Teaching Ballroom on a Cruise Ship?

[anntennis]

since I, too, want 24/7 buffets and exotic shopping? .

In terms of shopping and 24/7 buffet food, you can get extremely inexpensive deal as low as $500 for 7 days on last minute (2 months in advance) for most cruises. The are some exceptions, but Celebrity, MSC, etc you can buy cruise for 80% off with good planning. Search for http://www.vacationstogo.com, http://www.affordabletours.com/
I used http://www.affordabletours.com/ for other vacations as Trafalgar bus tours in Europe and they were first class very organized tours for a very reasonable price.

 

[dancelvr]

I'm curious, if you are aboard for teaching purposes, and you are swapping your services for cruise fare, do you make any money at all? Tips? Offering privates? Anything?

I went on a dance cruise. As far as I know, the dance hosts were trading their time for a free cruise. They were still financially responsible for getting to the departure point, and any other extra expenses like on board purchases and excursions and such.

They were also a completely separate group from the instructors on board. The instructors did not dance socially. And, if you wanted a private lesson, you took one from a teacher, not a host.

 

[danceronice]

AFAIK, no. You get a berth and food but you were responsible for anything a passenger would have been, and frankly none were qualified to be offering privates. The teachers didn't social-dance, the hosts didn't teach. Tips, afaik, were at the discretion of the passengers. I put in a White Star Service commendation for our dance hosts because they made the whole trip a lot more fun for solo passengers like me.

 

[Hedwaite]

What's afaik? I have an idea, but I want to make sure. Abbreviations are confusing and frustrating for me sometimes, sorry.

 

[raindance]

Many times you can find what an abbreviation means by googling it (though not likely to be helpful for forum-specific terms).

AFAIK is short for "as far as I know".

 

[Hedwaite]

I do go on scavenger hunts with google for a lot of things since my Ovaltine decoder ring broke, but there are just too many abbreviations for everything to keep up with. I speak and type "Lazy English", lol.

 

[JANATHOME]

Was a really interesting post, thanks!!

I can still remember when we went on the Queen Mary cruise. They have a full size ballroom and dance hosts. These hosts did not give lessons, the dance crew did the lessons. I was with my husband and interesting, the host would have to ask permission from my husband first before they could ask me to dance... We had lunch with a few of the gents and they told us that it was a rule that was strictly enforced!
But same as this post, they really enjoyed being hosts.

 

[suburbaknght]

This is a sensitive question for many- but I have to ask it. I was reading the basic how-tos of cruise-ship teaching on an older website many years ago, and they put an emphasis on being young and attractive. I understand, but I was wondering if "they let my kind in"? Older, rounder, but experienced and able to teach and entertain somewhat with no vices? Also, since others mentioned that males were in more demand, I wonder if something could be arranged so that the male taught, but I could pay to accompany, since I, too, want 24/7 buffets and exotic shopping? Also, if you're asked to perform, what kind of performance is it? A typical ballroom routine as seen at showcase, or something different? I'm glad this thread got resurrected.

"Young and attractive" wasn't something I saw in my applications. I flatter myself if I say it applied to me, but it was never raised as an issue. I've heard of older teachers working gigs like this. For both Sixth Star and To Sea With Z they ask for male-female duos; you are required to apply with an opposite-sex dance/teaching partner.

I'm curious, if you are aboard for teaching purposes, and you are swapping your services for cruise fare, do you make any money at all? Tips? Offering privates? Anything?

We did not make any money. We are specifically prohibited from accepting tips or selling private lessons. Erring on the side of, "don't screw up this gig," I even turned down offers to buy my drinks.

 

[Joe]

I do go on scavenger hunts with google for a lot of things since my Ovaltine decoder ring broke, but there are just too many abbreviations for everything to keep up with. I speak and type "Lazy English", lol.

I find the Cracker Jack decoder ring to be much more durable than the Ovaltine attempt.

 

[Joe]

"Young and attractive" wasn't something I saw in my applications. I flatter myself if I say it applied to me, but it was never raised as an issue.

Were you required to sit for an in-person interview, or required to submit a photo with your applications?

 

[suburbaknght]

Were you required to sit for an in-person interview, or required to submit a photo with your applications?

It was a multi-step process involving first a written application that included letters of reference from previous students, coaches, and (in my case as a teacher) my former studio manager. Next there was a video audition that included videos of us dancing as well as teaching a class. Finally there was a phone interview. Obviously our appearance could and most likely was taken into account during the video portion, but it was not explicitly stated. From anecdotes I've heard from the cruise passengers when comparing our classes, Wynd and I were a good deal younger than most of the teachers. They did not comment on if we were more attractive so I just tell myself that we were

 

[anntennis]

This is a sensitive question for many- but I have to ask it. I was reading the basic how-tos of cruise-ship teaching on an older website many years ago, and they put an emphasis on being young and attractive. I understand, but I was wondering if "they let my kind in"? Older, rounder, but experienced and able to teach and entertain somewhat with no vices? Also, since others mentioned that males were in more demand, I wonder if something could be arranged so that the male taught, but I could pay to accompany, since I, too, want 24/7 buffets and exotic shopping? Also, if you're asked to perform, what kind of performance is it? A typical ballroom routine as seen at showcase, or something different? I'm glad this thread got resurrected.

Just received a post on FB from Dancesport Studio in NYC - - very good news for your question:

"A friend asked me to post this!
Seeking Female Ballroom Dance Hostesses
Experience the luxury of traveling on a Six Star Cruise Line!
Crystal Cruises is seeking Female Ballroom Dance “Ambassador Hostesses” for a Ballroom Themed Cruise
Date: Dec. 9 – Dec 21, 2013
Location: Atlantic crossing, Barcelona to Miami
Minimum age 50, maximum age 65
Seeking mature, distinguished, well traveled, social, elegant, fit, experienced dancers.
Must be well versed in the Ballroom Dances, including Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Quickstep, Rumba, Cha-Cha, Samba, Mambo/Salsa, Swing
American Style is danced mainly on the ship, but knowledge of International Style is welcome.
Knowledge of club dances such as Hustle, Night Club 2 Step, West Coast Swing, Country Two-step, and Argentine Tango a plus.
The dance hostess will have guest status, host a table in the Crystal dining room, and will be required to attend dance classes on sea days, and dance sets in the evening.
This position is a “no salary” position, i.e. volunteer
Interested parties please contact Beverly Durand at beverly@beverlydurand.com"

 

[freeageless]

Antennis, I looked for that post on Facebook and I could not find it. Are you sure that they are looking for a FEMALE dance ambassador dance hostess? The reason I ask is that I am booked on that cruise. This will be my fifth Crystal cruise. I have only seen Male dance ambassador hosts. I have met several who are over 65. I note that the point of contact is Beverly Durand. I have danced with her and taken some private lessons with her on my Crystal cruises. She is great. You can find out more information about her by clicking the below link. They do have two professional dance teams who teach ballroom dance and perform on the dance themed ballroom dance cruises. She and her partner are one of those two teams. The dance hosts do not teach. They dance with single women or women who don't have dance partners on the cruise. They also dance during the group class sessions with women who don't have partners. They food, atmosphere and service on Crystal is luxury first class. Crystal is definitely a five star cruise company in all respects. It has been consistently rated by Conde Nast magazine as the top cruise line.

http://www.beverlydurand.com/about.html

 

[j_alexandra]

The post definitely says female, twice. Very unusual. I saw it on FB yesterday, on Paul Pellicoro's page.

 

[anntennis]

Yes, I am passing along the post from Paul Pellicoro's FB page as it is, since it is right on the topic of interest of this thread. I do not know anything else about the job itself. I believe the interested parties just have to contact the email given and ask all the questions from the source.