Thread: Completely unqualified teachers

The most prestigious dance studio in my town (in terms of youth ballet, tap, hip hop, modern, etc) has just opened a belly dance class taught by a person I know to be utterly and completely unqualified to teach this dance genre (she was, however, already a ballet teacher at this studio). She took *one* 10-week absolute beginner class from a colleague of mine over 4 years ago. The dance community is small and limited enough around here that I can be pretty certain she has had no further training in belly dance. I have seen her dance and it is worse than merely amateur -- it was completely unrecognizable as any style of belly dance. And now she is teaching. I am completely dumfounded. Let me also say that in a smallish town, I see this kind of thing having a disproportionate affect on the way the general public sees our dance, and the proportion of the student base this may affect, as versus a large town where there are generally numerous high profile good teachers and dance schools that swamp out the effects of the occasional detritus.

I teach at two other venues which, until recently, has kept me pretty busy; thus in the past I have thought about approaching this studio but have not done so.

Does professionalism dictate that I do absolutely nothing?

Sedonia

By all means, approach them. Then talk to them about adding an additional belly dance class. Spend time talkign aobu thte history, tradition, differnet styles of belly dance. Make sure that you emphisis that you know your stuff.

DO NOT say anything which would even lead them to subspect that you, personally, know that the other teacher probably doesnt' ahve a clue. Keep it nice and friendly, an open dialogue about what you, personally, can do for the studio.

Then, sit back and see what happens.

{{{HUGS}}}

Is this the same dancer that was performing at a restaurant because she was young, cute and cheap?

I'll have to vomit.

I agree with tahiradancer, approach them in a friendly manner.
See what happens...hopefully they'll see that you are far more knowledgable and experienced. :)

Keep us posted, too! :)

There seems to be an attitude in the mainstream dance community that so long as you have a "dance background" in mainsteam dance, then you are qualified to teach any kind of dance you damned well please with only the most minimal background in it. As long as your arm carriage and posture are credible in the eyes of the ballet community, nothing else matters.

Heaven forbid that the instructor know anything about the music repertoire, because ballet is the only dance form whose music repertoire matters. Nor does the instructor need to know anything about cultural context - because dance, after all, is just a bunch of moves done with a certain technique, right?

Originally Posted by *Shira*

There seems to be an attitude in the mainstream dance community that so long as you have a "dance background" in mainsteam dance, then you are qualified to teach any kind of dance you damned well please with only the most minimal background in it.

Ya think?? I think I'll send THIS letter to the dance studio owner:

Dear Ms. xxxxx:

I am writing to you to offer my services as a ballet teacher at your studio. I believe I would be a fine addition to your dance faculty, so please allow me to elaborate on my qualifications.

I have been trained in Middle Eastern dance (belly dance) for over 10 years. I have studies with some of the finest Middle Eastern dance teachers in the country, including Yousri Sharif, Morocco, Artemis Mourat, Elena Lentini, and Aziz. I am sure you have heard of them and can appreciate the level of training I have recieved.

Four years ago, I took a 10-week beginning adult ballet class at John A. Logan Community College, and fell in love with ballet. Although I have not taken any more formal ballet classes, since then I have been teaching myself ballet on my own, working with videos and internet sites that offer tips for ballet dancers. I know it was only a 10 week course but we covered alot of material -- all the basic positions, plies, and those movements where you put your leg up on the bar. Since I was already a highly trained dancer, I mastered all of these movements quickly and even found myself bored in the class. Having thus learned all the fundamental movements of ballet, I have been choreographing my own dances by combining these movements together, and I have developed a very unique style of ballet all my own.

I believe that my strong background in Middle Eastern dance has allowed me to gain enough experience in ballet to teach it. I also have ballet performing experience. Last year, I performed my own original rendition of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies from the Nutcracker at the Carbondale Pig Out, and everone who saw me, including my boyfriend and my mother, said I was a real natural at ballet. I believe that you will agree wholeheartedly with me when i say that I believe that all dance requires essentially the same skills and knowledge, and that my cross-training in Middle Eastern dance has prepared me well for a career as a ballet teacher.

I have also recently purchased some pointe shoes and have been teaching myself pointe technique in my attic. I think that the best way to learn something is to make lots of mistakes and learn from them, and so I really think I could give some unique insight to your students as they progress to pointe. I probably would prefer to teach at least 6 weeks of beginner ballet before teaching pointe technique, though, because I am currently recovering from 3 metatarsal stress fractures and some pulled ligaments in my ankles.

I look forward to discussing my joining your studio at a later time. I will call you next week to arrange an appointment if I have not already heard from you.

With warmest regards,

Sedonia Sipes

Originally Posted by yasmindiab

Is this the same dancer that was performing at a restaurant because she was young, cute and cheap?

Yes, I believe she danced numerous times throughout the entire dinner hour for $20 for the whole evening.

You know, I just had this same conversation with a studio owner today! There is a student teacher (only about 1 year in the dance) who is IMHO unqualified at this point in her career to teach classes. I gave my reasons why to the studio owner and the owner was very thankful that I offered her this enlightened view and information. Of course, it is her ultimate decision if she wants this person to work in ther studio. But at least she is not hiring blindly. So by all means, let this studio owner know, after all, it is her reputation on the line.

Nilaja

Originally Posted by ssipes

Ya think?? I think I'll send THIS letter to the dance studio owner:

Dear Ms. xxxxx:

I am writing to you to offer my services as a ballet teacher at your studio. I believe I would be a fine addition to your dance faculty, so please allow me to elaborate on my qualifications.<snip>

Sedonia, I love it when you let your sarcastic sense of humor come out to play! ,r:; ..g.: ..l;,

As I mentioned a while ago, I believe that the owner of the studio I quit will start to teach Belly Dance herself after I'm gone. After all, she took my class twice, and recently bought instructional videos from Neena & Veena, Rania and Jillina. ..c:: Her attitude it *exactly* what Shira described above - she thinks anyone can teach any dance form if they have enough western dance training.

Last year, she hired a ballet/lyrical teacher and when the Irish dance instructor quit, made the poor new hire teach Irish step dancing! She is desperatrly looking for a hula instructor too, and I guarentee you if she can't find a qulified one, she'll just teach it herself or tell one of the younger instructors to bone up on it and teach it.

Sedonia, I love your letter!

OH oh!!!!! I just mastered the hula hoop yesterday! I can teach Hula!!!!

Hello!

I dont know anyone here on this site (yet) as I just discovered this place not long ago, but I would like to share my opinion. I have been learning this wonderful art for a little over a year, and I know I am a very beginner dancer. My prior school was just like that, unqualified. I mean, the teachers were limited in their knowledge, and to this day I am not sure if any of them know they are not up to par. I think they firmly believe they are good at what they do. It took me a while to figure out they didnt know their art at all, but when I did, I went somewhere else, and I guarantee you that any serious student will realize the same sooner or later and come to you.

Good bellydancers are not stupid. I found they are actualy very strong women with brains! Now, that particular school I used to go to have their reputation, and its not a good one. It is too bad because they do good stuff for the community, but they shouldnt call themselves bellydancers. This teacher will likely get a reputation of her own and sink herself.

Wow. I must be a downright witch, because I'd be scheduling a meeting with the owner of the studio, PRONTO.

I think your concerns deserve to be addressed. Many people have the misconception that belly dance doesn't consist of technique or history, and that it's basically shaking your butt around. The studio owner NEEDS to know that it's a dance form rich in culture. A dance form that is chalk full of technique and different styles to learn... all of which could not possibly be grasped within 10 weeks by even the most experienced dancer. I'd also leave him with further reading to do.

Whatever you decide to do, you have to be very careful not to insult this woman he's hired to teach the class. It'll only make you look jealous and unprofessional. But I do not think it unprofessional to educate him about the dance and invite him to seek out quality teachers for MED, just as he would any other dance form in his studio. Doing otherwise is going to breed a whole slew of Shakira wannabe's... you know the sort that inspire those lovely youtube videos we all love?

Blech.

It's a tough call, and certainly a subject that's difficult to approach without being unprofessional and insulting. Choose your words carefully if you approach him. Stay positive... perhaps invite him to a show where you know there will be quality dancing so that he can see the differences...?

I think new bhuzzer Amity66 is right - - these teachers may start out with students but most will leave because they will figure it out. If they love bellydance basics & the music, they will find a good and right teacher for them.

Little consolation given the churn out of McBellydancers but it's something.

Originally Posted by laura 2

She is desperatrly looking for a hula instructor too, and I guarentee you if she can't find a qulified one, she'll just teach it herself or tell one of the younger instructors to bone up on it and teach it.

Sedonia, I love your letter!

haha, this reminds me of a call I got a couple of years ago from one of the moms in the neighborhood. She wanted a hula dancer for a kids' party. I explained the difference between the dance forms, and said that I did not know enough hula to take the job but could recommend someone. She said, "Well, couldn't you learn it? You've got two weeks before the party -- isn't that enough time?"

Kidding aside, I too have encountered this attitude about dance -- that if you know a dance form like ballet, you can easily train to do Middle Eastern styles. It's so arrogant! And I love Sedonia's mock letter, which really puts the whole thing in perspective.

I also completely agree that bellydancing is so much more than dancing. However, there are people nowadays that simply dont give a rats ass (as I experienced in my old school). All they care about is that there are a whole lot of people out there that just want to shake their bum in night clubs and they want to learn it fast, and money-making people are taking advantage of this craze. Heck this old school of mine is full of student. But you know what? After 3 months they move on, and she gets new beginner students. Her business keeps flowing. Problem is she cannot get any gigs, and she cannot keep her students. I honestly dont think she cares! She is good in marketing, and good at making quick money. You could go try and put some sense into her head it wouldnt make a difference in the world.

I wouldnt have the guts to go confront anyone, especially since I know I dont know anything! But I would certainly appreciate knowlegeable people telling me if I am doing something bad. Maybe these people are actually serious about what they want to teach and need to know what they are getting into? Heck if I had the guts, I'd sure try.

For fear of attracting bad karma, I must say something nice.... This old school taught me I wanted to learn more, so I have to be greatful.

Sedonia -- wow. I'm sooo sorry this is happening to your town.

I agree that something should be done, but I'm at a loss for how to do it. I'm trying to imagine, if I'd just made the mistake she made, what kind of approach might open my eyes without alienating me?

The approach to teach would probably work best for me. Then I'm being offered a solution, not just having a problem brought to my attention.

Maybe offer to teach a class for those who have completed the 'intro' level? A 'beyond the basics' class? Though if you don't really have time to teach it, it's a moot point.

Somewhat unrelated... Welcome to Bhuz, amity166!

I'm glad you've found us. The community here has been an excellent addition to my dance education. Even the best teacher can't teach you everything, and the discussion here is a great way to be exposed to a wide range of perspectives.

Thank you Antimony!

I am so excited to have found this. I have already learned so much, and I only love this art more! Actually my best friend directed me here... Thank you Heather!

Josiane :)

*SNORT* I love that letter!!!

Originally Posted by danidance

I think new bhuzzer Amity66 is right - - these teachers may start out with students but most will leave because they will figure it out. If they love bellydance basics & the music, they will find a good and right teacher for them.

Little consolation given the churn out of McBellydancers but it's something.

I dunno, Dani - I'm also from a Mid-sized Illinois town, and I can tell you, I've seen plenty of students stick with a wayyyyyyy less than mediocre teacher for too long because there just weren't any good options in town. Maybe in a big city, where there's a lot of community interaction, clueless newbies will have opportunities for eye-opening experiences, but it's amazing how long a misconception can be propogated in a more isolated area.

I live in a city with a relative large belly dance community. However, there are always belly dance courses taught by unqualified teachers with full classes. As long as the students has less knowledge then the teacher, they'll stay.

Mention that you're also available to teach belly dance classes, maybe offer to teach additional workshops on specific subjects. Give him the list of options and your dance resume.

If the unqulified teacher actually is a ballet dancer, wouldn't she be happier teaching ballet? After all, that's what she trained for. There are a some of bellydancers who want to teach other dance forms too, but most of them know that they have to put in a lot of effort to master another dance form.

Problem is I am a totally unqualified belly dancer teacher and I'll bet I'm not the only one.
The fact that I have been learning this dance for over 9 years,listen to Arabic and other belly dance music, daily, watch the best dancers live (were possible) and dead !!!on film , watch instructional films by quality teachers, practice weekly ( as well as teach twice a week), attend festivals with day long workshops, research avidly in other words eat,sleep and dream belly dance...I am still unqualified!
I cannot get to nor really afford Paulette's tribal course when she comes to the UK and I would rather take a mainstream course so I do intend attending a foundation JWAAD course near me (for the first time!)
But apart from writing out as impressive a CV as I can, I am totally unqualified and have been teaching without "paper" recognition except for my PLI being backed by a dance organisation.

I bet you, your unqualified girl with a sports or dance background and with 10 weeks belly dance experience can produce more paper qualifications and as happened around here, someone with Arabic origins and NO formal training in belly dance would be snapped up by a Sport Centre.

Yes some students may take off after a while especially those who explore the dance from other venues and get to see skilled dancers but if your young no-qualifications belly dancer is lithe and attractive and FUN they will keep on going and she will thrive.
I am not sure what you can do. If you go and tell the truth of the situation even if you can produce your "qualifications", they may just think :
" Harumpt..... jealous!!! nasty "
" Belly dance hah...who can't do that!? It's not a real artistic skill anyway is it? It's not like ballet is it?"

But you could just send in your CV "Blind" pretending you didn't know they had already hired someone and/or pointing out you can teach higher ability student as well as beginners and so potentially hang on to them longer.

Why don't you contact the studio, and offer to run an "intermediate" class? As the beginners will need somewhere to go after they have done the "beginners" course. Quality speaks, and I bet you'd find that students prefered to come to your class.

I wouldn't waste your time trying to put the studio "right" on their choice of staff member, I mean, if it was any other profession, you wouldn't bother right? "You know, that Policeman .p:: at Police Station X is REALLY, REALLY ,r:; bad at his job! *I* should have his job!". ..g.:

Oooh ! Oooh! I just thought, could this lady teach "ballet for bellydance", and you teach "bellydance for bellydance".

People should really put more thought into the decision to teach. I have seen many dancers at various shows who were introduced as "teachers" and I have been shoked at what they produce...I want to teach but I don't feel that I am ready. I think I have the technical skills but I do not know enough of the history...Also, a lot of the moves I have in my repretoire I learned outside of class, by watching live shows and DVDs, so I'm not sure I know how to teach them...Im just think that anyone who wants to be a teacher needs to put some MAJOR thought into what teaching entails, whether it's dance or math or science. It's really sad that there are so many unqualified people teaching out there. It really hurts our community...Sorry for ranting!!!

reminds me of the step aerobics instructor at on of the health clubs I USED to teach at - I watched her teach/film a video for an "innovative" new fad!
I forgot what it was called, but it was
"Pilates, Yoga and Ballet" combined -
as I watched it, all I could think was
"Wow, the orthopedic surgeons in this town are going to have a new yacht soon with all the new patients from this class".
It was, hands down, the scariest thing I've ever witnessed in dance.

Originally Posted by lizajuk

Problem is I am a totally unqualified belly dancer teacher and I'll bet I'm not the only one.
The fact that I have been learning this dance for over 9 years,listen to Arabic and other belly dance music, daily, watch the best dancers live (were possible) and dead !!!on film , watch instructional films by quality teachers, practice weekly ( as well as teach twice a week), attend festivals with day long workshops, research avidly in other words eat,sleep and dream belly dance...I am still unqualified!
I cannot get to nor really afford Paulette's tribal course when she comes to the UK and I would rather take a mainstream course so I do intend attending a foundation JWAAD course near me (for the first time!)
But apart from writing out as impressive a CV as I can, I am totally unqualified and have been teaching without "paper" recognition except for my PLI being backed by a dance organisation.

I'm not sure what your point is. Why are you unqualified? Why would so-and-so's tribal dance certificate make or break your worth as a teacher of oriental dance? What I am talking about is not paper certifications, nor the somewhat blurred line between "advanced amateur" vs. "new pro" (not that that isn't worth discussing also, but its not what my original post was about), but something much more black and white. I am talking about a very young (early 20-ish) ballet/modern dancer who has taken *10 weeks* of beginning belly dance, maybe bought a cheap DVD (probably one that presents a highly westernized version of the dance) and now thinks she is a belly dance performer and teacher. I have seen her do modern dance and she is good at that, but what she is really doing in terms of belly dance is taking a tiny tiny tiny tiny morsel, incorporating it into her extensive foundation of western dance, and producing something unrecognizable that springs directly from her western dance background.

If you have been listening to arabic music, studying videos of the great dancers, taking classes, and performing for 9 years, you have a monumental leg up on this person.

I bet you, your unqualified girl with a sports or dance background and with 10 weeks belly dance experience can produce more paper qualifications and as happened around here, someone with Arabic origins and NO formal training in belly dance would be snapped up by a Sport Centre.

Well, it this case, the studio didn't choose her over me because I hadn't approached them (yet). And no, I don't agree that she'd look better on paper than I.

But you could just send in your CV "Blind" pretending you didn't know they had already hired someone and/or pointing out you can teach higher ability student as well as beginners and so potentially hang on to them longer.

Yes, I think that is what I and my colleague will do.

Thanks, everyone, for the input.

Sedonia

Originally Posted by Adishakti

...Doing otherwise is going to breed a whole slew of Shakira wannabe's...

hate to burst your bubble but i would asy 60% of new beginner belly dance students already are shakira wannabes...doesn't matter who the teacher is. but they don't usually stick around long.

Originally Posted by bintbeled

Kidding aside, I too have encountered this attitude about dance -- that if you know a dance form like ballet, you can easily train to do Middle Eastern styles. It's so arrogant! And I love Sedonia's mock letter, which really puts the whole thing in perspective.

i had a student who was once an amazing russian ballet dancer (probably still is but i haven't seen her do ballet). she took my beginning class for two years before moving into intermediate (not that i thought she needed to, she is just determined to get it "right"). she found it so hard to do isolations (as did i) in the beginning as you are trained in ballet to keep all your muscles tight at once, keeping your belly and your legs tight all the time. it's just totally different. but she does the most amazing veil work and her arms were always just beautiful from the start. the students that have the most difficulty in beginning belly dance are the ones who are most experienced at ballet or western dance. go figure...so i don't understand that mentality AT ALL!

Why are you unqualified?

To a lot of people in the outside world, qualifications mean bits of paper and many belly dance teachers just don't have any for the best of reasons. They have no access to training courses. Hopefully the UK JWAAD course is "coming to a town near you" and I can start belatedly on getting a bit of paper.
But I know what you mean that many of my fellow dancers would see me as as qualified in terms of my experience and the classes and workshops I have attended.





[I would the head of a sports centre actually recognize me as such, given the status of our dance. Might s/he not say "Oh I'll take the young lithe thing who has graduated from ballet school/has sports science qualifications with ink[/I]










Yes exactly write a detailed and impressive CV. We need to emphasise that competance is not just a sequin and wiggle away. It is a hard won art born of years of study of movement and music and culture and without that you get diddly squat sunstance.



Good Luck

Originally Posted by jawahir

hate to burst your bubble but i would asy 60% of new beginner belly dance students already are shakira wannabes...doesn't matter who the teacher is. but they don't usually stick around long.

Well, at least with a more respectable teacher, they'll see it's not just shaking around - and that it's a dance form to be respected like any other. A fact they'll hopefully distribute among the people they know instead of relating MED to pole dancing.