How upset will you be if your teacher has another student in the same age group?
- Thread starter Nik
- Start date
Nik
Member
Sadly, too often these are same.
Bella
New Member
Yes, absolutely it's unfortunate. But Nik, how can you know if this will explode if you haven't tried it? You obviously feel that choosing is not the best route for you... which is understandable considering feelings are involved. You all have to face up to it or else tension will increase among these women and you'll still be banging your head against the wall... ya know?
Laura
Well-Known Member
You have pretty much described my current situation. I danced with my teacher for about a year and then he got another student in my same age/style/level.
No. And we found a way for both of us to get the entries we want.
Well, fortunately the other lady, even though she could dance in "B" Scholarships, prefers to dance in "A." As for me, I actually prefer to dance in the "B" -- particularly if the comp has made the DanceSport Series events a Scholarship. So the Scholarships are not a problem for us. And, she's not actually interested in the DanceSport Series, so she doesn't usually dance in them anyway.
Strangely enough, though, the other lady won't dance down into the A-1 single dances, and we're both in A-2. We solved that one though because neither of us does very many entries, so at comps that we both attend she'll dance the A-2 Open Gold and I'll dance the A-2 Advanced.
Well, the other lady and I are friends and so my teacher let us work it out between us. We did have an informal policy that I got first choice "on the road" and she did at local comps. We started with that and it evolved into the arrangement I described above.
The important thing is for the ladies to be grown-up about this and share
I do think the longer-standing student should get a bit of a say in things, since at first when you are trying to sort things out she will be the most affected, but if the ladies are reasonable and are supportive of each other then they will probably work out something that is perfectly acceptable to both of them in short order.I have to admit, though, that the first time I saw them dancing in a comp together it made me feel really really really weird. I had been his first and only competing Pro/Am student up until about that point, and I guess I was upset because I was no longer "special." I got over it though.
Laura
Well-Known Member
Not all comps have the DanceSport Series Qualifiers. And a number of ladies don't like to dance in them when they aren't scholarship events because they don't "get anything" for them. (Personally, I love these events, no matter if there is money offered or not.)
And to make things worse, some comps have different age ranges for their Scholarships. I was in one this year where "A" went up to age 46. For that one, I was not old enough to dance the "B," which usually starts at 35. Fortunately the other lady in my case wasn't going to dance that comp anyway, so there was no conflict.
tanya_the_dancer
Well-Known Member
You know, this is somewhat strange that they have to be so territorial about their age category. We here are usually happy when our team gets bigger, because it makes a big difference in competition costs for us (his expenses get split more ways, and then we might even share a room and save even more).
NonieS
Well-Known Member
Well, Nik needs to tell us which comp this is so that we can see. That's really interesting - I had no idea that some comps weren't under Sam's umbrella -- where did he go wrong?!
-- But seriously, this is a tricky question. The last time I was looking for a teacher, I scoured the country and finally found a terrific pro-am teacher who didn't have anyone in my category, was tall enough, etc. etc. But then he ended up running off w/ the DWTS tour and that was that. The person I ended up w/ did have someone in my category, so I thought I could dance down or do rhythm. The rhythm idea lasted about 1 1/2 lessons. At the end, by the time I had learned all my routines and was ready, the other person had melted away to another situation. So one thing is that a lot of times, these situations are fluid, and not even for a reason that anyone knows at the time.
-- But seriously, this is a tricky question. The last time I was looking for a teacher, I scoured the country and finally found a terrific pro-am teacher who didn't have anyone in my category, was tall enough, etc. etc. But then he ended up running off w/ the DWTS tour and that was that. The person I ended up w/ did have someone in my category, so I thought I could dance down or do rhythm. The rhythm idea lasted about 1 1/2 lessons. At the end, by the time I had learned all my routines and was ready, the other person had melted away to another situation. So one thing is that a lot of times, these situations are fluid, and not even for a reason that anyone knows at the time.
oh, it just popped into my head - it could be Cancun -that might not have dancesport series --and USDC doesn't either, right?
and, Laura, of course you are right - some people just want to do the scholarship -- I always like prize money myself! But at the same time, I would say that Cancun isn't a "serious" comp like Ohio or Manhattan or Millennium - there are so many factors to consider -- what a fun mediation this could be!
and, Laura, of course you are right - some people just want to do the scholarship -- I always like prize money myself! But at the same time, I would say that Cancun isn't a "serious" comp like Ohio or Manhattan or Millennium - there are so many factors to consider -- what a fun mediation this could be!
I have been in this situation and we were fairly flexible in how it was handled. The other student was 2 years older and had been with the teacher for a number of years longer than I and was more or less dancing the same level and style.
She couldn't travel as much as I do, so I would try to dance at comps that she did not attend. When we both attended the same comp, it depended on how many levels were available.
Usually she would dance full bronze and beg. silver and I would dance interm. and full silver.
OR
she would dance silver I & II and I would dance full silver and open silver (even though I only had closed choreography).
If there weren't enough levels, then I would dance in a younger age category since I was the "younger" of the two of us.
My results may not have been as good in the younger age group, but it was kind of fun and my instructor and I were still able to judge my progress against my own previous dancing which was the most important thing.
I have to admit though that I did want to (and did) dance in my correct age group at Ohio.
She couldn't travel as much as I do, so I would try to dance at comps that she did not attend. When we both attended the same comp, it depended on how many levels were available.
Usually she would dance full bronze and beg. silver and I would dance interm. and full silver.
OR
she would dance silver I & II and I would dance full silver and open silver (even though I only had closed choreography).
If there weren't enough levels, then I would dance in a younger age category since I was the "younger" of the two of us.
My results may not have been as good in the younger age group, but it was kind of fun and my instructor and I were still able to judge my progress against my own previous dancing which was the most important thing.
I have to admit though that I did want to (and did) dance in my correct age group at Ohio.
Stillharbor
New Member
I've had similar situations. My instructor actually has 3 of us girls in the same age range, that wanted to do a particular comp. The first girl was more advanced and he placed her in a higher level with her consent (she was definately ready). I had been with him longer than the other girl and he made a point to ask me when hints of the competition were starting to circulate. Because I had "seniority" he gave me first option on whether or not I wanted to go to this comp. I know there have been times when this instructor and my previous one did what they could to make sure I got the scheduling I needed. Even to the point where they would stay late or come in on their day off to help us get ready for a comp. Let me just say... My stuudio's teachers ROCK!! :rocker::rocker:
In my case, I was the newcomer. It took me a long time to ask this pro for a lesson. Things went well with the lessons and we decided to do Ohio as our first comp.
His other student had danced with him for a very long time. Out of respect for my teacher and his other competing student, I just let him make the choices about which comp and which entries. Afterall, he is the professional and certainly knows what to do!!!!!
His other student had danced with him for a very long time. Out of respect for my teacher and his other competing student, I just let him make the choices about which comp and which entries. Afterall, he is the professional and certainly knows what to do!!!!!
Okay, have a bit more time now.
In my experience, the biggest conflict that can occur for two students in the same age and level (especially if the level is open gold - you can't dance a level up or down) is doing the open scholarships at the bigger, prestigious comps - USDC Nationals (Florida) and Ohio Star Ball - and the local comps. The prestigious comps because titles are offered, and local comps because they are usually cheaper.
If you have a lot of students and dancing down an age category or level is not an option, you will have to have some criteria as to who gets to do them. It can be based on seniority, taking turns, previous agreements or even skill level of the dancers. And I agree with previous posters, it's the pros choice. The ladies/gents may have their input, but the pro calls the shots. Of course, the pros make their own lives easier if they stay consistent with the rules.
Nik, I hope you have a good mix of ladies. Some will understand and empathize with your situation and may have to be protected from being taken advantage of, others will be a bit more self interested and need to be made aware of the realities of a team situation. It's not easy, a balancing act at best. Good luck!
In my experience, the biggest conflict that can occur for two students in the same age and level (especially if the level is open gold - you can't dance a level up or down) is doing the open scholarships at the bigger, prestigious comps - USDC Nationals (Florida) and Ohio Star Ball - and the local comps. The prestigious comps because titles are offered, and local comps because they are usually cheaper.
If you have a lot of students and dancing down an age category or level is not an option, you will have to have some criteria as to who gets to do them. It can be based on seniority, taking turns, previous agreements or even skill level of the dancers. And I agree with previous posters, it's the pros choice. The ladies/gents may have their input, but the pro calls the shots. Of course, the pros make their own lives easier if they stay consistent with the rules.
Nik, I hope you have a good mix of ladies. Some will understand and empathize with your situation and may have to be protected from being taken advantage of, others will be a bit more self interested and need to be made aware of the realities of a team situation. It's not easy, a balancing act at best. Good luck!
p.s. Nik, in my opinion the hardest part for the pro is to be forward looking enough on what the criteria should be.
Seniority is the easy one, but it would seem the most likely to keep new students in occupied age/leve categories from signing on.
Taking turns seems fair, but if you have a really talented student that would be in the finals of big events, taking turns means they might miss out on winning coveted titles. You might lose talented students to a good level pro with an empty slot.
Skill level is probably the most controversial. The argument for a pro might be to showcase his/her ability to train students by entering students that would have a good chance of making the finals of the bigger events. Also, if one student clearly works harder than the rest to increase their skills, should that be part of the criteria for bigger comps? Again, this would be the most controversial and I don't want to start that argument here in this thread. I just wanted to put it out for you to think about if you are looking to establish your "ground rules".
Again, best of luck!
Seniority is the easy one, but it would seem the most likely to keep new students in occupied age/leve categories from signing on.
Taking turns seems fair, but if you have a really talented student that would be in the finals of big events, taking turns means they might miss out on winning coveted titles. You might lose talented students to a good level pro with an empty slot.
Skill level is probably the most controversial. The argument for a pro might be to showcase his/her ability to train students by entering students that would have a good chance of making the finals of the bigger events. Also, if one student clearly works harder than the rest to increase their skills, should that be part of the criteria for bigger comps? Again, this would be the most controversial and I don't want to start that argument here in this thread. I just wanted to put it out for you to think about if you are looking to establish your "ground rules".
Again, best of luck!