Feeling "stuck"...

[ShyDancer]

I dont know quite how to describe the feeling Im having at the moment....

I feel like my dancing isnt going as fast as Id like it to be.

I am doing my bronze medal class and my teachers tell me that Im right where I should be, thats great to hear but I really feel like I could be a lot further along in terms of technique. I realise I have to stick to the routines that I need for the exam, and that I must be patient with the rest of the people in my class when they have trouble, but I get bored.
I take a private lesson every week but that teacher wont teach me any steps that we havent done in class already , so that I dont get too far ahead of the rest of the class. I find this really annoying. he also wont go into any styling or technique with me because it hasnt been done in class yet.

Its really frustrating me !

Anyone else felt like this? What did you do about it?

[MadamSamba]

Hey, Shydancer...we've all been there, regularly! Check out this thread. (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2662&highlight=)

[SDsalsaguy]

This strikes me as being problematic ShyDancer... during a private lesson you should get what *you* want. Personally I wouldn't mind not learning new patterns in a private lesson but, if your teacher is unwilling to show you more technique than the group classes, why even bother with the private lessons??? Just my two (recently back from Mexico City) pesos...

[MadamSamba]

That's so true, SD. My teacher used to bully me into doing what he wanted until I took a bit of a stand. He would get bored and stop teaching me a step if I couldn't get it relatively quickly.

Eventually I said to him, "no, I want to learn this dance/step. I'm paying to learn this dance and I don't wish to move on to something "easier" until I master this step." He never bullied me again and I'm learning at my own pace.

Having said that, I respect that he knows what my limits are and does tell me if I get too ambitious. Tempered with my own judgement I'll either agree or disagree and generally do agree, but the gist is that I'm paying to learn and I should be learning what I want to learn, not what he wants to teach me. That's what privates lessons are for, to learn what you want to learn and what isn't taught in a group lesson.

[Genesius Redux]

Are you feeling frustrated that you're not leaning as many steps, or that you're not learning as much *technique*? In my experience, they're different.

There's an awful lot of technique you can learn simply in, say, a rumba basic. Teachers I've had tended to balance technique against new steps--usually I got one new step per lesson, along with a lot of technique.

Don't know what it's like in Australia, but in the states, the franchise dance studios tend to be pretty restrictive in what they teach when. I'm at an independent studio now, and my teacher just moves me along with whatever she feels I'm ready to learn. I think it's overall better to focus on technique, learning a few steps that you do really well at first. The more of a technical grounding you get, the easier it will be to pick up just the steps later on.

I started in a studio that was a lot more restricted in what they taught and when--but I was lucky in my first teacher, whose primary interest was to make her students as fun to dance with as she could. So she frequently just ignored what her managers wanted her to teach and went ahead and generously taught what she knew as it became appropriate.

Part of it is the kind of relationship you have with your teacher. I make friends with my teachers quickly enough that I feel I can pretty much ask them anything. At the same time, I defer to their judgment in what they want to teach--and since I'm working on about ten different dances, it's very unlikely that I'll ever get bored.

My suggestion is that you talk to your teacher, tell him that you feel your dancing is getting stuck and ask him about what he really wants to work on and why. That would be the courteous and, I think, professional thing to do.

Yes, it's your penny, and you should be able to learn what you want. But your teacher also bears a responsibility to help you lay a good foundation before moving you on--ultimately you would be more frustrated moving too fast. He has to balance that with keeping you interested and engaged and excited about what you're learning, and that's not an easy thing to do.

Also I came at dance with about 12 years of martial arts experience, in which the thought of a student going to a teacher (who in my case was a Grand Master) and saying, "I want to learn such-and-such a technique" is unthinkable. Dance instruction, I've found, tends to be a little more fluid, and not so charged with a moral or hierarchical relationship.

One difference, perhaps, is that it is quite obvious in a martial arts context what you're ready for and what you're not. In dance, particularly if your teacher is skilled at leading or backleading, it's not so obvious.

Anyway, these are random thoughts, especially after midnight--but what I think is the key is communication. I don't think you'll hurt your teacher's feelings if you're totally honest about what you're frustrated with, at least not if your teacher is really professional in his outlook. Try talking to him first and see what he says.

Cheers,

Genesius

[ShyDancer]

My teacher knows Im bored with the pace Im at...I told him so. ... but he said that as we have done very little technique work in the classes that he cant really go over them with me until I have started working on them in class :(

Rest assured that my money and time is not being wasted during the private lesson though, I am running through all my dances and it keeps them fresh in my mind (well the ones we have moved on from) which is good, and after a rather unsubtle hint to him that I wanted to learn NEW things, he asked what Id like to do and we started on the Merrilyn (A NV dance) which pleased me :D


I just really want to do more with the latin! I want to be able to dance better at the social night every week, not just do the few basic move that the bronze level syllabus requires.

Maybe I should look into a different class, ie not a medal one but an intermediate latin class?

[SDsalsaguy]

...he said that as we have done very little technique work in the classes that he cant really go over them with me until I have started working on them in class :(
This is the part that sounds like nonsense to me! If its a private lesson why can't he introduce new technique to you???

While I'm glad that you find your private lessons valuable, a private lesson should be *much* more than merely a review session!!! :x

[Sagitta]

...he said that as we have done very little technique work in the classes that he cant really go over them with me until I have started working on them in class :(
This is the part that sounds like nonsense to me! If its a private lesson why can't he introduce new technique to you???

While I'm glad that you find your private lessons valuable, a private lesson should be *much* more than merely a review session!!! :x

Ditto!! :x Don't let yourself get gipped!

[bordertangoman]

As I've only had one private lesson and that was yesterday I suggest that you ignore the following advice I'm about to give.

It strikes me that your private lesson is actually coaching if you're not learning anything new. Is that what you want or need?

It should be based on mutual respect. the tutor should respect your wishes if even if he/she disagrees with them. and you should respect his evaluation of what he believes you need.

I think the martial arts comment applies to a degree but you're paying so you decide and take responsibility for it.
If i go into a car showroom intending to buy a ferrari and the salesman said ' on no sir we can only let you buy a 2CV ' I would be dissed.

[dancin_feet]

Sounds like this teacher is not teaching you at your pace in your private lesson. I thought that's what private lessons were for. I still go to groups, but use what I learn in my private lessons and practice it in the groups. Group lessons at our studio are basically supervised practice sessions once you are doing privates as well.

Maybe the studio is not catering to your needs and you need to shop around?

[salsachinita]

Maybe the studio is not catering to your needs and you need to shop around?

I agree. Shop around...! There is a HUGE range of studios to choose from, and there is NOTHING wrong with attending classes from different studios. In fact, you will benefit from the wide range of different people you learn from, as EVERYONE has something unique to offer.

*so said the one who doesn't like studios/class environment :roll: :oops: *

[ShyDancer]

I have decided to put the heels in this week and demand that he teach me what I want to learn.

I have really thought about the replies on this thread for a few days, espescially this...

While I'm glad that you find your private lessons valuable, a private lesson should be *much* more than merely a review session!!!

That pretty much sums up what I feel like Im getting, I enjoy going over my dances and smoothing out trouble spots, but I do feel like I could be learning a lot more, actually I know I could learn a lot more.

I want to learn technique, I dont care that I will be far ahead of the rest of my class, they can take privates if they want to be better! I am already much further ahead than everyone, along with my sister who is taking privates at the same time I am. I enjoy being able to nail the routine while watcing everyone else struggle (thats mean I know but this is where Im finding my privates valuable!)
I want to get the best possible score that I can get out f my exam, thats why Im paying for these lessons after all! So yep, putting my foot down this week! (Picture me with my arms staunchly folded across my chest and a determined frown upon my face!)

[SDsalsaguy]

(Picture me with my arms staunchly folded across my chest and a determined frown upon my face!)
So pictured! :lol:

...and I'm glad if my comments have, in some small way, helped you realize that you deserve more from your private lessons.

[DancePoet]

I agree with SDsalsaguy and Dancin_Feet.

If one pays for private dance lessons, then there should be some effort on the instructor to provide what is being requested. Certainly an instructor could provide a reason why a certain item should be worked on first before attempting another. However, providing help with technique will only help a person with there group lessons. The student can practice the technique while learning the new steps or whatever else happens to be on the agenda for the group class. Some students progress faster then others and this can be accounted for through the private lessons.

I would seriously consider reviewing other studio options if your needs are not being met. I am fortunate to have an instructor who is flexible in how lessons are taught based on the discussions we have, yet knows the value of pointing out what's important to progress in certain areas as well. As with most things in life, a good balance is key!

[dancin_feet]

IMO privates certainly are not practice sessions, and if that is all he is treating it as, you need to confront him and if he doesn't change his position, change instructors and possibly studios.

You are paying top dollar for privates. You can practice in a club or at home for considerably less money. Privates are to progress your dancing at your pace.

[ShyDancer]

Well here goes! Im off tonight for the private lesson........and I have complied a list of what I want to learn :D :D
Will let you know how it goes!

[dancin_feet]

Good luck! Just remember, you are the paying customer and if they want to keep your business they have to listen to you.

[SDsalsaguy]

Best of luck! I hope it works out really well and am looking forward to an update....

[ShyDancer]

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Is that any indication of how it went??


It went very well! I didnt even really have to say much at all, I just told him I was getting bored of the same things we were doing in class, and he replied saying that he thought I just wanted to go over what I had learnt, seems to be a lack of communication really.
So he started me on Jive, which really excited me, and we managed to get halfway through the routine, along with going over my other 4 dances and some time on Merrilyn :D
He has now suggested I go for my NV vogue medal as well...we can use the private lessons to learn the dances required, and considering I already know one really well (Evening 3 Step) ,and I can do the Merrilyn without looking silly all Id have to learn would be the 3rd dance which Im not sure of, will have to check on that.
Hmmmm Im not sure yet though, What do you guys think? Is 3 medals too much for a beginner? Im rather confident that I could handle it without much problem at all.
I think I will have a more indepth chat with the principal of the studio on Monday and then decide!

[Genesius Redux]

:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Is that any indication of how it went??


It went very well! I didnt even really have to say much at all, I just told him I was getting bored of the same things we were doing in class, and he replied saying that he thought I just wanted to go over what I had learnt, seems to be a lack of communication really.


Ya see? All that worry and all ya had to do was talk to him! :wink:

We're all still waiting for your new name....

[dancin_feet]

Good on you! A bit of simple communication will work wonders.

No, three medals is not too much if you believe you can handle it (and afford it). I have taken on much more than the average person at my studio, but I figure while I'm enjoying it and can afford to do it, why not?

Go for it! :D

[ShyDancer]

Well add New Vogue to my list of medals :D :D :D

I had a chat to the principal last night and he was really happy for me to do it, he thinks I have plenty of time to learn the dances --Evening 3 Step, Merrilyn and Parma Waltz. Considering I know the Evening 3 Step really well, all Id have to learn would be the more technical points with arms and stuff, I know most of the Merrilyn so that only needs a little work as well.....Id just have to learn one dance! I think my chances are pretty good! And if I dont feel ready to complete the exam I can always try again next time :D ........... but Ill do it...cos I want to!

[SDsalsaguy]

Good on you ShyDancer! :D

[Sagitta]

Great to hear things are going so well Shydancer! Congrats! :D