What do you like in a travelling coach?

[DanceMentor]

I think a lot of us are exposed to coaches (who are often judges too) that come through town, and then are gone again. I was wondering if there is anything that you like/dislike in general (no specific names please).

For example, I like coaches that have follow up skills, and will be coming back soon, because often I need some re-enforcement, as well as the ability to ask follow up questions. If I know they will be back, that means a lot to me.

Also, it makes a big difference to me if I feel like they are actually looking at my dancing carefully. Sometimes I feel I get sort of a "canned" delivery of information. That only helps me so much, because I need to apply to my dance partnership, and I need to know what I most need right now, versus a pre-formated speech.

What are you looking for most?

[Chris Stratton]

Actually, I've been impressed at how the more famous visiting coaches often will deliver a lot of the same message to almost everyone. I think it's because a lot of what they offer is core ideas that are keys to reliable long-term success, but quite often overlooked (or simply not yet implemented) even by fairly advanced and high placing dancers. I feel like anyone (even a non-dancer) can quickly get to the point where they can coach your performance, but what the real expert teacher can do is call your attention to underlying fundamentals that can make a huge difference when incorporated. I don't really want a lesson that's about me, I want a lesson that's about the teacher and their understanding of how dancing works, perhaps narrowed to what aspects of that might be useful to me over the next year or so.

While it's nice if they will be back soon, as an alternative, it helps if there are other comparable or higher level locals who also study with them. Often you'll get an idea that's just on the edge of your ability to implement or even to understand, and being able to discuss it with others after they leave is very helpful. The best of course is when your local teacher also taking lessons from the visitor, because then you can specifically ask for interpretation in followup lessons without the usual complications of asking one teacher about something another said.

[NielsenE]

I just had a marathon weekend of lessons with Evgeny and Inna in Rhythm (4 privates, 6 group "master" classes). Very impressed.

After talking with the other people who took privates, it does seem like they had a rather focused topic to impart, but tailored the presentation to the individuals. Which seemed like a nice blend. We're able to compare notes to help remember/refine some of their coachings, while at the same time it wasn't a canned delivery.

Like many visiting coaches the focus was on the fundamentals, which I appreciate. They also tended to drill a topic a little longer than I would normally like in a private, but given how new a lot of this material was for me and the likely frequency of getting to work with them again, I think that was the right call.

[White Chacha]

I've found that Ms Jørgensen has a phenomenal visual memory for the dancing of even her occasional students. She is able to tell where I've made progress vs where I haven't, even seeing me just three times a year.

[elisedance]

Can I ask a pro/am question here? It seems appropriate and not worth another thread: does anyone here take coaching dancing with their pro with a visiting pro? I know the expense issue is mind boggling but it might be worth it to pick up things that your pro may have missed - of course he would have to have self confidence like Napoleon to do it.....

[DancingJools]

Yes, it's very common to do so. Most often, it is the teacher who brings in the visiting coach. But I know of many cases where the student requests a lesson with a visiting coach, with or without his/her teacher present (most often with them present, though).
The ego issue is always trickyl, but the visiting coach is usually sensitive about it.

[mamboqueen]

I've done coachings with my teacher. Of the 3 teachers I've had, one charged -zero- for his time, the other charged 1/2 lesson fee and one charges his full lesson price. It can be expensive, so it is wise to have a good idea of what you want to work on. I had one coaching with an extremely high priced (and very good) coach who spent nearly 5 minutes looking for a cha cha. I finally pulled a cd out of my gym bag. *oy*. In any event, I think the pro's get something out of it, too, because I have seen the visiting coach make a few corrections with him as well. I think it is beneficial for both student and pro.

[skwiggy]

I agree with the points that for follow up it's helpful to work with someone who returns periodically, and ideally one that your regular instructor studies with.

I also like visiting coaches who work on broad concepts that might change the way I think about dancing, that I can apply across many different areas. A visiting coach that fixes one step or one problem has done just that. Fixed on step or one problem. But one that gives me a new concept or idea has empowered me to continue learning from that lesson for months and years to come.

[little_mouse]

newbie question: is it also customery for a visiting coach to give some new choreography pieces to a routine you're working on? Or do visiting coaches just work on technique issues?

[NielsenE]

newbie question: is it also customery for a visiting coach to give some new choreography pieces to a routine you're working on? Or do visiting coaches just work on technique issues?

It depends. I tend to have a regularly visiting coach who helps with my pro-am showcases, but that's because that's his specialty as theatre arts champion.

I got a foxtrot (smooth) routine from a visiting coach because my regular coach (for my am-am partnership) thought it would be better than what she could give us and I've always loved the visiting coach's interpretation of foxtrot.

In two lessons with a different visiting coach (pro-am now:) ) we did one choreography lesson and one technique lesson.

I try to play to the visiting coaches strengths... There was one exception and while it wasn't bad, it definitely didn't feel worth the additional cost.

[tanya_the_dancer]

Can I ask a pro/am question here? It seems appropriate and not worth another thread: does anyone here take coaching dancing with their pro with a visiting pro? I know the expense issue is mind boggling but it might be worth it to pick up things that your pro may have missed - of course he would have to have self confidence like Napoleon to do it.....

I prefer to have my pro there for a lesson with a visiting pro.

[elisedance]

I've done coachings with my teacher. Of the 3 teachers I've had, one charged -zero- for his time, the other charged 1/2 lesson fee and one charges his full lesson price. ............. In any event, I think the pro's get something out of it, too, because I have seen the visiting coach make a few corrections with him as well. I think it is beneficial for both student and pro.

I'm trying to egg my pro into this - he is very talented but also young and I think we could get a lot out of it. Since it would be a partnership coaching event I would hope he would not charge.

thanks for the feedback (and also DancingJools - love that tag, but is a Jool something I should know about or a name?)...

[tanya_the_dancer]

I try to play to the visiting coaches strengths... There was one exception and while it wasn't bad, it definitely didn't feel worth the additional cost.

A side question. What would you do if visiting coach's area of specialization is not the same area you specialize in. I.e. you do standard and the coach is a former latin champion (just making things up, not that I have any specific people in mind). Do you skip the opportunity, or...?

[elisedance]

A side question. What would you do if visiting coach's area of specialization is not the same area you specialize in. I.e. you do standard and the coach is a former latin champion (just making things up, not that I have any specific people in mind). Do you skip the opportunity, or...?

thats an easy one, cha-cha-rhumba!

[DancingJools]

(... DancingJools - love that tag, but is a Jool something I should know about or a name?)...
That's an easy one :p Sometimes, when I have the time, I design and make jewelry for ballroom dancing, hence the name. It's the name of the business, actually, but it's inactive right now.

[NielsenE]

A side question. What would you do if visiting coach's area of specialization is not the same area you specialize in. I.e. you do standard and the coach is a former latin champion (just making things up, not that I have any specific people in mind). Do you skip the opportunity, or...?

Well I aspire to be a 19-dancer, so... :)

But it again depends on the strengths -- there are some coaches who are know for being great at teaching how to create drama/story in the dancing. For most of them, it won't matter what their specialty style is and what your focus is. Smooth tends to be lucky (which is my primary with the 19) and can take something extremely valuable away from just about any disclipline.

For other styles its going to depend on the strengths of the coach... I wouldn't ask a latin technique specialist for help with Rhythm. But if I wanted help with say speeding up spins, or arms, or body rhythm isolations, etc those could be promising enough that I give them a trial to see if they can look past the latin/rhythm differences (almost all can) to still focus on the topic at hand. A standard/Smoot coach might be able to help with Bolero, etc

Standard, I feel, is kinda the odd man out. Unless you're looking for the story telling aspect, its going to be harder to pull from the other discliplines, IMO

[elisedance]

That's an easy one :p Sometimes, when I have the time, I design and make jewelry for ballroom dancing, hence the name. It's the name of the business, actually, but it's inactive right now.

Really? Maybe its time to re-activate the business. If I needed some jewelry made in a certain colour to match my dress could you do it? Its acombination of black/red and coral.

[DanceMentor]

I try to focus on the coaches that are in the areas where I compete, standard and latin, but I hope to branch out a little, after I have a few accomplishments under my belt.

[fascination]

I adore any coaching that I can get at all...am happy for whatever comes my way

[Fouette]

Well I aspire to be a 19-dancer, so... :)

Standard, I feel, is kinda the odd man out. Unless you're looking for the story telling aspect, its going to be harder to pull from the other discliplines, IMO

A number of professional standard dancers take the occasional lesson from important Latin coaches/judges to learn about what a Latin-trained judge would like to see in a standard couple. It could be for the story telling aspect; for the political; for the flow and freedom; for the music, etc.

Ultimately, I think what you can take away from a coaching depends on your mindset - if you go in with an open mind and a willingness to see your dancing from another perspective (ballroom vs. latin), I'm fairly confident you can learn something from a coaching, whether it be technique, performance, choreography, or musicality....the list goes on.

[Joe]

I've found that Ms Jørgensen has a phenomenal visual memory for the dancing of even her occasional students. She is able to tell where I've made progress vs where I haven't, even seeing me just three times a year.
Amen.

[White Chacha]

...
for the political...

Can I just say that I hate this aspect of choosing to take lessons. This whole business of people making certain they take lessons with judges of upcoming comps to gain an advantage which has nothing to do with the dancing feels wrong.

[tanya_the_dancer]

I adore any coaching that I can get at all...am happy for whatever comes my way

Obviously I live in the almost barren wasteland, when it comes to dance opportunities :) so I take any coaching opportunity which comes my way. I was wondering what people who live in more plentiful areas do.

[fascination]

lol, I wouldn't know

[Fouette]

Can I just say that I hate this aspect of choosing to take lessons. This whole business of people making certain they take lessons with judges of upcoming comps to gain an advantage which has nothing to do with the dancing feels wrong.

Well, if you approach "political" lessons with the mindset of "Every coach has something to offer", it doesn't have to feel so...dirty. (I'm trying to think of another word, but am failing to at this late hour.) Almost all higher-level coaches have some information to impart, and it doesn't hurt to take a couple lessons to hear what they have to say, even if the lessons seem political - once the information is in your hands, you can decide what to do with it.