Ask Rhee

Dance Educators Seek Advice

Last season we went to a few competitions with a lyrical piece with a male vocalist. We received a couple comments from judges to the effect that if we do not have male dancers in the piece, we should not have a song with a male vocalist. I understood this but at the same time questioned it. What do you think?

--Linda

Dear Linda,

Interesting question! My opinion: if it is a male soloist or group of boys are performing a piece together, I feel that the vocals should be sung by a male. However, I have created lots of choreography with all girls, sung by male vocalists. A perfect example is Candle in the Wind, by Elton John." I think I would have to "respectfully" disagree with someone who told me otherwise.

--Rhee

I have a staff member who is going through a nasty divorce and it is starting to affect her work as well as her children who are in my junior competition group. She has started missing classes with no excuse, lying to me and causing her students to miss important rehearsal times. We had a big blow-out just before Easter when she accused me of spreading rumors about her to the other competition moms. Of course I did not do this. The business owner inside of me says to terminate her immediately because of the mayhem she is causing with my preschool program and the other competition moms. Yep, that’s right, she's my pre-school teacher!  I don't want to risk losing these parents in the fall! She recently disobeyed one of my rules about attending competitions. I want my kids at the competition, ready to perform, two hours before performance time. She showed up one number before the kids were scheduled to go on. Luckily the director let us go on hold.

Will discharging her this late in the game upset my preschool parents more or help the situation? And, if I let her go, do I excuse the kids from the junior company as well; just to have a clean break?

--Helen

Hello Helen,

Knowing only what you've told me in your email, I think it is time to make a clean break. Dance teachers set the example for their students and it sounds to me that she's not doing that very well. Showing up late (or not at all) for teaching and/or the competition isn’t setting the right example. The tough part is that her own children, if they love to dance, will they be traumatized (more than they already are under the circumstances) if they are pulled from your school before the end of the season? Maybe the kids stay and the mom leaves? No easy answer to that one.

We all go through tough periods in our lives, just like this teacher is going through. The difference is being a professional when you need to be. Walking into that school on time, committed to the students and enthusiastically giving them what they need is what a pro would do. If the personal problems start to influence our job in a negative way, then it's time to make a change. I wish you all the best and please let me know how it turns out.

--Rhee

I am having a real issue with my recital venue. My show was originally scheduled for 6/24 and 6/25 at the same school we always use. About seven weeks ago they sent me a letter saying that the school is going to close early due to renovations and they cannot rent to me this year. I found a new place that agreed on the date, etc. Fast-forward to today. I get a letter in the mail saying that they had double-booked,  the other studio had booked a year ago and they had to drop me. I called a regional school that is part of the town in which I live. They can accommodate me the weekend prior (6/18).  I have to take it, I have no choice. I know that people will freak out. How should I handle it? Should I offer them something free? I can't give a free ticket because it seats 100 less than my other location and is already limited. I just need some idea if what to do. --Diane

Dear Diane,

Sorry to hear you're having such a problem with your recital location. As for softening the blow for the parents, I wouldn't go with offering a free ticket. As you stated, there isn't enough seating to accommodate that. I think I would write a sincere and honest letter to all my clientele to let them know about the situation. Explain that you booked your facility in plenty of time and as you usually do, but due to circumstances beyond your control, the facility will no longer accommodate your recital. Go into a bit of detail concerning your search for a new location and the fact that you finally did find an adequate facility, but the dates must be changed.

You will have some parents that will balk a bit and maybe some that have made plans for the new weekend. You have to continue to explain how thankful you are that you actually did find a facility so their children wouldn't miss out on a chance to be in the annual recital. You may feel stressed out by some of the reactions, but at the same time you have to stay focused on offering your students and their families the best show you can. So, move on and don't dwell on any negative comments from the parents. You did everything you could!

A side note:

Many years ago, we ran a dress rehearsal on Saturday in preparation for the Sunday recital. All went well at the dress-rehearsal. When we arrived for the recital, the school manager informed us that there was an underground electrical problem and that there was no electricity in the entire school. We had to stand at the front door telling our students and their families that the recital was off! They were not happy, we were not happy and it seemed like a complete tragedy at the time. The recital ran two weeks later with a much smaller audience than normal. Hard to take at the time, but there were no repercussions from our clientele (some wanted ticket refunds for their family that had come from out of town and we gave it to them). Years later, it has turned into a legendary story of how we almost didn't have a recital. Each year we drive up to the school with a ping in our stomachs wondering if the lights will be on. But, nothing like it has ever happened again. I wish you a lot of luck and have a great day--Rhee

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