Are Your Competitors Completely Trained?
Is your competitive company comprised of "divine divas"? Are you tired of the back biting that goes on week after week? Are you weary of having some of your best dancers leave to go to other studios where at last they can "be appreciated as the star" they know they are? Have you exhausted all the phrases we as teachers have to use to try and have some sort of cohesiveness amongst our dancers? Is your brain worn out wondering what went wrong? Well....good news, I saved money on my car insurance at Geico and you are not alone!
Many of us are in the same boat. We strive to make everything and everyone great. We go home night after night and year after year with a headache wondering how we can please the masses and keep everyone, including the parents, happy. Well if you have the answer...there are many of us who would love to know your formula for bliss. As for me, and after 50 years of teaching, I feel there is no one formula that works time after time. It must be altered to fit the quandary. Majority of years the formula works like a charm because the dancers are in complete harmony with one another. Then one year...ugh...it fails dramatically because the make up of the company has changed. I am still searching for utopia. If you have the answer, will you share it with those of us who are in constant search for a cure-all?
This month I want to chat about what it takes to try and make these wonderful little stars - wonderful big people. I believe it starts with very simple basics of learning respect--for themselves and others; manners and etiquette--to be used now and forever; understanding, patience and every day common courtesies--which will be very helpful to them as they go through life in their chosen career. Students can be "well trained" in many ways. We as their dance teachers have the opportunity to train twice fold. We can train them in the art of dance and in the art of being nice young people who will grow and mature into nice young adults about to face the real world.
First, let's chat about some methods used to train dancers in the classroom. I am sure we all have instructors on staff who teach wonderful classes. They impart their expertise with the students who are eager to learn. They share the wealth amongst all and do not play favorites. They make everyone feel important and special at least once during the class hour. They maintain classroom decorum so everyone has a great atmosphere to learn in. I know, as a teacher, company director and studio owner that is what should be happening...but is it? How can we be assured that is what is taking place in each and every class? It is one of the most difficult challenges we must tackle. And tackle we must as this is the most important element in keeping students year after year.
Many of us bring in Master Teachers in the summer and even throughout the year to assure our dancers the opportunity to be exposed to many styles and the latest technique. Most times we have been pleased with what they teach, other times perhaps not. Prior to their teaching, they are told what we would like to accomplish on their visit. The majority of times, in my studio, the class has been most rewarding as well as refreshing for the students. Then...at times, they have been absolute failures. The material was not presented well and there was no chemistry between teacher and dancers. Disappointment abounds. But, I always tell my students they will learn something from everything they experience. They will learn what to do or what not to do. So even if failures occur...I feel something was learned. I ask them to think positive.
Some of us are able to bring in guest Choreographers. We go to great expense for transportation, lodging and teaching compensation to insure our students get the very best. We ask for a specific style of routine for various levels. We try to make sure that each company level experiences a guest teacher at least once a year. We have done our research and are familiar with the style they will teach. With all this favorable atmosphere, sometimes we are puzzled by how the student's acceptance varies. If they were chosen by the choreographer to be in the routine they are thrilled. But if they don't get placed front and center they pout. Why? Shouldn't they be pleased they were even chosen? What does it take to please them? What about those dancers that took the class and did not even get selected? When does happiness totally reign?
I am sure that most of us consider ourselves to be quite fortunate. The majority of our company dancers are wonderful, appreciative and grateful for all we do for them. But sometimes there is one or two that spoil the effervescent attitude of the rest with their obvious displeasure. What is the best way to handle them? Have you tried everything? Have you questioned why? Did you try to deal with their unhappiness? Did you try to explain and talk to them? If you did, than you have done your best. But sometimes your best does not seem to work and it is hard to break through the barrier. But still we try. We must.
Most of us go all out to encourage and support bonding events, social events and fund raisers to make the entire company experience that "Team Spirit". Still with all this in place, there are some times that we as Directors feel a void and perhaps even tension amongst the dancers. How do we avoid that feeling of "Trouble in River City?"
Let's look at 3 ways to deal with problem students. #1--The easiest way--Get rid of them with no explanation...cold turkey. But are we really honoring our profession as a teacher to educate them for the future? I think not. #2--Try your very best to handle and deal with the situation however delicate it may be. Have patience, wisdom and understanding and hope that these virtues will pay off for both of you in a positive way and the problem can be solved. #3--For me, the hardest decision to make. If #2 does not work and the future of your Company is in jeopardy, you must then dismiss the student from the studio. In most cases this is very difficult to do, but sometimes there is no alternative. You tried your best and now your attention must be focused on the remaining content and supportive dancers in the company. They too have probably been through a rough time and now it is their turn for your consideration.
How can we avoid the discomfort of dismissing dancers from our studios? Let's review the basics. If we teach our dancers to respect their art, themselves and their fellow dancers they will be buddies and there should be no back biting. This lesson does not come easy and dancers must constantly be reminded how to show their respect in all ways. Perhaps have the dancers organize a company team project to celebrate National Dance Week. Have them research the early years in the lives of a few dancers to see how they struggled for their art. Then use the material to put on an "in studio review" for their parents. Should be fun.
Manners and Etiquette should be a vital part of their daily lessons. If we as teachers show how easy it is to be well mannered we are one step closer to attaining our goal. Think how important it is for competitors to know how to handle themselves properly in a competition that includes an interview. It is part of our job as their teacher to instruct them properly on the correct attire, grooming, grammar and etiquette. They will not only succeed in the competition interview but they will emerge as a great candidate for future job interviews as well.
Another lesson we teach to complete their training is, to be grateful and gracious. I feel the following is a good example. Every time our Company participates in a competition, I personally write to the organizer and thank them for providing a nice event for our students to attend. If we had groups that perhaps won money or special awards, I thank them for those honors as well. If we have soloists that win money or awards, they must write their own personal note and thank them as well. The student must have the note on my desk within 5 days of the win or they will start to loose portions of the credit on their account. I also ask them to leave the note open so I can see what they wrote and check the grammar and spelling. Each day they are late...they loose a dollar. I assure you the notes are on my desk bright and early the day after the competition! I was always taught that if you receive a gift of any sort...it is common courtesy to write a Thank You note. I can't tell you how many of the comp directors write back and thank me for the notes and say how it is a rarity, but one they truly appreciate. I make sure all my dancers see this note too, so they know their correspondence was valued.
Understanding, patience and common courtesies are all unknowns to "divine divas". If you diligently instill these virtues in your dancers, you will not be burdened with divas. We preach total equality to our company members. Right in their company contract it clearly states that "they are no better than the dancer next to them in their weekly class or in their company routine". We do not propagate a "star system'. Everyone shines in our eyes. I don't know about your ratio, but in my studio we might be lucky to have 10% of the entire enrollment go on to become professional dancers. Regardless of their future profession, the most important thing is that they learn to "be a nice person". If and when we start to see "the superior attitude" develop, action is taken and it is quickly nipped in the bud.
I have been told for years that "you cannot please everyone all the time...so stop trying". But I can't. Trying to please is part of my genre. I might get ulcers and live on Pepcid, but I will continue. All teachers take pleasure in seeing the success of those dancers who try their best. They do not have to be the best dancer to make the grade. They just need to be the best "tryer". I have a sign posted in my studio that I just love. It says..."To those who said it couldn't be done, please do not disturb those who are doing it". It is human nature for everyone to want to be completely happy and content. But sadly, it is a rare occurrence. We as teachers only want the best for our students and we work hard every day to try and reach that goal. Don't be discouraged if some days it just is not happening. Fortitude is a good example for us to set as well!
Favor please. When you finish reading this article, I ask you to turn to another article in this issue entitled, "Is Your Curriculum Complete?" It contains some additional information that perhaps will be of value for you to use in your studio.
What are your feelings about this ar-ticle? Do you think any of the issues we talked about lend themselves to training good students, classmates and com-pany members? Do you think teaching respect and common courtesies is foolish and a waste of your time? Or, do you think they are valuable lessons for your dancers to encounter? Do you feel they blend or clash with your approach to teaching? Do you think mixing physical and philosophical doctrines is right? How do you do it? What works for you? Does your curriculum include both? If not, why not? If so, is it working and how? As always, I am interested in knowing. Do you just teach dance and leave the rest to chance? I want to know and with your OK, would like to share your answers with our readers. I look forward to hearing from you soon at danceun@aol.com. Until next time, Thanx for chatting!