That was a typo. I meant 8 years ago (2001). Sorry!

I completely understand!!!

I say "Go for it!" After all, what women (especially those of us living in small population areas) are looking for, is commraderie and knowledge. I don't think you can seperate the two. Half of the reason I love bellydance is meeting other women that share my passion and love for bellydance.

Also, with the wonderful world wide web, we DO have access to the knowledge and are able to interact with others online to double check our technique, verify our understanding of BD history and more! We have access to all the knowledge, and the only thing left is the classroom setting.

So, make sure your teaching methods are sound and that you can back up your sources. Take workshops, further your knowledge and most of all, encourage your students to do so also. That's what we do and we're having a heck of a good time up here in the sticks!

^_^ Good luck and keep dancing!

Thanks for the suggestions and the link. I'll check em out.

Lav

Wow -- just a few comments:

"while in principal I agree, if everyone waited until they were 'ready' there would be even fewer teachers and a lot less dancers than there are now."

Having fewer poor-quality teachers is NOT a bad thing. Just because someone has a little bit of knowledge about something does NOT mean they need to start teaching it. We have no Flamenco classes here, and I've had a few classes -- does that mean I should start teaching Flamenco just because some of my friends would like to learn it, and I'm the LEAST ignorant of the art form? Does that make sense?


"isn't there a place for those of us who are isolated geographically, have some experience and skill in teaching but who are not quite up to snuff according to the standards I've seen vaunted on this tribe?"

If you want to teach children, you have to pay to go to college. If you want to teach in college, you have to pay to get a PhD. If you want to teach aerobics, you have to pay to take the clases and the exam. If you want to teach/coach soccer, you have to pay for the training to become a licensed officiator. If you want to teach ballet class, you have to pay for classes for about a decade or two.

Why should it be ANY different for this dance???

I live in the middle of a cornfield. Literally. My last house was 100 feet from a farm. My closest options for classes are Louisville, 2 hours away; Indy, 3 hours; or St. Louis, 3.5 hours. I spent the better part of my salary in 2007 and 2008 traveling taking private lessons, traveling to monthly workshops, and working with other regional teachers on the subject of teaching. I'm getting ready next month to drive 13 hours (one way) to New Jersey for a Suhaila level 2 workshop. My teachers spend the same amount of money and time on their own training.


"I only charge a $5.00 fee for the use of the hall and do not market myself as a teacher of professional dancers."

You are advertising yourself as a teacher, which translates into "professional instructor." Whether you like that or not, that's how the public views it.

And at $5 a class, you ARE undercutting. I don't mean this in a nasty way, but that is most definitely undercutting -- by definition.


"My class is positioned for fun, fitness and body acceptance, not to train dancers to work as pros."

You know what, I have a really hard time with this logic, and I've heard it out of the mouths of so many people. I firmly believe that if you are in the position of TRAINING dancers at all -- ie, "TEACHING" then you need to have the attitude that you are giving them THE best possible education, period. Don't downplay yourself by saying you're not teaching pros. That's really a cop-out. If you do not have the education or ability to teach ALL levels of dancers, then again, you should not be teaching. I think the more experienced teachers and students will understand why I say this. This talk of referring more advanced dancers to other teachers -- that's a CLEAR sign to me that the student has no business teaching just yet.


"so far everyone who has come to class has been satisfied with just having some basic skills and a place to dance that is accepting to everyone regardless of size or skills."

What you have created is better labeled a dance club, and I think you have a wonderful idea in the making. I LOVE the idea that you have created a place for BBBDs to come together and bond and share a dance. That is to be commended. ! But why not rethink your marketing a little bit. If you just enjoy dancing, then just come together and dance, or like Shay said, bring in an instructor or popular regional dancer for a workshop.


"So where does that leave people like me? Should we just stop teaching because we are not 'pros' or should we keep that door open wide so as many people who want to dance have somewhere to go?"

If you are passionate about TEACHING (not dancing or performing) then you really need to make that your focus. There is a reason why most teachers in other dance forms are retired. Teaching (properly done) takes a TREMENDOUS amount of work, energy, time, and resources. You really have to put your own "career" on the back burner and focus on your students. That's what teaching is supposed to be about -- making your students BETTER than you yourself. Spend a year really focusing on teaching methods and DO spend the money to get Fat Chance or Gypsy Caravan certified. (Tribal dancers have it easier in a way -- you HAVE recognized certification programs for teachers.) If you are truly passionate and serious about your teaching, you will understand why we encourage you to make the investment in money and time to get proper training.

If instead, you just feel like you're the default "leader" because you know a handful more than someone else, then PLEASE rethink the whole teaching thing. I quit for a couple of years after I was told by several mentors and trusted confidants that I was just not ready. Suhaila told me flat out "You need to be focusing on YOUR training now, not theirs." She was so right, and I had enough sense to realize that it was really just my ego making me want to teach. When I did come back to it, I came back a completely different teacher.


"The tribaret class is $15.00 a class for a class card and $20.00 drop in but I don't feel I'm undercutting because I make it clear that what I'm offering is different."

No, sorry. It's still undercutting. I commend you on your honesty -- and knowing your limitations -- but it's still undercutting.


"It would have been nice to have the luxury of working under another teacher for years, subbing for her and eventually branching out on my own but I, like a lot of us in remote areas have to work within our limited opportunities. So where do I, and others like me fit into the BD instructors world?"

Private lessons at the closest teacher. Once a month privates, if that's the only option -- with a focus on teaching.

See, the problem with inexperienced students going out to teach is that you don't know what it is you don't know! And honestly, it will be frustrating for your students down the road, sure -- but it's even MORE frustrating you YOU! I swear to you! When you get more experience dancing and performing, only then will you be able to TRULY put what you know into context and be not only a good teacher, but a darn fine one!


"I've seen some threads about training teachers and if and when I get the opportunity believe me, I'll be there"

-- It's not about if and when. It's about yes and now. Imagine if the same logic applied to grade school teachers? "Well, if and when I get the chance to go to college, I'll learn about teaching, but until then the kids are having fun, right?" See what a slippery slope that can be?


"but in the meantime, I keep building my skills, learning as much as I can and hope I am helping provide something valuable.
Please comment on how I can better serve the dance community, ( be kind). I'm open to suggestions."

1. ABSOLUTELY keep building your skills and information!!! You are on the right track there!

2. It is imperative that your technique and musical understanding be as close to perfect as you can get it, if you're going to teach. DRIVE THE COMMUTE to the closest teacher for a monthly private lesson. It will be well worth your time.

3. Don't start your relationship with other dancers and teachers by undercutting or "cherry picking" students -- and I would guess that the other teacher probably feels like you've done this. TALK to the Tribaret teacher and just tell her you and a group of students would like to pursue a different type of class. Just TALK to your instructor. Get her feedback. She may fully appreciate where you are coming from, and may be happy to pare down her class to just the students she wants to teach. But talk to her about it. Either she will help you or she won't, but either way, you have opened a line of communication with a very valuable source.

4. Treat your "class" like a real class and your students like real students, not guinea pigs for your teaching experience. Honestly, if you don't feel your class is WORTH $15 or whatever the going rate is, then rethink why you are doing it.

5. Spend the money and get "certified" in GC or FCBD so you can use those names in your marketing. You will make up the costs of the training long-term by being able to call yourself a certified instructor.


Thank you so much for asking these kinds of questions, and I don't mean to be sharp or negative or hostile or anything. As a teacher I want you to learn from my experience -- lol!

But the most important thing I wish I could tell EVERY potential teacher is this:
*Don't underestimate yourself or your classes. Don't fall back on "I only teach beginners" -- darn it, go out there and GET proper teacher training and make it your focus to give every student a proper professional class. You have students who look up to you and who assume you know everything (even when you tell them you don't.) While you can't know everything, work your hardest to get as close as you can. And remember -- teaching and preparing classes should take up at least twice the time of your regular dance practice. Your own dancing WILL get put on the back burner. It NEEDS to, in order for you to give your students something worthy of the name of this dance. If you are not okay with that, then DON'T START TEACHING YET!!!

HUGS!!

Dear Aziyade,
That is the plain truth!! Without that good foundation in the dance, everything else is off.
Regards,
A'ishas

I wouldn't say it's easiest to teach, and I didn't say that. But some teachers may have the skill set to teach a beginner's course before being ready to teach higher level courses and before some of the arbitrary time lines that get thrown out on this board sometimes. My point is that setting guidelines for teaching based on how unprepared *you* felt as a teacher is pointless because some people who don't meet those guidelines could be quite capable of teaching *well* and some who do meet those guidelines may be the worst teacher a student could have.