Grand Finals Weekend - Blackpool
	Would you like to lecture at the Worthing Congress?
	British Dance Council Press Release
	One of a series of Articles written by Members of the New Ballroom Teachers' Committee
	Modern Ballroom & Latin American Competitions

Grand Finals Weekend - Blackpool

The ISTD would like to Thank everybody who attended the Grand Finals Weekend in Blackpool.

We look forward to seeing you all again next year for the 2nd Grand Finals Weekend at Blackpool Tower on Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th November 2001

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This offer is open to all ISTD Latin American teachers so if you are interested make sure you send your letter for the attention of Miss Lorna Lee, Chairman Latin American Dance Faculty c/o ISTD, Imperial House, 22-26 Paul Street, London EC2A 4QE.
Please note all entries must be submitted by the 1st February 2001

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British Dance Council Press Release

The British Dance Council asks all promoters, teachers and disc jockeys who receive new requests from Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) for fees in addition to their existing licences to write to:

Lyndon Wainwright
BDV Teachers' Committee Secretary
1 Cowden Road
Saltdean
Brighton BN2 8DD

There is the possibility of multiple licence fees being required for some functions and BDC wishes to establish the reality of the situation. This will enable the dance teaching profession to make a unified approach to PPL in order to clarify, represent and argue the interests of dance teachers.

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One of a series of Articles written by Members of the New Ballroom Teachers' Committee

One thing is certain, when you think you have found a recipe that works, the goal posts move and you have to start all over again. Trying to attract new pupils to your studio is almost like a constant game of chess.

Local media, Yellow Pages, notice boards, public houses and clubs are obvious sources of publicity and internet advertising is, no doubt, going to be more widely used in the future. I do find, however, that media advertising can be something of a lottery. I recently advertised a class for Salsa & Mambo and called it 'Latin Fever', having seen several CD's of that or a similar name in high street stores. The response was poor. I re-advertised immediately, using the term 'Club Dancing' and filled my class. It does seem to me that we have to take care in wording advertisements.

I have also found that people seem more interested in attending a class if they think it is only a short course, but even then the wording is important. 'Dance with Confidence in only 8 sessions' has been more successful than saying '8 weeks', even though the course is still 8 one-hour classes. I now try to use phrases that convey 'Learn to Dance' without actually using those words.

When advertising, I no longer use any qualifications, or the term Dance Studio or Dance School. I find these terms 'off putting' to beginners who seem to believe that, in attending an established school, or learning with a qualified teacher, they will be expected to dance like a 'professional'. Initially, all they want to do is 'to get around the dance floor' so professional qualifications mean nothing to them.

New beginners' classes always make me feel tense and nervous, and it seems to help to break the ice if I tell a new class that I am feeling nervous too. I also try hard to learn the names of new pupils as quickly as possible because they seem really pleased when I remember their names.

I always explain to a new class that it is for absolute beginners. It may sound obvious, and perhaps a little stupid, but from time to time, there are those who do not understand that they are actually in a beginners' class, and they worry that the dancing is going to be beyond their capabilities. I keep the groups of figures that I teach in a beginners' class short and simple, having learned from the mistake of teaching too much too soon.

In all social classes, I never use technical terms. I teach technique surreptitiously, explaining that 'if you try and do it this way', i.e. using correct footwork or a little CBM etc., 'it will feel more comfortable to dance and therefore be more enjoyable'. When these people go out and dance at functions, they become your shop window. The better they are encouraged to dance, the more you can hope to build a good reputation and this then becomes and advertisement in itself.

However, on the last point, I am sure that we all have pupils who we would prefer never went out!

Paul Parsons

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Modern Ballroom & Latin American Area Medallists Award Day Competitions

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