What makes a good pro/am partnership

[liz]

With USDSC just around the corner. I have been thinking about past and present pros that I have danced wiith in the past. I was wondering at what point does it become more of a partnership. Also, at the highest level does the pro and the am start to be judged? If so at this point what is considered a good partnership in the eyes of the judges? Do they want to see more of the individual qualities, more independence of the am...(NOT BEING OVERLY DEPENDENT ON THE PRO) Is The male/female relationship a big issue in pro/am?Seems to me that when I watch alot of the open events, there is still a sense of who is the pro and who is the am..Sometimes I get the feeling that the pros try not to be overly sensual with the ams..I could be wrong... Would love to hear everyones thoughts on the subject.

[fascination]

the coaches I have had said they try to look at it as a partnership at the open level, but I think it is difficult for judges to discount either at any level...and as the AM half, I have always made it my mission to do my best to lessen the gap in skill...I did that with FP enough that some folks asked if I was a pro and mercifully, he took that as a compliment...I doubt it will ever happen w/NP...but it doesn't mean that I'm not going to try...as I said, for now my only goal is that people won't think he picked up a hitchiker on the way to orlando

[Josh]

I think most adjudicators at ANY level would prefer to see an independent am, not relying on the pro very heavily. IMO, the goal of pro/am at any level should be a partnership. Obviously it won't always be 50/50, but that should be the goal. Why would it be desirable to create anything else?

[Standarddancer]

the sort of partnership look as close to pro/pro as possible: compatibility, move nicely together, musical, showing great floor craft and good leading and following skill.

[Larinda McRaven]

duct tape

[fascination]

lol...moderates self

[fascination]

lemme see, what else?...boxing gloves, earplugs, box-o-wine

[samina]

a mutual appreciation for all things tequila & gin...

[hustleNflow]

lemme see, what else?...boxing gloves, earplugs, box-o-wine

Box-o-wine? Sounds like you and your partner are going on a Tour De Franzia! :nope:

[etp777]

Hrmmm, pro doens't drink. Guess that means I have to finisht he box myself. :)

[fascination]

Box-o-wine? Sounds like you and your partner are going on a Tour De Franzia! :nope:
only saw NP with a beer once before he was my pro...some itln beer I saw him order at ohio last year...lol b/c I was cozied up to the bar when he came through...but FP was partial to red beers and tom collins and some of our best moments happened over those...sigh...those were good moments

[fascination]

as for now... no drinking at all until ...well... the evening of sept 5

[waltzguy]

good height match is important

[syncopationator]

I think perception is key. It is very important that it looks like an equal partnership and not a student-teacher, especially when you are dancing in scholarships and championships.

[LatinDancer006]

An am with deep pocket is also important.

[etp777]

An am with deep pocket is also important.

Ain't that the truth.

[Laura]

Mutual respect.

[Standarddancer]

a good working relationship and get along well

[samina]

An am with deep pocket is also important.
:cool:


...

[samina]

Mutual respect.

definitely. key to any partnership, of course...

[fascination]

An am with deep pocket is also important.
didn't help me any ;)

[Standarddancer]

An am with deep pocket is also important.

:) this would help greatly but shouldn't be dominant factor of partnership. still takes talent and good training

[NielsenE]

chocolate

everything is better with chocolate

[and123]

YES! :cool:

[hustleNflow]

Smoldering sexual tension :raisebro: Haha.....NOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

[samina]

Smoldering sexual tension :raisebro: Haha.....NOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

lol, yep. would be very bad thing to have to confront day-in, day-out. my sympathy to all who have been there. what's that thing fasc says about some kinds of chemistry... makes things blow up??

a little bit, however... i'd say that's a valuable ingredient.

[hustleNflow]

lol, yep. would be very bad thing to have to confront day-in, day-out. my sympathy to all who have been there. what's that thing fasc says about some kinds of chemistry... makes things blow up??

a little bit, however... i'd say that's a valuable ingredient.

I'm in a situation right now where I would say there's a decent bit of it...but I think that we both know things would take a nosedive if we attempted to elaborate on it. So we just kinda let it be ;), and it definitely makes creating chemistry easier :-D

[fascination]

NOT...NOT...NOT...unless it is mutual and both are available

[2totango]

How about smouldering antagonistic tension? On any given day, my pro and I could go at it....his poor wife has to either tell us to stop or leave the room. Makes for a good tango, though!

[samina]

listen to fasc...

[samina]

How about smouldering antagonistic tension? On any given day, my pro and I could go at it....his poor wife has to either tell us to stop or leave the room. Makes for a good tango, though!

hmm... fasc could probly speak to this one, too. font of experience, that one. ;)

[fascination]

good heavens...smoldering(of any sort) is good until... well... it goes out or starts a fire

[contracheck]

definitely. key to any partnership, of course...

I'm not sure, sam. I get no respect from anyone but I had the same coach for 7 yrs, and we have rejoined now since she returned from the Pacific. It seems that nothing in the world can sever us. I have no idea why. Anybody has an answer?

[samina]

but who could concentrate with all that smoldering going on?

meh... maybe i need a good smolder...

[fascination]

hmm... fasc could probly speak to this one, too. font of experience, that one. ;)still nursing 3rd degree burns;)

[samina]

I'm not sure, sam. I get no respect from anyone but I had the same coach for 7 yrs, and we have rejoined now since she returned from the Pacific. It seems that nothing in the world can sever us. I have no idea why.

you're like the rodney dangerfield of ballroom... ;)

[samina]

still nursing 3rd degree burns;)

i'm as pale as pale can be :rolleyes:

[fascination]

but who could concentrate with all that smoldering going on?

meh... maybe i need a good smolder...the key word was UNTIL...don't do it

[samina]

the key word was UNTIL...don't do it

well, certainly not with my pro, anyway... dear lord, the thought of that kind of drama just exhausts me.

[hustleNflow]

NOT...NOT...NOT...unless it is mutual and both are available

Well we're both PHYSICALLY available (both single), and the feeling is mutal (from what I can tell), but I'm not sure we're emotionally available...so I daresay nothing will ever come to fruition ;)

[Peaches]

chocolate

everything is better with chocolateFor eating, or...??? :cool:

Oh, sorry...threads mixed up...my mind is still back in the "Crushes" thread. ;-)

[fascination]

correct

[2totango]

I have to admit, we can get off on tangents on any given topic; my first 6 months of lessons were mostly book club with a little bit of dancing thrown in, but I have gotten a lot more serious since switching to standard this year....so now we just throw a few jabs in at each other once in awhile. Its gotten to be our way of saying how much we like each other. Yeah, I'm sick, I admit it.

I do have to say, though, if we dance Argentine when one or the other is upset with the other, it actually turns out very nicely!
*smoulder*

[fascination]

Well we're both PHYSICALLY available (both single), and the feeling is mutal (from what I can tell), but I'm not sure we're emotionally available...so I daresay nothing will ever come to fruition ;)
stay away from emotionally unavailable....

[fascination]

I have to admit, we can get off on tangents on any given topic; my first 6 months of lessons were mostly book club with a little bit of dancing thrown in, but I have gotten a lot more serious since switching to standard this year....so now we just throw a few jabs in at each other once in awhile. Its gotten to be our way of saying how much we like each other. Yeah, I'm sick, I admit it.

I do have to say, though, if we dance Argentine when one or the other is upset with the other, it actually turns out very nicely!
*smoulder*my blessings upon you...

[contracheck]

you're like the rodney dangerfield of ballroom... ;)

I feel like so, but I want to be free. Can anyone tell me how I can break this bondage and be free once again.

[2totango]

Thanks, fasc. We have been through some dramatic ups and downs, probably because we have similar personalities, but I can't imagine anyone else instructing me. He is an excellent instructor, knows his stuff AND puts up with me.

Too many emotions with your pro is really too much drama!

[hustleNflow]

For eating, or...??? :cool:

Oh, sorry...threads mixed up...my mind is still back in the "Crushes" thread. ;-)

Mind outta the gutter, Peaches! Aw heck, mine's there too anyway :lol:

"Today's episode of DF has been brought to you by the word "smolder" and the smiley face :raisebro:!"

[samina]

Well we're both PHYSICALLY available (both single), and the feeling is mutal (from what I can tell), but I'm not sure we're emotionally available...so I daresay nothing will ever come to fruition ;)

ah... well this sounds like a nice little jane austen development. ah, the bittersweetness of romantic tension...

[fascination]

Thanks, fasc. We have been through some dramatic ups and downs, probably because we have similar personalities, but I can't imagine anyone else instructing me. He is an excellent instructor, knows his stuff AND puts up with me.

Too many emotions with your pro is really too much drama!
remember that

[and123]

smoldering chocolate bondage.... what has gotten into you people? :shock:

[hustleNflow]

ah... well this sounds like a nice little jane austen development. ah, the bittersweetness of romantic tension...

It is a bit exciting ;) Only problem is...he's kind of a mimbo, lol

[fascination]

I feel like so, but I want to be free. Can anyone tell me how I can break this bondage and be free once again.
stop paying:D

[hustleNflow]

smoldering chocolate bondage.... what has gotten into you people? :shock:

It's Tuesday...the most useless day of the week. That's what's gotten into us :car:

[fascination]

well I am leaving you people to your own devices...I have to go practice

[Peaches]

Mind outta the gutter, Peaches! Aw heck, mine's there too anyway :lol:

"Today's episode of DF has been brought to you by the word "smolder" and the smiley face :raisebro:!"LOL. Too late! :)

That reminds me of some video DH found online somewhere, a take-off on Sesame Street. "The word for today, boys and girls, is 'joint'!"

Anyhow, BOT... I'd imagine that effective communication between both parties would have to be huge. Especially since there's the teaching aspect going on. A teacher could be wonderful, but if he/she can't communicate in a way that makes sense to the student, it's not a good match.

[fascination]

thank you for bringing us BOT (however inadvertant)

[samina]

I feel like so, but I want to be free. Can anyone tell me how I can break this bondage and be free once again.

treat with unimpeachable respect to have it returned, mebbe?

[contracheck]

stop paying:D

I want to see other parts of the world.

[2totango]

Tell me about it!
At least there was no smouldering sexual tension there to complicate matters!

[liz]

get away from the computer for a few hours and you all go crazy....lol

[liz]

Funny what this topic has brought out in everyone. :-)

[samina]

lol... yep. between this thread & the crush one... funny afternoon.

[mamboqueen]

Wow...it's raging hormone Tuesday and no one told me??? Yeeeee!

Stinks that I have to head over to a very boring board meeting right now. I'd much rather contemplate smouldering, chocolate and bondage!

[samina]

I'd much rather contemplate smouldering, chocolate and bondage!

i'll take 2 of those 3. not telling which...heh.

[fascination]

well I don't like chocolate so I gues I had better refrain from saying ditto ;)

[LucyDiamond]

What have I missed here? Guess I'll have to go back and read the entire thread... :wink:

[samina]

ok... BOT. this is supposed to be a respectable thread!
*grin*

[mamboqueen]

i'll take 2 of those 3. not telling which...heh.

I'm not sure why you'd kick any one of them to the curb ;)

[mamboqueen]

well I don't like chocolate so I gues I had better refrain from saying ditto ;)

and you don't like shopping for shoes and clothes -- hard to believe we share the same sign!

[fascination]

now...back on topic...no bondage (not good to tie up pro...though I have ruminated over it in the past for a multitude of reasons)...forgiveness...that would be a good quality, flexibility would be good, organization helps, responsibility, courtesy, gratitude...all good...dedication, comittment

[samina]

I'm not sure why you'd kick any one of them to the curb ;)

will abstain from this particular subject...:cool:

[samina]

now...back on topic...no bondage (not good to tie up pro...though I have ruminated over it in the past for a multitude of reasons)...

well, admittedly, there is that "tie yourself to pro belt trick" handy for tango...

[fascination]

okay have to go teach...boy are you guys in trouble when LG gets on...

[samina]

i'm leaving anyway...nap, lessons, more work (punishment for DFing too much today).
the rest of the DF crew can bear the brunt of her wrath, lol.

[latingal]

boy are you guys in trouble when LG gets on...

Just exactly WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS THREAD?

*grin*

no more chocolate, no more smouldering and no bondage for any of you for the rest of the week....don't make me come over there!!!

[latingal]

ahem....what makes a good pro/am partnership?

lot's of HARD WORK! (and a bit of duct tape borrowed from Larinda)

[Purr]

What happened to this thread since yesterday afternoon? It started out fairly innocuous, and then went way out of control.

2totango and Fascination both have shared very wise words.

[Purr]

(and a bit of duct tape borrowed from Larinda)

What out the pool noodle?





Sorry, couldn't help myself. I'm out of here. :car:

[samina]

What out the pool noodle?





Sorry, couldn't help myself. I'm out of here. :car:

even purr can't resist... lol. see... something's in the air!:rolleyes:

[Purr]

even purr can't resist... lol. see... something's in the air!:rolleyes:

It must be something, if you can get a stick-in-the-mud like me to join in the antics.




I'm out of here, again. :car:




but...I'll be back. ;)

[hustleNflow]

even purr can't resist... lol. see... something's in the air!:rolleyes:

Indeed there is...Happy Hump Day! :cheers:

And for once I have something worthwhile to add to the conversation...I am surprised no one has mentioned being close in age as being conducive to a good pro/am partnership. I think it has to do with making the partnership look "believeable" and lessening the gap between the pro and the am...how many pros do you know whose pro partner is years older/younger than they are??? Plus, if there is a vast age difference, it makes dancing rumba and bolero, well...ICKY :(

[2totango]

Well, I don't know about that. I'll preface this by saying that my pro and I are 1 year apart in age, but we don't dance bolero or rumba, just the standard dances. However, I think that a good pro and an am who is willing to work can infuse any dance with the emotion it is meant to convey without the *ickiness* factor. Dancing is part acting.....

[Standarddancer]

ahem....what makes a good pro/am partnership?

lot's of HARD WORK! (and a bit of duct tape borrowed from Larinda)

what does duct tape do?

[samina]

what does duct tape *not* do is a question with a narrower range of answers...lol.

[samina]

okay, as my contribution to getting this thread BOT, i shall say that a good pro/am partnership requires *comfort* and a feeling of naturalness together...as well as a spirit of fun around being *uncomfortable* when forging new territory.

[2totango]

okay, as my contribution to getting this thread BOT, i shall say that a good pro/am partnership requires *comfort* and a feeling of naturalness together...as well as a spirit of fun around being *uncomfortable* when forging new territory.


Yes, yes, yes! That is exactly it. My pro and I, despite our latent smouldering antagonism, hit it off on the phone when I called to schedule my first lesson. I feel as though I've known him for years and I would trust him implicitly. Oh, I question him frequently and challenge him weekly, but I can't see myself learning from anyone else. He makes a good pro...now whether I am a good am, I couldn't say!

[Purr]

what does duct tape do?

and

what does duct tape *not* do is a question with a narrower range of answers...lol.

That was my first response when I read Standarddancer's post - what doesn't duct tape do?


Zoom...:car:

[Larinda McRaven]

http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/56/21/22132156.jpg

for the students that wont quit arguing...... fixing their partner.........can't run a round without stopping continually to discuss.... or just plain yammering!

[Larinda McRaven]

Actually I used a bandaid yesterday on a student. I was out of duct tape.

[2totango]

Guilty as charged!


for the students that wont quit arguing...... fixing their partner.........can't run a round without stopping continually to discuss.... or just plain yammering!

[samina]

http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/56/21/22132156.jpg

for the students that wont quit arguing...... fixing their partner.........can't run a round without stopping continually to discuss.... or just plain yammering!

that's hysterical

[hustleNflow]

and



That was my first response when I read Standarddancer's post - what doesn't duct tape do?


Zoom...:car:

Some uses for duct tape that are conducive to a good pro-am partnership...

*taping one another's mouth shut when all you can do is argue about who is throwing off your samba rolls
*taping your frame together (the hand-hold, the elbows, the shoulderblades) when your foxtrot seems to be falling apart at the seams
*taping the followers' eyes shut (so she has to let the leader lead her, and doesn't try to hijack)
*taping various costumes parts onto ones body (so as to avoid a 'wardrobe malfunction' and the subsequent pro-am awkwardness that might follow)
*taping the bottoms of pro's shoes (so he can't do all those flashy turns and spins he loves so much)
*taping partner to the wall (when one has simply had enough)

:bandit:

[Larinda McRaven]

*taping partner to the wall (when one has simply had enough)

:bandit:

a girl after my own heart

[njdancegirl]

Guilty as charged!

Me too...

[reb]

This is hilarious!

(the dance teacher's version of what would McGiver do?)

[danceronice]

Indeed there is...Happy Hump Day! :cheers:

And for once I have something worthwhile to add to the conversation...I am surprised no one has mentioned being close in age as being conducive to a good pro/am partnership. I think it has to do with making the partnership look "believeable" and lessening the gap between the pro and the am...how many pros do you know whose pro partner is years older/younger than they are??? Plus, if there is a vast age difference, it makes dancing rumba and bolero, well...ICKY :(

At risk of getting myself into trouble, it may be more style related, it may be that I dance bronze and as such I'm still focused mostly on technique, but I have, IN GENERAL, I'm not saying it's a bad thing or anything, better chemistry with the pro who is...ah...let's say more than a decade older than me...than my other pro, who's IIRC only a few years older. I've never had a problem doing rhumba or bolero with him (well, except getting the giggles which would happen with anyone because if you think too hard about it, both dances can look rather silly no matter who's doing them.) I think it's just a personality thing, mostly--again, not saying it's a bad thing or that I don't get along with Standard pro, I just click better with my Rhythm pro and it has very little to do with relative age. Heck, his star student is, while I don't think AS older than him as he is older than me, is still older than him. And no one can say they don't have chemistry.

[vcolfari]

The Am's willingness to work hard to ultimately minimize the difference in ability between the two dancers.

[syncopationator]

http://images.jupiterimages.com/common/detail/56/21/22132156.jpg

for the students that wont quit arguing...... fixing their partner.........can't run a round without stopping continually to discuss.... or just plain yammering!

Olga couldn't agree with you more :)

[Standarddancer]

Great duct tape picture! lol...very useful for those who never learn to shut their mouth, even during rounds!

[Terpsichorean Clod]

what does duct tape do?
"Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side and a dark side and it holds the universe together."

[soshedances]

Just read this whole thread from the beginning....it's a riot!!:uplaugh:

[soshedances]

Some uses for duct tape that are conducive to a good pro-am partnership...

*taping one another's mouth shut when all you can do is argue about who is throwing off your samba rolls
*taping your frame together (the hand-hold, the elbows, the shoulderblades) when your foxtrot seems to be falling apart at the seams
*taping the followers' eyes shut (so she has to let the leader lead her, and doesn't try to hijack)
*taping various costumes parts onto ones body (so as to avoid a 'wardrobe malfunction' and the subsequent pro-am awkwardness that might follow)
*taping the bottoms of pro's shoes (so he can't do all those flashy turns and spins he loves so much)
*taping partner to the wall (when one has simply had enough)

:bandit:

Always have medical tape in my bag...usually for blisters...now have much better uses for it!!! My partner better look out!!!:shock:

[NoDayButToday]

Just read this whole thread from the beginning....it's a riot!!:uplaugh:


Haha! I read the title of this thread and thought good topic! Then I started reading the responses... haha. But I really hope more people come back to the topic because I would love to read the responses that are relevant. :)