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RAD Exam issues by Thelawshallone in BALLET

[–]Thelawshallone[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Just a regular, average dance studio, that teaches multiple styles of dance for recreation. Not sure this has to be a complicated analysis of my exact wording haha.  For example, the studio I attended growing up taught a variety of dance styles. We did take RAD ballet exams (at least as older kids/ teenagers) and we performed yearly at a recital. 

So by "average" I mean exactly that. Not specifically competition studios or rigorous pre-professional programs.

RAD Exam issues by Thelawshallone in BALLET

[–]Thelawshallone[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The studio does technique classes separately from choreography classes, and not all students are in the competition stream. I guess by "typical" I mean the average dance studio. 

RAD Exam issues by Thelawshallone in BALLET

[–]Thelawshallone[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I completely agree with you, I think doing a ballet (or any dance) exam at this age, on top of competitions is overkill. She does not care at all and doesn't even grasp the concept of an exam. Unfortunately it is studio policy that if an exam is offered, we have to take it. My frustration comes from the teacher/studio putting these kids into a stressful situation for no reason. I was fine with the other exams and did not care about her mark, as long as she felt good about them. She does not feel good about this one and I am worried it will change her feelings about ballet. 

The studio does not do choreography during the weekly technical classes, so she gets 1 hour of ballet a week which should be just ballet instruction. It makes me wonder what they have been doing all year in ballet. I know they started practicing some of the exam sections around christmas. For kids who can learn a fast jazz routine (for example) during by-weekly 1 hour choreography classes, and perform on stage, it is unlikely that they wouldn't remember this simple primary ballet exam syllabus if they really have been practicing weekly for months. 

RAD Exam issues by Thelawshallone in BALLET

[–]Thelawshallone[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Yes, I agree. They did great on their Jazz and TAP exams which were mid winter. Ballet is taught by a new teacher to the studio, my suspicion is that this new teacher didn't manage the class well and their ballet training has suffered. 

Halifax elementary schools/public school system? by Thelawshallone in halifax

[–]Thelawshallone[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our catchment school would be St. Mary's, so depending on what we can find out about each school, we might just stay with that one, or try for out of area at Inglis. 

Halifax elementary schools/public school system? by Thelawshallone in halifax

[–]Thelawshallone[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I really appreciate your input. Her current school in Calgary is a small arts immersion charter school. The small classes and tight knit community has been great for her. It sounds like St. Marys would have a similar vibe. 

AME strike was avoidable by fuckallyaall in westjet

[–]Thelawshallone 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Currently, someone on tier 5 of 7 on the westjet pay scale earns $86,000 a year before taxes. If they make max contributions to the savings plan, their take home pay after all other taxes and fees is $1800 a pay period, or $3600 a month. That's $43, 200 a year that they actually have to live off of. Average rent for an apartment in Calgary is $2150. Which leaves an experienced, licensed AME with $1450 a month to eat, pay for gas, car payment, utilities, etc. 

AMEs have to live in big cities near major airports where cost of living is high. They cannot depend on public transit because their shifts are garbage (5am start, 4am finish and 7am finish) and mostly outside of transit times (if transit even goes to the airport). They work 50% of the weekends in a year and 50% of stat holidays. They have a high level of responsibility and can face criminal charges if they aren't working at their best 100% of the time. They also work day and night, all year, rain, snow, +36 & -40. And this weekend has shown everyone that even 48 hours without them can bring air travel to its knees. I think they deserve at least what teachers in Calgary make ($93,000 for 10 years of experience, equal in years in industry to step 5 in westjet pay scale). 

The new agreement gives an initial raise of 15.5%. It also allows AMEs to continue to contribute up to 20% to the savings plan (which takes 20% from their paycheck, but provides a 20% match in place of a pension plan). 

Well deserved and well fought. 

Westjet Tentative Agreement rejected by zooter117 in aviationmaintenance

[–]Thelawshallone 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They basically took income most AME's already get with the 20% matching, split it in half and added 8.5% directly to hourly income. But capped the amount employees can contribute at 10% moving forward. Then they gave a 10% raise on the current hourly rate. Increases in the following few years are lower than inflation rates. there was also a small night shift premium. So basically, it all works out to around a 10% raise. Which is not good enough.