DTOL member Gerry Jones (gerry.jones@talktalk.net) from Merseyside, UK picked up my comment about "slightly iffy-looking requests" in last week's newsletter:

"You are right to be concerned about iffy requests, and I would go so far as to say that you should go ahead and actually describe the style and method of these iffy requests so that your members may spot them more readily.

I have had a couple like that; they want me to give private tuition to their darling daughter, money seems to be no object, and they would like lots of details.

I was a wee bit suspicious that the dancing for which they wanted private tuition for was Square Dancing (presumably without the other seven being involved). No doubt it would have led to asking for my bank details for him to put his generous payments into."

We've actually covered this topic of scam emails (particularly the well-known Advance Payment Scam) in many newsletters and I don't want to start it all over again.

There is plenty about this on the DTOL Forum, so those with information and examples can post them there.

The Forum is at www.dtol.ndirect.co.uk/forum.htm

and has a password: teachingdance (case-sensitive)

There is also plenty about the Advance Payment Scam if you Google it.

*****
On a similar note, DTOL member Justinas Jurkatis (justickis@gmail.com) from Lithuania asks:

"We have a letter from Abuja, Nigeria for 'REQUEST FOR TRAINING'. Our dance studio is in Europe (Lithuania) and we have no information about African dance institutions. Maybe you can help to get some information about these peoples. We need some information, that this organization is real and they are a dancers' organization. They have sent this information about themselves:

Adesola Williams / / Institute Coordinator
Accurate Intercontinental Institute of Theatre Art.
27 Minna Street, Area 8
Garki, F.C.T.,
Abuja. Nigeria.
Tel: 234-8075710307

Thank you for help."

Maybe our members in Nigeria can help with this - your country unfortunately has a bad name for internet fraud, so sorting out the genuine organisations would be very useful.

*****
DTOL member Siri Rama (sirirama@hotmail.com) from Singapore has a question for members:

"At Singapore there have a series of workshops in Indian dance (both classical and folk) for school teachers who support dance teachers and choreographers in their respective primary and secondary schools. I have been asked over the last year to conduct these workshops. Of course one cannot train them to be dancers but the intention is to give them enough knowledge to be excellent support staff. I would like to know if anyone else has done similar work and what their experiences and advice would be. The workshops last three hours, so it needs to be long; at the same time not tiring."

*****

The 3rd edition of the biggest international event dedicated to the world of dance will be held from 21th to 24th of February 2008 at the Fortezza da Basso in Florence - ITALY.

What's Danza in Fiera?
Not just stands featuring the best products in the sector.
Not just great shows and hundreds of performances.
Not just lessons and master classes.
Not just a meeting and reference point
For dancers from all the world.

It is all this, all at once.

For more information.visit the website: www.danzainfiera.it
For information about hotels: www.danzainfiera.promhotels.it

If you are interested in visiting the fair, call me or write me an e-mail. I'm available for any question you may have.

Best regards.
Eleonora Sanesi
___________________

Organization Office:
EXPOSERVICE s.r.l.
via O. Vannucchi 1 - 59100 Prato (PO) - Italy
Tel. +39.0574.575053 - Fax +39.0574.574333
www.danzainfiera.it - international@danzainfiera.it

*****
A number of members responded to the recent items about dance exams being counted as school credits.

New DTOL member Janie Harris (janieharrisdance@aol.com) from Kent, UK:

"I found the DTOL newsletter most interesting, thank you, and have a comment which continues the debate about school credits and recognition of qualifications.

I believe that educational schools in UK, both private and state can include the results of RAD exams in their ofsted report even though the exams are taken outside their school.

It therefore seems bizarre to me that state schools accept RAD exams and give credits because they are accredited by the QCA but apparently do not accept teaching qualifications of the teachers who teach the pupils who trained before the RAD degree structure was in place and before the QCA existed.

In a world where the QCA has authorised McDonalds, Network Rail and Flybe to develop and approve courses up to A level, it seems to me that our already qualified and now experienced teachers should have degree status for the three year intensive teaching course they took, be it RAD, RBS or any of the approved institutions who receive government grants. I hope that there is an energetic move towards giving those teachers the recognition their non degree level qualifications deserve and not insisting on their jumping through irrelevant academic hoops.

The RAD Teachers College and the RBS Teachers Course used to be the epitome of excellence, their Diplomas highly regarded and their graduates sought after. Why doesn't the state sector recognise them as qualified to teach in the state sector should they so wish."

DTOL Spain representative Jayne Melville (jaynem@telefonica.net):

"I can confirm that The British Ballet Organization is also accredited by the national framework of qualifications and the CDET (Council for Dance Education and Training) in ballet, tap, modern and jazz and is currently undertaking vocational training and teaching programmes for those dancers wishing to pursue a career in dance teaching in both the private and public sector. For further information please look at www.bbo.org.uk"

Kathie Hunwick (lighthouseacademyofdance@yahoo.ca) from British Columbia, Canada:

"In response to Karen Shiel's BTDA comment re qualifications on the framework, RAD and ISTD exams are (among others) included - the ISTD especially having almost all of the subjects stated as:

"...but BTDA are the only ones to have tap modern jazz classical ballet lyrical and acro as part of the national frame work of qualifications" which is actually not the case.

It would be best for anyone interested to check out the dance examining board concerned and the National Framework correlations."

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NEWSLETTER COUNTRY-SPECIFIC SECTIONS
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UK SECTION
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Jeannette Poulton (jeannette27@hotmail.co.uk) from Bardney, Lincolnshire has "just achieved my gold medal in ballroom and Latin dancing, with distinction. I'm now going for my bars, but I would like the experience of dancing with someone else, as I am a mature single lady with natural dance ability. I am looking for a professional who can really push me further than social dancing with a possibility of learning to teach."

Katie Higgins (katiehiggins123@hotmail.com) from Brill, Buckinghamshire is "looking for an adult tap class near Aylesbury or Thame I finished dancing 2 years ago and was taking G5 with IDTA. Please let me know of any classes you have!"

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EUROPE SECTION
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Lesley Urunsak (lanneu@gmail.com) from Kadriye/Belek, Antalya, Turkey is "looking for dance classes in line-dancing in Antalya, Turkey. Can anyone help?"

Ms Jan Jones (janjones12@yahoo.co.uk) from Burgau, Algarve, Portugal is "looking for a dance teacher for my granddaughter who is 11 years old and lives in Praia da Luz in the Algarve. Do you have any contact numbers? She is interested in modern dance and tap. Anything else would be considered."

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THIS WEEK'S NEW DTOL MEMBERS

The reason for listing new members each week is to foster DTOL's community. I hope that, from time to time, you will find a DTOL member in your area, or who is teaching your specialism in another area, and you will want to make contact with them, to share experiences. That's what DTOL's all about! But the listing is also a "welcome" to the new members. Perhaps you can take a minute this week to email one of these members to welcome them to DTOL.

The second line in each case is what each member says about themselves.

Maureen Chappell, Lancashire, United Kingdom. Email: mochappell@btinternet.com
Ballet, Tap and Modern with 22 years teaching experience.

Allan Mortensen, London, United Kingdom. Email: al.mortensen@yahoo.dk
I teach Ballet (Cecchetti-based), Contemporary (Graham-based) and Pilates

Rosne Martin, London, United Kingdom. Email: creativedanceblaze@yahoo.com
choreography workshops,dance fusion,dance improvisation,jazz,drama

Craig Spokes, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom. Email: spokescj@hotmail.com
Chaplins stage school - Jazz - Lyrical - contempary - ballet - tap - musical theatre

Sarah - Leigh Muskett, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. Email: sarahmuskett@hotmail.com
Training children aged 4 -18yrs in Dance Singing and Drama   ISTD sylabus taught

Charlee , Hampshire, United Kingdom. Email: portsmouth_breakers@hotmail.co.uk
Breakdance

alfiler jaybuffer, , Utd Arab Emirates. Email: j_choreographer@yahoo.com
this is a non profit dance organization, speciality in hip hop dance and any other style

amanda bywater, West Midlands, United Kingdom. Email: amandasschoolofdance@yahoo.co.uk
freestlye/street, latin, salsa, keep fit,rock n roll. ages 3 to 80! idta exams avaliable

Karen Scott, Lancashire, United Kingdom. Email: karen_scott67@hotmail.co.uk
Classes currently running in ballet, tap, streetdance, musical theatre & pre-school dance

Judy Davies, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Email: j.davies@aplinhouse.freeserve.co.uk
Ballet, Tap, Modern,  Jazz,  Cheerleading,  Freestyle,  Street, Fitness, Latin/Ballroom,

Kath Grimbley, West Midlands, United Kingdom. Email: k.grimbley@finhampark.co.uk
All subjects-Stage & Classical + Mime & Drama taught also festival organiser for competit

DTOL now has 6,090 members, in 88 different countries.

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