Too much, too fast

[danceguy]

There's an hour left at work...and you can't stop tapping your foot. When you're listening to the music your co-workers play...you hear an imaginary conga where it ought to be. The songs run through your head...and your dancing even though you're sitting still...

You've got a case of Salsa fever...tried and true!

But tonight you're going out to cure your Salsa withdrawls, be it at a local club, or maybe even your really cool Salsa class. You've had a lousy day at work, its a hurts to move day...but when you get home, all you can think of is...

Salsa
Salsa
Salsa!

You're already dancing as you're putting your best clothes on. Maybe you do some steps while you're brushing your teeth...and the music is playing in your house as you get ready.

The energy you feel while you dance is already being cultivated - and suddenly you forget about your headache, your stupid boss and all the aches and pains of day to day life...

You walk in the room, and you immediately feel the energy of the group dynamic - the word 'caliente' describes it well. Your feet move when you should be standing still, your heart is glowing of its own accord, and you're flirting with the ladies and surprised at how open and alive you feel.

But then - disaster strikes! :shock:

Suddenly, all of that beautiful passion and spice stops, and its not just you...its happening all around you. Then, its hits a few more victims, and without much warning, the entire room is feeling down. People stop trying to dance...stop moving...they're standing there with their arms crossed. Some start leaving...and they're gone for the night...which is a sad thing. The community you've created together is crumbling...for many who have lost those good vibes they had been feeling are gone. Perhaps for good.

Now, if I still have your attention, what is this black cloud that has descended and is chasing the new folks away?

Simple. You've taught them too much, too fast in the dance lesson!

It could be the lesson at a club, or one in a classroom. Either way, if 75% or more of the people in the group are totally lost and what you are teaching is above their current level...there's no way you are going to make them all get it after 20 tries! Let the ship sink...and sail for new seas! :oops:

I must say that I am seeing this more and more as I go out dancing, and its amazing how fast not only my energy level drops, but that of the people around me.

I saw it happen the other night...and I couldn't believe how many new folks left the club looking very frusterated. And again in my class tonight...I was feeling so great until we had some complicated pattern thrown at us. Just about everyone was totally lost...

Thoughts? Ideas? Am I seeing clearly or not? I know I must be on to something, because I see what happens around me, and what happens to the group dynamic...

Fortunately, my will is stronger than this...and I know when I hit my "frusteration point" and I just back off and cool down. I will continue dancing regardless...but I really feel for some of those folks who may have just had their first Salsa night...and also their last. :?

ScorpionGuy

[twodance]

Ahh the new teacher syndrum. This is where a new teacher or an inexperienced teacher teaches about 500 patterns in one lesson. It does suck the life out of a party. For group classes the majority rules. The beginners get left behind and the advanced people get bored. You have to teach to the majority of the level in the room.

[tsb]

Simple. You've taught them too much, too fast in the dance lesson!
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Thoughts? Ideas? Am I seeing clearly or not? I know I must be on to something, because I see what happens around me, and what happens to the group dynamic... ScorpionGuy

it's been a couple of years, but i did not find it uncommon to be in club classes that were described as intermediate/advanced (and there was a beginner class available) and there would be people who just had no business being in the class - even when the instructor had warned them and tried to weed them out by going through more intricate steps during the warmup. in a situation like that i personally feel that the instructor shouldn't bring the level of the class down.

[danceguy]

it's been a couple of years, but i did not find it uncommon to be in club classes that were described as intermediate/advanced (and there was a beginner class available) and there would be people who just had no business being in the class - even when the instructor had warned them and tried to weed them out by going through more intricate steps during the warmup. in a situation like that i personally feel that the instructor shouldn't bring the level of the class down.


Tsb,

I agree with you fully that a beginner shouldn't be in an advanced class - that holds everyone back and I used to encounter this a lot when I studied ballroom.

To explain more - the class I referred to in the post was a beginner Salsa class...and the moves we were shown were NOT beginner moves. And it wasn't that the moves were all that difficult, it was just that the teacher was going through the motions way too fast for any of us to really pick it up.

We all learn at different levels, but for myself I need to learn all of the steps slowly before I can do it do a medium pace Salsa tune. It goes both ways - a few days ago during a lesson we were shown some fancy steps and I was one of the few people who actually picked up it right away.

Believe me, I have some really wonderful teachers whom I respect and admire...but sometimes they go into "hyper mode" and lose nearly everyone in the room. This happened the other night, and everyone regardless of their level (and some were quite skilled) was having trouble picking up the intricate shine moves. We just were not given enough time to do them correctly...so everyone was messing up.

I think part of this is that some of the people who host the events I go to are performers and very into styling and showmanship. I have nothing against that I again I highly respect them...but sometimes they focus a bit too much on fancy moves and expect people to pick them up way too quickly.

SG

[tsb]

it's been a couple of years, but i did not find it uncommon to be in club classes that were described as intermediate/advanced (and there was a beginner class available) and there would be people who just had no business being in the class - even when the instructor had warned them and tried to weed them out by going through more intricate steps during the warmup. in a situation like that i personally feel that the instructor shouldn't bring the level of the class down.


Tsb,

I agree with you fully that a beginner shouldn't be in an advanced class - that holds everyone back and I used to encounter this a lot when I studied ballroom.

To explain more - the class I referred to in the post was a beginner Salsa class...and the moves we were shown were NOT beginner moves. And it wasn't that the moves were all that difficult, it was just that the teacher was going through the motions way too fast for any of us to really pick it up.

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I think part of this is that some of the people who host the events I go to are performers and very into styling and showmanship. I have nothing against that I again I highly respect them...but sometimes they focus a bit too much on fancy moves and expect people to pick them up way too quickly.

SG

sure. i understand; i see this most often in argentine tango (mainly because i'm still studying that and haven't taken a salsa lesson in a couple of years)

barry

[Sagitta]

Isn't it then the responsibility of the students to speak up and ask the instructor to repeat again, and more slowly? SG this should not be a problem here as you say that the majority of the students are not getting it. Am I right? If I'm not getting something I speak up as I am paying for a class and want to learn.

[danceguy]

You're right Sagitta - the students do need to speak up, but isn't it also the teacher's responsibility to pay attention to this? Speaking up is something I tend to have trouble with - I usually don't speak up when I need to, and when I finally do, I end up becoming a nasty ogre and hurting people's feelings. :oops:

Quite a few people do speak up in these instances...but you know its like watching someone trying to use a hand bucket to save a sinking ship. There's a point of no return that makes some people want to get up and leave.

Sometimes I speak up, sometimes I don't. Part of it is my personality...if I get too frustrated I just "lock up" and then start to lose my temper...which isn't a good thing.

As I tend to teach by example and not by words, at times I expect others to do so as well, which isn't fair to them. I tend to forget that I've become quite good at hiding my thoughts and feeling from others, so most people can never tell if I'm happy, sad or about to throw my shiny Capezios at them. :?