Teaching at work

[Katarzyna]

So everyone in my office asks me to show them how to dance. I've been thinking of perhaps approaching HR, and organizing some sort of free weekly or monthly class for the employees. That could be fun to do, and if the company has the space, it might work... I know it's something they've done in the past...

[scullystwin42]

So everyone in my office asks me to show them how to dance. I've been thinking of perhaps approaching HR, and organizing some sort of free weekly or monthly class for the employees. That could be fun to do, and if the company has the space, it might work... I know it's something they've done in the past...

That sounds like a cool idea... I know my company allows one of the people on my team to have a Yoga session every friday. She wants to be a part-time yoga instructor, and these sessions help her learn.

[Katarzyna]

I hope they let me have it. I think I would prefer to do it once a month first to see if there is real interest.. I want to learn how to teach. it's something I never did before, in any life discipline... if I did it at work, I would be forced to be really prepared so Idon't look stupid in front of my co-workers..

[alemana]

great opportunity, i would jump on it.

[Katarzyna]

not quite an opportunity. But I am trying to create an opportunity here... Need to start fighting my public speaking fears...

[lynn]

That sounds like a great opportunity!

Good luck, Kat - don't be too hard on the newbies :lol: :lol: :lol: !!

[Cornelia]

Sounds great Kat, yes, don't be too hard on the new students. Of course, you won't.

[Katarzyna]

That sounds like a great opportunity!

Good luck, Kat - don't be too hard on the newbies :lol: :lol: :lol: !!

I will try to be nice to everyone :) I will have to find out who the HR person is (responsible for dealing wiht things like this... )

[Porfirio Landeros]

Laetitia's employer had a ballroom club before she started working there, and when they found out that she dances as a competitor, they've been begging her to get it going again.

As long as it makes your job a happier place to work, I say go for it, but if it adds stress or makes the day uncomfortable, then the plan could backfire.

Maybe you can do a 1-time 4-week program, and just see how that goes, and renew if it's in demand and no one is making you crazy.

[pygmalion]

Sounds great Kat, yes, don't be too hard on the new students. Of course, you won't.

Hi Cornelia. Welcome. :D

[pygmalion]

That sounds like a great opportunity!

Good luck, Kat - don't be too hard on the newbies :lol: :lol: :lol: !!

I will try to be nice to everyone :) I will have to find out who the HR person is (responsible for dealing wiht things like this... )

I've done a ton of on-site work programs in the past (nothing dance-related, though.) One thing I've found is that the cliche is true. It's a lot easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Don't sound too tentative when you go after the opportunity. Just go for it.

It also might be easier for you if you find the person who has the power to say yes -- meaning a manager with some real power -- and get them to support your program. I don't know how your organization works, but in some organizations I've observed, the HR department has the power to say no, but often doesn't have the power to say yes.

Just a couple thoughts. 8)

I also think Porfirio's suggestion of a one-time, somewhat short-term program is a good place to start. 8)

[SDsalsaguy]

Ditto everything Porfirio and Jenn said... and good luck! :D

[Katarzyna]

i work for a big company and know that something like 1 single class that company paid for was organized here... so it's likely that they will say yes. but i'll see

[dTas]

i'd love to do this for my company but unfortunately its too small. there are people with interest but not enough to merrit a class.

large companies like Boeing and Mircosoft would be great!

[Chris Stratton]

large companies like ... Mircosoft would be great!

yeah, but you have to reboot the class after each partner change

[mamboqueen]

I'd ask for some money from your company for it, Kat. You'll be needing a new avatar soon! :lol:

[pygmalion]

Would that mess up your amateur status? :?

If you do get paid, keep it under $600, and you won't have to get a 1099, so there'll be no record. 8)

[Vince A]

A few individuals in my office, since seeng DWTS, etc., have asked me to give them some dance lessons . . . free of course! To get them going, I said, "OK."

I told them anytime . . . after work, lunchtime, weekends . . . then I told them to get together and tell me what dance thay wanted to learn - after I explained a few dances!

Well, let me tell you, they got together, and picked a dance to learn!

Wanna know what they wanted the learn???

Ready???

The Macarena!

I laughed loudly in their faces, and not only told them "no," but "HELL NO."

You have to take in account that these are the same people that I offered to pay for their entry fees ($85 each), any one of them or all of them, to attend an event that was held in our town a few years ago - to see what dance is all about! No one went. That's why I laughed in their faces. Yea, I know. I'm an derriere-hole!

[pygmalion]

I told them anytime . . . after work, lunchtime, weekends . . . then I told them to get together and tell me what dance thay wanted to learn - after I explained a few dances!

Well, let me tell you, they got together, and picked a dance to learn!

Wanna know what they wanted the learn???

Ready???

The Macarena!


:shock: :lol: :lol:

[mamboqueen]

Would that mess up your amateur status? :?

If you do get paid, keep it under $600, and you won't have to get a 1099, so there'll be no record. 8)


Well, she could put a can out and paste a picture of the dress she'd love to own and see if the can gets full! 8)

[Vince A]

Jenn . . . you're laughing at me!!!! :(

[pygmalion]

Jenn . . . you're laughing at me!!!! :(

Actually, I'm laughing that they'd suggest the macarena. One, it's passe. Two, they must've known what your reaction would be. And oh, by the way, it's not a dance. :doh: :lol:

[pygmalion]

Would that mess up your amateur status? :?

If you do get paid, keep it under $600, and you won't have to get a 1099, so there'll be no record. 8)


Well, she could put a can out and paste a picture of the dress she'd love to own and see if the can gets full! 8)

That might work. :roll: :wink:

[Katarzyna]

i'd love to do this for my company but unfortunately its too small. there are people with interest but not enough to merrit a class.

large companies like Boeing and Mircosoft would be great!
or AOL Time Warner :wink:

[Katarzyna]

Would that mess up your amateur status? :?

If you do get paid, keep it under $600, and you won't have to get a 1099, so there'll be no record. 8)


Well, she could put a can out and paste a picture of the dress she'd love to own and see if the can gets full! 8)

That might work. :roll: :wink:Not sure about that :)

[Katarzyna]

I'd ask for some money from your company for it, Kat. You'll be needing a new avatar soon! :lol: Don't know... first I have to make sure I can do a good job :) :wink:

[DanceAm]

Would that mess up your amateur status? :?

If you do get paid, keep it under $600, and you won't have to get a 1099, so there'll be no record. 8)

Doesn't the NDCA consider any teaching a violation of Amateur Status, even for free?

[Katarzyna]

Would that mess up your amateur status? :?

If you do get paid, keep it under $600, and you won't have to get a 1099, so there'll be no record. 8)

Doesn't the NDCA consider any teaching a violation of Amateur Status, even for free?
you can teach for free, you just can't profit form it. (my understanding at least)..

[pygmalion]

Would that mess up your amateur status? :?

If you do get paid, keep it under $600, and you won't have to get a 1099, so there'll be no record. 8)

Doesn't the NDCA consider any teaching a violation of Amateur Status, even for free?
you can teach for free, you just can't profit form it. (my understanding at least)..

That was my understanding, as well. 8) You can teach if you want, but if you get paid, you're a de facto "pro."

The $600 thing is real, btw. Years of loophole experience, speaking. :wink: Big companies will cut you a check for up to $599 and expense it. But $600 and above, and they have to report the earnings to the IRS. BTDT with a few vendors, speakers, etc, myself.

[Katarzyna]

The $600 thing is real, btw. Years of loophole experience, speaking. :wink: Big companies will cut you a check for up to $599 and expense it. But $600 and above, and they have to report the earnings to the IRS. BTDT with a few vendors, speakers, etc, myself.Interesting, wasn't aware of that!

[lynn]

i used to work for a company where they have daily "exercise" breaks - you should try to use this as a selling point - getting employees out of their chair and keep them healthy!!

[Joe]

Actually, I'm laughing that they'd suggest the macarena. One, it's passe. Two, they must've known what your reaction would be. And oh, by the way, it's not a dance. :doh: :lol:
Yeah--it's a pasta! ;)

[pygmalion]

:lol: :lol:

[Swingolder]

I work at a university. They have offered Sunday afternoon dance classes for a small fee for years and generally have a respectable but small turnout.
This year, they got some kind of a grant, offered FREE Latin classes and started to turn people away after they reached 100. Many were students, but a lot of faculty/staff turned up. I tried registering but was too late.

[liangjz]

large companies like Boeing and Mircosoft would be great!

Microsoft?

You'd have to call it MS-ballroom instead of ballroom.

If it became successful, they'd bring in inferior people to teach the exact same material you're teaching. Eventually, they'd run all of the other studios out of town by any means, legal or otherwise. It'd probably be the usual divide and conquer stuff. They'd partner with some studios, buy out a few others, and attack the rest. Then they'd steal from and crush their partners.

Years from now, they'll try to claim that ballroom was invented by Microsoft, and people will believe them.


Hey wait, that sounds a lot like... um.... never mind.

Anyway, I think it's great that your company supports that sorta thing. My comany's pretty big, (over 15,000 full time employees, not counting contractors), but they'd probably be against it.

We're not even allowed to buy donuts(or any other food) for meetings.

[Katarzyna]

Finally got a response from HR. Basically they said it's a great idea, but needs to be discussed with the corporate. ... :?

[lynn]

oh, cool, milestone #1. i don't think anyone's going to veto the idea!

[Katarzyna]

I guess I have to send another e-mail tomorrow when I get back to work..

[delamusica]

Need to start fighting my public speaking fears...

Teaching a dance class for 70 people at my university has done absolute wonders for my public speaking fears and general shyness . . . it's amazing how quickly it seemed to become more comfortable to talk to that many people.