To date, we have no verification system in place. I think I used to have a disclaimer on every ad, but it seems to have slipped through the cracks when I upgraded to our new database-driven listings. I'll have to put that on my list of things to do.

Looking at this teacher's info, there do seem to be some things that might be misleading, but not necessarily untrue for all we know. He can say he's a "champion" even after winning only one small local comp -- I am, for example, the 2004 Hawaii Star Ball Open Professional Smooth Champion, which technically makes me an open smooth champion (albeit after omitting certain important details). He might be the 1991 Fred Astaire northeastern regional standard finalist, whereby if he conveniently omits certain details, simply becomes "national standard finalist").

I don't mean to excuse the behavior, but to simply point out that there's a big difference between stretching the truth and completely making up false credentials. It is an unfortunate reality that people do this all the time. There are probably a handful of teachers with false or exaggerated credentials listed on the website, so I see no reason to pick on him specifically, especially since I don't know for a fact that he is lying or even stretching the truth.

If I do crack down at some point, it will be on everybody together. That, of course, is an extremely difficult proposition considering the number of teachers in our database, the vast array of credentials to check against, and the difficulty of obtaining the information from all the various organizations. But it may be something I'll consider later on, when time permits.

If anyone cares enough about one's credentials, he can check the credentials himself. I wouldn't personally, knowing from many years of first-hand experience that teaching and dancing ability do not necessarily correspond, nor do dancing ability and one's placement at a competition. In my experiences, the best way to gague a teacher's ability is by word of mouth, and by taking a lesson.

Regards,
Jonathan Atkinson
www.ballroomdancers.com