Mail: Words From Our Readers

I’m writing to tell you how impressed my business partner and I are with your magazine. Every month when we get our Goldrush, we joke about how you must have some listening device in our studio. The articles are timely and practical and they seem to have been written specifically for us. You have your thumb precisely on the pulse of the studio owners and teachers. I own a tiny, 3 year-old studio in Colorado, and I was thrilled when I got the first issue of Goldrush! It is the only dance industry magazine that I must make time to read every month. It is absolutely worth its weight in gold! 

—Amy Grant Rockenbach, En l’Air Dance Academy, Woodland Park, CO

You printed a letter of mine as “Invasion of the Lobby Snatchers” a number of months ago, and I want to say thank you. I have done the things with the lobby that you suggested, and it took my clients some getting used to (occasionally we still have to remind children that it isn’t a playground), but things are going well. I credit your magazine with a lot of gradual changes in my studio, on both the teaching and managerial ends. For the last three months we have enrolled more students than we lost, and I credit your magazine with that. Also, your competitive advice has helped our team to build in unity and technical strength. I think the more organized studio and better parent/teacher communications have helped the dancers to find their focus— and the parents to support their efforts (and mine).

I want to let you know how integral your magazine has become to my personal and business life. My 7-year-old [son] is passionate about dance, and I will keep [the March/ April 2006 issue] for him to read in a few years. Also, your article about husbands is interesting. My husband seems to think that the studio is my domain—I think I’ll have him read the article! 

—via email

 I want to thank you for your publications and online support for dance teachers. I first saw Rhee Gold speak at a Cecchetti seminar in 2004. I was running my own dance studio for the first time, after teaching dance for 15 years, 

and his motivating words and the book [The Complete Guide to] Teaching Dance have been invaluable. Not only does it give practical information; it affirms who we are and our legitimacy in the professional world. Thank you! 

— Ellis G. Stroud, Dance Arts, Vernon, IA

Thank you for Goldrush. I have enjoyed reading it since the very beginning. It has been so helpful. I am into my 14th season of owning a studio and I love the fact that studio owners and teachers with so much in common can be so useful to each other by sharing and passing on bits of information, inspirational stories, and support. 

—Denise Mele, Danceology, Toronto, ON, Canada

Thank you for the excellent issue on men in dance [March/April 2006]. As the director of a large suburban school, I have for years made a priority of having boys feel at home here. We have “boys only” classes and currently have close to 40 boys enrolled. I would like to purchase two dozen extra copies of this issue to give to the students. Many of them deal with difficult peer pressure in school but continue to come to class and perform; your articles will help them feel good about their choice to do this. 

—Stephanie Clemens, Academy of Movement and Music, Oak Park, IL

 I find your magazine to be the most helpful and inspiring one out there for dance school owners. I am so thankful to have this kind of information and to know that there are teachers out there with the same experiences as myself.

—Lori Treadway, Del City, OK

I appreciate so much all that you pass on [to your readers]. You understand what we face and how we need to see past the daily complaints from stressed parents to what we really do—and that is help our students know that they are great and brilliant!

 —Patty Beery, Radnor, OH

You have done an outstanding job on the launch of your magazine and I congratulate you on this endeavor. Your philosophy and casual approach are so refreshing. I admire and respect your business acumen greatly. We share many of the same beliefs and philosophies and hopefully someday our paths will cross. 

—Darryl Hodgins, Dance Power Enterprises, Edmonton, AB, Canada

Send your questions and comments to Goldrush, P.O. Box 2150, Norton, MA 02766 or gold5678@aol.com