you cant go to a studio and get stuff for free. yes judges get paid too, and its not like going to mcdonalds and getting a big mac. Sometimes more lessons are required. you do get ribbons but whats wrong with making people feel good. maybe you were robbed, and your teacher was not good, but in the end you can just say no. what is learned doing the actual performance is worth lessons, its almost 2 for 1

"what is learned doing the actual performance is worth lessons, its almost 2 for 1"

I couldn't agree more. THE and I mean THE reason I do scholarship is because I learn more out there on the floor during those 9 gruelling dances than I do in year of lessons. I could care less about the placings because it is SO valuable to me to be in that environment. Between the outside view of the video camera and my own floor experience in the moment, it is like the most intense education I can give myself. Not only that, my instructor learns a lot, too, and he is a veteran instructor of over 7 years. He learns something new about himself about floorcraft about what I'll respond to (or not respond to as the case may be . Competitions are performance art, so they are by nature unpredictable but the experience is well worth the investment.

I too am a student and had similar feelings as you. But have participated in showcases since the beginning. And yes, to the studio, it is about sales! But having said that you will learn faster and become a dancer quicker if you participate in the the show cases. Note, I said dancer. There is a big difference between being a dancer and just knowing and being able to execute steps. Just don't get caught up in the hype of it being a competition because it is not. It is a means of structuring lessons and concentrating your learning process. You will get to interact with people of all levels of ability and experience. If you are male, you will learn something about leading and physically communicating with your partner. If female you will learn how to follow. And you cannot be a dancer until as a mail you can lead any woman and as a female follow any man with grace and beauty.

Richard

Yes, yes, lots of people distrust AM, and yes, a showcase costs some money, but everyone at my studio looks forward to them SO much. We eat good food and dance all day. And I feel for me like it's good experience to bravely dance in front of a crowd. You're not going to master any of these dances for years, but you could still put on a good show. Pick YOUR favorite dance, and YOUR favorite song, and HAVE FUN WITH IT is my advice.

dpalincs,

I agree, see you at the next showcase.

Oh, the showcase mill isn't just a problem at AM studios! It's found in many studios, and it can be a disasterous affair for dancing in general. I have seen numerous people with some level of raw talent eventually leave ballroom because an instructor saw them as a temporary fix to their bank account instead of a long term, mutually rewarding relationship. At our studio, it is usually a woman who comes to learn to dance because she wants to LEARN to dance. She has natural talent, and the men enjoy the infusion of fresh talent and enthusiasm. Then comes the instructor who praises her for her talent, and he talks her into s showcase. And yes, she spends a lot of money, but before long, she can only do her choreography. It won't then be much longer before she realizes she can't follow simple figures, and she finds dancing difficult. She realizes she hasn't LEARNED anything. This leads to disappointment and a loss of her initial joy she felt learning to dance. Most eventually leave the studio not to return. It happens to men, too. And all due to greedy, unethical, self-centered, teachers who have a Problem with Immediate Gratification. The PIGs ruin more aspiring learner's dreams than I can stomach. Yah, it makes me angry. Yes, I do showcases with my teacher, but I'm the customer, and I approach her. We work together on the project. I don't allow her to sell me anything I can't afford or I don't want. For this year's Christmas show, we're doing a slow waltz to Away in a Manger as sung by Faith Hill. I already have her working with me on it, by my choice, and we will have something nice to present. I expect the inclusion of most of the figures from 2 silver syllabi, so I can showcase what I have LEARNED, and she fills in the gaps with advanced, open choreography to challenge me in areas where I need improvement. This is my conception of how it should be.

I think you are spot on there, Silver.

I've danced showcases at several different (indy) studios and I enjoyed all but the first immensely as well as the prep work. However, they were / are expensive.

My partner got slammed once though - her instructor kept changing the choreography and then the studio rescheduled the showcase to a day when she had to be out of town. And she had spent a fair amount of money on a dress just for that showcase. She now refuses to dance any showcases there.

Silver, that is an excellent summation of some of the serious weaknesses in pro/am development as well as some good recommendations for maintaining the proper relationship with one's pro.

Your best point is that the student is paying for all of this stuff. Everything - including what the instructor wears for the showcase ( ) - should be the student's choice.

Pro/am is perfectly suitable for those folks who have money to burn and who just are not sufficiently mature in their dancing to make a partnership work.

Very good post. Good luck.

jj

JJ.. do you REALLY believe that ALL Pro/Am is about the lack of maturity ?

There are countless ladies who dance in that division ( and some guys ) who are quite content to dance with a Pro. for many reasons other than their L.O.M. .. Prime reason ? lack of male partners.. would you have them sit on the sidelines in the eternal "waiting room" ?..

If there were NO Pro /Am comps.. the majority of comps would cease to exist.. they fund the way for the aspiring Pros and Amat.

The solid fact is.. that a Major world body, has been encouraging the pro/Am status, and the last event they sponsored in Argentina , was attended by over 40 countries.. Dancing, believe it or not it IS a business ..

Lastly.. the " value " in Pro/Am is reflected in the Prize money for Pro comps ( many rely upon this for income ).. it also may affect the quality of Judging ..( promoters could not afford the current diversity )

yes, Terrence 2 - I think that is EXACTLY what jj believes. He must have been VERY badly burned in the past.
Re: expectations that I have of coaches, pro teachers and amateur partners, and knowing that some amateur partners have written contracts detailing the specifics of their dance partnership, if I were jj's partner I would certainly expect him to sign a contract about every detail of a partnership with him.