From Nation's Capital to Nation's Capital: The Azza Street Spy

More Whining about the Lack of Good Dance Studios in J-m

An elaboration of my previous whining blog entry about the annoying tap dancing episode.

The dance scene in J-m is generally disappointing. There is no shortage of studios, but they serve youth. Amateur adults have few options which, in general, are highly mediocre. I am definitely disappointed. Since the studio where I was tapping was continuously irritating me, I had resolved that I would finish out the year and then retire my shoes for an indefinite period (sob).  As I wrote last month, I stopped going even earlier than planned.

Tap dance at JOM (the holy studio of DC) is an "enrollment" class and one has to pay up front for a series of classes. This is in contrast to other classes that are drop-in: show up when you feel like it and pay just for those classes. The obvious purpose of having an enrollment series is to enable the dancers to develop the skills and progress as a group. Some dance forms are more conducive to the drop in format and other are too specialized.  At JOM the year is divided into seasons or semesters, and enrollment classes involve paying in full for the number of classes that will meet in that series/semester.

At my annoying studio (which represents typical practice in Israel) the series requires a 10-month commitment. They demand that you write 10 post-dated checks, tossing them into a black hole or similar atmospheric fuzz, or give them access to your bank account so that they can withdraw said sum each month. But, the money they deduct does not necessarily correspond to the number of classes that will meet. You pay 170 NIS (~$45) per month and hope that there are at least four sessions until they cash your next check for the next month. [Note: this tuition is only slightly cheaper than what the DC studio charges; I can assure you that my income is more than "slightly less" than the millions I was making in Maryland public schools.]  However, on average, one session per month was canceled. In May, after 4 sessions were canceled in a 6-week period they offered two make-up classes. But, when can they hold the make-up classes if every Sunday night is taken by a pre-paid session? Friday mid-day. Ugh. And both levels are mixed during the Friday make-up class. Regardless of what the regular class time is, of course there will never be a mutually convenient alternate time. At JOM they anticipated conflicts with the calendar, did not charge for the weeks without class, and if classes were canceled due to weather the make-ups were held during weeks off between the semesters during the regular class time.

As a courtesy, the J-m studio offered us two freebie classes during the Sunday night class time in July, after the pre-paid period ended.  A nice gesture, but a drop in the bucket considering that at least 10 classes were canceled over the year. (A lot during Tishrei, two for Pesach, one for Hanukah, another for Purim, two for Yom HaShoah and Yom HaAtsmaut, another for the Tap Dance Festival, another because the teacher had a conflict, etc.)

Why are they allowed to demand the flat sum up front but do not have to promise a certain number of classes in return? Why can't they refund the balance if they can't deliver on the presumed number of classes?

What completely irritated me the evening when I posted the last entry, was that I somehow missed that only the first two classes of July were courtesy. I understood that they were holding classes all month. In fact, classes were being held all month; the first two weeks were covered and the last two required additional payment. I showed up week 3, was told that I had to pay and did not need any time to make my decision. Sure, I wasted time and energy getting dressed, packing my bag, getting to the bus stop, waiting for the bus, etc. But, none of the effort persuaded me that I should pay for the class anyway. This studio took enough undeserved money from me. They were not getting anymore.

I poked my head into the studio where the teacher was instructing two students. I pleasantly waved, said that I did not realize this one required money, and wished them a good evening. Smiling, yet seething, I walked out.

The next week I got a call from the front desk. Apparently, one of the students told her to call me the next week to remind me to come. Thinking that she was just relaying a message, I began to explain my dissatisfaction with the studio and my unwillingness to pay for another class.  She was reasonably diplomatic and soothing and promised me the class for free as a gesture. While it was tempting, my evening was no longer free at that point.

However annoying this saga is, if I thought the teacher were amazing I would tolerate the studio, its irritating management, and pain-in-the-butt location. But she's just not that great. A great dancer, but a mediocre teacher. If I started commuting to Tel Aviv for dance classes, I would not be at a higher level than when I started tapping in J-m nearly two years ago. How pathetic. Two years of dancing and paying for classes so that I can hold water and not regress? Time to move on.

I think I'm going to try Modern this fall. Modern is pretty popular in Israel, J-m included, so maybe the classes will be a higher quality. Instead of sticking to what I love, tap and jazz, and suffering through mediocrity, it's time to experiment with new worlds. For the meanwhile, I joined a gym. Not the same, but keeping me physically active while I ponder my future in dance. This city of intellectuals and Torah could use a boost in art and dancing.

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