Words from our readers

I just saw your [August] 2007 article “Who Is Dolly Dinkle?” and thought I would share what I have learned. “Dolly Dingle” (different spelling, similar pronunciation) was a famous paper doll of a chubby, pink-cheeked young girl, which may have been considered a put-down by professionally trained ballet teachers when referring to the numerous amateur dance schools (classes were usually ballet/tap/hula/Charleston/baton, all in one hour) in competition with them, where hordes of the little darlings got to perform in cheesy recitals and in some cases got to take home plastic trophies.

However, my first ballet teacher remembered Dolly Dinkle as a well-known dancing poodle act in vaudeville in the 1920s. The dog wore a pink tutu, hence the pejorative association with unprofessional ballet training.

Interesting subject for more research!

John Mello
Sacramento, CA

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You were right to tell the teacher whose family had left and taken others with them and were doing her choreography at their new studio to cut their losses [“Ask Rhee,” January 2009]. I had the same situation last year. The atmosphere in the studio immediately improved greatly. It did impact me financially, but in every other way it was positive. Everyone in my studio was much happier, including me!

Cynde Lomonte
Cynde Lomonte’s Dance Dimensions
Missouri City, TX

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That article [“Dianne McIntyre: Modern dance’s beam of light,” March/April 2009] is fantastic! It is so thorough and so true. [Nancy Wozny] got everything right and had a way of weaving my stories and the observations of other people into a beautiful tapestry. I hope it will be intriguing to the youth and teachers in dance studios to think of branching out into the territory of modern dance at times—or at least understanding it. The photos are great too. What a delight!

Dianne McIntyre
Cleveland, OH

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I always flip to Rhee’s advice first. This last issue [March/April 2009] especially touched me. Six years ago a teacher left my studio to open one in the same neighborhood, and this past year two more teachers left my studio to open theirs. Reading the words “ethical capitalism” and knowing that Rhee recognizes that this is a major problem made me feel so much better! I am sure there are many teachers who need to hear from other dance professionals: It is not OK to work for my studio so that you will have students for your new business!

Emily Thompson
Carole Dance Studio, Mount Vernon, OH

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 I love the new column “Humor & Heartstrings”! The things kids say are some of the richest moments in a dance teacher’s life. Thanks also for a stellar magazine. I always feel connected to other teachers when I read it.

Jeanne Szkolka
Columbia Dance Academy, Columbia, MO

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Just completed reading the April/May issue—wonderful and inspiring is all I can say. As an ethnic/world dance instructor for almost 30 years with a ballet, jazz, and modern background, I am excited and thrilled to finally read about our dance forms with integrity and recognition. Your articles are well researched and well written and deserve kudos. I save every issue in its entirety. They are treasures of information.

Morwenna Assaf
Art/Dance Academy, Oceanside, CA