Big10
09-22-2006, 05:13 PM
I've recently been given the opportunity to become something like an assistant instructor of Salsa classes. It's a very flexible situation where I can be involved very lightly or more seriously (to the point of eventually instructing multiple classes each week by myself, if I get that comfortable).
If I do it, my interest would be to be involved on the lighter end of the spectrum, i.e., just for the sake of helping more people to learn Salsa in a way that I think is most enjoyable/effective. It's nice that I would be paid for it, but I have no intention of ever giving up my "real" job. I also want to be able to keep Salsa dancing as my most fun hobby, including the friendly interaction with other dancers. I currently know most of the regulars in my city at least on a hello/chitchat basis, and some I consider to be truly good friends. Obviously, several of the people I know teach Salsa lessons, and would therefore become "competitors," in some sense.
So, with all of that in mind, I'm curious to know how other teachers have experienced any changes in how they relate to other people in the Salsa scene, after making the transition from pure social dancer to instructor. Did you sense a new level of competitiveness? Do certain people dance with you less, or not at all? Do certain people talk to you less, or not at all? Do you put more pressure on yourself to make fewer mistakes and/or "perform" while social dancing because potential students/customers might be watching? Did social dancing become less fun in general?
I'm specifically looking for feedback from people who currently are (or have been) teachers themselves. However, if you are not a teacher, but personally knew somebody during his/her transition from pure social dancer to teacher, I'd also be interested in hearing your perceptions of how that person changed or interacted differently within the Salsa scene. Thanks!
If I do it, my interest would be to be involved on the lighter end of the spectrum, i.e., just for the sake of helping more people to learn Salsa in a way that I think is most enjoyable/effective. It's nice that I would be paid for it, but I have no intention of ever giving up my "real" job. I also want to be able to keep Salsa dancing as my most fun hobby, including the friendly interaction with other dancers. I currently know most of the regulars in my city at least on a hello/chitchat basis, and some I consider to be truly good friends. Obviously, several of the people I know teach Salsa lessons, and would therefore become "competitors," in some sense.
So, with all of that in mind, I'm curious to know how other teachers have experienced any changes in how they relate to other people in the Salsa scene, after making the transition from pure social dancer to instructor. Did you sense a new level of competitiveness? Do certain people dance with you less, or not at all? Do certain people talk to you less, or not at all? Do you put more pressure on yourself to make fewer mistakes and/or "perform" while social dancing because potential students/customers might be watching? Did social dancing become less fun in general?
I'm specifically looking for feedback from people who currently are (or have been) teachers themselves. However, if you are not a teacher, but personally knew somebody during his/her transition from pure social dancer to teacher, I'd also be interested in hearing your perceptions of how that person changed or interacted differently within the Salsa scene. Thanks!