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Liana Cafolla

Schools are tapping into demand for styles ranging from jazz to ballroom - but look for standards

Teaching dance   is a growing business in Hong Kong  - but some establishments may be out of step with dance schools that have better standards.

At one end of the scale, it is relatively easy to start a dance business: get a business registration certificate, a venue  and an  instructor who might not  have any qualifications.

Classes can also be found at ordinary schools that include dance as part of extracurricular activities, with no requirement to register separately as a dance school.

But quality instruction is more  likely to be found  in dance schools that invest a lot more than just the basics in terms of teaching expertise and quality venues. The reputations of such academies  are spread and monitored by that most discerning of recommendations: word of mouth.

'It is too difficult to estimate the total number of dance schools in operation in Hong Kong, because some of them don't even have their own school and operate in temporary premises,' said Virginia Lo, director of the Hong Kong Federation of Dance (HKFD), which has 200 dance schools on its books.

Evidence of growth in the sector is provided by the rise in examinations being taken in all dance disciplines. When the HKFD held its first examinations for Chinese dance in 1990, there were between 200 and 300 candidates.  Ms Lo said that last year there were more than 5,000. Candidates for London's  Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) ballet examinations numbered around 14,000 last year. And at the School Dance Festival held in Hong Kong before Lunar New Year, 1,030 dance troupes performed.

The increasing interest in dance is part of a wider  trend in physical exercise and is also partly due to the popularity of films with dance themes  and  growing recognition of dance as a competitive activity. The 2008 Olympics will for the first time include a dance category.

Such  popularity means some dance schools do not feel the need to advertise.

Charles Wu Man-sant, who teaches ballroom and Latin,   opened his dance studio in 1983, and is assisted by one part-time teacher. 'I have more than  200 students, ranging from five years of age to over 75, most joining through personal recommendations. Our most popular classes are cha cha  and jive rock 'n' roll,' Mr Wu said.

Emma Tse Wei-ling is  founder and director of the Emma Tse Elite Dance Academy which opened 31/2  years ago.

'The number of enrolled students is over 300 and  it's just getting larger. First I taught all the classes myself, but now I have two other teachers. We haven't done any advertising, except for our website. Most of it comes from word of mouth,' said Ms Tse.

She said a  growing number of students were seeking a wider range of dance classes and dance styles, but said 90 per cent of the classes taught at her academy were ballet.

'We also do jazz and hip hop, and musical theatre. I think hip hop and jazz are coming up on the scene,' Ms Tse said.

Local  dance-scene stalwart Joan Campbell has  noticed an increase in exam candidates.

'When I arrived in 1954, there were only three schools and 112 exam students. Now there are about 14,000 exams at the RAD a year,' said Ms Campbell, who is principal and teacher at the Carol Bateman School of Dancing.

While her enrolments have remained more or less constant at around 200, she offers  tap  and ballroom  classes to meet demand. The school employs four teachers and will recruit one more.

'I will be looking for qualifications - a trained all-rounder,' Ms Campbell said.

Her long tenure has given her a unique advantage when it comes to finding the right teacher - her current teaching staff are all her former students.

When looking for teaching staff, good schools place emphasis on qualifications. Mr Wu said: 'Finding teachers is not difficult, but qualifications are important. [Teachers] are not required to have qualifications, but for ballet, Chinese dance, jazz, most of them have qualifications.'

Students cannot take most recognised dance qualifications unless they have been taught by a qualified teacher.

Accompanists and administration staff are also sought after. Ms Tse is considering recruiting an administrative assistant and the job's specifications include an ability to fit children's dance clothes and dance shoes, an ability to communicate easily with parents and a love of children.

Aside from finding the right teachers and enough students, rent costs are a concern. Ms Tse's studio is about 1,900 sqft.

'Rent is a big issue; it's very expensive. It's a must that you have your own premises because it has to be safe for the children. A sprung floor is essential.' she said.

Key Players

Dance instructor

Accompanist

Administrator

Examiner

Jargon

RAD refers to Royal Academy of Dance, a UK based organisation that trains dancers and teachers, and holds internationally recognised examinations in Hong Kong

IDTA International Dance Teachers Association, which runs examinations for dancers and teachers in a variety of dance styles

DTOL Dance Teachers Online - an international website for dancers and dance teachers looking for work

CSTD Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing, which runs examinations for dancers and teachers in a variety of dance styles



Keep in step with dance