Oh, I see.

To answer Anonymous' (#1) question, I am a student taking lessons (for 6 months so far), but I would eventually like to become a dance teacher. The only thing that I was uncertain about was the previous dance experience required. I have never taken dance classes before this, but I have done hip hop dancing since I was a kid (on my own). I'm now in the bronze program (maybe 1/3rd of the way through in terms of material covered). But thanks for clarifying that.
And yes, I did notice that there are very few silver and gold students. Even one of my instructors told me that 80% of the people who attend the dance parties are in the bronze level.
Why would they not continue the plan? I think it's very reasonable, but then again, I'm just in bronze at the moment.

Also, one more question: does anyone know how much the dance teachers get paid at these franchise studios?

Thanks for the imput.

"Also, one more question: does anyone know how much the dance teachers get paid at these franchise studios?"

Very, very little - especially compared to the cost of taking a lesson with one of them.

not all teachers are paid the same, it depends on their experience and talent to get along with their students....it is a service that we are providing and customers are paying for it! just as pay, then comes the talent.... thats how you would have an idea of how much instuctors get paid.. smile, this reply was answerd my a prof. Dancer over 20yrs. I get paid very well! then again , the number of years.. :)
Keep Dancing...........

>> And yes, I did notice that there are very few silver and gold students. Even one of my instructors told me that 80% of the people who attend the dance parties are in the bronze level. Why would they not continue the plan? I think it's very reasonable, but then again, I'm just in bronze at the moment.

I guess the reason they don't progress farther than somewhere in the bronze level is that they aren't interested in becoming world class dancers. They want to be able to navigate the floor and have fun. For that you don't need to get into the silver and gold levels. You drive a car, I assume. How come you haven't enrolled in the Bob Bondurant School of Driving to become a world class driver? My guess is that you've learned just enough to not be dangerous (hopefully) and that's enough for you. Wanting to learn how to dance and wanting to become the next Karen and Marcus Hilton are two different things and there isn't anything wrong with either one.

I am taking teacher training under the ISTD banner and will also take the CDTA exam after.

Chains are less common here and many have a reputation of training teachers one step ahead of the students. In fact we have a chain moving in here that is auditioning people who'd like to be teachers later this month and will start them teaching in February. These "teachers" will likely earn just above minimum wage. ISTD/CDTA certified teachers locally charge around $60/hr. but this can vary depending on reputation/qualifications. We have a former Blackpool finalist not far from here that I understand charges $150/hr.

ISTD/CDTA is rigorous and aimed at creating true professionals rather than someone competent to take money from naive students.



ISTD has recently opened a US branch.

Also, you could look at DVIDA (or similar) in the US. It seems to have developed a similar syllabus for American Style as the ISTD has for International Style but I can't speak to quality:

http://dancevision.com/news_press/press_releases/160/

OB

Just above minimum wage? What?
I have to admit, that's quite low.

However, do you think it would be realistic for someone to do well in the CDTA exam if they take lessons from a chain studio? One of my teachers at the FADS (I have 2 teachers) is actually very good and extremely picky. But he's also that co-owner, so that might explain why.

">> And yes, I did notice that there are very few silver and gold students. Even one of my instructors told me that 80% of the people who attend the dance parties are in the bronze level. Why would they not continue the plan? I think it's very reasonable, but then again, I'm just in bronze at the moment.

I guess the reason they don't progress farther than somewhere in the bronze level is that they aren't interested in becoming world class dancers."

That's a possibility in a lot of cases, but the other side of it is that a lot of the time the studio isn't in a position to train students to gold or even silver level. Or even if someone such as the owner is theoretically able to do it, they discourage students by assigning them early on to teachers who aren't able to help get them there - so the students either give up, or go to another studio were they their progress is taken more seriously.

"ISTD has recently opened a US branch."

Actually, to the USISTD website, that branch was founded in 1961 and incorporated in 1967...

"That's a possibility in a lot of cases, but the other side of it is that a lot of the time the studio isn't in a position to train students to gold or even silver level. Or even if someone such as the owner is theoretically able to do it, they discourage students by assigning them early on to teachers who aren't able to help get them there - so the students either give up, or go to another studio were they their progress is taken more seriously."

What? But why would they do that? Wouldn't they lose a lot of money from students like myself who are actually willing to pay to get to the gold level? To me this makes no sense.

The co-owner, was initially my "full time" teacher (I had a lesson every week with him). Then, after about 3 months, they said that they assign the students a "buddy instructor" which is basically a second instructor, to allow you to get used to dancing with others. This instructor was quite young and not nearly as good as my first instructor. I only had that one lesson with him. Then they assigned me to another instructor (without me telling them anything) which I would have a lesson with every second week, and he is very good (of course, not as good as the co-owner, but still quite good).
So it seems to me like they are aiding me in attaining my goal...

"What? But why would they do that? Wouldn't they lose a lot of money from students like myself who are actually willing to pay to get to the gold level? To me this makes no sense."

Two possible reasons:

- If they don't have anyone (available) capable of taking a student through to gold level, then they won't loose money by not doing it, because it's money they couldn't have made in the first place. In the meantime, they will make a lot of money off of bronze students - and using instructors they don't have to pay very much to do most of the work.

Second reason:

"The co-owner, was initially my "full time" teacher (I had a lesson every week with him). Then, after about 3 months, they said that they assign the students a "buddy instructor" which is basically a second instructor, to allow you to get used to dancing with others. This instructor was quite young and not nearly as good as my first instructor. I only had that one lesson with him. Then they assigned me to another instructor (without me telling them anything) which I would have a lesson with every second week, and he is very good (of course, not as good as the co-owner, but still quite good). So it seems to me like they are aiding me in attaining my goal..."

You've just accepted their explanation for not giving you the most helpful teacher. If you are willing to accept something that costs them less to provide, why should they provide you something more expensive?

If you end up going very far, you will sooner or later make arrangements to work with a specific teacher. They might be independent, they might own a chain studio franchise, they might rent space from someone else - it doesn't matter, because you have scheduled a lesson with that specific person and no other. If you have multiple teachers it's because you chose to, not because you got handed off.