Weirdest studio policy moments ;)

[SPratt74]

Contracheck gave me an idea in another thread, and I thought that we could have some fun with this one. I would like to know what is the weirdest dance studio policy that you all have encountered? There are two for me. One is a no hugging policy. Yes I was pulled aside and lectured for hugging my teacher (as to which he hugged me right before I was lectured lol), needless to say he was afaid to touch me after that. I mean come on when you dance you do worse things than hugging each other. You usually end up touching each other all over (especially in Latin if you choreograph right :raisebro: did I just say that outloud lol :shock: ).

The other is the no student/teacher contact outside the studio policy. So, I guess this means that the students and teachers can't talk outside in the parking lot then right, or right outside the studio door lol? Or what about the mall? Are you supposed to pass them and not say anything at all lol? Most students and teachers actually hang out in clubs when they are not in the studio (I've heard that a lot on here too, and I've done it myself), and they go to different studios to learn as well. I was like you have got to be kidding me. I think that some policies that I've been hearing about on here even need to be worded differently. I can understand if a policy was like don't date your teacher or something like that lol, but to say that there is no student/contact outside the studio policy is ridiculous.

Anyways, I wanted to have some fun with this one, so please have fun!!! Be nice lol!!!

 

[Laura]

I'm just going to point out that there are studios with no policies whatsoever other than you pay for the lessons you take or the floor time you use. I much prefer those kinds of places!

Anyway, one studio I used to take at went through a spate of rules regarding who could practice where and when. At the time, the studio had a bunch of newbie teachers who were freaked out by the more advanced competitive dancers in the area (who had been dancing at the studio longer than many of the newbie teachers had been around). So, at one point a tiny corner of the studio was roped off and anyone who wanted to practice, be it socially or competitively or whatever, had to use just that tiny section.

Fortunately that policy went away after a few weeks, and after a few months the newbie teachers got over their trepidation and the people practicing were allowed full use of the main floor so long as there were no group classes going on.

 

[fascination]

when our studio sold to a franchise two rules at the paries became: you couldn't say no to a dance (I can live with that one but don't like it) and you have to clap after everydance...I HATE that rule...I would much rather thank the gentleman and take his arm and speak a few word on my way off the floor than standing there clapping like a trained seal

 

[waltzgirl]

when our studio sold to a franchise two rules at the paries became: you couldn't say no to a dance (I can live with that one but don't like it) and you have to clap after everydance...I HATE that rule...I would much rather thank the gentleman and take his arm and speak a few word on my way off the floor than standing there clapping like a trained seal

Wow, both of those seem pretty stupid! Or wait, could I sue the studio when someone I would otherwise turn down injures me?

Is there live music? If not, you're applauding the music machine? You can't be applauding the other dancers; except for floorcraft purposes, you haven't been watching them.

 

[SPratt74]

I'm just going to point out that there are studios with no policies whatsoever other than you pay for the lessons you take or the floor time you use. I much prefer those kinds of places!

I've actually heard of that!!!

Fascination - I've been to places where you clapped after the end of the dance not after each dance lol. That would be to much clapping for me.

 

[fascination]

that's right, applauding after the music machine...I think they think it is the best way to compliment your partner but I find it lame...at any rate, it is no longer relevant

as for saying no...unless my teeth are floating so to speak, I am not going to trun someone down, but there are times when, if dh does one more dance he's gonna buy the farm, there is just a limit to what he can do ...so he just will not go now

 

[SPratt74]

that's right, applauding after the music machine...I think they think it is the best way to compliment your partner but I find it lame...at any rate, it is no longer relevant

Actually, I think just shaking their hand and telling them thank you is fine and gets the job done lol. I've never had to deal with having to say yes to everyone (even though I do either way though lol). It's a safety issue for one (especially if a guy is creepy lol), and there are certain times you just don't want to dance. For me it's usually after a Swing dance lol, because Swing will always wear me out, but I still say yes if I am asked lol!

Oh another policy that I have heard about is not to email your instructors lol. Well, why do they put their emails on business cards, and why do they ask for your emails at the studio lol? I've had more than one instructor ask me for my email at different studios, and I'm happy to give it to them. To me it's the day of the Internet anyways, you might as well go along with the times!

 

[dgcasey]

than standing there clapping like a trained seal

C'mon fascination, I want to hear that.

<clap> arrr <clap> arrr <clap> arrr <clap> arrr

 

[Spitfire]

I don't know how weird it is, but when I first started out one of the other students who had been at a Fred Astaires mentioned that at the dance socials the students could only use moves and patterns that they learned at the studio. Perhaps it's not as uncommon as I may think, but I've never heard of this as being a standard rule.

 

[SPratt74]

I don't know how weird it is, but when I first started out one of the other students who had been at a Fred Astaires mentioned that at the dance socials the students could only use moves and patterns that they learned at the studio. Perhaps it's not as uncommon as I may think, but I've never heard of this as being a standard rule.

That qualifies! How did they even know unless all of the teachers were looking at your feet and not dancing with the students and turning the social into a hostile event instead of a fun one lol!!! I'd be half afraid to move lol.

I have a few more, but I'm tired now lol. I'll post them later!

 

[quixotedlm]

No fraternization between students and teachers, implying no romantic relationships were allowed.

I've since attended two student-teacher wedding receptions (both in the studio itself ) and the current manager* of the studio is dating a student, who is also his dance partner now.

[*] - He is not the business partner in this independent studio, but he and his friend started the studio together. The friend recently left the studio to pursue other passions, so technically, he owns the rule book, so perhaps the rules don't quite apply to him.

 

[delamusica]

when our studio sold to a franchise two rules at the paries became: you couldn't say no to a dance (I can live with that one but don't like it) and you have to clap after everydance...I HATE that rule...I would much rather thank the gentleman and take his arm and speak a few word on my way off the floor than standing there clapping like a trained seal

Wow - I would never ask someone to dance in that environment. How would you ever know if they really wanted to dance with you or not?? Grr.





And what happened if you didn't clap? . . . I imagine that I would have found out the hard way.

 

[latingal]

*lol* fascination, love the comment about the trained seal...I can see applauding the live band after the end of the song, but the music machine???

Okay, not sure if this qualifies, but one studio I know of charges an individual the same dollar amount for practice as a couple.

I was starting to wonder if I should just starting grabbing any singles walking in the door to practice to split the practice fee.

 

[Twilight_Elena]

We have a no fraternization policy, which means that all student-teacher relationships must be kept a secret. I think it's ridiculous.
There's also something about not going to other studios, I think. Will come back on that one.

T_E

 

[SPratt74]

No fraternization between students and teachers, implying no romantic relationships were allowed.

I've since attended two student-teacher wedding receptions (both in the studio itself ) and the current manager* of the studio is dating a student, who is also his dance partner now.
[*] - He is not the business partner in this independent studio, but he and his friend started the studio together. The friend recently left the studio to pursue other passions, so technically, he owns the rule book, so perhaps the rules don't quite apply to him.

Lol... I think owners and/or partners can make up their own mind about the rules, because that's the beauty of owning your own business of course lol. I know of student/teachers that have gotten married too, and I see nothing wrong with that. I mean come on. Would you rather meet someone at a dance studio or at a bar lol? To me it's safer at a studio and especially if you get to know them over time. That's cool though that those relationships worked out! Good for them!

I can't think of any more weird policies except that I forgot to say that after I got the hugging lecture, my teacher got one, and the guys were afraid to touch me after that, and so they got another lecture for not touching me when we were actually supposed to be lol. I was like come on. Good grief. It's a dance studio. Are we supposed to act like second graders and have the boys and girls stand on the opposite sides of the room lol? How can you learn to dance that way lol? Now I'm learning about contact, and I'm like are you sure we are supposed to be this close lol? My new poor instructor was like just touch me darn it lol. (Ok no not exactly like that but it was close lol.) I was even afraid to hug him when he hugged me lol! The poor guy has a lot to work with lol!