Dance school for sale in Dublin, Ireland:

This is an excellent opportunity for a young teacher to take the next career step by purchasing a ready-made and profitable dance studio.

The school was established in 1981 and is located in Dublin 8, near the city centre. The nearest other ballet school is about 2.5 miles away.

Currently the studio is in the seller's house which is being sold separately. However there are a number of suitable halls in the area.

The purchaser can pay the fee by instalments set up to be paid into the seller's bank account. There is a possibility that a business partner can be called upon. There has been some serious interest in this.

Assets included with the sale are a modern upright piano in good condition, portable ballet barres, sound systems and a library of music including the ISTD syllabus.

There is considerable scope for developing the business as the class sizes are currently limited by the size of the studio. A summer school could also be introduced. There is potential profit from the sale of dancewear which is currently sold for a small profit margin.

Syllabus followed in the ISTD for Ballet and Modern Theatre Dance from Primary until Advanced II in both subjects. Exam sessions are held twice a year and the school enjoys a very good exam record.

The school takes in children from 4 years of age progressing onto the Primary class to commence the exam process. All students reach exam standard but are reminded that the exams are not compulsory in order to move to the next level.

Excellent staff teacher who wishes to remain with the school. She has her CDE exams and Advanced II Modern Theatre Dance and Advanced I ISTD Ballet. She teaches all the Modern classes from Primary until Advanced II. She teaches ballet from Primary to Grade II.

The staff teacher is keen to continue teaching with the school. Her annual contract can be renewed in September when the school recommences.

Good rapport with parents who are most supportive and helpful. Fees are paid within the first two weeks of every term.

The school also has an Adult Beginner Programme in Ballet and Jazz Dance.

There are 140 pupils, including the adult programme, in the school at the moment. Most children attend 2 classes a week, one ballet one modern.

Every indication has been that students' parents will stay with this school. They ask what is happening on almost a daily basis.

Further details at www.dtol.ndirect.co.uk/school7.htm.

Contact the owner at danceschool@eircom.net.

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Dance studios for sale in Shropshire, UK:

Established dance school of 200+ pupils in exceptional leased premises available in thriving, picturesque, Ludlow (the Shropshire town recently nominated as the best place to live in the country).

Comprises two large studios with sprung floors, barres and mirrors. Baby grand piano and remote control music systems. Reception, shop and café area. Girls and boys changing rooms. Three additional rooms for music, drama etc. Large storage room for costumes. Central location close to schools.

Currently teaching ISTD Ballet, Modern and Tap plus singing. All ages up to intermediate. The standard is very high resulting in excellent exam results.

A high percentage of pupils enthusiastically and successfully participate in festivals throughout the year. This generates a significant part of the business turnover from choreographic fees, private tuition and costume hire.

The shop sells dancewear, confectionary and gifts. Pupils wear a dancewear uniform sold in the shop. Reception and the shop are run very efficiently by a team of 'mothers'.

Dance is taught by the Principal and one qualified colleague, both of whom are ex professional dancers trained at Bush Davies and Laine Theatre Arts. They are assisted by several student teachers. A music teacher offers piano and flute classes.

The facilities are under utilised at present with capacity for expansion. There is a market for salsa and ballroom classes for adults plus dance workshops during school holidays. There is room for children's birthday parties and an internet café.

The business owns a website. See www.in-steps.co.uk

The business is run as a Limited Company which holds the lease for the premises and owns all the equipment, fixtures, fittings and stock. The company has no debts and accounts are available for inspection.
 
The business is for sale because the Principal is emigrating with her husband who has been offered employment overseas. A committed enthusiastic and professional Teacher is required to take over and continue the school. Current management are willing to stay for a handover and advisory period following conclusion of the sale. Please reply with full CV to insteps@hotmail.co.uk.

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The following readers are looking for dance classes. If you know of a class in your area that matches any of these readers' requirements, please email them and let them know:

Daphne (g_daf@hotmail.com) from Manchester, UK will "be in Buenos Aires in May-June 2008. Does anyone know about good teachers or intensive workshops in this area especially in Brazilian dance, otherwise in any other type of dance -other than tango if possible. Many thanks."

Tracy Rainford (tracyjane580@hotmail.com) lives "in Spain on the Costa calida, I have a 11 year old daughter who has been dancing ballroom and Latin for 3 years, at the moment she dances with a council run school in our local town where she also dances classical ballet and flamenco (which she has danced for 6 years). She is at a stage now I feel where she needs more intense one to one training although the council run school teacher is good, her time is spread very thinly so I need a teacher/school where she can get what she needs. Please can you offer any teachers in my area?"

I am trying to find pole dancing lessons in my area can you please help?
Sarah Gill   
Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England   
Pole Dancing
Sarah@gillyshouse.wanadoo.co.uk

Samantha Turner
Bournemouth, UK
spami27@yahoo.co.uk
Want to learn about dance movement therapy and am also interested in finding a dance movement therapist.

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If you want to find out about classes in your area, email me and let me know (very briefly):

- Your name
- Your location (including country)
- The kind of dance class you want
- Your email address

I'll include you next time! BUT, if you don't give it to me in this format, it may not get in.

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DTOL's Dance Pen Friend scheme: if you would like to correspond by email with someone who shares your dance interests but is in a different country - or a different part of your country - then just email me briefly with:

* your name
* your email address
* your town, state/province/county and country
* your dance interests
* the kind of person you would like as your dance pen friend

I will then publish your details in the newsletter and, hopefully, other newsletter subscribers will get in touch with you.

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Rolande Hooklyn (rolande00@hotmail.com responded to the item in the last newsletter about teachers leaving a dance school and setting up their own school nearby:

"I sympathise very much with the dance teachers who have been wrongly done by....

I ran a dance studio in a small country town of NSW Australia for over 20 years and am a qualified RAD Teacher. In 1998 my oldest son aged 18 died of an asthma attack, and my love of teaching dance died with him... I struggled to continue to dance for a few years after his death, and then finally decided to give it all up. I felt very responsible for all of the children in our country town and could not leave unless I could find another teacher to take my place as I was the only local teacher. I finally made contact with one of my ex-students who was in Sydney at the time and asked her if she would be interested in the job. All I had asked was that she paid me a rent for the premises, which I own, and how she ran the studio and whatever monies she may make would be all of hers. I had taught this girl from the age of 2 and a half until she was about 16. She agreed!

A few years later, I had an offer from another dance teacher from away to buy not only the business but the premises as well, I rang my ex-student and told her of this opportunity I had and she begged me not to sell as she would like to purchase it. Because I knew her so well, and I had taught her for so many years and the students had taken a liking to her and agreed not to sell and would sell it to her instead. When I came home to make arrangements for the sale, I found she had moved premises, took all of the students with her and left me with NOTHING....... She receives a great deal of wonderful results in Eisteddfod work, most of which her best students are the results of my training and found that she also uses my choreography ..... Needless to say how much that hurt me. I felt so cheated and let down.

Last year, having been away from my country town for some time, I felt so much stronger, and the desire to start teaching again got stronger and stronger. I moved back to my small country town and within a few months received a few phone calls from parents who had heard I was back asking whether I would give their daughter a class... Suddenly I felt so LUCKY that I had not sold the premises and I agreed. I currently am still very hurt by this young girl's actions who by the way pays 3 other ladies to work with her, none of which are qualified. I guess in a way I am blessed I did not sell her my studio as I would not have been able to teach in our small town again; morally I could not and would not have done so.... But because there was never a sale, she simply took everything from underneath me, today I feel free to teach again with no remorse other than having given her such a wonderful opportunity. I hope this may help some of you not to make the same mistake I did......

Thank you for reading my story."

DTOL member Alan Clarke (dancerone@onetel.com) from Belfast, Northern Ireland added his thoughts:

"To all those who are discussing the problem in relation to unqualified dance instructors teaching everything from salsa, hip hop, Latin and ballroom. I have had the same problem here in Belfast where ex senior competitors are doing all of the above, where non dancer - non qualified people are doing the above and better than that coming to my classes and learning how to do it with better technique to go out and teach their classes and there is nothing we can do. Why? Because we do not have Government recognition for our qualifications and therefore those who wish to teach can teach without qualification as long as they have prs, ppl, insurance and pay tax on their earnings. Until we have 2 things: 1) recognition in our chosen profession equal to that of a school teacher or university lecturer and 2) an organisation who will fight for the rights of the dance teacher like a union, we will always have this problem.

My solution, which is not the easiest, is to create a business that holds respect from those outside as being the best for discipline, fun, structure and quality. When you have that type of reputation people will always know the best place to go. Even the most reputable of associations who deal in the medal test system will have those who hold a Bronze medal, and remember the general public don't know any difference, will accept is as a qualification unless the words " This is not a qualification to teach dancing " is attached to the certificate. I am sure you will have something to say, I look forward to seeing it next time."

And DTOL member Helen Potgieter (wpdta@telkomsa.net) from Cape Town, South Africa has some advice for teachers which in some ways echoes Sarah's views:

"This is a subject as old as the mountains. All associations have policies regarding this matter, however it cannot be enforced. So we just have to live with it and pick up our chins and get back to business. I have been through this several times, but learned the sooner you forgive and forget the easier it becomes and your students will stay because you are happy and secured in yourself.

As teachers we have to face all sorts of demands on our classrooms and lives. Respect and appreciation is the biggest thing we can offer each other.

We cannot demand this from students or parents; because they are our clients, but there we still have the choice of we wish to continue the relationship as teacher- student.

So chins- up my dear teachers."

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And here's a view from the "other side of the fence":

Sarah (centrestage_nyc@hotmail.com) from Croydon, UK:

"Having read the articles relating to location of dance schools and poaching of students I would like to stress that as the mother of a dancing daughter, perhaps it would benefit dance teachers to remember it is we who are paying you for a service (not the other way round) you do not own a dance student. If a dance student is not happy with the service you are providing they should have every right to move to another dance school of their choice. There are too many dance teachers out there who are not in touch with reality and who can be vindictive and nasty. Dance teachers do not own a student or an area.

When one works (which most parents do to pay the dance teacher) a person can move to another job in an office next door should they so wish. High street banks are situated virtually next door to each other. This is a competitive world with equal opportunities. Work harder to support and encourage and treat fairly all students - not just the favourites, they are all your bread and butter. Stop trying to dictate and stop complaining all the time. If you teach because you want to pass on the love of dance you wouldn't have time or energy to keep an eye on other teachers and you wouldn't need to as your students would not want to leave. Perhaps those complaining should take a step back and ask themselves why students would want to move to another dance school, whether it be next door premises or a few miles away. Maybe you should take more concern within your own school. Remember equal opportunism and we pay you for a service. Get used to it. You are not above every one else."

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Melba Morris (mmballet@juno.com) is a DTOL member from California, USA:

"I have been teaching for well over 20 years and have to agree that we don't own students. You give the best that you have to give them and then they are free to choose. I grew up in NYC and as a teenager it was quite common to attend a new class/teacher on the recommendation of a fellow student. Especially during vacations when we could take several classes a day, studio hopping was a normal thing.

For me, it helped me to realize the value in my primary teacher and increased my gratitude. I currently have students who attend extra "outside classes" for various reasons, and find it very fulfilling that they continue to come to me as well. As much as we might like to be, none of us is the one and only perfect teacher, and a student has something to learn from every teacher, as long as he/she is a knowledgeable professional.

I have found that most of my students and parents know the difference between a good and a bad teacher if they have trained with me to begin with. Yes, at times it can cause some self doubt or self- examination, but is that a bad thing? Don't we always seek to become a better teacher today than we were yesterday? I don't feel I have ever stopped learning."

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The next newsletter will be on Wednesday, 10th October. If you would like to comment on any of the issues raised in the newsletters, or ask a question which other readers may be able to answer, or say anything you like about your dance experiences, just email me!

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