Informal teaching and learning

[pygmalion]

Does anybody out there have experience with taking lessons or learning dance moves from a non-professional, perhaps from a friend or fellow student? Thumbs up? Thumbs down? Pros or cons?

[SwinginBoo]

As you all know my boyfriend has been the main person teaching me to dance. It has it's pro's and con's. But overall it has been wonderful for me. He is a great teacher and has been dancing for a long time. I've been able to learn things so much more quickly because I have unlimited access to my teacher. I would say the con side would be that he can't teach me everything there is to know about being a follower because he's the leader. Also the pro's know exactly what they're doing by name and have specific ways of teaching the patterns/styling etc. I think ideally a little of both could got a long way - learning from a friend and some pro's.