Thread: Pet peeves.

What are your pet peeves, as a teacher or a student?

One of mine is people who expect me to rearrange everything around their schedule.

Them: When are your beginning classes?
Me: I have them on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday evenings and on Tuesday mornings.
Them: I can't come at any of those times because of my job.

Then they just look at me like I'm supposed to solve that problem for them. Or they start suggesting other times I might offer a beginner class and I'm supposed to explain why I can't do it then.

Sheesh, 5 beginner classes a week isn't enough?

chewing gum in class.
makes me insane.

Street clothes and/or street shoes. Most of the time I can handle someone wearing tennis shoes, but heels? The excuse "I came straight from work" doesn't fly with me. They should have brought something to change into. Ugh. Makes me want to tear my hair out.

people who whisper and talk while you are trying to teach.
I usually just stop talking,m:: . I am not going to try overshouting them.

Other students who take up time week after week to show their solo dances. I didn't come to watch every week, I came to dance.

oohh, ooh, I have one!!

People (potential students or potential gig-clients) who call my cell 17 times in a row while I'm at work (there is a REASON I am not answering, people!!!) and don't leave a message, rather than just calling once and leaving a message so I can call them back.

Even when I am not a work, I like to screen my calls and usually won't answer if it's a number I don't know. Leave me a message and I'll call you back. DON'T call me over and over thinking that if you annoy me enough I'll pick up, because I won't!! Do people think that because I am a bellydancer I surely must just sit by my phone all day and wait for it to ring with possible jobs? Come on! I have a job and a life!

Originally Posted by Lauren_

What are your pet peeves, as a teacher or a student?

One of mine is people who expect me to rearrange everything around their schedule.

Them: When are your beginning classes?
Me: I have them on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday evenings and on Tuesday mornings.
Them: I can't come at any of those times because of my job.

Then they just look at me like I'm supposed to solve that problem for them. Or they start suggesting other times I might offer a beginner class and I'm supposed to explain why I can't do it then.

Sheesh, 5 beginner classes a week isn't enough?

I've gotten that too -- very annoying. What makes it worse is when you start a class on the day they requested and then they don't even show up for it!! ,m:: Some people are just looking for an excuse to not try new things...

As a student in a workshop environment, nothing but NOTHING makes me more insane than other dancers who do not understand personal space. It happens every time - people not watching where they are going, and oblivious to everyone around them subsequently crashing into people. ARGH!!

As a teacher - students who show up late, or miss a class and expect me to use my OWN time after class to review with them personally. (I'm talking about the chronics here, not the ones who only miss one class or are late only once).

Originally Posted by aazura

I've gotten that too -- very annoying. What makes it worse is when you start a class on the day they requested and then they don't even show up for it!! ,m:: Some people are just looking for an excuse to not try new things...

Oh, yeah, the people who request a special classtime NEVER show up for it!

My very best friend told me she wanted to take my yoga class, but the days/times didn't work for her. We decided a Friday 5:30pm 'transition to the weekend' class would be great for her and probably other people. So I put it on the schedule, had hundreds of summer brochures printed (which covers 3 sessions) and she didn't register for even one of the three sessions. Now every session I get like 2 people who sign up for this class and I have to contact them & refund their money. ..c::

She's my best friend, why couldn't she just be honest? She didn't have to pretend to be interested in my class.

As a student:

House apes in class. If your kid can sit quietly and entertain her/himself, that's fine. If your kid is going to yell, scream, bang on things, or worse of all, run around amongst the students causing problems - leave said kid at home!

The wost? When the brat is the INSTRUCTOR'S kid!

Getting ready for 4 events (two w/multiple shows) in a two week time span, so I'm pet-peeved to the hilt... c:: ,m:: ..cr.: :zillevil: :Awhatchutalkingabou :Aconfused:

Dancers who won't commit to a performance (after all something better might come up).

Dancers who won't commit to a performance and then are then P.O'd because they aren't in the line up.

Dancers who don't give me their music and the info regarding same (name, what CD, artist, length, etc.)

Dancers who say they will do xxx style and then, a week before the performance wonder where they can find appropriate music and costuming . . .

Dancers who commit but won't follow through.

Dancers who ask to dance a group choreo but then obviously don't know the routine but are offended if you ask them to step out.

Dancers who think all I have going on in my life is planning opportunities for them to dance.

Dancers who think my sole purpose in life is finding them music, costuming or both for their solo performances.

Dancers who think they have a right to perform with the troupe just because they are regular students in my classes.

Dancers -- and drummers -- who come to the practices, complain because the dancers don't work enough with the drummers, and then when you plan an all drum dance event, don't participate.

Dancers who have an entire year to think about what they'll participate in for the annual student show and for the annual festivals we do, but still don't have anything put together three weeks before the event.

Ummm -- are those enough pets?

I definitely agree with Zorba about the "house apes" ..l;,
It has only happened to me once, and thank God my teacher informed in a very stern voice that "children are NOT allowed here". Seriously, they were all over the place!
Other than that, it drives me insane when people just line up in the most messy lines, so even if I am just in the 2nd or 3rd line I have no chance to see the teacher. When I take aerobic/step classes, everybody is lined up in tidy lines, everybody can see the instructor etc. Why can`t belly dancers be the same? And also the students who end up in front, but don`t really want to be, and then come backwards and backwards until all the others are smashed up against the back wall. Then the ones behind you who can`t control their steps and come straight up to your a## eeeevery time we move forward. And THEN when we do drills across the classroom, those who are first in line who just stand there and giggle because hey, after taking classes together for 2 years it is sooooo dangerous to go first! AAAAARGH!

Edited to add: Other than that, I`m a very nice and friendly person ..l;,

Definitely people who don't care about personal space and/or take up way too much room. I hate it when I'm in a crowded workshop and the person in front of me leaves enough room for 2 people in front of her, therefore crowding me because she's backing into me, and then said person gives me a dirty look when I politely ask them to scoot forward a little. Also applies in a classroom situation- if you are in the front row then scoot up, please! Ack- don't get me started on this one...I could continue but I won't!

Teachers who don't require students to wear cover-ups at haflas and events like Cairo Carnival. I see a lot of newbies without them but I have even seen dancers in expensive sparklies lounge and shop with not even a veil draped around them. IMHO, if you've spent $500.00 on a costume, go ahead and splurge another $15.00 at Marshalls for a simple caftan.

Wow, you guys have already hit so many of mine, including Lauren in her OP. It doesn't matter how many classes I offer or where, there's always people complaining that my classes aren't convenient. I teach 4 nights a week in completely different towns, have day AND evening classes, plus offer other slots for private lessons, and there's *still* nothing that works for them. Which is, of course, my fault - I should have more options!

One of my real pet peeves is students who complain that they feel like they aren't progressing, but admit that they don't practice at all outside of class. I am a broken record in class about practicing at home, and even have study aids for them (clearly written descriptions of all the moves, with the verbal cues I use in class), so I think I'm being encouraging enough. I get that many people don't practice because BD is just a fun lark - no problem, but don't complain to me when you're not getting any better. I'm not a magician, and there's only so much I can do with you one hour a week in a class with 15 other students in it.

Originally Posted by Dheisha

Other than that, it drives me insane when people just line up in the most messy lines, so even if I am just in the 2nd or 3rd line I have no chance to see the teacher. When I take aerobic/step classes, everybody is lined up in tidy lines, everybody can see the instructor etc. Why can`t belly dancers be the same?

In the last workshop I took, I was in the front line, and there was a second line, a third line, etc.... and a student who every day stood right behind me, in between the front line and the second. Boy, did I feel claustrophobic! I offered to move forward a bit to be out of her way, but she followed me like a shadow! So I finally ran into her during a change of direction, apologized profusely, then did it again. Then she moved back to her line and I breathed a sigh of relief....

i agree with every single comment.
a day job? you mean this isn't the only thing you do? you dont do this just for fun? you expect to make money doing this? you can't stay after just for me? um, no.
usually it gets to the point where they force me to list my degree, my job title, all of my responsibilities, how many hours i work a week, .. this results in quiet on their end and peace on mine.

Oh man, where to start?

- Choreographies that are still changing/evolving right up until the week before a performance. (Tweaks I can handle, major changes frustrate me)

- Other than an apropriate warm up and cool down, not dancing for the whole class. I don't want to spend half the time standing around listening to the instructor talk, if you want to lecture, at least let us shimmy or do hip circles, or *something*. And I have no interest in classes that are half "conditioning". I took Jill Parker's class a couple of times in SF, but ultimately it drove me nuts to take a 45 minute bus trip each way when only half of the class was dancing, and I belonged to a gym 7 blocks from my house with a full array of conditioning classes. If I lived closer, it might have bothered me less.

- Instructors that insult other instructors to their students. I don't mean everyone has to be fakey-nice, but there's a difference between politely saying that you disagree with someone's teaching methods, stylistic choices, etc and talking smack.

- Teachers who never explain anything EXCEPT dance moves. What is beledi? Where do saidi dance styles come from? I'm not saying lecture us for 30 minutes every week... I'm saying lecture us for 10 minutes every week. You could talk while we're warming up.

- Fellow students who won't shut up in class.

- Workshop teachers who forget to circulate the lines of dancers so everyone can see.

- Workshop organizers who don't provide enough water.

- Show emcees who read us all the information already in the program and then, after we're done clapping, say, "Hey, let's have a big hand for...!"

- Show organizers who think there's nothing the matter with a show of thirty acts.

- Musicians who get all huffy that dancers are not as musically trained as they are.

There, that's one for everybody!

Your funny!..l;,

Okay I'll chime in...

Instructors who teach down the class cause the new person is over their head and refuses to start at the beginning level cause they have x amount of dance experience which does not apply to the style or technique they are learning..,m::

Originally Posted by antimony

- Choreographies that are still changing/evolving right up until the week before a performance. (Tweaks I can handle, major changes frustrate me)

GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!! ,m::

I was once in a situation where we were working on a CONSTANTLY changing choreography - for well over a YEAR!

It turned into a vicious cycle - the choreography kept changing because people were dropping out - and people were getting disgusted and dropping out because the choreography kept changing - and it was dragging on way too long (as a result).

It was an ambitious project - and a beautiful show. But in the end, it ended up being a ghost of its original intention - and a LOT of dancers left over the whole thing, never to return. ..cr.:

Teachers or troupe directors who consistently show up 10 minutes or more late for classes or troupe rehearsals. Especially annoying when the teacher has the key and we're locked outside....

Troupe directors who give ambiguous instructions for troupe costumes, and then after I've finished making my costume tell me it's not suitable because of some reason that they're making up on the spot. (They probably always intended it, but didn't bother to communicate it until AFTER my costume was done.)

Troupe members who show up intoxicated or high on drugs for rehearsals.

Troupe members who skip half of the rehearsals and then make a scene crying when I tell them I've cut them from the performance because of this.

Troupe members who become angry with me because I cut someone else from a performance for skipping half the rehearsals - how dare I be so mean?

Teachers who don't know the answer to simple questions like, "What country does that song come from?"

Teachers who make up false "history" rather than admit when they don't know something.

Teachers who don't make it a priority to pursue continuing education. (A single one-hour dance workshop per year does not constitute adequate continuing education.)

Teachers who delay the start of class (or troupe rehearsal) by 15 minutes or so because they want to stop and look at the pictures someone took of the last performance.

Most have mine have been covered! The only one I can add is students who blame circumstances and or the teacher for messing up/not being able to do a movement or combination.
Teacher says, "Hey, you need to watch that jewel, your arms are in X position instead of being X"
Student, "I don't have any room" (when there is plenty) "you keep changing it" (no, she hasn't) "I'm not feeling great" (it must be a chronic illness because it's always an excuse) ,m::

Am I being mean? It just irritates me, you don't have to make someone else wrong just because you messed up. They're CLASSES, you're not supposed to get it all 100% spot on the first time you see it.

I can't stand excuses.

Personal space was covered already.
space hogs-trying to see the teacher and then purposely move in front of me so i can't see. OR get upset when they don't get thier "specfic special dance spot" no one else can stand there but her.
Cell phones and blackberries on during class. Please turn off or use the vibrate or silent mode feature. All phones have them. Many still have not learned this, or step outside and not have a conversation i with all to hear in the middle of class(a workshop last year i took a student did that we were all anooyed)
chatty Cathies- discuss gossip and socialize after class or during workshop breaks. I'd like to hear the instructor not your personal business.
Noisy coin belts(I don't own any and i prefer to sneak up on my husband not let him know i'm coming ..g.: )...I have trouble hearing the music or teacher if your jingling on all sides.silent hip scarves please.

Please put what props to bring(gypsy skirt,cane etc) some teachers do forget that piece of information. I want to make sure i come prepared.

I think I covered what peeves me.

Alrana

Originally Posted by mehndidancer

Noisy coin belts(I don't own any and i prefer to sneak up on my husband not let him know i'm coming ..g.: )...


Alrana

Tee hee, Alrana! ..l;,

personal space - front row people who will NOT move up close to the teacher - they don't bite. move forward.

Noisy belts off rhythm. I can handle coin belts on rhythm.

Don't have a lot of teacher pet peeves - have had great teachers & think they've done a great job.

I have to say - I hate meaningless warm ups, and most of them are. Warming up muscles isn't doing a few stretches. If you're gonna warm up - dance, move, get the blood flowing, then stretch a bit! mostly warm up sections bore me so it's prolly my issue.

Self limiters. People who have a thousand excuses why they can't perform a step correctly. People who limit themselves by running to the washroom, getting water etc...rather than drilling a movement.

I recognise that people need water/ potty breaks but it becomes clear when it consistently happens with same people at same times, often when they can't do what you have asked or don't want to look silly trying. I do offer opportunities for water breaks in class.

Students who, despite an obvious lack of knowledge, still want you to adjust your programs to their needs. This is a class wit 10 people and I'm the teacher and I create the classschedule/program. If you don't like omi's, we're not going to remove them. Just because you're into yoga it doesn't make me a qualified yoga instructor or the belly dance class an appropriate place to keep pushing for yoga excercises.

Students who want to talk to you for 15 minutes after class about how I could improve my classes by changing X/Y/Z while the person in question can't follow a rythm after 3 years of classes (thankfully only one year with me). Believe me, I 've tried!

Hypocritical "professionals". Why is it that the ones that are so quick to criticize are usually the worst offenders?

We have organized (not just participated in) dozens upon dozens of shows over many years, from haflas to huge prestigious events and every now and then we get an "Artiste...with and 'e' Daaarrling" who has done it all and then some. A person who feels qualified to offer advice on our professional conduct then proceeds to break very basic stagecraft rules, like wanting to just 'nip' across stage when the house is live, inviting friends family and all sundry backstage before during and after the show And expecting them to get back to their seats by Crossing The Stage while the house was live! And asked if their friends/family could just pull up some chairs Down The Front to watch the show because they didn't buy tickets early enough to get decent seats...

OMG!!!!

Then accused us of not treating our professional artists in a professional way! By which of course they not giving them special treatment personally because they were so g*d d*mn professional!!!