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THE GANG'S ALL HERE!
Tips on Bringing a Group of Dance Students to
New York City
March
2000
As sure as the Forsythia bushes bloom in the city's parks and traffic islands this time of year, Spring Break means out-of-town groups traveling to NYC to study with top teachers. If you are a studio owner or teacher who will be among those shepherding students around the Big Apple, read on for advice about making the adventure safe, fun and rewarding. (If you're a student or a parent chaperone who will be coming with a group, help out by sharing this information with the teacher in charge.)
Sticking Together
You'll probably be bringing at least eight youngsters, maybe many more, plus several chaperones. That's a lot of people to keep track of in this teeming metropolis. I speak from experience. When I was co-director of the Huntington School of Ballet on Long Island, I regularly brought my rising stars into the city for exposure to a variety of teaching
methods as well as the other cultural offerings that abound here. To make sure no one got lost, I established ground rules. Here they are for you to use:
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For children under the age of 11, have one parent or teacher per two to four students. The adult and the children she's keeping track of should hold hands while maneuvering through crowded thoroughfares and
when using public transportation. (Alice and Carson, this is a wave for you. Remember the summer of 1989 when you were assigned to me?) City-bred youngsters can be seen skipping ahead of their parents or nannies at fairly tender ages and even riding buses alone to and from elementary school, but you'd be wise to keep close tabs on children who are not accustomed to getting around NYC.
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Tweens and teens can operate on the buddy system. However, an adult should do a periodic head count. (The pair of my students who once lingered at a sidewalk kiosk buying earrings shall remain nameless. Suffice it to say that when we got to the restaurant and realized they weren't with us, we were definitely not pleased. I retraced my steps and found the girls, but after that we never crossed a street without making sure we were all together.)
Pedestrian Pointers
Speaking of crossing the street, don't jay walk even if you see the natives doing it. Also, watch out for turning cars and grid lock as well as for bikers disobeying all traffic rules. And forget trying to beat the light if you're on a traffic island when the "Don't Walk" sign is already flashing. Better to build some air into your schedule than to take chances with your precious charges. In particular, crossing Broadway in the Lincoln Center area may require a couple of changes of lights.
Subway Savvy
Another time to stay mellow is when you're attempting to get a bunch of people on a subway train at the same time, especially during rush hour. The trick is to position yourselves in small clumps at spots where doors will probably open. Regular riders will be doing just that, so you'll know where to stand. Trying to push 15 people into the same car can be harrowing.
Also, make sure chaperones and older students have copies of a written itinerary, for example "Take the 1/9 subway train from 42 Street. Get off at the 59th Street stop. Proceed to the Broadway Dance Center on 57th Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue for our 4:30 class with Finis Jhung." That way if you do get separated, you'll be able to regroup.
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Under the watchful eye of parent chaperone Alla Hejko,
the 8- 10-year-old Long Island
Huntington School of Ballet bunheads ride the New York
City subway to class. |
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Cell phones go out of service on the subway. However, you can call each other to check on whereabouts once you're above ground.
Important: Everybody should have the address of your hotel so that people can simply go back to headquarters if
necessary. See also my general advice on subways, buses and taxis in the
May, 1997 column.
Mad Money
Set a reasonable spending cap per student for souvenirs, earrings, hair clips, dance gear and postcards. If one
or two students are given carte blanche by their parents, the other kids will surely be envious. That takes the focus off your main purpose -- dancing! -- and it doesn't do much for
esprit de corps.
Why not talk with the parents ahead of time to see what would make them comfortable? For example, if you'll be shopping at NYC dance supply stores, you might decide that each student can buy one new outfit -- tights, leotard and a ballet skirt OR jazz pants and a top OR tap pants and a top. However if your older girls want to be fitted for pointe shoes and need to buy several pairs, that should be a separate and allowable expense. (See also
Live to Shop!)
Meals and Munchies
Depending on the length of your stay, you'll probably want to treat yourselves to at least one or two good restaurant meals.
(See Eateries) In between, though, look for less expensive options. Delis are everywhere, so in fine weather you can pick up sandwiches and fruit for a picnic, perhaps in Central Park, Riverside Park, Bryant Park or Washington Square Park.
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Students from the
Huntington School of Ballet pose themselves after a
picnic in Lincoln Center Plaza and before taking class
at BDC.
Who Are They? |
My troupe used to love eating al fresco on the benches around the Lincoln Center Plaza pool which has a Henry Moore statue in the middle. It's right near the Library and Museum of the Performing Arts. (If you're making a day trip from the tri-state area, consider having everyone bring a bag lunch.) There are also hot dog carts, pretzel vendors and other street food. I'd let the kids try these wares once or twice just because they're SO New York.
Also, STEPS and Broadway Dance Center (BDC) have on-site cafes. You can find fairly reasonable kid-pleasing fare at chains such as Houlihans,
T.G.I. Fridays and Ollie's Noodle Shop. Finally, consider the great New York custom of taking out or ordering in. You can get not only the classic
one-from-column-A, one-from-column-B Chinese menu, but also such exotic cuisines as Thai, East Indian, Vietnamese and Japanese delivered day and night.
Diner food -- burgers, soup, salads, omelettes, and sandwiches -- can also be brought to your door. I'm partial to the Wrapp Factory. It offers a vast array of inexpensive, wholesome and savory wraps, plus fruit smoothies.
And of course there's always room service! Bon appetit!
Look Sharp!
It goes without saying that you'll remind your students to put their hair up, whether in a bun for ballet class or in an acceptable style for jazz and tap. Beyond that, make a decision about whether you want your group to follow your studio dress code if you have one. My feeling is that children under the age of 12 or 13, who will probably be taking specially arranged private master classes, look wonderful in uniform. My Division 2 girls, ages 8-10, were the hit of BDC the summer they took class with Mme. Darvash in their cherry leotards and pink tights, hair slicked back in perfect buns festooned with matching flowers.
(My five little boys wore black tights and shoes and white t-shirts.) Later when I taught private master classes for groups at STEPS, I found that the children who wore school colors were more focused than the kids who were eyeing one another to see who had the coolest outfit.
When it comes to teens, however, I think you're better off letting them choose -- within reason -- what they want to wear. Your older students will probably be in regular classes right along with NYC professionals. The latter tend to wear tattered layers that you'd never permit when you're trying to see whether a youngster's hips are square. I wouldn't allow the kids to go that far, but they'll feel less like interlopers if they aren't all clad in matching royal blue or whatever.
For the record, even though
the School of American Ballet requires the girls in C1, C2 and D to wear black and pink for class, when they venture out to other studios they usually add skirts or leg warmers or wear different colors just so they won't stand out. (They stand out anyway because of their fine dancing, but you see what I mean.)
Etiquette In and Out of the Classroom
Go over classroom traffic rules with your students so they don't get in the way. NYC classes are jam-packed, and navigating can be tricky. Naturally, talking during class is forbidden.
Cell phones and beepers should be turned off or set on vibrator. If you will be taking class with your students, resist the temptation to teach. Whispering corrections to your students won't endear you to the NYC teacher. (No offense intended, but this happens all the time and I just had to bring it up!) If you are not going to take class, ask permission to watch. Some teachers don't mind and others do.
Encourage students (especially little ones) to use "inside voices" in dressing rooms, hallways, and elevators. The excitement of the trip can make children escalate the volume of conversation. They also shouldn't call out to one another in a panic if the elevator comes and someone is lagging behind. Just wait for the next car. Again, plan your schedule so you're never in a rush.
I know you'll teach your pupils good theatre manners as well. Let them know that they can't bring food or rustle gum wrappers,
that they shouldn't talk during the performance, and that they should save hoots and hollers for rock concerts -- unless Angel Corella is
dancing. :-)
This column marks the third anniversary of the New York Dance Scene on
DanceArt.com. What's so wonderful about writing for the Web is that material stays up year after year, becoming a constantly expanding and
updateable archive. I hope you'll make a habit of surfing through all that's available on NYDS and on the rest of DanceArt.com as well. This site has evolved into a cyber treasure trove of information for dance lovers -- yours for the clicking!
Have a good trip on your way to tripping the light fantastic in NYC!
Sondra
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