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This week's newsletter is sponsored by Mandy Fouracre LRAD B Phil (Hons), author of the Lafour Prima Dance syllabus

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We seem to have run out of material for the newsletter for the moment. It doesn't matter; we can still keep in touch.

But please feel free to raise any questions or make any comments you have about dance teaching, on which you'd like other DTOL members' views. I'll publish your thoughts in the newsletter for members to respond.

One of the ideas which I raise from time to time in the newsletter is of "dance school twinning". The proposal is that schools in different countries (or in different regions of large countries) could enter into an informal arrangement by which they could share ideas, experiences, etc. Their students could write to each other. Maybe it would eventually lead to exchange visits, who knows? It would be similar to the twinning that towns and cities undertake. Maybe even a good marketing ploy for your school!
If any members are interested in taking part in this, email me and let me know something about your school and what kind of school you would be interested in twinning with. And maybe get one of your students to email me! And I'll publish the details in the newsletter, so that others might respond.

If you've experienced twinning with another school, please email me and share your experience with other members.

I'm looking forward to receiving my first email on this subject!

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DTOL member Fiona Brown (pointe@artslink.co.za) from South Africa responded to last week's item about misuse of DTOL listing data:

"Dear Nigel and ALL the Members

Unfortunately there are some rather nasty people out "there" who will trawl continuously for any info they can get. A really simple programme simply picks up keywords like "dance", "perform", "children", "costume", "teacher" etc. Et Voila. You have been spied on.

Teachers need to remember that the MOMENT you go "on-line" with any form of personal information - join a forum, order a book or cd, write on a bathroom wall, accept a facebook friend - you are vulnerable to this kind of attack.

Here are a few suggestions -
1. Thanks to Nigel our listing is now safer than most, and I am certain that as things develop, we will see more safety devices being employed. I believe that DTOL is serious about taking care of us.

2. Be really serious about selecting how you contact the world. If you don't feel positively certain about a website - STAY OFF! Even the most innocent looking site can catch you.

3. Scan your entire system religiously for spyware - these can read your keystrokes and before you know it your bank account is a little slimmer than you had planned! Once every now and then, haul your computer in to be "cleaned" by a professional.

4. Keep an eye open for warnings your computer may send you. My mailwasher spots and deletes what it rather prosaically calls "suspiciously small fragments of information". You may also get
warnings about pop ups and cookies that stay behind from visits. Block, Delete and Ignore. Best advice I can give.

5. Do not be tempted to open every cute "card", message joke or video clip you get sent. Nothing is more likely to hide a Virus than a picture. Our friend Sharon Pinsley is one of the few sources I trust. Just about everyone else I delete before opening.

6. NEVER, EVER CLICK ON THE "YOU HAVE WON A HUNDRED MILLION BUCKS" BANNER. You haven't won anything, and many of them now hide worms, viruses, spyware and heaven knows what else.

Just keep in mind that the computer is providing people like that stripdance fella with a new form of mailfraud outlet. This is no different from going through your trash to find out more about you.

Sorry, I nag about this, buy we do have to learn to take care.

Yours in Dance

Fiona"

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Following on this topic, I've noticed that, since I provided the facility for members to set their own password for their Member Page (I can check all data on the database, although no-one else can), some members are using passwords which are so obvious that they are insecure. If your name is John Paul and you set your password to "jpaul", it's so obvious that anyone seeking to get into your DTOL data would try it.

Now, there aren't any links to the Member Login area of the DTOL web site (I thought about putting a "Member Login" link on the front page but decided not to), so non-members don't even know it's there - I only publicise it to members through the newsletter. However, the general principle with passwords is to make them unconnected to yourself and your activities, so that they can't be guessed. It's a balance between memorability and the obscure, "xy1ZQ" type password I set for new members.

It pays to be careful, not just on DTOL but other online sites.

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Dance School for Sale:

SW England, Bristol.

Established and thriving school for sale teaching RAD ballet, Modern & Tap. Approximately 240 pupils on register at present time with room for expansion into many areas. This is an excellent opportunity for a teacher to take over the running of a school, put their own stamp on it and earn a substantial amount of money. Teacher is willing to stay on and teach if required.

Genuine enquiries only. Please email adenford@hotmail.com

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A reminder that you can perform a number of DTOL membership functions online at www.dtol.ndirect.co.uk/memberlogin.asp

You can edit your DTOL listing, register your summer school/camp details and access the online newsletters and the DTOL Forum.

Changing your password is easy - log in with your existing password and make the changes. Just make sure the new password is exactly 5 characters long and only alphanumeric.

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SPONSOR'S SECTION

Lafour Prima Dance

Are you a newly qualified dance teacher?

Are you new to teaching dance to young children (3yrs-5yrs)?

Do you feel that the children are easily distracted in class and that you lose their attention and focus?

Do you need ideas and help with setting up classes for young children so that things run smoothly?

'Bubbles Wings and Sparkly things' is a helpful practical guide for teachers of dance to young children (3yrs - 5yrs).
It was exhibited at the Education Show very recently and teachers remarked on its common sense, practical approach.

If you are attending the Move It exhibition at Olympia in March please visit stand 314 to pick up a copy (exhibition price - £5.00) or find out more about the Lafour Prima Dance programme (3yrs - 7yrs), a dance resource for teachers. Alternatively, just come along to say 'Hello' it is always a pleasure to meet another DTOL member!

Copies of 'Bubbles Wings and Sparkly things' can be purchased from the Lafour Prima Dance website at www.lafourprimadance.com

Priced £5.95 + pp

or call

t - 01344 466017

Mandy Fouracre

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NEWSLETTER COUNTRY-SPECIFIC SECTIONS
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NEW ZEALAND SECTION
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Sarah (jharward@shaw.ca) is from Strathmore, Alberta, Canada:
"My family is moving back to New Zealand in September and I am looking for a school of Highland Dancing to attend on Palmerston North I have been taking highland dancing lessons in Canada for 1.5 years and have attended Highland Games trough out Alberta."

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AFRICA SECTION
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Ruth K (rndush@yahoo.com) from Nairobi, Kenya is "not seeing any dance teachers in Kenya-kindly avail details of the same as I considering beginning dance classes."

Elvis (emliswa@yahoo.com) from Witbank, Mpumalanga, South Africa is "looking for a dance school in witbank please help me."

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ASIA SECTION
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Jayendra (jay.ekk23@gmail.com) from Mumbai, India is a "dancer not good dancer and I want join a group where they perform in stage."

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MIDDLE EAST SECTION
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Amal (aalameri@zadco.ae) from Abu Dhabi, Utd Arab Emirates wants "to attend dance classes."

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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.

Asli Yavas, Turkey. Email: ergen434@hotmail.com
I have graduated from the conservatory this year.I am a good dancer and qualified teacher

Denise Vokey, Newfoundland, Canada. Email: danceworxstudios@hotmail.com
Recreational programs in various styles.  Ages 4 to adult.

Lianna Greene, East Sussex, United Kingdom. Email: liannasun@aol.com
Egyptian Bellydance and Fusion Dancer and Teacher

Katie Brandon Byrne, Ireland. Email: katiebrandonbyrne@hotmail.com
Qualified Dance Teacher in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Hip Hop.

Genene Bowers, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. Email: ginib300@hotmail.com
Ballet,Tap,Modern,Drama,Street,Cheerdance,Latin&Ballroom,Salsa.Competitions & Privates

piedra alba perez, Ireland. Email: albantara@hotmail.com
flamenco dance classes for all ages.ballet classes for adults and beginners.

Amber Waid, Oklahoma, USA. Email: wamber@msn.com
ballet/tap/jazz - beginners through advanced

Stephanie Rodriguez, Ohio, USA. Email: info@padcdelaware.com
www.padcdelaware.com

Roy Power, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. Email: ceroc_oxford@hotmail.com
Ceroc (Modern Jive).  Beginners and Intermediate Classes every Wed in Beaconsfield, Bucks

DTOL now has 6,133 members, in 88 different countries.

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For further information about Lafour Prima Dance or to order the syllabus please view the Lafour Prima Dance website @ www.lafourprimadance.com

email Mandy Fouracre at info@lafourprimadance.com

or call + 44 (0) 1344 466017

Office address:
74, Frensham Road
Crowthorne
Berkshire
RG45 6QH

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