no respect

[Guest dancingostrich]

Lately everyone in my studio has become more like family then people in ballet together. While that is fun, nice and all there are some people that have become so...friendly i guess is the right word that they talk all throughout class. I know it bugs the teachers. sometimes they say something, and sometimes they dont. But, no matter what, they dont really listen. it is really starting in bug me with the lack of respect some girls are giving towards our teacher. I have said something a couple of times, but they still dont listen. Has anyone had this experience and can help me out here.

[Mel Johnson]

It is truly excellent that your teachers have built a structure in which bonhomie thrives. That is a rare thing in this often mean-spirited world. Perhaps a word from you to the teachers, apart from the class, would be sufficient to inspire them to greater effort in retaining order.

 

This can range anywhere from "I think we're getting a little talkative in class, please pay attention," to "SHUD THE $*@) UP ER I'LL TEAR YER $*@)IN' HEADS OFF!!!"*

 

Sorry, my Grinch escaped, now I have to go catch him, heeeere Grinchie, Grinchie, Grinchie....

 

*This from a little old teacher in Chicago who looked like somebody's grandmother, (grey hair in spitcurls all around her face, wire-rimmed glasses, silk dress, sweater, lisle stockings, orthopedic shoes) and she swore like a sailor.

[Guest dancingostrich]

I have talked to them. They know very well that we are ore talkative than we should be. it seams like every week we get a lecture on the proper manners of ballet and whatnot. But for a few people they just don't care about what they say. I have even talked up at the end of class telling everyone that Ray isnt here to kill us, his life goal is to make us the best dancers we can be and we should at least give him respect becuase of all the time and money he has invested in us. (he started a youth ballet company "imagine ballet thearer" 2 years ago and we recently did a world premeer of the Secret Garden with new music and choreography. it was amazing) But this possibly could be bacause i am now the oldest person in the studio and am starting to see things from a different perspective than i once did. I dont know. it is just frusterating. But now that i did speak up, i am kinda seen as the goodie goodie of the company, which isnt what i want to be known for. Sorry, i just need to rant for a bit. But, i am finnished now.

[Mel Johnson]

Senior members of a ballet company's dancer base can exert a powerful and salutary effect on the less experienced. Leadership doesn't have to be wielded like an iron glove. The right word, even the right facial expression at the right time can work wonders on your peers. You are admirably poised to become a leader. It doesn't have to make you the company killjoy.

[jazzyme]

This happens in my classes as well. More often than not, it isn't the senior dancers, but the younger ones who have just moved into the senior group within the past year or so. They're very clique-influenced and tend to stick together and chat on their own, and they act as though being in class is an inconvenience on their social life. Also, since they are relatively new to our level, they act like they have a huge chip on their shoulder. One girl just outright quit this year - there was a huge screaming match, one girl marched out (this on the dress rehearsal before our recent holiday recital... ) and has no plans to return. My instructor is quite shy, and these girls walk all over her.

 

Guess I needed to rant, too. Sorry. I wish I knew how to help the situation, but given the moody tendencies of these girls, I often wonder if it's just not worth the trouble it would cause.

[Victoria Leigh]

It is the teacher's job to establish the discipline of a ballet class. If it is not being done, find another school. Without the discipline, the work will not get done.

[Claude_Catastrophique]

That's what I would have said too. In my school it is really annoying. I have my "normal" class (my level) and all of the eleves there are primary teachers. Now they whine before class, during class and after class what poor people primary teachers are (get a new job if you don't like it!) My teacher does not say anything because she was a primary teacher too (arrrghg)

I go to another class which is a lower level than my normal level, it is with teenies but in this class everyone is quiet and no one talks. I like this class more and I also learn much more than in my normal class.

We all know this problem with talking but more than "oh we are going to change this after holidays" did not came out.

Now I had an idea and will try if this works: We go every first or last class of the month to have drink somewhere after class so that people can talk together. I hope it works!