How to become a podium dancer

[PDF] Learning the steps to become a successful nightclub dancer

Corpus ID: 142475376

@inproceedings{Sims2012LearningTS, title={Learning the steps to become a successful nightclub dancer}, author={Lucy Sims}, year={2012} }

Lucy Sims
Published 2012
Education

This study focuses on nightclub dancers. This includes freestyle podium dancers, choreographed stage dancers and pole performers that are paid to provide entertainment in nightclubs. The aim of this thesis is to answer the following main research question: how do individuals learn to become successful nightclub dancers? This can be broken into two constituent research questions: 1) what skills and attributes do individuals require in order to become successful nightclub dancers and 2) how do…

orca.cf.ac.uk

Postfeminist possibilities: unpacking the paradoxical performances of heterosexualized femininity in club spaces

Q. Tan
Sociology
2014

One of the ways in which the heterosexualization of women's bodies is made apparent is through the blatant promotion of Ladies' Night at night clubs. These are typically weekly events, of which women…

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S. Wainwright, Clare Williams, B. Turner
Sociology
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The overall aim of our research was to produce an ethnography of ballet as a social practice. We draw upon our fieldwork at the Royal Ballet (London) where we conducted 20 in-depth interviews with…

Listening to the Dancer's Body

Anna Aalten
Sociology
2007

This article examines the occupational culture of ballet, specifically looking at body awareness and body experiences. Using a phenomenological approach, complemented by ethnographic interview data,…

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We explore the world of female and male exotic dancers. Utilizing Hirschi’s Bonding theory, we look at gender differences in societal reaction, subcultural ties, and conventional support among…

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Using life history interviews with 14 female and 10 male striptease dancers, the researchers examined how the language of deviance is used in the life narratives of exotic dancers. Past studies have…

pole position: migrant British women producing ‘selves’ through lap dancing work

Esther Bott
Sociology
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This paper explores the motivations and experiences of British women working as lap dancers in the tourist resorts of southern Tenerife, with a particular focus on the subjective choices and…

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In this article I discuss some of the findings of an on-going ethnographic study of two once-weekly circuit training classes held in one of the growing number of private health and fitness clubs. The…

Strategic Flirting and the Emotional Tab of Exotic Dancing

T. Deshotels, C. Forsyth
Sociology
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ABSTRACT The paper uses the concept strategic flirting, an aspect of emotional labor, to challenge the dichotomous view that sex work is either exploitative or empowering for exotic dancers. The…

The Dialectical Gaze

Alexandra G. Murphy
Sociology
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Much of past research on female exotic dance has characterized strippers as deviant workers who are either passive, objectified victims of a sexploitation system that trades on their bodies for…

‘Just Crumbling to Bits’? An Exploration of the Body, Ageing, Injury and Career in Classical Ballet Dancers

S. Wainwright, B. Turner
Psychology
2006

Ballet is, for reasons that are unclear, a neglected topic in the sociology of the body. Our article works on three levels: firstly, as an account of ex-dancers’‘lived experience’ of embodiment;…

Tales of a Podium Dancer in Magaluf

What job were you doing?

I was a podium Dancer for one on the most popular bars on Magalluf Strip – Alex’s.

Why did you choose to work there?

I went there on holiday the previous year and loved it. I knew I wanted to go back and try and get a job there for the summer. Alex’s plays the best R&B music around so I thought I would love to work there.

Magaluf Club Jobs - Be a Podium Dancer

How did you find the job?

I just walked in and asked for the Manager and said ‘have you got any jobs going’ which is the way most people find jobs there. You don’t need a CV for bar work, PR work or as a Dancer even though I have been learning to dance for years, I didn’t need to prove it.

Do all pubs and clubs there employ dancers?

The main bars and most popular ones may have dancers but for only a few hours a night when it is the busy time.

Did they interview you?

No, if they like you, they give you a trial night, which meant you would give the job a go for a night and if you were any good you would get hired and get paid for that night!

What was your day to day routine then?

I was very lazy during the day as I was dancing from 10 each night until 4 in the morning. I didn’t tend to get up till around 2, but that was ok as the sun was still strong so you could still go to the beach and get a tan! After the beach I tended to just go and chill out at one of the bars Alex’s lounge was my fave, it’s a chill out lounge and there are three different bars. Alex’s Indie, Alex’s R&B, and Alex’s Lounge. During the day Alex’s Lounge is very popular for the workers as everyone would tend to go there late afternoon to hang out and have a drink or 2!

What was the salary like?

The salary was average 50 euros a night, (about £28) maybe during mid season if you’re doing well it would go up to 60 a night.

Is accommodation included?

Not with the job but there is a lot of accommodation available locally. We had a flat 30 seconds walk (crawl) from Magalluf strip. The cost of our apartment with kitchen and bathroom was 350 euros a week which sounds steep but when there are 45 of you sharing its not so bad! Ours was a two bed apartment with a bed settee in the lounge. You could get cheaper ones than that, there’s a lot of choice.

Would you recommend working as a dancer?

Yes I would, you don’t have to have qualifications in dance, you just need to show that you are there to have a good time and that you are a hard worker. Also, when I was working out there my shifts were 6 hours a night 67 days a week, it was hot and I lost over a stone in weight through the constant exercise, so stamina is definately needed.

Well everyone knows that Magalluf is the party capital but are there other things to do like sports/beach/tourist attractions?

There are plenty of things you can do, lots of excursions, but the shopping trips are the best days out! Palma is an amazing city. Down at the beach there are a lot of water sports, jet skis, banana boats, lots of things to keep you and your mates happy…

Tell us about the worst and the best bits?

The best thing is that you don’t have to rush all the time like a lot of people do in England you just take your time to chill, relax… Plus earning the money by doing something I love is even more of a bonus!

The worst bits I would say are the hangovers the next morning, but the beach and smelling that sea air soon sorts you out! You make so many new friends and soon enough you’re part of a little community and you all know each other and get on really well, there wasn’t one person I disliked out there!

Do you plan to work abroad again?

Yes! I heard it rained all summer in the UK when I was in Magalluf last year! I’ll be back there in March to have a break before starting the same job, to meet more new people and catch up with the old ones…Can’t Wait!

Do you feel this experience will help you with your career?

Yes, very much so as I want to be a professional dancer and to dance in a hot country for 6 hours a night 7 days a week will give me experience of what’s expected of you as a dancer.

Vogue as dance - from pop, dip and spin to vogue femme classic house beats. At the very beginning of its development, it was a dance that consisted entirely of posing - posing (from the English pose - pose). Then the ability to quickly change poses to the music came to the fore: very expressive, bright, bewitching. People competed in this skill: artistically change poses, similar to photos of models from glossy magazines, to the music. That is why the name vogue took root for the nascent dance style. Vogue competitions were held in clubs and were called balls, and became one of the brightest parts of the ballroom culture.

An important component in vogue is fashion. This style began to develop during the great popularity of top models, during the heyday of large fashion houses - Gucci, Versace - and this high, expensive fashion for the rich greatly influenced the development of dance. For example, in the runway category (English - catwalk) - you need to show the ability to beautifully walk the catwalk like a top model. There are many categories related to fashion design, with the ability to dress fashionably. For example, in best dressed (English - the best clothes) it is important to choose the coolest outfit. In the category labels (English - label) they compete in the number of expensive branded clothes put on (and picked up). The person actually comes out, turns the clothes inside out and shows the tags to the judges.

Gradually, posing begins to become more complex and evolve. This is how “pop, dip and spin” (English stop, go to the ground and spin) appears - a new form of vogue, named for the three main elements performed. In an effort to be more complex and more interesting, in a desire to surprise others, people began to add movement and dynamic movements between poses. Thus, a dance appears (in our usual sense), also based on poses, under the same house beats. Also in voga, in its inception, there were hard, strong movements from martial arts, since films about martial arts were popular at the same time, and military elements, such as marches.

As higher and secondary education becomes more accessible, as the popularity of sports grows, people with good dance and acrobatic training appear. They began to add tricks, complex dance and acrobatic elements to their exits (in voga, it would be more correct to say: performances, performances). The style is becoming more complicated, people are trying to bring something new, to surprise. Dancers who did not have such education and skills were invited to perform in a separate category so that everyone would have the same chance of winning. Thus, the category performance with gymnastics (English performance with gymnastics) appeared. Over time, these categories - pop, dip and spin and performance with gymnastics - became known as the old way (the old way of voguing) and the new way (the new way), respectively. Now in the USA there are very few of those who dance the old way and new way, the most popular category at the moment is vogue femme (eng. female - female, feminine). Interestingly, these categories (old way and new way) have been revived in Russia and Europe.

Vogue began to develop in Russia in 2008-2010. It all started with master classes by visiting wog masters from the States - Benny Ninja and Archie Burnett. They showed exactly the old way and the new way, so Vogue came to our country not in the most modern form at that time, but in its original form. That is why these categories are quite widespread in our country, in contrast to the United States. Vogue femme appeared in Russia a little later, and it needed time to "swing" to become the most popular category. There are also non-dance categories in American vogue culture, which we mentioned above: labels, best dressed, runway. This is a kind of “charisma battle”: the one who knows how to present himself, convey emotions, and make the viewer look at himself wins more often. In vogue, such things as the ability to show oneself, delivery, performance, expression are of great importance, often more than the technique of movements.

Balls

Vogue is almost the only modern battle style where costume and appearance matter. At balls, most often put forward requirements for clothing, indispensable for execution. If it is announced that the image of a Catwoman is required, then you need to come in the costume of a character, and not an abstract cat. If the color of the ball is red, then everyone comes in red. If the requirements are not met, then the participant will be chop (English chop - chop), that is, they will be disqualified.

Select (selection before the competition itself) in Vogue is called "tens". This name has been fixed since the time when the judges had tablets and gave points to the participants. Accordingly, the highest score - dozens - meant and now means the passage to the next round of the competition. Now there are no scoreboards, instead the judges show ten fingers.

In Russia, Vogue began with dance categories, not with culture in general. From the very beginning there was no division into categories, everyone just danced “vog”: all the ways that they knew at that time were mixed up. And just after the arrival of Benny Ninja and Archie Burnett old way and new way - that's all people knew. Now we understand that these are different ways to dance, and they should not be mixed, separate categories are allocated for each of them. Of course, over time, the style developed in our country, dancers appeared who began to specialize separately in each category, the first of which were old way, new way, runway and vogue femme. Then more and more categories came from the USA, and already at the moment more than 20 categories can be entered at balls in Russia. The balls themselves can go longer than 12 hours: there are many participants, many categories. Unlike Russia, balls are often held in the States, almost every Saturday, and only at night. In our country, large balls that strive to get closer to the American standard also take place at night.

Vogue – a dance of self-expression

Why is the original American dance that emerged from the American club culture so attractive in Russia? First of all, for the reason that vogue is a dance about self-expression. Vogue accepts very different people into its ranks. A person can have any figure and appearance, arbitrarily strange, behave strangely - this is welcomed in vog culture, so many unusual people gathered in the circle of vogers. In our country, this style takes the form of almost art. Many Russian dancers make performances, shoot videos in vogue style. For example, House of Bonchinche, the famous and first Russian vogue house, is doing something new and different from traditional, classical balls and parties: more than the dance itself, wog-based performances.

Secondly, vogue is attractive because it helps to believe in oneself, liberates, teaches to believe in one's own strength. It takes a lot of confidence to go to balls. In fact, the vog culture is quite tough, they don’t let anyone relax in it (by analogy with real life, which is often not kind and soft). For example, there is such a thing as a shade (shade - English shadow), which means to cast a shadow, to show with gestures that you do not like your opponent. At the same time, there is an important no touching rule (without touching), which was formed for the safety of all participants. The most interesting thing is that after the ball, after the battle itself, despite all the shades thrown at the opponent, the participants can hug in a friendly way and part with pleasant emotions.

An important question that worries many: is there a place for children in Vogue? In the country of origin of this culture, children do not dance vogue. In the USA, this is primarily a culture, moreover, a club culture, an adult one is a closed party. Vogue came to Russia and European countries first of all as a dance, and only then as a culture. We dance it in dance classes, we teach movements; in New York and other cities and states, this is very rare. Based on the fact that in Russia vogue is a dance, children also dance it, and many parents support their desire. In this case, the group should have a competent teacher who will tell what the child can dance and what not.

Vogue is a wide and versatile style, and many who want to express themselves, present themselves, can find their place. If a person likes to dress beautifully and fashionably, he goes into the best dressed or label category, if he likes to walk the catwalk, runway is for him. Those who want to show a good figure and face - the body and face category is created for this. Almost everyone can find themselves in vogue.

Home in vogue culture

Home is a dancing family with father, mother and children. Parents - father and mother - are the founders of the house and they in due time come up with a name for the new family. By the way, the names of vogue houses are usually the names of famous fashion houses - brands. For example, House of St. Laurent, The House of Margiela, House of Balenciaga, House of Mizrahi are haute couture houses.

Today, few new houses are built, mostly they are all very old - from the 80s, 90s. One of the most famous new homes is House of Amazon by its founder Leiomy Maldonado. All wog dancers dream, strive to get into the house, it is honorable and prestigious. Usually parents notice someone at home, for example, at a ball or see him dancing on the net and invite him to the house if they like him.

About statuses

Once a year in New York there is a ball where a person can be awarded one of the statuses, this happens by a common decision of the most influential American houses. One of these statuses is Legendary (legendary), it is given to dancers who have made a great contribution to vog culture, who have won a lot at balls, won a lot of

trophies and have some unique style that has influenced other dancers. The next and higher status in importance is Iconic or Icon (icon). Awarded after many years to those who also made a great contribution to culture, organized balls, very popular. The next and highest is the Hall of fame. There are other statuses that are not so officially assigned. Statement (statement) - for dancers who brightly declared themselves at the ball, Star (star) - for those who have won a lot and may soon become a legend.

Statuses are awarded exclusively in the USA, only in New York. In other countries, including Russia, statuses are not awarded, because now in the world we see a trend towards the unification of all vog scenes. The stage is the place where vogue culture develops. For example, New York is the largest and main stage; Paris is perhaps the second most important, then Russian and other countries. If the scene wants to relate to culture, then it has no right to award its own separate statuses. At a minimum, such a phenomenon would be controversial: many dancers are in American houses, but will award status in their own country on their own. This is wrong, besides, at the moment there is a desire for convergence of all scenes.

In addition to statuses, in the US and this year in Russia, awards are given once a year. For example, best New Way of the year, best Old Way of the year, best Butch Queen Vogue Fem of the year, best Womens Performance of the year. There may also be awards such as best house of the year, best father, mother of the year. Awards are given for achievements, for significant accomplishments.

About alternative scenes

There are two alternative vogue scenes: Major scene, or Original scene (major scene, or main scene) and Kiki scene (kiki scene). How did the division happen? When vogue reached a large scale, its own party was formed, where people who usually judge and those who usually win stood out. Under these conditions, it was difficult for beginners to compete and pass even "tens", going out at the same balls with experienced dancers and winners of many victories. These newcomers are fed up with the fact that the same judges sit in the chairs and vote for the same ones.

So this talented youth got together and decided to create a separate stage for themselves, where they would have their own balls, their own judges, their own celebrities. They created an alternative scene, not so pompous, not so serious, and called it the kiki scene, where they had fun and relaxed, but nothing serious happened there. Over time, the kicki scene also grew and became stronger, and even now it is impossible to say for sure where they dance better: on the main or on the kicki stage. It is not forbidden to go to balls on both stages. The kicki scene has its own houses, separate statuses are awarded, and it may well be that a person is in a kicki house and an original house at the same time.

Author: Evgenia Plotnikova, Svetlana Vorobieva

Where to start to dance

How to choose the style that suits you and what to look for when looking for a school

The abundance of schools and dance teachers solved the problem where learn to dance. But it also created a new one: how to choose from all this.

It is easier to solve a large problem by breaking it into several smaller ones. So we will do it: first we will decide on the style, and then we will select the right school.

What are dancing

Dance schools usually divide dances into the following groups:

Classical choreography

(ballet, modern, contemporary, body dancing, different jazz dances)

Modern styles

(hip hop, locking, vogue, popping, jazz funk, strip plastic, high heels, breaking, afrohouse, ragga, reggaeton, krump, etc. )

Ballroom dancing

(European and Latin American program)

Social dances

(Salsa, Bachata, Merenga, Kizomb, Argentinean Tango, Hastle, Swing, Zuk)

National styles

(Bumeninko, Leszo, Leszo, Leszo , Russian folk, belly dance, samba, Irish dances, Afro)

Classics and its heritage

Ballet or classical choreography serves as the basis and inspiration for many modern movements.

Ballet technique implies a certain constitution: a very good stretch, a developed vestibular apparatus and a high level of physical fitness.

children from 3 years old, professional dancers of other directions. Both teenagers and adults can do classical music without choreographic training. But if the goal of the classes is precisely a ballet career, it is better to start practicing before the age of 8 and after consulting a teacher: with an unsuitable constitution (poor eversion of the feet, low elasticity of the ligaments, wide and heavy bone), no diligence, unfortunately, will give a good result - ballet very demanding. However, the classical base will help in absolutely any dance direction.

Body ballet is a relatively young direction, it is based on the classical base and supplemented with elements of yoga, gymnastics and Pilates.

for those who like the aesthetics of ballet. There are no restrictions in the style itself, but they can be set for a specific group: there are adult and children's groups, mixed and purely female.

Modern (Jazz Modern) and Contemporary are built on the basis of ballet technique (jumps, rotations, positions of arms and legs), but are much more variable.

Modern is a style that was born among professional dancers as a protest against the rigid framework of ballet, which does not allow self-expression. Art Nouveau is much more plastic than ballet and is more focused on improvisation.

Contemporary is in many ways similar to modern, but this style is more directed outward: more acting techniques and pantomime, inserts from other styles. There are no specific requirements for music or limits of acceptable movements in contempo.

both styles are suitable for children from 8 years old, adults without serious joint or spinal problems, ready for regular exercise (from twice a week). Which one to choose depends on the taste and comfort in the group of a particular teacher.

Modern dance

Hip-hop is the most typical example of street dance. It originated in the 70s of the last century in New York as part of the street subculture. Usually this is a solo dance to music suitable for this subculture: for example, rap or R'n'B. The movements are active, built on the quality of the whole body in beat and playing with musical accents with jumps, sudden stops and other specific movements. An important component of the direction has always been battles, first street, and now - of a very different scale.

breaking (distinguished by an abundance of power rotations and acrobatics), locking (built on the change of active fast movements and freezing), popping (very fast relaxation and muscle tension, creating the illusion of a mechanical movement), house (quick active leg movements with a relaxed, smooth body).

In addition, similar dances with national characteristics appeared on the basis of hip-hop: ragga in Jamaica, reggaeton in Puerto Rico, afrohouse in Angola.

children from 5 years old, teenagers, young people.

Catwalk and heels

There are several styles based on the study of gait, posture, the ability to walk (and dance) in high heels, pose and flirt.

Vogue originated among American gay people in the 60s of the last century. The choreography is based on imitation of the walk of models at fashion shows or posing for photographs in the style of fashion magazines. The movements are emphatically mannered, there are many rotations and falls, the choreography develops coordination and isolation well, especially in the work of the hands. In the vogue community, it is customary to hold balls - large-scale parties with an obligatory battle of dancers on the podium.

Waking also focuses on precise hand movements and postures, but this style is not as aggressive and campy as wog. In addition, in waking there are male and female versions of the choreography (in vogue, the movements are equally feminine for everyone).

Strip plastic was originally limited to pole-style, strip club-style movements. Now this direction has acquired elements of classics, acrobatics and movements from other dance styles.

High heels - literally "high heels" (not lower than 12-13 cm). This is the only mandatory element of the direction, otherwise each dancer and teacher mixes it according to their personal skills and preferences. All the already listed modern trends in different proportions are found in this style.

Jazz funk also incorporated elements of many styles (mainly hip-hop, waking and jazz choreography). The style is mannered and outrageous, aimed at attracting attention.

Twerk or booty dance is a dance based on the technique of ragga, hip-hop and other styles. Almost all choreography is concentrated in the hip area. Due to such a concentrated load, the buttocks are quickly tightened.

adults over 16 years old. Classes in high heels and with a pole are usually not recommended for people with pressure drops, dizziness and a weak vestibular apparatus.

Ballroom dancing

Ballroom dances include paired dances, divided into two programs: European and Latin American. European include Slow Waltz, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz and Quickstep . The Latin American program includes samba, paso doble, rumba, jive and cha-cha-cha . The European program is considered more restrained, smooth and elegant, while the Latin American program is more expressive and energetic.

Regardless of the program, ballroom dancing is more focused on entertainment than on the inner feelings of the dancers. These styles are strictly regulated by the rules of dance associations and are intended primarily for competitions and competitions in which dancers are assigned classes. To achieve a serious level, it is better to start at an early age.

children from the age of 4, if the parents are ready for significant expenses: costumes, accessories, preparation and participation in competitions are not cheap.

Social dancing

The most general definition for all areas of social dancing is dancing for oneself. Not for competitions, performances or earnings, but for fun. Recently, pair dances are mainly classified as social dances. All these directions are intended for dancing at parties with certain music (for each style of its own) with any partner who owns the same dance.

Salsa is a complex of musical and dance styles. In terms of choreography, the most popular styles are Cuban (salsa casino or timba) and American styles (salsa NY or LA). For a beginner, the differences are insignificant, usually preferences are formed in the process of training. The music and choreography is quite high tempo.

In combination with salsa, other Latin American dances are often taught: bachata , merengue , reggaeton , rumba and cha-cha-cha .

adults (16+). There is no upper age limit, some start exercising at the age of over 60, but you need to assess your readiness for stress.

Argentine tango is a pair dance that was born on the border of Argentina and Paraguay at the end of the 19th century. It has different musical and dance styles (tango waltz, milonga, tango nuevo), as well as stable traditions and a peculiar code of conduct. The first generations of tangero even had a secret language, which is now partly merged into Argentine slang. Since tango music can be emotionally very different, the stereotype about the passion and drama of this dance is not particularly justified. But the tango community cannot be denied elegance and grace.

adults who are aesthetically close to tango culture. There is no lower age limit for dancers, but young dancers often lack momentum.

Swing is such a perky complex of different dances to swing music. These include Lindy Hop , Balboa , Boogie Woogie , Charleston and others. Since the music is light and cheerful, the dance energy is also positive, without drama and suffering. But physical activity, due to the tempo of music and movements, is noticeable. This is not typical for pair dances, but in swing there is some desire for unisex: the choreography for men and women differs little in character, usually only in role (leader / follower).

young people with good physical fitness who are in love with jazz and swing music.

Kizomba and zouk are two types of pair dances performed to quite similar music with a pronounced electronic beat. Kizomba is an African pair dance based on the semba, characterized by a low pace of movement and very close contact in a pair. Zouk is usually much more active, it has more movement and rotation.

young people who are not embarrassed by close contact in a couple.

National dances

Usually these styles are chosen because of the interest in the culture and music of a particular country. But some national dances have important advantages for certain categories of beginner dancers.

Flamenco (Spain) is suitable for those who want to improve their posture and increase self-confidence.

Russian folk dances can serve as an excellent choreographic base for a child. In the classroom, they usually work seriously on stretching, posture (body position) and rhythmic coordination.

Samba (Brazil) can be a great way to lose weight and strengthen the muscles of the legs and hips, as well as improve posture.

Afro-Cuban folklore is rhythmically one of the most complex, suitable for musicians and in general for anyone who wants to develop a sense of rhythm.

Oriental dances or belly dance , tribal will help people in the body learn to love this very body, as well as to master it well. Many oriental dances glorify magnificent forms and teach them not to be shy about them.

Capoeira (Brazil) - This mix of dance and martial arts can be a great compromise between serious training and a dance hobby. Suitable for those who cannot choose between parquet and gym.

How to find the "right" school

Whatever dance style you choose to start your journey on the floor, keep a few simple rules in mind.

1. You should be comfortable

Dancing is, first of all, a process. You must be comfortable in class. Everyone has their own ideas about comfort, so it makes sense to look at different schools, determine the moments that are critical for you and choose where you are most comfortable.

Minimum requirement : light, air, flat floor.

2. Get to know the chosen direction

Read the history and main characteristics of the dance, find out what styles it has, watch videos of notable dancers, listen to music.

Required minimum: In the selected school, you must clearly explain what exactly they teach there. If they can’t even tell you what style the teacher is dancing, this is an indicator of a very low level.

3. Look beyond the teacher

Students are a better indicator of the quality of teaching than a coach's regalia. If possible, find out where you can look exactly at the students: reporting concerts, show numbers, parties, competitions.

Required minimum : presence of continuing groups. If the school has been working for more than a year, and only beginners are on the schedule, it means that the teacher’s qualifications are not enough for long-term work.