Thread: Teachers,what motivates you to promote workshops?

What makes you promote a workshop (even if you arent the one setting it up) Do you try and get your students to try something new that you dont teach or try and send them to workshops that do what you do?
Why would you NOT give your students information on workshops or other events? Maybe that is another thread altogether....what do you all say?
I'm asking because I now find myself in the situation where regular classes don't work out time wise so workshops on weekends may be a good solution.

Just trying to get into the teachers mindset on this....anyone?

Reasons I would promote a workshop:

1. I like the person putting it on or the person teaching the workshop
2. I want to take the workshop/want my students to take the workshop
3. I want my students to know about the opportunity even if I don't want to go or can't go for some reason

Reasons not to promote a workshop:

1. The instructor is totally bogus with absolutely nothing to offer, I wouldn't bad mouth them, but I wouldn't encourage my students to spend money on something useless
2. The promoter has a shady history of taking money and not doing the workshop/not doing refunds
3. I don't know about the workshop
4. The workshop is too far away, aka not in the state or in our neighboring states, even so, we sometimes still talk about the big workshops, but most of us just can't go because of work or other obligations

I absolutely try to encourage my students to take workshops, and will put out flyers for any event if the organizer provides me with them. Sadly, a few of the workshop promoters in my area never send me any flyers, so I have nothing to distribute to my students. But I'm not going to chase down organizers begging them for promotional materials; I've just way to busy for that.

i started out hiring (local) people to teach workshops on specific topics cause they were things i dont teach (never) or am not an expert in (so more advanced than what i can teach on that topic) or simply because i needed a sub and thought it would be interesting to hire someone who does things a little different. to give other local dancers a break....

i'm slowly getting into hosting international dancers because
- i like and know them and want to give them a break (like people just starting out international teaching)
- i want a chance to study with them myselves and give my students the same chancz
- other workshop organisers in the area have different choices in international instructors (different styles) than the ones i'd like to see come over to our little country
- putting my school/town/myself on the "bellydance in belgium" map...

oops, just realised i misunderstood the question... passing on info; of course i do. there has to be a very clear reason for me not to (like it clashes with my own events or it's being organise by someone i'm not on speaking terms with, but there are very very few of those). i encourage my students to go out there and take workshops as much as they can, whether they are the same style as mine or a different style (the latter most usefull)

Everything s1dur1_sab1tu said.

I feel it is important for my students to know what opportunities are out there for further study of the dance. I encourage my students to experience other teachers/perspectives/styles/etc. Most workshop opportunities are a minimum of least 1.5 to 2 hours away, but I let my students know of all workshops that I am aware of in our area. In addition to materials sent to me, I also check the web periodically to see if there are other workshops being offered with 4 hours of us. If I plan on attending a workshop I let my students know in case anybody wanted to go, but didn't have a ride there on their own.

I don't think I've ever not told my students about a workshop in our area (unless I didn't know about it). I will sometimes provide a disclaimer (of sorts) when I disseminate the information - style of dance, style of teaching, what they might expect to get out of the workshop, and even the reason(s) why I don't plan on attending a workshop (bad timing, finances, current lack of interest in a particular instructor's teaching, etc.). I do my best to never denigrate others in our dance. At the same time, I also believe in being honest with my students regarding my opinions - this person teaches in a sided manner (favors one side in all they do), this person provides a great experience in a particular focus/style (but might be currently over your ability to handle), even "I personally don't care for this style of dance, but..."

In the end, it is up to my students to decide what workshops and events in our area they wish to attend. All you can really do is "lead the camel to the water". After that, it is up to them.

I've only organised 1 workshop and currently in the process of arranging several more.

I'll happily give info to students of what is going on locally or wider (if I know about or I'm asked - here's the crunch I will let them know even if I don't rate the workshop/teacher, if I'm asked I may say they're not my cup of tea but I'm not going to say don't go. It does put you in a spot.
They need to discover for themselves what they like and don't like, I've been to workshops I've loved and had the person next to me think it sucked. ..c::


As for travelling, I do get round either by plane, train or car if it's something I want to go to. Here people complain if they have to travel 30 minutes, hence why I'm looking to bring teachers in my area.

Originally Posted by straightleftknee

I've been to workshops I've loved and had the person next to me think it sucked. ..c::
.

I've noticed this. It is sometimes a matter of levels, if the teacher is teaching to Advanced Students, Student A is advanced, Student B is not. Student B may think the teacher is rubbish (because they couldn't understand things, and stuff wasn't broken down), while student A is happy that the pace was fast enough, and the teacher didn't stop to go over old ground all the time.

While you may label the classes accurately, Student B may have been attending an advanced class for some time, so assumes she is at that level. In the end, people find their own way, and sometimes will come back to a teacher later on.

This is very helpful to me. Please keep the comments coming.
Now, another part of the question; I have had 2 main teachers, one moved away and she always encouraged workshops, almost to the point of having me feel like she didn't want me around (that was a joke)
She said that workshop instructors were like the evangelists of bellydance in that they came into town, revved up things and then left others to do the work with the students. She also said every instructor had a different way of reaching people and that I might find in a workshop something I could use that she couldnt teach me.This instructor brought in workshop teachers about twice a year. My current instructor says I am not ready for workshops and I would probably feel like I had wasted my money to go since it would involve travel and workshop fees. She is a very good teacher and stops just short of saying that I need to work more with her and no one else yet.
I guess what I am asking is how long do you need to be dancing to get value from a workshop?

Originally Posted by Anthony

Now, another part of the question; I have had 2 main teachers...

I think you're just dealing with two different philosophies of teaching here. There's some truth to both.

A great deal depends on your attitude (as with everything else in life) and your learning style. I started going to workshops in my first year or two of dance. I'm certain I didn't get a *lot* of what was being taught, and I stumbled like an idiot through any sort of choreo. Often I had to just follow the instructor's feet, or just their arms, or just their hips, not all three at once. And "Let's layer a 3/4 shimmy over that?" Fuggedaboudit! But I forced myself not to be embarrassed, I learned a *LOT* from every workshop I attended, and they did indeed keep me fired up & wanting to learn more!

OTOH, some students are easily discouraged and frustrated, and have a tendency to give up on themselves quickly or get angry at themselves or the teacher if they're not able to follow along. Those kind of people will do much better in a small class where they can get more personalized instruction.

I guess what I am asking is how long do you need to be dancing to get value from a workshop?

I want to say that totally depends on the student and their learning style, and on the workshop -- but that answer doesn't really help you. So I'll say if you're not afraid of making mistakes in front of others and you're comfortable with most of the basics that are being taught in your regular classroom, and you're eager to learn more and feel excited rather than intimidated by the prospect of a workshop, then 6 months might be a very minimal amount of background work -- a year is probably better.

Someone with that little experience, though, if they don't have other dance background should probably plan on staying near the back and be extremely careful to be courteous to fellow students. It's common for newbies to bump into others, try to set their water bottle and/or notetaking implements on the studio floor in the middle of everything, invade others' space, shimmy in a coined hipscarf during talking so no one around them can hear the teacher, etc. I think I was that student at my first couple of 'shops.

"OTOH, some students are easily discouraged and frustrated, and have a tendency to give up on themselves quickly or get angry at themselves or the teacher if they're not able to follow along. Those kind of people will do much better in a small class where they can get more personalized instruction."

exactly, when students ask me if they are "ready" to go to a workshop with such or such teacher that is visiting belgium, i do the folowing

- when they have just been taking classes for a few weeks, are in total beginners i usually say : no, wait till next term, you need a bit more grasp of the basic moves first
- when they have been taking classes for a little while i say: it depends on your level of frustration. a workshop will go faster than a class, and you may not be able to get everything at once, if you are ok with that: go! (but dont go to a workshop labeled advanced!), if not, if you get frustrated easily, then... wait a while
- when they wait too long... (like people in my advanced classes that never go to workshops) i actively encourage them, telling them it's time to take a step in the belly dance world out there!

Originally Posted by Anthony

This is very helpful to me. Please keep the comments coming.
Now, another part of the question; I have had 2 main teachers, one moved away and she always encouraged workshops, almost to the point of having me feel like she didn't want me around (that was a joke)
She said that workshop instructors were like the evangelists of bellydance in that they came into town, revved up things and then left others to do the work with the students. She also said every instructor had a different way of reaching people and that I might find in a workshop something I could use that she couldnt teach me.This instructor brought in workshop teachers about twice a year. My current instructor says I am not ready for workshops and I would probably feel like I had wasted my money to go since it would involve travel and workshop fees. She is a very good teacher and stops just short of saying that I need to work more with her and no one else yet.
I guess what I am asking is how long do you need to be dancing to get value from a workshop?

Anthony,
That's interesting - your second teacher may actually have been thinking of you, if there is travel involved. It's true that a workshop that is far above your level will just be frustrating. even sometimes going to a advanced workshop of a different style is frustrating for me because I won't know the vocabulary.

On the other hand, I usually enjoy workshops and get something out of them even if it's above my level. Something I'll remember far into the distant future. Early on in my bellydancing, I took a workshop with Rachel Brice and her way of breaking down stomach rolls clicked with me even if I couldn't do them for another 3 years. Similarly, there are moves I learned in the Amar Gamal workshop the next day that - when referenced later in my dance life - I had had experience with them so I was ready to build on that. I think almost all experience is good.

At the same time, all the workshops have been in my town, so the expense was not that high. Until recently ... I did drive 6 hours to the Dina workshop in Montreal and stayed the weekend, with the Canadian dollar being so strong. It was totally worth it, but I probably wouldn't have done it the year before. This is the year where I seemed like I could get something out of a Dina workshop. And I definitely did.

My teachers do not usually promote workshops, unless it is someone they personally studied with and have a lot of respect for. But it's not that they don't advise them - both think it is good that students take workshops. I think it is because there are so many workshops in our town that if a teacher were to promote all of them, she would spend more time on that than on teaching.

A lot of what you get out of workshops is not what is being taught! It's an opportunity to see other dancers and other teachers.

Other dancers: both in workshop and in performance. In addition to the Star, you can see people that interpret the same moves totally differently. You can get all sort of inspiration. And students of ANY level can use that!

Other teachers: I'm a teacher and I go to lots or workshops but my focus now isn't on the material being taught, it's on HOW it's being taught. For instance, I learned a totally new way to teach a shimmy last year. And, after many years of dance, a teacher taught what was to me a new way to explain rhythms. And, if you're not a teacher, learning something in a new way may clarify things for you!

The only thing to remember if you are new to the dance world is that there are a lot of different ways to do things, but only a few wrong ways! I have had students (have one now!) that doesn't want to see the other ways: she always wants to know who is right, me or the other teacher. She can't seem to grasp that usually we both are!

Kitty

I encourage my students to attend workshops when:

• The sponsor is someone I like and respect, and I want to show my support for her efforts.
• The workshop instructor is someone I believe is well worth taking a class from, even if the topic being presented is one I don't feel much passion for.
• The topic being taught is one that I feel my students could benefit from, even if I don't know much about the teacher.
• I know about it, and the sponsor provides me with a convenient way to promote it. For example, emailing a flyer to me that I can print out copies of, or having a web page with all the info in an easy-to-print format.

The above criteria mean that sometimes I'll recommend a workshop even if I don't know much about the instructor. In those cases, I might tell my students, "I've never seen this person dance or teach, but I've liked other instructors this sponsor has brought us in the past, so I think it's worth giving it a try."


I'm not likely to promote a workshop when:

• The sponsor is on my shun list, meaning there was an incident in which they did something really nasty to me. (In my 26 years of dancing, there have been only 2 people who placed themselves on my shun list.)
• The instructor is someone on my shun list
• The instructor is someone whose credibility I find questionable. For example, someone who all too often spouts wishtory instead of fact, or teaches technique I know to be injurious, etc.

With American instructors like Amar Gamal or Rachel Brice - you have a safe bet that things will be broken down if you attend the right level of their class (maybe try a beginner or low intermediate). You might want to check what is the max student numbers in class. I know in some parts of america, they stick the instructor on a stage with a microphone, and put a hundred or so students in the class. I personally do not learn anything in those situations.

It is difficult to know if your instuctor is being kind or being limiting - could be either at this stage. I think a good rule of thumb would be trying to get an indication of when she thinks you will be ready. Is it when you have mastered X Y Z technique? Or is it after 2/3 more terms of classes. Or is it very vague/never/we'll see? Does she ever recommend her other students to go to workshops sometimes/often/never ?

Hi Caroline,
Great post, great questions for teacher #2!
She does have a select 2 that she general takes to workshops with her.
This instructor also does'nt attend many workshops herself.
I like your idea of asking her when she thinks would be a good time to start taking workshops as far as my abilities are concerned.
I would like to continue to learn and take classes but my school schedule doesn't work out with her classes and weekends are open for me but then she isn't available.
The situation you mention about the instructor on a stage and 100 students was my first experience in a workshop!
To be honest, I didn't care for it much as I couldn't hear the instructor from the back of the room.

I promote any workshop I know about to my students. The one and only reason I need to promote it is if its happening!

I don't think its fair to not inform a student about a workshop because of a personal issue between me and the teacher or sponsor - that robs the student of a potentially great learning experience for no reason other than my own. I try not to make my issues my students' issues. (I recently took a fabulous workshop against a teacher's advice, she had personal issues with the instructor.... and the workshop was FANTASTIC!) VERY worst case scenario (although I can't think right now of what that would be...) I would inform the students about the workshop, but provide a disclaimer: "So and so is teaching a workshop....my personal experience is that she doesn't teach good posture, so make sure you warm up and remember to watch your lower back, but she is really good with arms and I think you'll enjoy the experience"....or something like that.

I encourage students to travel as far as they can and let them know about every opportunity to learn. Part of being a student is deciding for themselves what and whom they like/want to work with and what they don't. Giving students the opportunity to decide for themselves, imho, is part of the learning process.

I also see no harm in a beginner taking a more advanced workshop, especially if its a BIG name who may never come this way again. You have to take the plunge some time. I tell students that even if you feel over your head, you WILL learn something. Even if its just one move, or one aspect of the dance, that makes the workshop worth while. And it exposes the students to what "advanced" levels are like - it shows them how much more they can learn. And they get to meet other dancers whom perhaps they normally wouldn't meet, at that helps strengthen the dance community. (Note - I myself get frustrated with beginners at advanced workshops, but ONLY when the instructor teaches to that level - I have no problem with beginners in an advanced workshop if the instructor sticks to the agenda.)

Everyone has something to teach - I firmly believe that. Even if I don't think someone is the best teacher, or the nicest person, I still encourage students to give them a try. Its important for students to experience the good and the bad in the bellydance world. Far too often I've heard students "diss" other teachers based solely on the word of their instructor, without ever having given them a chance by actually taking a class or workshop.