Thread: raqia workshop - would this be too rude?

hi wise ones... so i have been dancing for a while, but never attended a big workshop, let alone one featuring a Big Name Amazing Person. i was all set to sign up for the may 17-18 raqia hassan workshop - and still hope to - but have found out my 3-y-o-daughter's dance recital is also the evening of the 17th! and i don't live around the corner. i would have a time conflict with the last hour or so of the workshop that day. unless daddy volunteers to get her into costume and makeup... .w.:

my question is - though i would hate to miss any instruction, would it be the kind of thing that i could slip out a bit early if i needed to? Lord knows that in my once-upon-a-time ballet universe, you could never have done that (unless you had no intentions of returning ever ever again), but i am hoping that even a famous egyptian teacher would be lower-key just by virtue of her egyptian-ness? and/or that there would be such a crowd, no one would notice me leaving? wwbd?

thanx for your sage advice,
ashley

I wouldn't count on Raqia being low-key, but there's safety in numbers. They're expecting about 75 people, so I'm sure you can get away with it. Better to get as much as you can out of the time you have available rather than stay away altogether, no? And you have such a great excuse.

I agree with Zana. I'm sure there will be a lot of people there, so if you place yourself in the back row when it's almost time for you to leave, then *quietly* remove yourself, I think you'll be fine.

Wow, I can't imagine any workshop instructor finding it rude, frankly. We're all big girls with multiple responsibilities. It's not like you're asking for the ws to be pro-rated 'cause you have to leave early!

Actually, it's not unusual for dancers to slip out early now and then, because of family things, gigs, whatever. As long as you do it quietly, I can't see it upsetting Raqia.

See you there, on Sunday!

Latifa

I had to slip out early last year because I wasn't feeling well and nobody made a fuss. I think it's fine.
Makeda

It's nice to be able to warn the instructor prior to the class starting that you may have to leave a bit early. Some instructors may think it's personal (the student didn't like the class so they're bailing out), so it's nice to just inform them beforehand that you have a responsibility that you need to leave the class a little early for.

I would tell Raqia you may need to leave early.
Then she does not think you did not like the class or something.

cooool, thanx all! off to sign up. and maybe look for a hipscarf-of-invisibility.

I have heard of big names calling out students who leave early. I would probably mention it to the organizer, not Madame Raqia

Originally Posted by eshe

I have heard of big names calling out students who leave early. I would probably mention it to the organizer, not Madame Raqia

Having known Raqia as both teacher and friend for many years, I would say that if you are quiet and discreet when you leave and don't disturb either her or the other workshop attendees, she will not consider you rude. She knows that many of us have other obligations which demand our attention at awkward times so I'm sure she'll just assume that you have another obligation or that you are not feeling well. If you are concerned about the organizer's opinion of you, by all means speak to her about it early in the day to let her know that you must leave to attend your daughter's recital. Have a great time at the workshop! Raqia's classes are always wonderful.

In any case: Inform the teacher in advance that you will be leaving early.

I hate it when people just leave class without informing me - especially when they do it quietly. In my eyes it's rude not to let your teacher know why you are leaving early.
It also sends out a mixed message to the rest of the class when somebody just sneaks out. The other students might ask themselves "Why is she leaving?".

But I am very understanding if people tell me at the beginning of the class that they will leave before the end. They paid for it and if they don't want to/can't take it all, that's not my problem.

MEISSOUN

Originally Posted by meissoun

In my eyes it's rude not to let your teacher know why you are leaving early.

But where do you draw the line? In a class of 10 or 20 people it's one thing -- a workshop of 75 or 100 or more, most of whom are complete strangers to the guest instructor, seems quite different to me. Approaching the instructor in that situation might well be more disruptive than quietly slipping out. I'd leave it to the organizers to pass the information on to the instructor if they deemed it appropriate, especially if (as in this case) I had a relationship of some kind with an organizer but the instructor didn't know me from a tree. I think Leyla's got it exactly right.

Well, around here we don't have these giant workshops (and I don't think I would want to be in one...).
Last Friday I was in what would be considered a very crowded workshop, which means about 32 people.... And I think the instructors (Beata + Horacio) would have noticed somebody sneaking out in the middle of the class (as any teacher who is attentive about their students).

But I guess if there are 100 students, it's ok to only let the organizers know about your leaving early.

MEISSOUN

Originally Posted by Zana

But where do you draw the line? In a class of 10 or 20 people it's one thing -- a workshop of 75 or 100 or more, most of whom are complete strangers to the guest instructor, seems quite different to me. Approaching the instructor in that situation might well be more disruptive than quietly slipping out. I'd leave it to the organizers to pass the information on to the instructor if they deemed it appropriate, especially if (as in this case) I had a relationship of some kind with an organizer but the instructor didn't know me from a tree. I think Leyla's got it exactly right.

That was what I was picturing, the student who is 1 of 75 who stops the entire workshop that everyone else has paid for too to say "hey, I have to leave early."

It might be good to ask the organizer too if there are breaks and slip out during one of these.

Originally Posted by leylalanty

Having known Raqia as both teacher and friend for many years, I would say that if you are quiet and discreet when you leave and don't disturb either her or the other workshop attendees, she will not consider you rude. She knows that many of us have other obligations which demand our attention at awkward times so I'm sure she'll just assume that you have another obligation or that you are not feeling well. If you are concerned about the organizer's opinion of you, by all means speak to her about it early in the day to let her know that you must leave to attend your daughter's recital. Have a great time at the workshop! Raqia's classes are always wonderful.

I just wanted to clarify, I wasn't talking about Mme Raqia.

Originally Posted by mandyt

I would tell Raqia you may need to leave early.
Then she does not think you did not like the class or something.

And I think under those circumstances andy workshop teacher, big name or not would understand.
I assume you are needed to get her ready but get twisting his arm further..that sounds like just the thing daddies aught to get used to doing!..g.:

I think it is polite to mention it to the instructor or organiser before the class starts. Even in a big class the teacher might well notice someone leave as it is an important part of their job to observe everybody. If someone walks out with no explanation it can disrupt train of thought as the teacher could be worried that you have an injury or are not happy with the class.
I'm sure it will not be a problem at all, but out of courtesy you should mention it.

thanks again. i think i will just mention it to faten, who does know me, ahead of time. and maybe come armed with a pic of the cute excuse for leaving! i agree that leavng during a break would be least disruptive and if it's practical, i'll do that.

funny how different people react differently. i have students leave my (college italian, 25 or fewer students) classes all the time. i would never assume i'd done something wrong, and i'd never give someone a hard time for leaving, either. the one thing i do hate is when they get up and stop me from teaching so they can tell me why they're leaving, so i won't do that!

Originally Posted by lizajuk

I assume you are needed to get her ready but get twisting his arm further..that sounds like just the thing daddies aught to get used to doing!..g.:

hee hee! believe me, he loves her more than enough to try. he is just of the uber-straight manlyman persuasion, and i think we'd all be afraid what the results might look like.,r:;