paid dance partners

[Ginger]

My partner already does it for free (and he frankly shouldn't, as it's inconveniencing sometimes not just to him, but to others around who have to juggle schedules, stuff like that), and I've offered, but so far it's a big noble "no, I can practice silver smooth all by myself and not look like a re-re doing it."

If a friend continues to ask someone to drop evrerything, re-schedule, juggle, and smush aside what they'd normally do, I think it only fair that they pay the practice partner for their time.

[elisedance]

I agree - but the way it can work out is that men (who are in relatively short supply) might charge to go dancing with a wonderful practise partner when they would be happy to do it anyway....

I know, its supply and demand.  But there is a higher standard in my mind....

[samina]

If a friend continues to ask someone to drop evrerything, re-schedule, juggle, and smush aside what they'd normally do, I think it only fair that they pay the practice partner for their time.

i'm inclined to think that if a friend is making plans to go out dancing as friends (ostensibly because there is a mutual benefit involved), if he (or she) adjusts his schedule or sets aside some other activity in order to go out, that's his business and has nothing to do with deserving to get paid. he doesn't have to adjust his schedule or give up another activity if he doesn't want to.

OTOH... if he's offering his services professionally, then of course compensation is fair, because that's the nature of the agreement. and even then... a pro isn't obligated to go out with you.

just my 2 cents.

[Ginger]

I'm not sure if it'd matter if I further elaborated. You guys are right.

[QPO]

Like an escort of the opposit sex? 

Look what you are missing out on.....

[etp777]

Certainly better than an escort of the same sex. 

[cornutt]

I'm pretty sure that if an amateur did this in Ontario (except the elite) they would loose thier status and be declared pros.

Oddly, I'm fairly sure that in the U.S. you can get away with it and retain amateur status.  As I read the USA Dance and NDCA rules, neither of them says a thing about taxi dancing, as long as you aren't offering instruction.  But I wouldn't do it, because (1) it would raise eyebrows around town, and (2) I don't need that kind of trouble with the IRS.

[etp777]

Believe you're right on status here in states fcornutt, least based on all the rulebooks I've looked at.

That being said, most people I've known who have done it have been pros in their own right. 

[elisedance]

I'm available

Of course, you can't afford me

[standarddancer]

I'd be happy to hire out as a practice partner if anyone in Chicago area wants to pay me to dance.  

Actually good idea to earn extra money to support your own dancing; you could go to local studio and ask the owner if they could book you, you might start out as not charging too expensive and paying owner a booking fee, then when you have your own clientile, you could charge independently (skipping paying the booking fee).

It's very common not in NY/NJ area, also in Asian countries, like China, Japan, etc. In Hong Kong especially popular, many pro dancers or top amateurs from China going Hong Kong for make living, paid dance partner is main source of income for male dancers; My Chinese freind told me some top ranked Chinese couples have "sponsors" - the wealthy lady student paying all dance expenses for the sponsored couple to live in England, paying coaching lessons for months, then come back to Hong Kong but during the period the couple live and work in Hong Kong, the male dancer could only party dancing with the lady student paying expenses, he can practice with his partner, but not allowed to social dancing with other lady students. The top male dancer's partner basically does nothing, no need to work, only practice and prepare for comp while live in Hong Kong, lady dancers are much less in demand than male dancers in Chinese community; however the income from wealthy lady students are sufficient to pay all dance and travel expenses, so if the couple find sponsor like this, very lucky.

[Ginger]

I think I saw a Baz Lurhman movie like that once.

[samina]

I'd be happy to hire out as a practice partner if anyone in Chicago area wants to pay me to dance.  

My Chinese freind told me some top ranked Chinese couples have "sponsors" - the wealthy lady student paying all dance expenses for the sponsored couple to live in England, paying coaching lessons for months, then come back to Hong Kong but during the period the couple live and work in Hong Kong, the male dancer could only party dancing with the lady student paying expenses, he can practice with his partner, but not allowed to social dancing with other lady students. The top male dancer's partner basically does nothing, no need to work, only practice and prepare for comp while live in Hong Kong, lady dancers are much less in demand than male dancers in Chinese community; however the income from wealthy lady students are sufficient to pay all dance and travel expenses, so if the couple find sponsor like this, very lucky.

what a fortunate opportunity for a few lucky couples!

[cornutt]

I think I saw a Baz Lurhman movie like that once.

I recall a thread on DF several years ago that pointed to a real-life example of one of these deals gone bad.  It was a really ugly mess.

[etp777]

I could see this ending up with a restraining order. 

[elisedance]

I think I saw a Baz Lurhman movie like that once.

I recall a thread on DF several years ago that pointed to a real-life example of one of these deals gone bad.  It was a really ugly mess.

Its not that long ago - if you mean the multimillion lawsuit.  Apparently the wealthy woman had contracted an international star for 12 milllion dollars or something and then objected when that star critisized her in public.  I think she won the case but am not sure.