Thread: Raised stage/podium for workshops

We are currently trying to decide whether to rent a raised podium for the instructors during a workshop weekend, and a number of pros and cons have come up.

The cons we identified and are trying to weigh include price, instructors and students dislike the distance it creates, limited movement on a small raised stage (we are considering 4'x8'), possible liability issues in case of missteps. The pro is better instructor visibility in a somewhat narrow/long space.

I am wondering if yinz could share experiences and opinions on the issue? It would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks :-)

I think that if there are a large number of students in the workshop, the raised stage is helpful. The instructor can always step down from it to get closer to students if he or she wants to do so, but the increased visibility is a good thing, in my opinion. 4X8 is pretty small, if price isn't too much of an issue, maybe you could consider a larger one. But if not, as I said, the instructor can step down for certain things like traveling steps or whatever.

As a student, I am willing to compromise intimacy for visibility. I wouldn't want a teacher to be hoisted up on a shaky table, but as long as the stage is sound, and the audio and lighting are good, I don't care that s/he's not down on the floor with the rest of us.

Intimate workshops are lovely, but if the reality is going to be that three closely-packed rows back you can't see a thing I would prefer organisers just faced that fact, and dealt with it.

For me any distancing issues are totally outweighed by the benefit of being able to see what's being taught. Even if the podium is only big enough for the teacher to get up there to demo a squished up version, that's better than nothing. As dunyah says, she/he can always get down to demo a full-space version, or to tour the room once students have got enough of it to have something to work on.

4x8 is barely a stage for dance, more for a podium with a mic. At least 8x8 would be safe and useful. Rather than place the stage on one end maybe place it against the wall in the center. It would give better visibility for all and offer more of an intimate atmosphere.

Long, narrow rooms are usually less expensive but they necessitate a raised stage. It is a trade-off. I know of a few sponsors that rent more affordable venues (long and narrow is a good example), and refuse to rent a stage. We will not support those events, it's not worth our time, energy and hard-earned funds to experience such limited visibility. Having half the class sit and watch the other half dance = half the instruction and dance experience. That also does not appeal to us.

Ah, thanks, reading all that is certainly useful. If experienced workshop organizers have any cautionary tales to share, I would appreciate hearing them, too.

The whole venue trade-off is so tricky, finding a good place for a weekend can be a real challenge. Overall, the studio is really lovely (bright, clean, spacious, sprung wooden floors, pretty central location), and we want to make everybody happy while keeping an eye on keeping the budget healthy.

Every time I've taken workshops with Little Egypt, there has been a raised stage for the workshop instructor. It was good for several reasons. First, it was easier to see the instructor. Secondly, it kept other people from crowding her when she was demonstrating - giving her dedicated room to move.

I really appreciated it. We still rotated rows but I could see clearly at all times. I remember Dr. Mo would jump down from the stage to come teach us.

I have taught on a raised stage, and although I acknowledge it was confining, I was perfectly happy with it. It pleased me to know that my students in the back would be better able to see what I was presenting. I also much appreciated the microphone headset so that students in the back could also HEAR me. When I felt like teaching traveling step technique, I simply got down from the podium, arranged the class into a circle, and did the traveling that way. It worked just fine. Then back up to the podium for the stationary stuff.

Dare I point out that our dance originated in people's living rooms and is still done recreationally in people's living rooms today?

As for the aspect of a raised stage being less intimate, that doesn't bother me at all. People are there to learn what I came to teach, not have coffee with me.


As a workshop participant, I have a high opinion of organizers who place the instructor on a raised stage and equip her with a microphone. It greatly improves the quality of the experience for me.

I have gone to a few workshops that were packed with students, and I appreciate the organizers that provided a stage and microphone for the instructors. It’s very difficult to see and hear when I’m in the 3rd (4th or even 5th) row! In packed rooms, the teacher doesn’t need a lot of space to demonstrate because the participants don’t have a lot of room to move either!

I have heard many Instructors now bring their own cordless mic. Certainly makes sense to be so prepared.

The expense for renting a cordless mic is not all that dramatic. When somebody sponsors many workshops, it is probably economical to purchase one, too. Or, alternatively, it may even be possible to borrow one. That is a must-have piece of equipment for a larger or more crowded space.

I used raised platforms for the teachers at the Las Vegas Intensive. I negotiated into the price of the venue, so it's not something that I've had to pay for separately. I think that ours are 8x6, but I can't honestly remember. We also have wireless headset mics for the instructors to wear, so they can move and not be restrictive.

I've not really had any problems with the stands. I do think it is helpful. Not all the teachers use them, but it's their choice.

That said, I definitely think it's important to consider your budget. We are in a convention hall, so it's not the same as a studio. Be sure to consider the height of the ceiling and what is being taught. Low ceilings and prop classes are challenging.