Class Etiquette

[Guest ballet princess]

I attend two studios. One that is well known and can be considered pre professional, and the other is not a Dolly Dinkle studio, however it isn't focused mainly on ballet. As a result of this the girls in my ballet class (there are about 10 of us) don't have proper class etiquette. It's not that the teacher never stressed it or taught it to us, in fact she always emphasized it but they just dont listen! The problem is that we are getting a new ballet teacher this Thursday and I am afraid I and two others will be the only ones making a good impression on her. My classmates have a terrible habit of joking around and laughing, even during combinations! Its like they cant be quiet! I want to talk to my classmates myself about the issue, but I have told them many times before that is impolite and the aren't following class rules. Not to mention it is distracting to the dancers who are working! It seems like everytime I bring up the topic they say sorry and do it again 15 minutes later. Even the owner has spoken to them and they just dont listen! There are 3 of us in the class, including me, who are getting fed up with their childish ways. I know this is more of a rant, but I hope someone has any advice on how to get them to stop before I literally yell at them!

[Guest Aleasha Barkova]

I'd advise using the broken record technique. You know, where you just repeat yourself over and over. Keep reminding and reminding them about proper etiquette, etc. etc. If that doesn't work, maybe you should try talking to someone who has more authority

Finally, take a deep breath and set a good example. Good luck

[Victoria Leigh]

Balletprincess, it is not your job to insist on the discipline of a ballet class. It is the teacher's job. If it is not being done, then it is her problem, and the owner's problem. You can talk to them, but I would NOT try to do it yourself with the other students except by setting a good example. However, that is obviously not working. If the studio is not disciplined, then it is not a good studio. Put your time and money into the better school.

 

And Aleasha, this is not the Buddy Board, it's YD, so the advice here is given by the teacher/moderators, not the students!

[Guest Aleasha Barkova]

Oh, I'm so sorry Ms. Leigh! I thought it was the Buddy Board when I posted that! Sorry

[Guest JRSDANCER87]

Ballet Princess, what the other girls in your class do has no bearing on you, really. You shouldn't feel like the teacher is going to dislike you just because the rest of your class can't discipline themselves. If you are disciplined and work hard, it won't really matter what everyone else does. She won't discriminate against you just because you are part of that class.

[Victoria Leigh]

My point, ladies, was that if the teacher is not able to maintain the necessary discipline for a classical ballet class, then it's time to look for another studio. It's not okay to be in an undisciplined class, especially if you are a serious student and want to improve and progress. While the teacher may hold nothing against you, and even like you very much because you are not part of the undisciplined group, it's still not the right atmosphere for progress and improvement and if the teacher is not qualified or strong enough to command the respect needed to maintain class etiquette, then I would question her ability to teach ballet at all.

[Guest ballet princess]

Thank you for your responses.

 

As an update, the teacher who could not control the class was fired. I didnt know that at the time when I wrote the post, I assumed she just left. The director has hired a new ballet teacher, who I should mention is from a ballet school. Since the new teacher, the class is completely more behaved.