The Well-Behaved Studio
The requirements necessary to enter competitions roughly include proper dance training and technique, well-rehearsed routines and/or solos, costumes, make-up, and of course, the appropriate documentation with payments completed. The conditions of entry do not include good etiquette, but, perhaps, should be added to the list. It seems poor behavior and lack of sportsmanship are so prevalent, they are quickly becoming a troublesome fixture of the competition circuit.
Lately, the chance of being congratulated after a great performance is dismal, but the chance that people will be chatting in the wings and the audience is more than just possible, it’s downright audible. If you’re looking to make friends, or simply get a spot in the dressing room, look no further than the tepid glances and multitude of pre-claimed spots. Before you singularly blame the kids, it is time to think broader. Parents and teachers have become offenders as well, and in some cases the encouragers. While there are those still humble and cordial to others, they have increasingly become a rare breed. When the kids are acting up, many competition directors and judges exclaim, “Where are the parents?” but look no further than the misbehaving dancer to find the misbehaving parent or teacher.
Making the competition a fun and safe event begins with following the rules. No food in the auditorium, no cameras and no video recorders all seem to be a hot-button issue between directors and the adults.
“At the beginning, we announce ‘we’re here to have fun,’ but first I have a little 5-year-old dancer come up on stage and stand beside me,” says Dan Barris, Executive Director of Dancers Inc. “When I announce there are no food or drink signs, I say, ‘if you bring in coffee then that means little Sally doesn’t have to clean her room, right?’” After all the groans of the adults in the audience subside, little Sally replies, “Umm-Hmm!”
“If you can break the rules, it’s teaching your kids to break the rules,” says Barris. However, drinking and eating inside the venue seems only the beginning. Talking on cell phones while someone is performing, children running or sitting in the aisles, pushing and shoving, gossiping and ungracious acceptance of the awards occur more often than not.
Many times parents forget to clap for other schools and dancers besides their own, even snickering at those on stage. “If it’s not their studio on stage, they just don’t care,” says Lyn Prester, Director of Denville Dance Arts Center in Denville, NJ. She has also encountered parents fighting over seats in the audience, urging them to remember everyone is there for their children.
In some cases misbehavior becomes a real issue, differing with each event, dance school and individual. “Sad to say, it’s also regional,” says Joe Lanteri, Executive Director of NYC Dance Alliance. “There are areas of the country that everyone is extremely well behaved, no issues at all. Then there are other areas…well…not so much.”
Like technique class, rehearsals and summer intensives, dance competitions are a learning experience. Not only can the children benefit from the performance opportunities, but they look up to parents, their teachers and older dancers as role models. By disobeying the rules or being rude to fellow adults, it sets the precedent for how the kids behave.
“Seventy-five percent of parents are out of control,” says Timothy Miracle, competition judge and the Artistic Director/Owner of Miracle Dance Theatre in Cincinnati, OH. “They have a threatening attitude towards their child and there is lobby gossip. It’s become more and more cut-throat.”
The poor judgment of parents and teachers, when it comes to age appropriateness, transcends the dance routine itself. The make-up, hair and costumes are often too promiscuous for the age divisions. Great choreography is certainly more effective than a young child dancing to something way too “mature” for his or her own understanding. A wonderful performance can be an emotional experience for the dancer and audience alike, but the routines and solos shown at many competitions leave little to the imagination, never mind the emotions.
“It needs to be age appropriate,” says Barris. “Why do they need to dance to ‘Bang, Bang’ [The Nancy Sinatra song subtitled (My Baby Shot me Down)] when they’re 13? The choreographer needs to re-evaluate. ” If the goal of the event is to provide great dancing then there is no need for the shock value, as Barris labeled the all-to-frequent genre, “Angst-ridden contemporary.”
“Companies don’t dance to that. If you go to the city, you don’t see them dancing to that,” says Barris. Aside from pushing the boundaries, these risqué routines coupled with video recording and cameras can become a hazard in today’s Internet society.
“With videotaping my choreography can be stolen, but also the kids can be put on YouTube and MySpace,” says Michelle Tolson, Director of Dancers Inc. “We tell parents that we’re trying to protect your students.”
Miracle discussed stealing choreography as a rising concern, and if it’s put up on the school’s website there is a chance it can be copied. A simple call to ask permission would be the appropriate etiquette in this situation.
The gracious acceptance of awards as a courteous end to the event is also taken for granted. As Tolson pointed out, some dancers do not even stand to receive their award, they raise their hand and expect the award to be delivered to them. The occurrence of students throwing out their trophies, or expressing the disappointment with an outcome has become an all-to-common respect matter.
With some misbehavior including parents heckling the other dancers, faking birth certificates, and fathers drinking alcohol out in the parking lot, many disciplinary actions must be taken.
While sometimes behavior is corrected on the spot, usually involving an announcement or personal discussion, many teachers and directors find prevention the best way to alleviate the situation. Prestor goes over how her parents and students should conduct themselves before they arrive at the competition. If students, especially parents, get upset over the award outcome, Prestor reminds them it is someone’s opinion.
“Both dancers and parents need to be educated about these events,” says Lanteri. “I encourage dance teachers and studio owners to have regular dancer and parent meetings and clearly define guidelines. Most of the dancers are wearing their studio jackets. They represent the studio, the ‘team.’ The studio owners need to make sure they are properly being represented. Yes…all of the offstage behavior reflects on the ‘team.’"
Reminding parents and students to be respectful of others should come from the studio director. “A lot of people still don’t get that theater etiquette,” says Prestor. “If you went to a Broadway show you would be respectful, so why can’t you show them the same respect? You have to teach these things now a days.” She also stressed the importance of thinking before overreacting, especially when everyone is clearly overtired.
Once at the competition, there is a tactful way to approach someone acting inappropriately. “I first send someone from my staff to politely request that the behavior stop. If it continues to be a problem, then the announcement is made for the entire audience. We rarely get to that point,” says Lanteri of his events.
It is easy to recognize misbehavior when it is another school, but spotting it amongst your own group can often be a challenge. Miracle recalled a competition where he was told one of his dancers was in the audience talking and critiquing another’s routine. He immediately removed the student from the event. “I have a zero gossip policy,” says Miracle. “You are not allowed to critique. You can give compliments and congratulate.”
Most can agree that good behavior begins in the studio, and respect for the event and those who attend should be of utmost importance. Miracle teaches clean space by tidying dressing rooms and studios, also requiring his students go up to at least two other dancers and tell them they did a nice job, urging them to make friends.
Those who are noisy in the wings, or create other distractions, do not go unnoticed by the judges. Talking (to each other or on cell phones) falls into this category. “Rather than whisper, there are times you can clearly hear entire conversations,” says Lanteri, of parents as well as children. “The saddest part, the dancers onstage can clearly hear the conversation as well. They deserve better.”
Often the responsibility of being a role model to the younger ones can be an effective remedy to misbehavior and poor etiquette, a theory of Miracle’s. If everyone would keep in mind that someone is admiring your every action, many would be moved to be kinder, responsible and respectful.
“There are very few places to evaluate ourselves,” says Miracle. “Competitions facilitate that, but sometimes it becomes a negative.” If only the friendly spirit could be brought back into these events, more focus would be paid to the dancing and everyone could take one step closer to why they’re there in the first place.