*****************************************************
This week's newsletter is sponsored by Jill Bridger from Melody Movement Early Learning.   Email jill@melodymovement.com for the 2008 Melody Movement Teacher catalogue. 

*****************************************************
I shall be away next weekend. The next issue of the newsletter will be sent on Monday May 19th.

By then, I hope the new DTOL Shop items will be available.

*****
DTOL member Nathan James (nathanjames1978@hotmail.com) from London, UK replied to last week’s question from a member about teaching rates:

“This is something that has erked me for a long while.  Having taught around many Vocational colleges for a few years now, I have been shocked and dismayed as there seems to be no set standard for rates of pay for teachers.  Experience and qualifications seem to not always be taken into account.  I have my going rate, but have been messed around when submitting my invoice and only paid £15 per hour for advanced tuition.  It seems dance teachers in any arena seem to be in a vunerable position.  The IDTA did a study years ago of teaching rates (specifically in the Ballroom field) suggesting rates of pay up to £35 an hour.  However, most dance teachers will tell you, you'll be lucky to do that.

I think that Avataro is right to be disgruntled with their situation as certainly does not reflect their knowledge and skill in the field.  Most of us have payed thousands for our training and yet never seem to be rewarded for it.  Over the last 2 years I have spent a small fortune on CPD qualifying to the highest levels of both vocational and academic qualifications to ensure my knowledge is up to date and in keeping with today's codes of teaching practice.  However, as head of department in one college I was only paid £22.50 an hour, whereas teaching at another college on the degree course I was paid £30 per hour.  It is something that I think should be looked into and indeed standardised to come into line with teaching in the academic sector where teachers pay scales reflect their experience and position.  I would like to suggest it to the CDET, but don't think they particularly have any standing on dance teacher issues at the moment.

All I can suggest to Avataro is to stand his ground.  If we undersell ourselves all the time, we will never get compensated appropriate to our skills.”

*****
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 (above) and make the changes. Just make sure the new password is exactly 5 characters long and only alphanumeric.

***************************************************
SPONSOR’S SECTION

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new Melody Movement teachers to the group.  Melody Bear herself has had a busy Easter Holiday as she and Milligan Bear met the Easter Bunny, visited new lambs at the farm and even made a snowman during our unusually snowy break.  Now she is ready to share all these dance ideas - and more - with her friends at class.
 
A brief update today to let teachers know that the new Book 3 - Melody Bear Follows the Footsteps is due for publication at the end of April.  In this story Melody Bear is on her way to her dancing class, but whose foot steps is she following?  Join Melody Bear as she discovers who has been splashing in the puddles, swinging on the swing and picking all the daisies?  Lots of new ideas for your preschool and creative movement classes.
 
Our new catalogue is now available listing all the Melody Movement syllabi, including the new FIRST BALLET WITH MELODY BEAR - the ideal follow-on syllabus to your Melody Movement class introducing basic ballet concepts through Melody Bear's stories and themes.
 
Following the increased interest in the Melody Movement package from USA teachers, I have prepared a price list is US dollars - email sales@melodymovement.com if you would like a copy.
 
To find out more visit www.melodymovement.com or ring 01480 493579.

Jill Bridger

****************************************************
NEWSLETTER COUNTRY-SPECIFIC SECTIONS
****************************************************
****************************************************
SOUTH AMERICA SECTION
****************************************************
Jojo Juarsa (jojojuarsa@yahoo.com) is from Singapore:
“My fiancee and I are Tango beginners and we're pretty enthusiastic in improving our Tango skills. We are so serious in Tango dancing that we'd be going to Buenos Aires in Oct to go for a Tango retreat. However we are quite unfamiliar with Argentina and know nobody there. Are you able to help us find a good Tango teacher/school for us to have an intensive 1-2 weeks dance session and also we prefer an English speaking Argentine who knows all the Milongas and places of interests that can shows us around in Buenos Aires. Thank you.”

****************************************************
UK SECTION
****************************************************
James (motoxmaniac007@hotmail.com) from Worcester is “19 and looking for street/hip hop/rnb dance classes in the west midlands area. I don’t have any class experience but I am willing to learn. Thanks a lot.”

Michelle (chelleleitch@hotmail.com) is from Exeter, Devon:
“Me and my sister are looking for hip hop street dance lessons we are both beginners, 1 am 23, 5ft 5 and my sister is 14, and 5ft 3, we are looking for a teacher in Exeter, but don’t mind travelling if we have to. We are both very keen and would be grateful if some gets in contact with us thanks.”

May Yen Cheah (mayyencheah@yahoo.com.au) from London is “looking for a course to become a qualified dance teacher. (Ballet) Can you please help me? Thanks.”

Derek Stratton (derek@dstratton.wanadoo.co.uk) from London is “looking for my old dance teacher. Her name is Josilyn. She and her sister called Ruby used to run a dance club called 'Ruby's' in Central London.”

Linda (ritzerraz@aol.com) from Leeds has “been learning Latin and Argentinian Tango in Florida, I need a teacher in the Leeds or close to Leeds area. I would also like a partner to practice with. Please contact for more info.”

Lars Rasmussen (larskrimi@maxped.dk) from Reading “would like to learn how to dance. Not the new wild dances, but the kind of old fashion ones. If possible. I would prefer a single class if possible. Don't know if that is too expensive. Well I hope you maybe can help me with this. Thanks.”

****************************************************
ASIA SECTION
****************************************************
Ice (crystal_ice_9@hotmail.com) is from Colombo, Sri Lanka:
“Me and my 2 friends want to learn how to dance "street-wise" but due to a lack of proper dance schools here we have very little experience...we all have a deep passion for dancing and were wondering if u could help us.”

*****************************************************
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.

Fiona Brown, South Africa. Email: pointe@artslink.co.za
an Outreach based Youth Dance Company for the East Rand

Tamara Micallef, Cheshire, United Kingdom. Email: tamaramic@gmail.com
Cecchetti Syllabus, Open Ballet classes, Contemporary, Spanish dance

Vivienne Andre, Singapore. Email: viv.andre@gmail.com
Floor-Barre/Barre au sol, Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Pre-school Dance.

Katie Lloyd, Hampshire, United Kingdom. Email: katiepatricia@hotmail.com
I hold my CDE qualifications is Modern, Tap and Ballet, teaching all ages

debrup roy, India. Email: debrup_ritu@yahoo.co.in
first basics then details of kathakali,rabindranritya& udayshankar's style of dance

Paula Larraguibel, Sweden. Email: paula_larraguibel@hotmail.com
I am a professional dancer, and dance teacher. I teach ballet, jazz dance and latinstreet

Bev Alleyne, West Midlands, United Kingdom. No email address.
Teaching classes in Acro, Drama, Tap, Modern and Ballet. From the age of 3 and upwards

Maheen Ranasinghe, Sri Lanka. Email: maheendance@yahoo.com
Classical and Modern Ballet Dancing.No age limit.

DTOL now has 6,237 members, in 88 different countries.

*****************************************************
Dance Teachers On-Line thanks Jill Bridger for sponsoring this newsletter.

Contacts:

Tel: (UK) 01480 493579

'Melody Bear's Books & CDs
www.melodymovement.com
www.melodybear.com
'Everybody loves Melody Bear'
sales@melodymovement.com

*****************************************************

Return to Newsletter Index