You might be better to by the gray book,Ballroom Technique.

Hi

I would like again to ask for your opinion. Yesterday I had a lesson with my teacher. We are preparing Rumba for a spotlight (demonstration).
I am just not sure what his method of teaching me is. He spent most of the time on teaching me how to align our centres together, how to follow him, how to transfer weight, how to straighten and bend knees. But ... he has not taught me steps. I feel he teaches me basics properly but throughtout the lesson I kept thinking "Does he teach me how to not get in his way" as Anonymous said. I don't feel that I am learning dance if I cannot repeat the routine after a lesson. Am I wrong, or am I right?

Thanks, as always for your advice!

actually it sounds like he is teaching you a lot about dancing. steps are not dancing, they are just something to do. a teacher simply teaching you to not get in his way is trying to get to the point where you can be given a lot of steps, but this guy does not seem to be pushing steps - he's pushing dancing instead

Dalolita-- I agree with anonymous. As a private dance instructor msyelf I find it so refreshing to teach a student who is willing and wants to learn the actual nuances of ballroom dance, rather than a student who is looking to just add one more step to their repetoire. Once you really understand ballroom technique you understand how secondary actual steps are compared to execution of steps. I say, keep your instructor!

Dalolita,sounds like he is doing a good job. Ask him to write down the name of the variations you are dancing. You can then look it up in the dance book and memories the steps ,but don't practice them by your self as it is his style of dancing you want to learn not the steps.

Thank you all so much! You confirmed what I though. BallroomAnn, I will definitely keep my instructor

To ask him for variations and to look them up in the book is a very good idea, John. I will do this. Thanks!

Have all great dancing!

Hi everyone

I have just read my last post...well I did not keep my word... as I changed the teacher. But I had to as I changed the school...I left Arthur Murray for a newly opened school. Even though I miss my first teacher (he was the best in the school!), now I get a higher level teaching (especially in groups) for less.

I am writing again to ask as I still have not figured out how to structure my practice. Yes, my teacher is now top level, he competed and still competes. Looking at his students who now are either amateur or professional dancers, you could say that he brings in the best breed. However, his style of teaching is more showing rather than explaining which is often time-consuming. I see other teachers who may not be as great dancers as him, but they are good in explaining the technique in simple terms. I might time after time take private lessons with other teachers.

So…what is my question? Due to having little experience in dancing industry (I only started in January), I am confused. I don't know what is the best path to take…should I start competing early (and I consider competition as the goal for which I would strive for and therefore improve quicker rather than a vanity thing)? Should I take more time building the technique? Should I look for an amateur partner? Should I spend a year or so practicing only with my teacher? Should I go to all group classes or sacrifice them for the practice with someone?

My situation is like this. I practice 6 times per week. I take one private lesson a week and go for almost all group lessons as I find them really excellent and interesting, I learn a lot from them. I even take special groups (like argentine tango) as I like all kind of dances and want to learn more and more. I even started taking a ballet classes to improve my balance, posture, flexibility. On the other hand I might have lost (maybe not yet) an opportunity to practice with a partner who wants to compete in amateur contests. He offered me to practice, but I was taking my time, as I felt that I am not yet good enough for him. Now he found somebody else to practice even though he still keeps me as a back-up (I think).

So, I am really confused…but my desire to improve and dance well is increasing. I would like to hear your opinion as a lot of you already compete. What is your dancing path? What would you do differently to be able to achieve more in dancing?

Thank you and have a great day!

I can only tell you what the owner of the studio I go to said to me as I myself have only been dancing for as long as yourself really.
When she asked me if I thought about competing and I told her that I didnt even feel ready to think about it she said that she believes one should have done a year worth of lessons before going on to practicing with the one partner for a competition. That you should have spend the time and effort to become a rather confident dancer in your own right before training to compede.

Dalolta. A book can only be a guide to steps you have already learnt. But still you should have one. On Latin Slavik's DVD 's called "Inovation ". One dance one disk. There are of course five. I have two which I bought on recomendation. Don't be put of by the front covers which are full of Japanese writting. Everything inside is in English. It covers Posture. Footwork. Music, Balance, the correct way to move and so on. In Ausralia they cost $A78. including postage. Worth every penny of it. Good Luck.