Thread: Sixth Star Entertainment

Anyone work with this group and/or with cruise lines? Positive or negative .... can contact me separately at halimeda@instepstudio.com

Hi! I have worked with them... with our magic act. We went to Malaysia for them...No problems....

I was a bit dubious about working with them, and having to pay a per diem to do so. At least that was the offer I was given.

Wondering about them as well, got a mail from them yesterday but if I understand correctly you don't get paid as a teacher?

I was wondering about them as well. I wasn't sure what to think about it, so I'm interested in opinions as well...

I am talking with someone today...so I'll let you know what I come up with. I want references from them. It sounds like you do a few classes and basically get a reduced price on the cruise.

I just got approved to work with them and I'm going in my first work cruise next May.
I got references from my teacher and they seem a pretty decent company, but I will keep you posted!

so for how long and how much you usually get paid? any information...doesnot have to be specific amount, just a ballpark to get an idea...
thanks,

Follow up on the interview:

The following is my paraphrase of the manual and the conversation - not the actual words of Sixth Star nor any particular cruise lines.

My understanding is that you do not get 'paid' per se. You are not cruise staff nor a hired/full fledged entertainer. What you are getting is a reduced rate on the cruise in exchange for teaching edu-tainment classes. You get a passenger stateroom, teach at least 1 class for everyday at sea, are 'on' from the time that you arrive until the time you leave. There is an Admin fee for you and your guest, you are responsible for getting to & from the ship as well as any incidentals on the ship.

It sounds fine to me as I like working vacations and would like to travel more. I love to teach and if called on to perform, I'm OK with that as well. I've lived on a sailboat, have pretty good balance, get seasick on occasion and know how to deal with it.

Hmmm I have worked cruises before...but this with Sixth Star maybe isn't the same Sixth Star I worked with...they were a production company for huge events..good luck!

i got that email too. offer = reduced rate for cruise in exchange for teaching belly dance classes. wow, cruise lines must be really hard up now. used to be they just offered a ridiculously low pay for a teaching/show contract. lol

I would guess that it would be one way to 'fill the boat'. And, yes, I think the cruise lines are not very full these days. Descretionary spending is down everywhere.

Sixth Star Entertainment does have a varied compliment of entertainers listed on the web site. The rep did say they did a large Magic Act Competition on a Malaysian cruise.

I still have to get a performance clip together and get it to them. We'll see what happens.

I recommend them. Tanya, it's probably the same company, as they do many different entertainment things.

Originally Posted by BreaMorgiane

I recommend them. Tanya, it's probably the same company, as they do many different entertainment things.

Yeah...I asked my boyfriend and he said the company did other things as well. We actually went to Malaysia for the Magic competition...we were judges and we performed all week closing the gala show. They were great to work for ..no problems...this is interesting

so what type of discount do you get? did anyone get any numbers

Also would they allow you to drink and party?

it kind of bothers me that the application does not ask for any teaching experience. Teaching new students is not an easy task and would be a large undertaking for an inexperienced teacher.

I'm going this Saturday and I will let you guys know what happens... I can not give any details about contract, and they did ask credentials, dance references from other bellydancers I have worked with and from some of my teachers, also I did have to talk about bellydance history and show for them that I know the difference between the dance in Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Iran, Israel and so forth.... I will post comments when I come back on May 20.

Wonderful Kalinka! I look forward to hearing about your experience. :)

After the being contacted by email and corresponding, providing the resume, doing the interview on teaching/dance history, providng the performance photo, creating the names of the classes I would teach THEN came the request for performance video. Huh?

I had been contacted about teaching and the resume/interview was all on teaching. Nothing about performance. And was led to believe that we were talking about 1 class a day at sea and the rest was just cruise.

After the performance clip was finally obtained and sent, I got the standard "don't call us, we'll call you". I can teach for hours but I know I'm not the figure/age/face for performing. So, why waste my time and theirs by not naming up front that this is performance AND teaching? If I'd know the performance requirement, I would have never spent my time nor taken theirs.

I am sure there are many qualified teachers/performers who can give this a try. I am curious at how it works for everyone! Good luck....

Originally Posted by nancyredig

After the being contacted by email and corresponding, providing the resume, doing the interview on teaching/dance history, providng the performance photo, creating the names of the classes I would teach THEN came the request for performance video. Huh?

I had been contacted about teaching and the resume/interview was all on teaching. Nothing about performance. And was led to believe that we were talking about 1 class a day at sea and the rest was just cruise.

After the performance clip was finally obtained and sent, I got the standard "don't call us, we'll call you". I can teach for hours but I know I'm not the figure/age/face for performing. So, why waste my time and theirs by not naming up front that this is performance AND teaching? If I'd know the performance requirement, I would have never spent my time nor taken theirs.

I am sure there are many qualified teachers/performers who can give this a try. I am curious at how it works for everyone! Good luck....

maybe they want you to proform for the class? or use your video to get you hired on the ship?

Nancy - they don't want you to actually perform, they just want to see your skills as a dancer. For them, it's the only way to be able to tell; you could talk a good game and then be a bit off. I'm not saying you are, just that...think of all the dancers that could be applying, and you have to figure out the quality in some way.

The clip was taken on a Elpha Canon camera through a stage side door and the video quality not the best. Who knows? I've never been desparate enough to 'pay to perform' over the last 20 plus years. And I would consider the $65 admin fee per day plus all travel expenses that I'd have to pay...paying to perform.

Hi! I had my fiancee recording the video on a dance studio room, but not professional... As fae Sixth Star if you are a guest instructor you can party and drink, but you always have to be polite, and have an "impecable" attitude... As far I can tell, and I jsut arrived from my first cruise with them, is an excellent experience, I'm already thinking about my next one...

:)

Originally Posted by kalinkabellydance

Hi! I had my fiancee recording the video on a dance studio room, but not professional... As fae Sixth Star if you are a guest instructor you can party and drink, but you always have to be polite, and have an "impecable" attitude... As far I can tell, and I jsut arrived from my first cruise with them, is an excellent experience, I'm already thinking about my next one...

:)

Ok please tell me about the cruise. where did you go? how long was the trip? how was the classes? How many classes did you teach? did you sell anything like hip scarfs? Thanks

Headline performance (like Tanya and her magic show) is probably treated more like a full-time employee (pay plus lodging on ship). For the same reason I get paid 3X as much for a 20 minute performance as I charge for a 60 minute class -- rehearsal time, investment in costuming, etc etc etc.

Teaching on board is very much a part-time endeavor. When I spoke to them they were only looking for an hour or two per day. They were very serious about wanting a knowledgeable instructor (much moreso than even the universities who've hired me to teach recreational classes). If you figure up the cost of the cruise (it was a free cruise for me AND a travel companion when I spoke to them) it's hella good pay for a two-hour workday!!!

I couldn't do it because I can't take that much time away from my son at this point, and I really can't afford the airfare to get there. But I thought what they were offering seemed like a great deal and it's something I'd definitely consider in the future.

P.S. They also had a program called 'distinguished gentlemen' that basically hired men who can ballroom dance to get dressed up and be available to dance with the guests. Undoubtedly there's a gender gap in the ballroom on board! The men have to make sure to treat all the women guests equally on their dance card and if they step over a guest's stateroom threshold they're instantly fired. Pretty cool gig for a retired gent who loves to dance, really!! I *think* they were also allowed to bring a guest on the cruise...

Lauren's description here is accurate.

Sounds like the performance / regular show is quite different from what was described to me in the original emails (which I never would have pursued - age & weight gotta love genetics). Glad the cruise worked out! There have been many rip offs in the past with poor pay/no respect but sounds like this one maybe a good deal (?)

Hi!
My cruise was for Eastern Caribbean (St. Marten, St. Marteen: one french, one dutch)., Puerto Rico and Haiti.
I had to teach 4 classes (1 hour each) when the ship was at sea and I offer to perform 1 time, ending up performing 2, one at the crew party and one for the guests.
if you want you can sell hip scarfs or even costumes, I'm not exactly a sales person but I did sold some of hip scarves I made.

It is a pretty good deal and if you want you can apply to be a dance member, in that case you have to apply with Royal Caribbean, go to auditions and have some good knowledge in ballet/jazz and be able to pic choreos pretty fast., than the contract is for 8 months non stop....
:)
Kalinka