Wow! I'm wondering if the term "overwhelming" has crossed your mind. You don't seem to be giving scottyboy much time to do anything else.

Given his apparently wavering interest, I'd suggest maybe cutting back on the dancing a couple nights a week and doing something that he really enjoys - or just letting him have a night out by himself.



jj

Oh, Sorry for the delay in answer. I thought "Burn-Out", not overwhelmed, because it is his choice to go to the lessons. (Not mine) Not all lessons are private 2 are group classes, and we all go on outings, to eat after, ect. He definitely still races his Harley Truck, we go to community activities, and his favorite is "His remote", but over the last several months he has changed from T.V. to YouTube dance clips, or any of the 156, D.Vision prep videos. Oh, and he still goes to the Club for a work- out 6 days a week. So, we do it all!

"So, we do it all!"

Wow! So, when do you guys find time for your day jobs?

"If your learning strategies are not sound, it makes no difference from whom you take lessons."

jj is absolutely right on that one. You'll also find that learning to dance (or to play a musical instrument, or to sing, for that matter) is quite a different process from learning most academic subjects.

I found the following article from Scientific American very helpful in my teaching, and ask all my students to read it:

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=the-expert-mind

Regards,
Jonathan

The article to which Jonathan links is very interesting. Although it never mentions dancing, its essential lessons are as applicable to our activity as to any other.

1. Find a good teacher
2. Practice, practice, practice, practice, practice.
3. Submit to regular evaluation by someone other than your teacher.

While, academically speaking, the article makes a lot of sense, putting its observations into practice presents some real difficulties.

While my second point listed above is almost completely within the students' control, the first and third are not.

Finding good instructors (i.e. those who know their subject, are affordable, and - most importantly - put their students' success ahead of their own ambition) is very difficult for someone completely new to ballroom and Latin dancing. Looking at trophies and championships can be misleading. As Terence repeatedly points out, the best dancer is not necessarily the best teacher - or even a good one.

Finding opportunities for objective evaluation can be equally tricky. In the US, other professionals operating in the same studio are not going to put the income of their colleagues at risk by pointing out shortcomings. Competition results do not provide the kind of feedback which most students can use. In my area, local showcases give students little more than a pat on the back or suggestions so general (e.g. "Bend your knees more") as to suggest that the "judges" may not have been paying attention.

One thing is certainly true for all students: simply wandering into a studio and signing up with the first professional they meet is NOT a good idea.

I will continue to give other amateurs the same advice that I always have: find an amateur partner and stick with the partnership.



jj

We really have not danced for any other Instructors. We do go to take lessons from others. It is a 6 hr drive to Dallas, we are going to start making a regular trip. If we can find someone closer to Odessa,Texas, we would even go to them, as well.

The fact that there's a USADance chapter in El Paso means there are a fair number of folks dancing - and teaching - there. It's a couple of hours closer than Dallas.

jj

Ok, Done Deal, I have found a lady that is a Certified Teacher / Trainer for Competition. We will be getting a second look from another professional, I believe next Wed. at 4:00. Thanks so much for the help. I would have never thought of "Fresh" eyeballs! Is there a way to find out, if a teacher is good, bad, indifferent? Like in my husband's career, you can go to the Texas State Board Of Med. and find out if he is good, bad, been sued for malpractice, any complaints, ect. Is there something like that for Instructors? ScottyBoysDoll

Speaking only from experience...and not as anyone who has even pretended to teach ballroom...

Not all ballroom teachers are equal. Up until the instructor I have now I had no idea what the basic figures were and all I could do was follow. My eyes glazed over in the discussion. My current (5th one)instructor now teaches me the steps and calls them out over and over as we go through them. He breaks them apart and I do each excercise over and over and over again...until I know them. Then I have to call them out as we dance. Its worked for me. It isn't fun either.

However...as a previous Professor of Education....the best way for most people to learn something that is difficult for them is to teach that thing. This is particularly true if your husband is a global learner. Your husband may benefit from finding some poor unsuspecting friends or young relatives and instructing them in these steps. Fun for you...fun for them.

Just a suggestion....