My comments had nothing to do with chain status or the disbelief that someone can reasonably teach beginners after dancing a few years. Not all chains are bad and not all indys are good and people learn at different rates.

His feeling that he had everything there was to know under his belt and that simply knowing the steps was all there was to dance is what bothered me. This arrogance suggests he does not begin to know what he does not know and I was under the same assumption for the first 6 months of dancing. He is years into it and doesn't know this yet.

People who think they have nothing left to learn should not be teaching or in any public field. I spent years in school to become a professional and I still spend two weeks a year in professional development and consult with colleagues because I don't always have an answer.

This guy just told us he has nothing left to learn. I'm not going to foster that attitude in anyone.

Ondine,

What are your thoughts of our opinions of this subject? It would be interesting to read your comments about our ideas and retorts to one another.

Ondine,

I have been dancing for years, but in no means am I good enough to strike it out on my own. You said you are taking lessons at another studio, have you talked to that studio to see if you can get some teaching hours in? Finish your dance education, teach a few years, and then go out and open a business of your own.

Why do people feel like they can be teacher? Did you go to school to learn? Did you get tested? Do you have the understanding of what it takes to run a dance school? if you answered no to any of these YOU ARE NOT A TEACHER!
And why is there no guide-lines when it comes to teaching and opening a studio? I have seen good people get money taken, given the wrong info, and then that makes real teacher look bad... Why dont you cut your own hair and pull your own teeth, its the same thing....

Um, I can answer No to two out of three...

I had the same problem and am on my own and more then doubled in numbers in less then a year.Any REAL dancer continues to grow. Any REAL professional knows that.Sounds like the studio your at is not capable of evoling.Some students need things to be simple and basic however there are more students who do want quality.There are enough students to go around and nobody owns them.They have the right to choose.Focus on sharing your knowledge with your students and enjoy watching them grow.

hello all...
well, i must say some of you are very quick to judge me without knowing me. I'm from a little town in hawkes bay New Zealand.
Yes i have only been dancing for three year, approx. However it is the love for it that makes me train every night. I have recently completed my ballroom and Latin american medals, and this year i have started on my gold. i have recieved all medals with top honours and with 100+ in all divisions. however it is not the international dancing style that i would be teaching. Here in Hawkes Bay we dont really have too many dancoing studios that are worth while going to, for one, they can't teach, and 2 they don't know how to dance.
Yes i do realise that i am not an award winning dancer, however it is the love i have for dance which has made me want to go out on my own. The studio where i am working now has less qualifications than i have, and a lot of the students there only go because i am the one who is teaching them.
"style" a popular word amongst a lot of you, what do you mean. Yes latin American with the cuban motion, and feet pushing into the floor, and the striaghting of the leg... i know how to teach that. I recently had a polish man come and assess me on it. And i know how to teach both male and female.
Ballroom, as you step back, transferring your weight from one foot to another, releasing your toes as you step back, but only as the other heel hits the ground.
but believe me i realise there are always new steps, or new ways to do things, i'm not saying i know it all, and any person that claims that is lying

'style' is the subtype of ballroom.

Latin-
Standard-
American Rhythm-
American Smooth-

Each of these is a style. That is something you should know. As far as what else you have written, yes you are correct and this is the most basic level technique...it isn't enough.

I am glad I misunderstood that you were saying you didn't have anything left to learn.

Hi Ondine:
How is it there in New Zealand I heard it's quite beautiful. I have been teaching since 1975. I want to thank for the time and effort you have put into and contributed to this industry. I read some of the responses you got lol, but I don't believe you should've been tarred and feathered. Stick with it and you will come to a point of realization that you have complete understanding of the dance. We should all be teachers, always imparting knowledge and sharing with others what we know not be elitists withholding information from others. It's like an on going study that never ends. love kk

hi, yes thank you kristinak22, i believe giving others knowledge is the greatest feeling.
New Zealand is very nice, lived here for a while now so i have gotten used to it. It's lovely though.
I've started it up, my own business, i feel someone has to teach people the basics in a fun yet serious environment. I'll tell you of ho it all goes.