How did you start teaching Ballroom?

[gclarke]

I was just commenting on our instructor holding down a full time job whilst teaching in the evening, and I wondered how most of you came to be teaching?

Did you compete then begin teaching in your spare time? Do you work for a studio or for yourself?

For those of you working full time for yourselves, was it a tough transition?

[DanceMentor]

When I made the transition I was running a printing press, as somehow I got the idea that getting into a trade would be great. But I was exposed to dangerous chemicals, always had dirty hands and didn't make much money. I had a second job as an assistant manager at a pizza place. So I was working two jobs when I started dancing. But loved dancing so much that I was dancing every single night. I quit the pizza place. Then I started finding part time work as an instructor. Then I told my day job I had to reduce by hours. And then finally I quit the day job.

It was a difficult transition, but at the time, nothing had ever been so clear. I knew within a couple of days of walking into the dance studio what I was going to be doing with my life. It didn't matter how difficult it would be. I was going to do it, and I did!

[tangotime]

I was just commenting on our instructor holding down a full time job whilst teaching in the evening, and I wondered how most of you came to be teaching?

Did you compete then begin teaching in your spare time? Do you work for a studio or for yourself?

For those of you working full time for yourselves, was it a tough transition?


Most of the"in the trenches " profs in the UK when I was young ( and thats a LONG time ago ! ) had daytime jobs .

[chomsky]

When I made the transition I was running a printing press, as somehow I got the idea that getting into a trade would be great. But I was exposed to dangerous chemicals, always had dirty hands and didn't make much money. I had a second job as an assistant manager at a pizza place. So I was working two jobs when I started dancing. But loved dancing so much that I was dancing every single night. I quit the pizza place. Then I started finding part time work as an instructor. Then I told my day job I had to reduce by hours. And then finally I quit the day job.

It was a difficult transition, but at the time, nothing had ever been so clear. I knew within a couple of days of walking into the dance studio what I was going to be doing with my life. It didn't matter how difficult it would be. I was going to do it, and I did!

Do you mind my asking how many years you have been teaching? I so admire dance teachers! I am a language teacher myself that quit teaching 4 years ago just to hold on a fulltime job. I so miss teaching...