Hi all,
Excitement with History into the Future.
Over the years, dance classes became plentiful as many people took to the dance floor and became dance teachers. This was a great and exciting growth spurt for all of us in the ballroom dance profession and for the hobby and competitive dancers as well.
With growth in any business comes the 'watering down' effect. With ballroom dance, it meant more dance teachers, more studio spaces, more venues, with no monumental growth in the number of hobby and competitive dancers. So what happens is 'one does what one has to do' to make ends meet to fill the classes with people, halls with dancers, etc. Prices sometimes stabilize or get lower - which can be a good thing - but remember ~ you get what you pay for~! And often spaces are used for multiple purposes, leaving the floors not so great for our use as ballroom dancers. But, we gotta do what we gotta do!
In my last business endeavor, pulse LLC, there was a gleaming hope that it would be the best ballroom studio and the best dance floor in the area. And it could have been, but with the dip in the economy along with business focus and education planning not providing itself in timely manner.... so, as you all know, I moved on... simultaneously getting accepted in to a two year educational program. (if you want to know more about that - just ask! LOL)
Trying to rebuild my dance business while going back to school became a great challenge, but not one that I disliked! Challenge make change, and change is good!
I am sending you this email with a peek into a new project that I am happy to be part of during it's development. This new endeavor provides the opportunity for me to do what I do best and naturally - teach dance.
I am able to reflect on my years in Baltimore/WashDC as a young dancer making my way into the world of quality education and becoming a respectable professional. This accomplishment lead to a recruitment to Boston. I look back at the methods I used while in Boston, claiming championship titles with Gail and in those early years, my journeys to Maine. Once in Maine, as a resident, I started building a successful teaching syllabus that many still speak of from those years of Gotta Dance (the first Gotta Dance). For the past few years, my ability to teach classes on cruise ships as well as the opportunity to teach workshops and master classes around the country have been a wonderful experience and excursion in looking at all the 'stuff' I've acquired getting people to dance comfortably, competently and with crazy fun! For me, this is a natural way of disseminating my knowledge in dance. And I look for the opportunity to give classes and teach at a high level - now in Maine - because that's what I do, that's what I love, and that's what you deserve! Let's get back to basics and demand the quality in dance classes again.
So, that brings me to the email I am copying to you. I am happy to be able to ride the waves of youthful energy. (no pun intended even though I just got back from a dance cruise)
Hello All,
I am writing to you on this Sunday (March 11, 2012) to introduce you to a revitalized concept in the Maine partner dance world. This idea comes from my deep respect for the evaluative process Martial Artists go through under the tutelage of a true Master. This will be a skill based progression method where students will be responsible for mastering steps as well as techniques both independently and with a partner. If you appreciate this concept, I welcome you to Black Belt Ballroom, THE Partner Dance Studio. With my 17 years of experience and Laurence's 34 years, we will help you navigate this process as your Master teachers. For the business part, I will be operating the studio and employing Laurence to teach for me. All comments, questions, and concerns can be addressed directly to me. The new/old space is a 60' x 30' beautifully maintained wood floor that was once used by Laurence. The address is 168 Elm Street South Portland, ME at the Elm Street Methodist Church Hall in the back. Laurence and I are both teaching PRIVATE lessons until the start of the first class series that will go from mid-April until the last week in May (the one before Memorial Day). There will be more information to follow in the coming days and weeks. If you would like to book private lessons, please contact me at blackbeltballroom@gmail.com with Private Lessons in the subject line.
As this has been pieced through my personal email list and is in no way meant as an exclusive list, could you please forward this to all the dancers you know. If you get this as a forward and want to be added on the Black Belt Ballroom email list, please send an email with Subscribe in the the subject line. I look forward to you support in this new venture.
Sincerely,
~Justin Stebbins
As this email has come from my email list (Laurence) please reply to blackbeltballroom@gmail.com
More details from me (Laurence) as I transition web sites and all that stuff.
