strathspey@strathspey.org:44973

Chris1Ronald

Re: Over 700 schoolchildren dance in Glasgow

April 3, 2006, 7:36 p.m. (Message 44973, in reply to message 44938)

Ian wrote:

"And  this is the marketing battle we need to fight - to convince everyone
that  "the RSCDS is strict and stuffy" is an out-of-date image, and to
convince  members (an in particular teachers) that behaviours that give  this
impression are now inappropriate."
The leads me to reflect on the impression that is given to new  teachers (and 
others) at the teaching examinations.  For those of us who  dance in North 
America and go to Summer School in Canada, the examiners serve in  many ways as 
Ambassadors of the Society.  I have met a number of  the "Ambassadors"over the 
years, and what I've seen suggests that  mostly they do reflect the "new" 
RSCDS.  That is, they are looking for  potential to be good, enthusiastic 
teachers, and are not overly "strict" about  pointy toes, turn-out, third positions, 
etc.  And in general I  believe the examiners do a superb job, with little 
recognition or  reward.  But - sadly - one still  sees cases where promising 
teacher candidates are  failed, and some get badly alienated.  To say the least,  
this is unhelpful in terms of projecting a more 'user-friendly' image.   Do 
others have similar experiences, or have we just been unlucky  in this part of 
the world? 
 
Chris, New York.