Studio owners - what are their backgrounds?

[elisedance]

This came up on the new 'what would you do if you could no longer partnerdance' topic (topics  breed topics ).  I made the comment that round here many of the studios/ballrooms are owned and run by non-competetive dancers.

The studios you attend: are they owned/managed by ex-professional star dancers, ex-amateur star dancers, or people with an interest but not a particularly significant achievement in dance?

I've added a poll and you can choose up to 2 options (to include your favorite studios/dance halls in your area).

[cornutt]

I guess that depends on the definition of the word "star"... if you include anyone who became well known in the area in which they competed, I think our studio owners qualify.  So that's what I chose.

[ttd]

I would say the option "dancer" is too vague. Our studio owner is a professional dancer (meaning that teaching dancing is her main source of income), but she is not a "star dancer" (yet).

[elisedance]

Its impossible to make any poll really accurate without ending up with so many catagories there is no information.  So hold your nose and poll

[cornutt]

But... isn't beating information to a pulp what we're all about here?   

[QPO]

Our Main Coach was rising star at Blackpool in his time.... We also use the services of current world champions (ie Alan and Donna Shingler), Peter Townsend (partner of Ruud Vermeij), and other Australian champions in the NV style.

I find that in the end they all give the same information but it is always good to get the perspective of another person.

[elisedance]

Our Main Coach was rising star at Blackpool in his time.... We also use the services of current world champions (ie Alan and Donna Shingler), Peter Townsend (partner of Ruud Vermeij), and other Australian champions in the NV style.

I find that in the end they all give the same information but it is always good to get the perspective of another person.

[The topic isn't on coaches Q - its on studio owners. Unless there coaches always own their studio that is...]

[QPO]

Our Main Coach was rising star at Blackpool in his time.... We also use the services of current world champions (ie Alan and Donna Shingler), Peter Townsend (partner of Ruud Vermeij), and other Australian champions in the NV style.

I find that in the end they all give the same information but it is always good to get the perspective of another person.

[The topic isn't on coaches Q - its on studio owners. Unless there coaches always own their studio that is...]

in this case it is correct.. he also owns the studio

[SwingWaltz]

The current studio owner was a professional champion and judge at many professional competitions nationally and abroad.

She is retiring soon and handing the studio to one of her student couple who have been training in the UK for the past couple of years as amateur. Here in Australia, you can only run a studio if you are a professional dancer, so they are going to turn professional for the purpose of running the studio. I think they last competed in amateur in Australia as a pre-chamipionship couple, but that's before they moved to the UK. So surely they would be championship level now, but I wouldn't put them as a finalist in championship events at the nationals.

[elisedance]

The current studio owner was a professional champion and judge at many professional competitions nationally and abroad.

She is retiring soon and handing the studio to one of her student couple who have been training in the UK for the past couple of years as amateur. Here in Australia, you can only run a studio if you are a professional dancer, so they are going to turn professional for the purpose of running the studio. I think they last competed in amateur in Australia as a pre-chamipionship couple, but that's before they moved to the UK. So surely they would be championship level now, but I wouldn't put them as a finalist in championship events at the nationals.

Are they capable and nice?  If so the studio may yet flourish - but they may have to bring in experts to give it legitimacy...  Perhaps the current owner will remain as a teacher?

[SwingWaltz]

Are they capable and nice?  If so the studio may yet flourish - but they may have to bring in experts to give it legitimacy...  Perhaps the current owner will remain as a teacher?

Haven't met them yet, but the current owner will drop in every fortnight to teach her regular students, and most probably help to make sure the studio is on the right track.

[elisedance]

Are they capable and nice?  If so the studio may yet flourish - but they may have to bring in experts to give it legitimacy...  Perhaps the current owner will remain as a teacher?

Haven't met them yet, but the current owner will drop in every fortnight to teach her regular students, and most probably help to make sure the studio is on the right track.

Hmmm.  But that may not give it 'legitimacy' - in particular if there is a competing studio with a much more accomplished pro.