Dancer 451,

Sorry, you've confused me with another dancer, but then, how could you not. All our identities are shrouded. Despite that, I want to say that I am more than just "interested" in the dance world. I'm an amateur dancing out of a NY studio for over a year now, and I've had a partner for 3 years. Our coach is urging us to focus on open amateur comps, but we've still been dancing in Boston area college comps, including MIT (maybe even against you), because that's where we started and they've given us valuable experience. I've never danced for a college team, although my partner has, and as a couple we've always registered independent. Point taken, you are right, I did sound disparaging about the MIT team, and I apologize for that. There have been some great people on that team. However, I spoke from my own experience with their coach, with whom I took private lessons at his studio, and from MIT dance acquaintances as well. What I said was true for me.

Regarding the Bryan and Carmen show, I myself was directed by an MIT benefactor and dance supporter to call the studio for "VIP" tickets. I knew about the bulk deal from him, but was quoted a much higher price over the phone. None of us likes to be overcharged. As a former law student, I knew to do my research before complaining. Like I said, the law specifically states that whether or not permission is granted by the event organizer, only a small service charge can be added legally, unless the reseller obtains a state license. It's available online at the Massachusetts government site, and I passed that along to my friend, who I'm sure passed it along as well. Maybe you didn't receive it.

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Regarding the Bryan and Carmen show, I myself was directed by an MIT benefactor and dance supporter to call the studio for "VIP" tickets. I knew about the bulk deal from him, but was quoted a much higher price over the phone. None of us likes to be overcharged. As a former law student, I knew to do my research before complaining. Like I said, the law specifically states that whether or not permission is granted by the event organizer, only a small service charge can be added legally, unless the reseller obtains a state license. It's available online at the Massachusetts government site, and I passed that along to my friend, who I'm sure passed it along as well. Maybe you didn't receive it.

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Perhaps the transaction needed to be structured differently, but people need to understand that the motives were positive all around: without that bulk sale of tickets to provide an infusion of cash at a critical time, there would not have been a show since the team was strongly averse to risking money on it. Nobody forced you to buy VIP tickets - presumably the people who did buy them did so because they wanted a premium experience, and there is not such thing as a fair price for a premium.

What I mean is that it all makes more sense if you consider the show to really have been an event facilitated by the studio, with the competition given the privilege of framing it and selling quite reasonably priced non-VIP tickets.

You could then match this to the rest of the thread, and start complaining that the studio let college kids in at an unfairly low rate...

QUOTE]"There is hardly a college venue that he does not impact negatively, usually involving money. The most recent event was a competition featuring Bryan and Carmen as guests. This owner bought up all the tickets from the captain of his own coaching team and marked them up 400%."[QUOTE]

[QUOTE] Originally posted by <Also from Boston>
Oh yes, and the deal with the dance tickets for Bryan and Carmen was as previously described. I know. This coach bought the tickets, perhaps in bulk, at around $25 each, but re-priced them outrageously.[QUOTE]

As the Show Coordinator of the 2004 MIT Open Ballroom Competition I'd like to say the following
1. The MIT CompComm decided to offer VIP tickets (single or in bulk) for the Bryan & Carmen Show to all of the Boston area Studios.
2. To make it more attractive for the studios to purchase multiple tickets we offered them for $40/ticket.
3. MITBDT sold VIP tickets for $50/ticket through the web page or at the door.
4. FADS was the only Studio interested in purchasing VIP tickets.
5. FADS sold the front row tickets for $50, which is the same price MITBDT asked.

Hope that clarifies some of the confusion,
Susanne.

Good to see the details... but in defending the studio you named it, something even the detractors were considerate enough not to do

I wanted to reply to some comments posted earlier:

My partner and I go to NY to take lessons and also take lesson in the Boston studio being mentioned here.

We have had no problem taking lessons from both. They do not contradict each other and in fact we find them complementary.

I think both our NY and Boston coaches are great coaches and I resent either being talked about badly.

--carlos lopez

Thank you Carlos Lopez for using your full name and saying something positive. "If you really are Carlos Lopez?"

A while ago someone posted my full name on a dance forum and said some pretty mean things about a dancer and a unique situation. Some of the things they said were positive and some negative. I couldn't begin to guess who would have done this but their aim was to either discredit me or discredit the persons they were talking about or both. It didn't matter that I went to the forum and denied that it was I, no one believed me.

Now, it is my aim in life to warn others about these types of forums. Anyone, I repeat, anyone can go on a forum and claim to be you. Anyone can write about situations they have heard through the grape vine, pretending to be you. My advice; don't believe anything you read on a forum!

Also, don't even try to guess who may have written what, you will never guess correctly. You'll only end up frustrated like I was, wondering if everyone I came into contact, had written the ugly piece.

My point is to get you to read these forums, if you must read them at all; strictly for entertainment, because that's all these are. There is no truth or dignity or honor in any forum where absolute proof of identity isn't required. If we had to sign onto forums using our social security numbers and real names, I guarantee, none of us would write any messages here or anyplace else.

People, these things aren't real. You can't even believe what I just wrote.

Signed,
Not Real

I suppose you don't believe in Aliens, Santa, The Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Spiderman, Superman, Batman, and the Boogiman.

Well I do, and I think you're WRONG! Everyone and everything on television (hey, remember the Weapons of Mass Destruction -- I believe they're REAL!!! Even the President does!)

Get a life and stop patronizing us. Most of us have the intelligence to be able to figure out who's real, who's not, who's just bitchin or flaming, and who's a newbie.

Now, that was real!

You just made most honest statement on this forum!

Thanks for proving my point!

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Originally posted by Not Real:
If we had to sign onto forums using our social security numbers and real names, I guarantee, none of us would write any messages here or anyplace else.

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Your guarantee is wrong, because I would. There are plenty of people who have established legitimate identities online and who enjoy having them and who are not afraid to speak their minds and be known for what they've said. Granted, not all of them hang out on the various dance forums....and for some reason DanceScape seems to particularly fall victim to anonymous fakers and sniping (as a recent example, there's that thread that just goes on and on about Claudia and Anton's phone numbers. The one that started out as being a recap of someone's experiences at the Manhatten DanceSport competition).

That said, I'm sincerely sorry you were so burnt by anonymous fakers. It's happened to me too; online character assasination by idiots is definitely an issue not to be taken lightly.