Differences of Teacher Styles

[bodelco]

Not all dance teachers have an aggreeable dance style in ALL dances so I believe that a student should feel free to engage additional instructors depending on the dance styles you like and don't like. Example: Joe Instructor really has a great style of Rhumba but you don't care for his waltz. Go to another teacher for the waltz! No rule says you have to take ALL your dance instruction with the SAME teacher, right? Loyalty is nice but if you don't like a certain style, go to someone who teaches a more likeable and suitable style for you.
Agree or not? Why?

[SDsalsaguy]

Welcome to the forums bodelco :D

Unfortunately I only have a few minutes to respond at the moment, but here are a couple of thoughts off the top of my head. On the whole I would agree with you – the student is, after all, the consumer, and should be free to mix and match as they see fit. If you were renovating/redecorating your house, you wouldn’t feel compelled to choose appliances, fixtures, furnishings, flooring, and wall treatments all from one merchant, so why treat the renovation of your dancing any differently?

That being said, however, a lot also depends on what you want out of your dancing. If its just a matter of fun and enjoyment, then absolutely – i.e., who cares if your red pillows clash with your green couch if you like it…its your house/your dancing after all! But, in the same way that an interior decorator can help provide an integrated design, so too with a coach. A primary coach can help integrate various elements that you have acquired through a variety of sources. Also, various coaches can sometimes end up being classified in different “camps” as it were, i.e., choreographers, technicians, performance coaches, etc. So, rather then having a rumba coach, a lot of couples choose to get rumba choreography from coach Q, while still training with coach R. I think this is more applicable to competitive dancing, but given different prioritizations between coaches, I think that it is important – at least for those who want to compete – to have a home coach. A home coach provides more consistent feedback over time, and also has a larger repertoire, gained via exposure, with which to assist – i.e. “you want the same sweeping effect there as you have in your fall away slip pivot in your waltz routine.”

Have to run, but I’ll check back in later.

--Jonathan

[pygmalion]

This is a good topic. And yes, you are free to take training from as many coaches as you wish. I like the interior decorator analogy.

My experience with this has been a little strange, since, in the past, I was taking lessons with up to five teachers at a time, each with a different perspective.

There was good, and bad. The good was I was able to take from each coach their strength. My hip hop coach helped me with isolations. Another helped me with emotional expression. Another with specific C&W dances.

The problem I ran into was that, since I'm a technically immature dancer, going from one to another really became confusing for me, and I believe I learned less than I would have if I'd stuck to just one or two coaches.

For that reason, right now, I have one coach, but I'm sure at some point, after I mature a little, I'll get another coach or two.

Thoughts, anyone?

[Vince A]

I have four coaches . . .

-one primary for all of my dances except the Latin dances.
-one for ballroom Waltz and ECS
-one for Latin dances
-one for funky styling in WCS and Hustle

[pygmalion]

That's interesting, Vince. How did you pick the Waltz and ECS coach? Doesn't seem to fit the rest of yuor methodology. Did you pick by reputation or recommendation of friends? Just curious.

[dancergal]

We take lessons at one primary dance class once a week for basically WCS and they also do a few classes on Hustle, NC2step and country 2step. We take a few privates from him as well. We also take all the workshop classes we can from other pros when available. This last weekend Sarah Van Drake and Kyle Redding (remember Dance Fever?) gave a workshop on WCS in Santa Cruz and then a dance lesson in the evening. We were thrilled to have them there and we gained a lot from their classes. It's definitely a plus to learn from other dance instructors. What a fun and inspirational couple they are! Good people too! Sarah is a sweetheart.

[Vince A]

That's interesting, Vince. How did you pick the Waltz and ECS coach? Doesn't seem to fit the rest of yuor methodology. Did you pick by reputation or recommendation of friends? Just curious.
I have always been doing Waltz and ECs in the C&W style of dance, and now the venus that I dance in is going more toward Ballroom. So, I wanted to learn those styles/techiques . . .

I've never done Latin except for Cha Cha and beginner's Salsa, so privates were in order here as well. I also got some AT lessons while there.

Swing lessons have been with Swing dancers! They also do C&W and Ballroom, Tap, Modern, and Ballet!

I randomly picked them out of the phone book and hoped for the best. I soon will be looking for new Ballroom instructors . . . if that tells you anything!

[pygmalion]

Yup. That tells me plenty! I understand very well. Since I joined the forums, I've gotten a few good referrals here. I also asked my primary coach for recommendations of other teachers to take lessons with. He made some good suggestions. Bear in mind that he's a pretty unique guy. Not all dance teachers would be forthcoming with that information.

[DanceMentor]

I have found among Ballroom teachers at least 4 flavors.

There are the Choreographers who can teach you an excellent routine in only a a couple of lessons.

There are the Step Masters who know every pattern from Bronze to Gold Deluxe Supreme Master. These people are usually very logical, yet fun.

There are the Technicians who know nearly everything concerning technique. Technicians are often very specialized and tend focus on one area (ex. American Rhythm).

And there are the Showpeople, who know the tricks to making your dancing appeal to the audience. These people are usually ecclectic and creative.

I think it is good to learn from a variety of teachers because it makes you well-rounded. All of the above are important. Personally, I usually prefer to spend the most time with the Technicians.

[pygmalion]

Thanks, DM. This is a new way of looking at it, for me. But I think you're right in terms of categorizing the various types of dance teachers. Maybe it's not fair to expect one teacher to be all things to everybody, since each teacher is likely to have a specific area of expertise.

Then this really adds to the students' responsibility to clearly define their own goals, make sure they're being met, and, as necessary, add instructor(s) to round out their dance training.

[smoothdancingirl]

When you're a beginner it's usually a good idea to stick to one or two teachers that are compatable in their teaching styles. After you learn the basics it's all about what medicine you need. Like if your competing you need choreography, a technician, someone to help with performing, and all sorts of things. I personally have two main coaches and take every now and then from other people. I even get help from other competitors from time to time. It's always a good idea to take a lesson from the people who are judges. That's the networking part of it.

[pygmalion]

That's a good idea. Taking lessons from judges? Never thought of that, but it makes sense to me. Are they allowed to do that? Teach and judge the same people? Isn't that a conflict of interest, or something? Yes, I am naive, just for the record. :lol:

[MissAlyssa]

I think it's a good idea to have more than one dance teacher and I am definetly not offended if one of my students wants to take a lesson from another (or more than one) instructor.

[SDsalsaguy]

That's a good idea. Taking lessons from judges? Never thought of that, but it makes sense to me. Are they allowed to do that? Teach and judge the same people? Isn't that a conflict of interest, or something? Yes, I am naive, just for the record. :lol:
:lol: Yes Jenn, they are "allowed" to do that. And yes, it is a conflict of interest. But that's before you mention that the same people may also be event organizers, pro-am instructors, studio owners, etc., etc., etc.,... now we're talking real (at least potential for) conflicts of interests! :wink:

[SDsalsaguy]

When you're a beginner it's usually a good idea to stick to one or two teachers that are compatable in their teaching styles. After you learn the basics it's all about what medicine you need. Like if your competing you need choreography, a technician, someone to help with performing, and all sorts of things. I personally have two main coaches and take every now and then from other people. I even get help from other competitors from time to time. It's always a good idea to take a lesson from the people who are judges. That's the networking part of it.
This is very sound advice. Starting out with too many teachers is just like the proverbial too many cooks in the kitchen. Individually each may know how to produce something fantastic but you can’t be working in too many different directions at once...especially as a beginner! Similarly, beginners often think that different instructors are speaking cross purposes when, in fact, the underling dynamics are the same. This isn't, of course, to say that you shouldn't try different instructors but, rather, when you find one you like, maximize your learning by staying relatively focused. Once you reach certain levels of command and understanding it makes sense to, as smoothdancingirl suggests, tailor your coaching input to your particular wants and needs.