did it to others too. Many left
for other studios and I rarely have ever seen them dancing since that
happened.
Studio owners should realize that dancing is a luxury especially in this
time and age and they should hold on to the student and treat them with
kindness, caring and respect.
I am glad I and we did not leave just to show her, we stayed on and
prospered and were and are happy.
Finally, we did leave for a more modern and upbeat and prettier dance
floor studio and she Mrs. Bigshot never did see us again.
Someone else than me might have quit dancing all together, I and
we did not because we loved it so.
E.S.C., Baltimore, MD 12/21/09
Teacher with a bad
reputation
David Cox has a record of making agreements with
individuals and groups to provide a series of dance lessons and/or
dance-instructor training, receiving prepayment for the lessons and
then leaving the area, or for some other reason not fulfilling his
obligations. When confronted with his behavior he
will repeatedly
misrepresent his intent to make it right. He simply does not mind
verbally or in writing committing to do anything, repeatedly, in order
to keep you thinking he will in the end make things right. His record
of unethical dealings extends over multiple states, multiple clients,
and multiple years. His dance instruction is adequate; however, it is
strongly recommended that you NEVER prepay him for ANYTHING. Based on
his lack of ethics we would encourage all to avoid any financial
dealings with him whatsoever.
D.B., Florence, AL 12/11/09
Overseas
inquiry about dance lessons
If you are a dance
professional, you may receive inquiries from an overseas location about
prices and conditions for a program of dance instructions. Very often
they will also ask about the cost of accommodation for a certain period
of time. This scam has been quite prevalent in England and other
European countries and now seems to occur more frequently in the U.S. If
you respond and suggest a program of dance instructions with prices, as
well as a costs for accommodation, the information you provide will then
be used by the foreign individual or individuals to procure a student
visa to this country. Do not respond to this kind of inquiry.
Here is a typical example of this type of
inquiry.
R.Z., Montgomery AL 11/06/09
Buying
blocks of lessons in advance
Does your teacher
or your studio constantly want you to buy more lessons. Many students
have lost a great deal of money when one day the teacher disappeared or
the studio closed down. It is also possible that you get suddenly sick,
unable to dance anymore. If you do pay in advance, don't buy more than
5-10 lessons. If they keep pestering you, go to a different
teacher/studio.
See the
attached article
M.R., Mobile AL 10/24/09
Sham
competition can cost you a lot of money
There are some
Pro/Am competitions that are basically "feel good" events. Everybody
gets some sort of prize or mention. And everybody pays for their
teachers travel and accommodation, as well as for the privilege of
competing and it's not cheap. Avoid them.
Conversely, there are a lot of legitimate dance organizations who
regularly host Pro/Am competitions, with competent adjudicators, and
usually with workshops given by recognized and well-known competitors
and teachers. If you want the experience of competing with your
instructor, make sure the competition organizers are reputable and well
known.
S.T., New York NY 10/24/09
Online dance shoe store
not reliable
Buying dance shoes from
ballroomdancingshoe.com is not a good idea. Follow this link to find out
why.
A Consumer Warning About Ballroomdancingshoe.com From The BBB - WHNT
J.H.,
Montgomery AL, 10/23/09
Know your
teacher's motivation
If you are
planning to take private lessons you should be concerned about whether
your teacher wants you to shine on the dance floor at social dances, participate in PRO/AM competitions, or demonstrate your skill
in showcases.
For social dancing, you will
learn, above all, following or leading. You will also learn a number of
steps (variations) in several of the most popular dances, steps that are
very popular and are in many social dancer's repertoire. You will be
encouraged to attend social dances and practice your skills.
For
competitive dancing lead and follow will not be as important since you
will be dancing with your teacher and will be doing the steps you have
been practicing. You will be concentrating on impressing the judges with
good technique and flamboyant styling. These steps and variations are
not always suitable for the social dance floor, and leading or following
will not be a priority.
For exhibitions you will
learn a choreographed set of steps, movements and poses executed with
theatrical and very often exaggerated styling. Not many of these skills will
be of any help to you if you want to dance socially.
G.W., Atlanta GA, 10/23/09
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