Thread: New student leaving class...

I had the strangest experience in my beginner level class last night. A new student came in for class, so I asked her the standard questions about her previous dance experience and let her know how class is organized (warm-up, drills, combinations, cool-down). So good so far - then she asked if all of the students get costumes. I didn't think this was odd because the class before the beginners had been my student troupe rehearsing in costume, so I let her know that most people wear regular workout clothes for class and that those students had been rehearsing for an upcoming show. I mentioned that some students like to wear hip scarves and that I sometimes bring extras to class, checked my bag and let her know I didn't have one last night but they weren't required at all.

So this is where I got confused. We started the warm-ups and after about 30 seconds she walked off the dance floor and out of the building without a word. Any ideas what might have happened? I know she planned to take class and seemed interested. The warm-up isn't really strenuous...especially in the first 30 seconds.

Thoughts?

what...she just walked out w/o a word, or even a hint in her facial expression that anything was wrong? that's so strange.

Sounds to me like as opposed to wanting to learn to dance, she wanted to play dress-up and maybe just bop around. When she figured out it was a real dance class, she probably just decided to cut her losses and split.

well she did pay before the class right? i can't imagine someone just walking out w/o warning, especially if they paid for a class! most people would at least stick around and get their money's worth ya know?

Hmm, odd behaviour, indeed, but who knows, she may have suddenly had a bad cramp, felt nauseous, or ??? I'd be somewhat curious, too. Do you have her contact information? You could give her a quick call or send her an email, etc.



Khalida

Originally Posted by laura 2

Sounds to me like as opposed to wanting to learn to dance, she wanted to play dress-up and maybe just bop around. When she figured out it was a real dance class, she probably just decided to cut her losses and split.

Could be this.

Or she might have suddenly developed cramps, diarrhea, major...ermm....leakage...or some other emergency of a very personal nature and been to embarrassed to let on?

If I had an e-mail address, I might contact the student just to say 'Hey, hope everything is ok' but I probably wouldn't trouble her with a phone call or intrude.

Originally Posted by zfejzic

what...she just walked out w/o a word, or even a hint in her facial expression that anything was wrong? that's so strange.

Yep - nothing. Her expression was the same that it was before, kind of open and positive. I was trying to think if I had done anything, but I think the extent of my class words at that point had been, "Ok- belly dancers, let's get started. Basic dance posture is knees soft to slightly bent instead of locked, pelvis in neutral, chest lifted, shoulders back. Now arms, out, up, cross wrists, in, down - again"

It just seemed really strange so I worried about it afterward.

Originally Posted by Lauren_

Could be this.

Or she might have suddenly developed cramps, diarrhea, major...ermm....leakage...or some other emergency of a very personal nature and been to embarrassed to let on?

If I had an e-mail address, I might contact the student just to say 'Hey, hope everything is ok' but I probably wouldn't trouble her with a phone call or intrude.

Maybe that's it - I don't have any contact information for her, so I am hoping she comes back again if she wants to try class. As this is a drop-in class she hadn't filled out my paperwork yet when she left.

Right - she hadn't paid yet as the class is drop-in and she was going to pay after the warm-up. That's a thought - maybe she realized she didn't have her money with her and was embarrassed to say so.

Thanks for the thoughts!

the only thing close to this i have had is people coming in asking about costumes, shows who don't have experience & when i say they need to take class don't come back. tinah

ooooo, be glad she is gone..sounds like a very strange person that you will be better off without.

How very strange! Well, hopefully she'll come back and the mystery will be solved.

Maybe the bean burrito she had for dinner kicked in during the undulation drill.....

Originally Posted by HOOKEDNOVICE

Maybe the bean burrito she had for dinner kicked in during the undulation drill.....

..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,..l;,

Maybe it wasn't for her. I know it's hard to believe but some folks don't like belly dance..w.:

Originally Posted by lizajuk

Maybe it wasn't for her. I know it's hard to believe but some folks don't like belly dance..w.:

LOL I know! I just didn't think someone would decide that less than 30 seconds into the class ;) I know warm up isn't the most exciting thing we do ;)

I, too, am curious to find out the Case of the Disappearing Student. I know that even though I was excited to learn bellydance, I was very self-conscious in my first class. I remember during warm up when my instructor first demonstrated bellydance posture and then started to demonstrate some moves some little voice in my head said "But we're not supposed to move that part of our body." I wasn't an uptight person, but it suddenly brought up issues I didn't know I had. I got over them after a few seconds, but maybe this person didn't.

You did say she asked if beginner's get costumes, right? If those were the words, do you think she might have thought she would get a free costume to play dress up in? Sounds dumb, but maybe she thought it was like those time-share seminars where you get some cool food or something just for showing up.

Originally Posted by BELLA_BELLA

You did say she asked if beginner's get costumes, right? If those were the words, do you think she might have thought she would get a free costume to play dress up in? Sounds dumb, but maybe she thought it was like those time-share seminars where you get some cool food or something just for showing up.

.w.: I never even thought of it that way - she did ask specifically if beginners get costumes. I guess I interpreted it more as do beginners *need* costumes. I can't imagine how far in the poor house I'd be if beginners got costumes! LOL

MJ,

Don't feel bad. It wasn't you, it was her. She had something particular in her head (who knows what that was, may have been the free costume) and then she made a split decision to split. Maybe she just dropped in on a sudden whim and changed her mind quickly.

I had this experience once before too. A woman showed up at my class and said that she was an "intermediate" dancer and wanted to watch the class first to see if it was sub par or met her dancing level. I usually don't but this time I did. Same thing. She sat for 2min didn't even see 1/4 of the warmup and left. Never heard from again in our dance community and that was 3 years ago!

ooooooooo if I got a free costume for beginners class. I'd be a beginner forever and have about 100 instructors....