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"And this is the marketing battle we need to fight - to convince everyone that "the RSCDS is strict and stuffy" is an out-of-date image, and to convince members (an in particular teachers) that behaviours that give this impression are now inappropriate."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.