Does your teacher watch you compete?

[Pam]

I've been wondering about this for a while and I know it's probably a question more for the amateur folks (but could be for pro am if you have a coach outside your partnership)

If your teacher is in attendance at a competition do they watch you compete?

[Anna]

I've never competed at a comp where our coach was competing too, but when she judged our competition she said she watched us in the rounds she wasn't judging (so she wasn't rushed to look at all the couples) and made some comments afterwards.

[Ithink]

I've had several coaches either judge or watch us at comps. It's pretty helpful to get their comments afterwards although usually they're the same things we;ve heard from that coach countless times before. It's never anything new... But it still helps because then the comments aren't just "This is what you're doing wrong" but rather "you placed the way you did because you were doing this wrong while others were doing this" so it puts it in context of competition which makes it then much more of a priority to fix, at least for me because I am so competitive:)

[saludas]

Of course - why wouldn't he/she?

It's a GREAT advantage. People who only are seen in comp videos lose the perspecive of the competition around them - who's dancing what, what the traffic flow is, etc.

There ARE coaches who do it blind, but they are not the coaches that you can get info about crafting, etc.

The overall view is invaluable in seeing the 'big picture'....

[guille_bdancer]

my main coach, has gone to all my competitions even if they're really early in the morning and then she has to leave; she'll travel just to go watch, so in the next lesson we work on what we could have done different.

[redhead]

Yes, whenevr possible - and we don't even have to ask. And I really appreciate that.

[chandra]

Always, if he is at the comp. He watches all of his students, and cheers for all of us. One of his best qualities IMO. He also watches me social dancing, and comments on certain things I wasnt following consistantly in a social setting, and makes sure to introduce me to other pros for networking. He really takes care of his students that way.
My other coach is much more busy, she judges and competes alot more, so alot of times she is focusing on getting ready for her own competitions. She also really takes care of her students, but because she is a much more in demand teacher, she can't always be watching all of us at comps. But back at home, she is unbelievable... When I was visiting, she made sure I knew where to sit at the dances, so I could dance with the better dancers, and told me who to dance with, and who to avoid!
(This is swing btw)

[DancerForLife]

If our schedules coincide they come and watch; otherwise it's videos.

I agree that they comments in situ help - it is good to know what they see in the context of the entire comp floor vs. just the single couple seen on the video.

I like to have them there for support and encouragement - it feels good to know they are there and are watching; an added element to do well so they see their hard work coming to fruition :-).

[Laura]

When I was doing amateur, our coach was usually always there. It was wonderful to have her around -- I once had 7 minutes to change costumes between a syllabus and Novice Open event, and she helped me with that and got me out there coolly and calmly in time to dance.

That's one of the things I miss now that I'm doing Pro/Am -- that kind of nifty "coachy" relationship.

[liangjz]

My first coach did. Then again, I haven't really competed much since him.

At one of my first comps, my coach mistook a real round for a warmup session and walked onto the floor to adjust the posture of one of my teammates.

The announcer made some comment about a really "hands on" coach.

[fascination]

lol, that is hysterical...and (mini highjack) I have a lesson w/ scott tomorrow....

[liangjz]

cool... hope it goes well...

[Joe]

Our coach watches if she is at the competition, sometimes even if she isn't competing in the same session, i.e. has no other reason to be there. Her husband/partner also does, and gives her (and us) his own feedback.

[White Chacha]

My coach saw us compete twice this year. His partner had some good feedback for us ;-)

[Laura]

My new teacher better watch when I compete...he's leading, after all. One of us needs to keep our eyes open or it'll be a bad scene. :) Heh heh heh.

[Twilight_Elena]

My first coach did. Then again, I haven't really competed much since him.

At one of my first comps, my coach mistook a real round for a warmup session and walked onto the floor to adjust the posture of one of my teammates.

The announcer made some comment about a really "hands on" coach.

ROTFL! I hope they didn't deduce points or anything. :D
Oh my. I'm going to start with another teacher as well very soon, and he competes (heavily. National champ and all). So if I ever do compete, I'll be competing with my teacher. I hope not against him, but it's a very small comp scene. Probably will end up doing rounds against him. :shock:
Terrifying...

T_E

[cornutt]

At one of my first comps, my coach mistook a real round for a warmup session and walked onto the floor to adjust the posture of one of my teammates.


Our instructor is so into watching her students and encouraging them, I think some day she's going to run out onto the floor and join in! :D

[ChaChaLicious]

i honestly believe that a teacher absolutly must be present at his students' competitions. i know my teacher was when i danced.. he would go over ur choreography right before we went on. he talked to us, calmed us down, and before each heat, he rounded up the dancers to let them know when they are going on the floor etc.. i think that being present at a students' competitions shows that a teacher really cares about his students, and his work. Having the support of my instructor at my comps helped a lot! i think that a great instructor will be there!