Regulating Stage Schools, BBC breakfast report
BBC breakfast news!
Stage Schools, do they need regulating?
An interesting report this morning on BBC breakfast highlighted the growing number of stage schools. There is a huge demand for them and it comes from children and young people watching shows such as Billy Elliot, So you think you can dance?, The X factor, Youtube. etc.
These stage schools are all unregulated. Some have been found without Insurance, staff without CRB checks, unqualified dance instructors and some without any experience in the profession.
‘Stage Coach’ have their own set of standards, they are assessed independently.
Some schools charge whatever fee they want and some offer good value for money.
The Dance council stated that ‘What is required is common sense’
This is a very current and topical issue as we have been reading up on Business and Personal Ethics.
What is your opinion?
Do you think stage schools need to be regulated?
Hi
ReplyDeleteI think that all dance classes should be regulated in colleges, dance schools and dance studios.
When I did my questionnaire I asked professional dancers and teachers if they think it all professional and non-professional classes should be regulated. I was surprised with the response. Most people didn't think it was necessary. I couldn't believe it to be honest but I'm hoping to find more people who agree.
I see many bad classes being taught and people are spending a lot of money.
Hi Corinda,
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting topic and I definitely think that Stage Schools need to be regulated. It frustrates me so much when you see theatre schools and dance schools being opened by people have very little experience within the industry. People are naive and obviously the general public don't know any better.
To me it is a con and people should be getting the right training, not only is it unfair it can also be extremely dangerous.
What do you think on the issue?
Jo :)
Hi Jo
ReplyDeleteThere are Stage Schools that concentrate purely on the business angle, they see lots of children and young people and think, lots of money. It is a legitimate business. They will hire different dancers/singers/actors to teach (some not trained teachers) of various styles that are currently in vogue.
It reminds me of the River Dance time when it was first seen on TV and had such an impact that everyone wanted to learn 'River Dance' because some people though it was a dance style not knowing that it was Irish dancing! We know what disciplined training it takes to become dancers of that calibre.
We are in the industry as artists first and foremost see it from this angle and recognise we have a duty of care and a professional ethics and integrity to uphold. What makes it very unfair is the thought that we have studied for our art for many years, the theory, the anatomy, the psychology and physiology and of course the artistry plus some become experts in passing on the knowledge through teaching and choreography.
When I had my school of dance one of my adult students set up break away tap classes and stole some of my students. A few months down the line some students returned to me because there was little or no progress in her class..!
I have in the past confronted and argued with Salsa teachers that have setup classes to teach after having learnt the style in only two years of social dancing. Then a couple of years down the line you hear of the business closing due to lack of interest/numbers. People were sustaining injuries. I would cringe in a class and of course never return to that class. I would hear of so many complaints of injuries from the participants.
There is currently a person filtering these clubs offering a credited qualification on basic Salsa teaching classes and how to meet and greet people etc. He is from on of the large Dance organisations. Now there is a fun job!
Time does show that the trained teachers classes/clubs are thriving with increasing numbers of adult students who are being educated to recognising the difference. They discuss this amongst one another. I hear and see this each week.
Yes, I think it should definitively be regulated. Two basic standards needed, one for community and social dancing and the other for Stage Schools.
Best wishes.