Tribe.net. Local Connections Celeste http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#f63003e4-f830-40dd-8d74-0f106b14ce86 2009-08-06T16:24:39Z 2009-08-06T16:24:39Z

Wow! Yeah, how about no? And that goes for both that group of 5 and the young grasshopper... ;)

Celeste 2009-08-06T16:24:39Z Lara http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#2846e3e2-8535-42a0-8b1f-46dcf5e30bc3 2009-08-06T15:47:18Z 2009-08-06T15:47:18Z

"Also got approached after class by someone who wants to do a jazz/salsa/africa/belly fusion piece. Who has only taken a few african classes and has only taken a few belly classes, really. Hmmm. Maybe not yet, young grasshopper!" & maybe not ever... few too many spices in the pot, there! can't you start by learning one form before trying 4? new one this week- "we've got 5 people who want to take class, but your schedule doesn't work for us- can we schedule a class just for us?"- sure, & I quote my small group private lesson rates, which honestly per person are cheaper than drop in class rates- "oh, well we were hoping you'd just schedule us in & we could do drop in when we can make it." Ummmm.... NO. If I'm going to rearrange my schedule, you'd better be willing to commit!

Lara 2009-08-06T15:47:18Z Meg http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#8cb85051-2f65-46b3-999b-8294256b858d 2009-08-06T07:11:31Z 2009-08-06T07:11:31Z

Molly- As you should be "eclusive" about your troupe- as in exclusive to dancers who have proved their loyalty and dedication by busting their butts!! Oh a certain intermediate student of yours hasn't come to one intermediate class since I have taught yet, but I keep encouraging her! She has asked me a couple times about being in the troupe. Because she knows we lost someone (you!). I tell her the troupe decided as a whole that we weren't adding anyone new during this transition year. which is true. And wants to know if there is anything above intermediate besides troupe. I tell her come to my intermdiate class- you will learn something, you will be surprised! And wanted to know that since her friend came to the 2 workshops this weekend could her friend just come to intermediate class instead of beginning. I said, no, you should really start dropping in to beginning if you want this. Also got approached after class by someone who wants to do a jazz/salsa/africa/belly fusion piece. Who has only taken a few african classes and has only taken a few belly classes, really. Hmmm. Maybe not yet, young grasshopper!

Meg 2009-08-06T07:11:31Z Molly http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#859c8e2d-a980-4c82-9569-30c518368965 2009-08-06T04:16:25Z 2009-08-06T04:16:25Z

Wow, this is a great thread!! So funny, and SO TRUE!! The funniest ~ most annoying ~ wierdest requests I have had also fall in the "when can I perform?" category, for beginners of course. And also, "I want to be in your troupe!" or, "I'm going to dance in your troupe in your next show". Ok... really? Thanks for informing me of that!! Sheesh! I recently was at a wedding and had one of my ex students come up to me and (drunkly) explain why she stopped coming to class (she took one session ~ 6 weeks ~ about 2 years ago). She sloppily explained that she just wanted to perform, and that she really thought there was no way she could ever be in my troupe, so instead of working harder (like anyone with this real goal would do!), she quit! And somehow she was making it all my fault, like I was 'exclusive' about my troupe. Well la-ti-da!

Molly 2009-08-06T04:16:25Z Shirasaya http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#08c01211-5ebe-48d3-8f08-85aae2635994 2009-07-22T10:30:38Z 2009-07-22T10:30:38Z

All of the members of our troupe teach a class (or classes) at various locations. Our choreographer is the one who teaches full time - the rest of us all have other jobs. She was the one who was deluged with requests from students about performing, and she had 2 students who assumed that as soon as they signed up for classes with her, that meant they were members of the dance troupe and they were going to perform with us. What she ended up doing was forming a student troupe which she directs, and that's actually turned out very nicely for all concerned. Our troupe is not looking to add any members, so there really wasn't an opportunity for students to join the troupe, but she had a couple students who stuck with it long enough that they were ready to do some performances at street fairs, etc. The student troupe also hosts quarterly haflas and they do a "recital/hafla" at the end of each session. The most hilarious request we ever got was from one of her students, who was new to bellydance and had never taken a day of ballet. She had seen Bojenka from BDSS dance en pointe in a BDSS performance and went out and bought herself pointe shoes and announced that at the upcoming halfa she was going to do a solo en pointe. When I heard that I laughed so hard I cried - I performed with a ballet company and knew exactly how much work it takes to do pointe work.

Shirasaya 2009-07-22T10:30:38Z S http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#c0e1b755-1f39-42ef-8b78-b4b0aa3aa96c 2009-07-09T14:20:26Z 2009-07-09T14:20:26Z

;-) Thanks! (tee-hee-hee)

S 2009-07-09T14:20:26Z Zafira http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#4ddcc4af-6ea8-44c4-a198-5a3a9272bcb1 2009-07-09T13:04:01Z 2009-07-09T13:04:01Z

S, You are so funny!!!! LOL ~Z.

Zafira 2009-07-09T13:04:01Z Halleyah http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#75d651c9-67c8-4923-999d-f30949debcf9 2009-07-09T12:37:05Z 2009-07-09T12:37:05Z

My favorite is the beginning student (3 classes in which she stopped moving if it even looked like she might sweat or mess up her hair or make-up) announced that she would be doing a sword solo at recital (3 months away). To which I replied that no - beginners did not work with swords. And she said, "Well I will!" My reply was, "Not in my recital you won't." Never saw her again. Halleyah

Halleyah 2009-07-09T12:37:05Z S http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#d4d38292-a81d-4c6c-9e88-fd0e2868eaaa 2009-07-09T06:16:09Z 2009-07-09T06:16:09Z

"I teach at a church. Had a prospective student tell me should would come to my classes if we didn't meet at a church. " So, if she did show up at your class, where it is now, she would say, "It BURNSSSSS!!!" ??????

S 2009-07-09T06:16:09Z alison http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#dc7d3a90-eb9a-4bf6-9554-0c5fa4b8b170 2009-07-06T14:49:01Z 2009-07-06T14:49:01Z

teach me to dance like Shakira in one lesson and move your class day and venue that suits me are popular ones. Also come dance at my function for free and all my girlfriend will take classes from you afterwards. Once I had a school teacher ask me to come teach at her school - class would start at 5pm so the teachers and some of the students could take part. This would mean a 45 minute drive for me either way. On the day of the first class I was half way there when she called to let me know that no one had shown up for class but since I was almost there I should go to her house for coffee. (I dont know this person) The next week the same thing happened thankfully before I left. I learned from this one that no matter how keen someone sounds - get the moneys first!

alison 2009-07-06T14:49:01Z A'isha http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#3d92843a-0f05-4cae-9615-038e75d0cb11 2009-07-03T15:36:03Z 2009-07-03T15:36:03Z

Dear Gang, I think the most outrageous request I ever got was from two students in their 20s. This is nearly word for word. "Um, can you teach us to dance just like Shakira in the next month because there's this party...." The next most outrageous request came from an ex-dance company member. The studio where I teach is usually booked pretty full, but I have time to use the studio booked pretty permanently on Sundays until 1:30 PM for whatever I need to do during that time. This is a VERY generous move on the part of the owner since I am not there every Sunday, nor do I pay for the time when I am not. This is common knowledge among my dancers. She also lets me book rehearsals on week nights when there is a time slot open, and does not charge me full price for the time we practice. So one day I hear: "If you could have rehearsals on a different day, it would work better for me. Isn't there some other time we could rehearse? I like to take it easy on Sundays." Okay, soooo.... when would she suggest??? Most people would rather NOT have to rehearse regularly for a couple hours after a full day at work and Sunday is the day that most people are not working. Studio time is full on Saturdays and people like to go out on Friday nights... I wonder WHEN she thought there is a full 2 hour block of time in the studio unless we all want to mosey over in our jammies about 2 AM.... ( Note I said she is an EX member!!) Whew, it's good to vent!!! Regards, A'isha

A'isha 2009-07-03T15:36:03Z Anthea http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#f2e97b99-4332-40c8-a8b6-59555b49b2d0 2009-07-03T15:22:12Z 2009-07-03T15:22:12Z

hilarious thread, I love it! You've gotta laugh or go nuts LOL the popular one is "can you teach [somewhere closer to my house]" never mind that it's farther for me of course.... I actually had one mom of mom/daughter duo ask me to teach somewhere nearer them & they only lived like 4 miles away, maybe LESS?!! Good lord. And the "switching nights" is another staple. And it's always "I have 4-5 friends who want to take class too...." Don't fall for that one... hahaha

Anthea 2009-07-03T15:22:12Z Ali http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#44fc91e2-56c1-4e49-945d-af887a71789e 2009-07-03T04:10:31Z 2009-07-03T04:10:31Z

My most outrageous student request was actually by the student's mom. I was teaching a kid's class and she wanted me to teach her daughter a routine to solo at a beauty pageant. (bleh....) She also asked me right in front of this kid how long it would take for her daughter to lose some weight. (double bleh.) I should also mention, that this kid was a perfectly normal size, very healthy looking. And while the mother was telling me this her daughter was eating a candy bar and drinking a soda....I just don't get some people.

Ali 2009-07-03T04:10:31Z Phoenix http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#c23e34bf-c53c-4364-aee2-25dea6dc3502 2009-07-03T03:20:36Z 2009-07-03T03:20:36Z

My favorite was the student who on her second lesson (beginner) - asked how long it would take her to be able to teach. I had to find a nice way to say ... " a long time". She was very sweet and really wanted to teach...dropped out after two 8-week sessions bc she was thinking she would be teaching sooner or something. She even called me one night to talk about it and I very nicely but in all honesty explained that it would be a while and that it was very upseting that she thought I do what I do after a few months -- I have been dancing for 12 years (and did not teach until the 6th year after my teacher pushed me out there). She had not even done the beginner routine in performance yet. Found out later that she had gone a WHOLE month with another girl and the same thing. She is looking for the teacher that will say 'you are ready' after less than a year of dancing. Yep...and had the request of moving a class of 18+ to another day for one person...uhhhhhhhh....humm.

Phoenix 2009-07-03T03:20:36Z Miabella http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#2b948d32-43b6-4ded-8613-5f292f1a0ed5 2009-07-02T22:46:18Z 2009-07-02T22:46:18Z

I've had some good ones, but one I am remembering at this moment, is a young lady who wanted a private lesson. She was going to be getting married in a few weeks & her husband was Lebanese. She wanted to dance at their wedding in front of his family & all to see. Ho hum. I knew I couldn't change her mind, I just wanted to try to help her as best I could so she wouldn't embarrase herself. She shows up for her lesson & didn't even bring the music she was going to use. I told her it would be kindof hard to teach her without her music. She said she just wanted me to teach her some moves. Acckkkkkk!

Miabella 2009-07-02T22:46:18Z Celeste http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#ead1f7e9-7413-4df8-a33b-69f82aa0daaa 2009-07-02T20:39:57Z 2009-07-02T20:39:57Z

I have one 'student' (and I'll explain in a second why I put it like that) who constantly e-mails me about belly dance stuff and it's in the vein that she wants to revolutionize belly dance here and spread the good word about our art form and all that good stuff. She's very enthusiastic on paper. Now, I can't really consider her my student for real because she came to 2 out of 6 classes in my beginners session, then ended up injuring herself (it happens) and has never come back to classes, although she always vows to come back. Whenever she e-mails me, she's always supposed to be going to every workshop in town and I never see her when she was supposed to be there. She's supposed to have another instructor for cabaret (I teach Tribal Improv and Tribal Fusion) but I don't know if she does or not. It's really none of my business... but I just wish that the e-mails would stop. Thank God for the 'delete' button. ;) It has also been my experience that those who want to perform right away never stay for long. Oh and I've had students who thought that they would become instantaneously (sp?) rich by being a belly dancer. I don't know what fairy tale world they live in. Oh and thankfully, I have some amazing ladies who more than compensate for the other ones... otherwise, I woudl have hung my teaching tassels a long time ago!

Celeste 2009-07-02T20:39:57Z alison http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#121fb6f1-d347-44aa-bae7-87313baffc3d 2009-07-02T20:15:34Z 2009-07-02T20:15:34Z

Yup - I had a new student start who told me she was very advanced in the first class - because she coud do maya's. (Thnaks Shakira!) We had the performance conversation that same night and she left a month later. : )

alison 2009-07-02T20:15:34Z dandylion http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#4abc4413-c24d-4fb7-a334-eb8b4120fd3b 2009-07-02T19:55:23Z 2009-07-02T19:55:23Z

LOL I more often got students that wanted to stay in beginners forever so that the would not be given the "oppourtunity " to perform. dandy

dandylion 2009-07-02T19:55:23Z "Shay" http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#3f7bd038-7bec-4501-a65c-d20bef139bd4 2009-07-02T18:09:17Z 2009-07-02T18:09:17Z

I have had that same thing--a brand new student asking when they get to perform. When I told her it would be years, she never showed up again. This same archetype has showed up in my class many times over the years. They never stay long.

"Shay" 2009-07-02T18:09:17Z alison http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#2bdb3f63-dd15-4b96-bf3f-53b195a9051b 2009-07-02T17:13:35Z 2009-07-02T17:13:35Z

One student asking another to do a duet with her - "they'll use my choreography but change it a bit so it doesnt look too the same" The same student saying the intermediate students should be excluded from a full studio choreography becasue they overshadow her.

alison 2009-07-02T17:13:35Z Luna http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#6c5e9d51-ef59-453f-a2b5-82fff2c27b01 2009-07-02T11:43:52Z 2009-07-02T11:43:52Z

I know, she's a sweety :-) And as a matter of fact, the beginners group she's in is having their very first performance this summer! She's so excited and so am I :-)

Luna 2009-07-02T11:43:52Z Darshiva http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#7d1ee1e0-6397-4018-ae84-7919e4d0374c 2009-07-02T11:19:49Z 2009-07-02T11:19:49Z

That one's a keeper. I know it sounds ridiculous, but she's an enthusaist, and she'll be around for the long haul. I'd let her know how she's progressing and let her know about any haflas going on in the local area where she could (as a beginner student) get up & strut her funky stuff. I danced before I was ready to in public. I'm a bit embarassed about my performances, but I wouldn't change it for the world. It gave me experiences I would never give up. That said, I'm grateful for practically every littlething that happens in my life too, because of the flow-on effect of things. I'm weird, I know! :D I don't have any student stories yet, although I did get a request the other week that I come & teach at a hen's night. I asked what their expectation was and got a 'well first you dance, then we dance with you'. I think she was asking me to organise a hafla for their hen's night! :D

Darshiva 2009-07-02T11:19:49Z Luna http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#6c514b92-a994-43bb-b6f1-7b5829f289fc 2009-07-02T09:04:11Z 2009-07-02T09:04:11Z

I've had a student ask me at the very first trial lesson when we were going to start performing ;-)

Luna 2009-07-02T09:04:11Z Miabella http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#56abb27d-eef5-497a-b132-f94992a898f6 2009-07-01T22:12:58Z 2009-07-01T22:12:58Z

these are crazy - I thought I had heard it all

Miabella 2009-07-01T22:12:58Z Zafira http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#9f5cf488-1e00-4969-8e6d-318380d8c329 2009-07-01T18:50:53Z 2009-07-01T18:50:53Z

She would come to my class, not "she would could" Sorry for the typo!

Zafira 2009-07-01T18:50:53Z Zafira http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#1e39f470-9c9c-477a-9402-2ed9e43e04c1 2009-07-01T18:50:11Z 2009-07-01T18:50:11Z

I teach at a church. Had a prospective student tell me should would come to my classes if we didn't meet at a church. Needless to say, WE are still there. Had a student want me to let her boyfriend take the class in her place on a night she was going to miss. My guidelines and polices sheet is now TWO pages long because of this kind of stuff.

Zafira 2009-07-01T18:50:11Z Celeste http://BDInstruction.tribe.net/thread/e8cbd8af-f8cb-4c44-ad63-62088915c3c5#ec6bc7dd-e37e-4a9f-a2d6-a71b010d2e62 2009-07-01T18:02:56Z 2009-07-01T18:02:56Z

All right... since I've had more and more students, I get funky requests... So I wonder if other instructors feel like sharing stories about outrageous requests. I'll start... I've had a student request that I change the day for my beginners classes as they currently are on Wednesdays and, well, she keeps forgetting so she'd like for them to be changed to a day that would work better for her. I've also had a student ask me to help her move... after she hadn't been in my classes for like many months.

Celeste 2009-07-01T18:02:56Z