I agree with Rowan's point (Hi Rowan) about professional mentors. I think one or two posts above have hinted at the bahaviour of some teachers. There are certainly some (and they certainly aren't all like this) who are ambitious for themselves, more than for their pupils. My daughter had one such, who seemed only to be interested in the competitions (not just our experience; she had a reputation for this). She never bothered with displays at garden fetes and such events, and didn't teach social dance. It was all competition stuff. When my daughter had had enough of the competitions, it was clear that the teacher was no longer interested in her. In fact, when the class lost their practice hall and had to find another, we weren't informed; we just turned up to find the class had moved. The teacher then intervened when she heard that my daughter was joining another class, preventing her from doing so for a year, citing some rule which I can't remember off hand. The new teacher was quite happy for my daughter not to enter competitions. The teachers could surely do something about this wig and make-up nonsense, but as long as they are in competition with one another, they probably won't co-operate in this way. I think many parents fall into the trap of thinking "it's just how things are - there's nothing you can do". It's how things are because people go along with it. Competing is all very well; people should strive for excellence in anything they do, and competition encourages this. But it's not what dancing is all about.
John Kelly.