Owner of my old studio said it quite plainly, good looks are one quality she looks for in an instructor.

I posted a reply to ballroom_billy's response. So just scroll up and let me know what you think. I enjoy getting opinions from everyone here.

As for Stavros... it sounds like good looks is a must-have quality for a dancing instructor.

California, sorry I have to drop out of this discussion.
I just cant understand you, right now I'd give anything to be able to sit down and have a 2 hour discussion with her.
My old instructor has apparently been instructed by the management to sit down with me and talk things over in a civil way. She has been told that she is expected to sort the mess out. And we still don't talk. (or so the studio owner told me when I dropped in the other day to help a friend with her practice (this friend has her exams to become an instructor in a couple of weeks and she needs someone to sit and watch her when she reherses steps, make sure she doesnt just skip things, call out steps at random etc and I seem to be one of the better candidates for the job)).
Anyway imagine how I feel that from favourid student (and no she didnt say it to me, my instructor prefered keeping the good things she had to say about me for when I wasnt around) I have turned into the guy she prefers to ignor a direct order from her employer than having to talk to me...

So you understand that I am slightly jealous of you and can't really understand you

Yes.

dgcasey...
yes to what exactly? c'mon, there have to be some guys out there who actually want to dance!!!

Your choice, pick one. Just like from a Chinese menu.

A. Lonely
B. Want to learn to dance
C. Get more dates

I'll have a B and three Cs. And my buddy here, he'll have a double helping of A, B won't do him any good 'cause he's a klutz, but maybe we can get a mercy C for him.

you're funny you know that!?! very creative, my friend, very creative

so are you lying to me about your choice? i want to make sure i get the order right... last time i messed up the manager threatened to fire me... not too ZANG!!! (you will only get the ZANG part if you have seen wayne's world... my favorite movie!)

I hope there are single guys out there that like dancing but unfortnatley the ones at my dance studio are married.

Anyway, I have a question in regards to the comment about that instructors will always give you positve/good compliments to keep you coming. So, how do you get them to give honest remarks? My instructor gives me compliments but he also corrects me. I just hate to think that he is having me do these competions if I look terrible out there. Instructors don't do that do they?

They shouldn't. The way the student performs is a direct reflection of the instructors teaching after all. If the performance is terrible, though people will first react to the dancer, it wont take them long to start asking what studio told that person they were ready.
There are instructors who believe that the sooner you compede the better. But I understand that they do not necessarily do try to push you into buying expensive programs but honestly believe it will do you good. Both because you will do intensive practice and because it will give you a sence of achievement.

I started doing competitions early on to just give me goals and get used to performing in front of judges and an audience. Yes, we made lots of mistakes, but we gradually started improving. Planning and working on competitions will improve your dancing.

To be good at competitions takes years and not many are very good in the beginnng. Forget about winning or what everyone thinks of your dancing--just do it for you and for your own growth and improvement.

One always feels unrehearsed and unprepared before a competition.