[Jon]

I would agree with you sbell that alot of beginners do walk out never to be seen before. Prehaps that is due to the taxi dancers, maybe the teachers, the music or prehaps they just simply didn't like ceroc. I guess we will never no the reason.

I also agree with you in that the standard of taxi dancer teaching is very wide. I've seen some very good ones and some bad ones. In fact I've seen some taxi dancers teach better than some of the teachers. However we do all have off nights so please consider this.

A taxi dancer does taxiing because they want to help others learn and because they find it fun to do this, there is no financial reward other than free entry to the venue. Unlike the teachers & Dj's who do get paid. Also a taxi dancer has to spend most of the evening concentrating on beginners where a teacher teaches 2 lessons and then is free to do whatever they like. Some teachers even disappear after the intermediate class. Some taxi dancers probably do taxiing purely for the free entry but I'd like to think most of us are doing it because we want to help people.

I agree we do need to ensure the standard of teaching is high and some form of taxi dancer training maybe of benefit but I would disapprove of a course & exam like the ones the teachers have to go through.

As for teaching routines, firstly there are a core 22 moves which I believe is soon to be extended to 23. Secondly Ceroc is not about learning routines its about learning moves and how to link them together.

But how do you decide who should be a taxi dancer? I bet if you look at your venue and then think about who the friendly approachable, people are who are also good dancers, who are regulars to the venue and would be willing to be taxi dancers then ask yourself can I find 6 people like this then you may find yourself quite limited for choice. If you start adding exams or tests then more people probably wouldn't want to be taxi dancers. My opinion is if a taxi dancer is no good then you can always replace him/her.

I've heard beginners saying they thought that in taxi class they would learn more moves not recap what they had done but we can't please everyone. If the whole class manages the recap quickly then I do ask if they'd like to learn more moves even done some intermediate moves before as they asked for them but it only takes 1 person not to be able to do the revision to prevent this so our job isn't easy can be quite stressfull but can also be rewarding.