Ballroom Dancing Lessons - 3 Common Misconceptions Addressed

[Leonid Turetsky]

Ballroom Dancing Lessons - 3 Common Misconceptions Addressed



1. You either have it or you don't
Misconception number one is that you have to be born with some extraordinary natural ability to dance, that if you cannot immediately pick it up, you are forever doomed. In reality, the only things that matter are hard work and dedication. Learning how to dance is really not as ambiguous as people think. During your Ballroom dancing lessons, your instructor will break down the various dance principles such as foot placements, timing of music and other techniques. You will find that the instruction is actually quite black and white, a step by step process that requires no innate ability. In fact, the naturally talented ones may have it worse. They may be so used to learning dance quickly and easily, that when confronted with a challenge, they become frustrated and discouraged. Their improvement slows down because they are not used to putting in the work. They are, of course, experiencing the normal learning process. The only sure way to consistently progress is through hard work and dedication. So forget about how talented you are or are not and instead practice, practice, practice.

2. Group classes are enough
Myth number two is that you can be really good from just taking group classes. As a professional dance instructor, I am here to tell you that group classes alone will not get you far. The reason is that you do not get enough personal attention and critique. Individual attention is crucial in the Ballroom dance learning process for developing the right habits and eliminating the wrong ones. Your group classes could be level specific, the instruction could be very informative and thorough, and still your progress is minimal. Having you and an x number of other students in the same class diminishes the time your teacher can allocate to correct any mistakes that you may have. Most of the class time is spent on general information for the entire group with a few minutes for individual corrections. If you really want to dance well, you should strongly consider doing private dance lessons to supplement your groups for consistent improvement.

3. All I need is 1 month
I am sorry to let you know that you cannot really learn how to Ballroom dance properly in 1 month. Can you learn how to play an instrument in 1 month? Or learn how to speak a new language? Of course not! Dancing works just the same. Besides dance steps and patterns, there are many technique elements to learn such as: posture, footwork, lead and follow techniques, music/timing, character and more. With all the information, it takes time for the body to develop muscle memory. One month will introduce you to a few basic dance steps and concepts but it is not enough to make you an adequate dancer. People who have a set time frame for learning how to dance are naive and do not fully understand the learning process. The best thing you can do when you decide to learn how to dance is to take Ballroom dancing lessons consistently. To start, I recommend 1-2 private lessons a week for at least 3 months. During those first 3 months have an open mind and just learn, absorb, practice, feel and experiment the dancing world. Hopefully after that you will see that learning how to dance is a process that cannot be measured with time.

All of the ideas in this article are derived from my personal teaching experience.

[Chris Stratton]

Having seen what happens both ways, i'd say that while private lessons are a great help, there's really nothing like having a group of peers to dance with while learning amongst, so that there's overlap between the settings in which help is available, and those in which the problems of application occur.

And unless ones time is worth more than the lesson rate, it must also be considered that some skills can only be learned so fast, meaning paying for exclusive attention for a fair chunk of an hour may not yet be cost effective. In other words 2 good group classes, a peer practice or two, a social, and one private lesson is not only cheaper, its more practically effective, too.

[Leonid Turetsky]

I agree that group classes are valuable in the learning process. But if you are serious about reaching a good/decent level of dancing, you will need personal (private) instruction in my opinion. And group classes just simply can't give much individual attention...

[Chris Stratton]

If a student is without peers, then their problems are often unique and a lot of individual attention is the only way they can be addressed.

However, in a class of comparable dancers, so many of the problems are shared, and the solutions may take many repetitions of instruction to adopt. Buying exclusive attention for substantial chunks of time is not necessarily cost effective, as a good class teacher is likely to note and comment on many of the same issues that would be covered in a private lesson. Less frequent private lessons can than be saved for the uniquely personal challenges.

But of even more importance is the question of application. Who is the student learning to dance in order to dance with? If learning becomes mostly identified with private lessons, soon dancing does as well.

[Terpsichorean Clod]

All other things being equal, I would go for private lessons over group classes. But given that I routinely see collegiate couples with two semesters of group classes placing ahead of studio system couples who have been taking private lessons for years, I think there may be more important factors than group classes vs. private lessons.

[MultiFaceted Dancer]

Since I am an advocator of both Private and group lessons, I Believe Both are equally important in a students learning process. While individual attention in a private lesson is invaluable, only so much information can be absorbed at one time without getting fully fustrated -making group lessons a great avenue to allow a student to get more information at an unstressed level with others in class - that can be more developed in a private lesson at a later time. The more lessons, whether group or private, a student takes and the more times you see and here the information the more questions that will develop and the deeper the understanding becomes.

[Leonid Turetsky]

agreed!


Since I am an advocator of both Private and group lessons, I Believe Both are equally important in a students learning process. While individual attention in a private lesson is invaluable, only so much information can be absorbed at one time without getting fully fustrated -making group lessons a great avenue to allow a student to get more information at an unstressed level with others in class - that can be more developed in a private lesson at a later time. The more lessons, whether group or private, a student takes and the more times you see and here the information the more questions that will develop and the deeper the understanding becomes.

[Linda J Schlensker]

I believe that there are three necessary legs to learning to dance well. Group classes, plus privates, but group practice with different partners. Classes are the most cost effective way to learn new patterns and get exposed to new ideas. Private lessons with a good teacher allows you to learn partnership and get immediate feedback on problems you are having. However, unless the only person you want to be able to dance with is your instructor, you need to practice your lead and follow with the real people you want to go out dancing with. How do you adjust your lead to a beginner and help them become better dancers? How do you lead or follow and advanced dancer? The most cost effective approach is all three together with reputable teachers helping you all the way.

[Ray Sison]

I believe that there are three necessary legs to learning to dance well. Group classes, plus privates, but group practice with different partners. Classes are the most cost effective way to learn new patterns and get exposed to new ideas. Private lessons with a good teacher allows you to learn partnership and get immediate feedback on problems you are having. However, unless the only person you want to be able to dance with is your instructor, you need to practice your lead and follow with the real people you want to go out dancing with. How do you adjust your lead to a beginner and help them become better dancers? How do you lead or follow and advanced dancer? The most cost effective approach is all three together with reputable teachers helping you all the way.

This seems to have worked well for me...

[jerseydancer]

for a social dancer group classes could probably satisfy both: desire to communicate with people who have similar hobby (dancing) and learn some dance steps and may be basic technique. for a competitive dancer i do not see any value for classes, people in the class have different skills, different goals, different heights (trying to dance with someone much taller than me in a class was a struggle and not a learning experience, it hard enough when a pro is much taller, but they can adjust for a student, what is impossible to ask from am dancer in a class)

[jerseydancer]

I have heard another misconception: one couple we have met on a cruse was insisting that one can learn just from video tapes. unfortunately for them, they were clear example that it does not work, but we did not have hart to let them know. it was their vacation, and they seemed to enjoy dancing regress being incredibly on a way of each other all the time and fighting about it:)

[Ray Sison]

for a social dancer group classes could probably satisfy both: desire to communicate with people who have similar hobby (dancing) and learn some dance steps and may be basic technique. for a competitive dancer i do not see any value for classes, people in the class have different skills, different goals, different heights (trying to dance with someone much taller than me in a class was a struggle and not a learning experience, it hard enough when a pro is much taller, but they can adjust for a student, what is impossible to ask from am dancer in a class)

That makes a lot of sense for your circumstances...

[jerseydancer]

That makes a lot of sense for your circumstances... you mean being only 5'3":)

[Ray Sison]

you mean being only 5'3":)

Everything that you put in your posting, including your goals...

[Leonid Turetsky]

I totally agree that learning JUST from videos will not make you a good dancer... I think videos can be an awesome extra resource though in addition to physical classes: Used for review of steps, inspiration, extra tips etc.

I have heard another misconception: one couple we have met on a cruse was insisting that one can learn just from video tapes. unfortunately for them, they were clear example that it does not work, but we did not have hart to let them know. it was their vacation, and they seemed to enjoy dancing regress being incredibly on a way of each other all the time and fighting about it:)

[Bailamosdance]

I think for the competitive Latin dancer group classes offer an invaluable resource, if they focus on technique, drills, etc (not the usual 'yada yada ok take a partner' social class). This is proven time and time again when I see younger students advance rapidly thru hours of Latin walks and choreography.

The standard dancer gains much insight from a technique based class (Giampierro Giannico at Starlight in NJ held weekly classes 2 years ago that not only were insightful and thoughtful, but were attended by the top dancers in the area; he gave us all the chance to see and work with others, which is how I imagine it is in more advanced countries LOL)....

[Ray Sison]

I think for the competitive Latin dancer group classes offer an invaluable resource, if they focus on technique, drills, etc (not the usual 'yada yada ok take a partner' social class). This is proven time and time again when I see younger students advance rapidly thru hours of Latin walks and choreography.

The standard dancer gains much insight from a technique based class (Giampierro Giannico at Starlight in NJ held weekly classes 2 years ago that not only were insightful and thoughtful, but were attended by the top dancers in the area; he gave us all the chance to see and work with others, which is how I imagine it is in more advanced countries LOL)....

I agree--and I love and appreciate our technique-based classes at the studio...

[debmc]

I agree. Which is why the TV show Dancing with the Stars bothers me, because they are trying to suggest that in a week someone can learn how to dance a particular ballroom dance.

[Ray Sison]

I agree. Which is why the TV show Dancing with the Stars bothers me, because they are trying to suggest that in a week someone can learn how to dance a particular ballroom dance.

debmc, you make good points. Thanks!!! Though a silver lining is that Dancing with the Stars (along with the Richard Gere remake of Shall We Dace) has really helped to propel interest in partner dancing...
:p

[Chris Stratton]

I agree. Which is why the TV show Dancing with the Stars bothers me, because they are trying to suggest that in a week someone can learn how to dance a particular ballroom dance.

I think someone could make a lot of progress on most of the dances in a week, event without constant attention from a teacher; the problem I have is more that they are expected to perform them rather than just develop some of the initially key ideas for their own enjoyment, sense of accomplishment and longer-range learning benefit.

[Ray Sison]

I think someone could make a lot of progress on most of the dances in a week, event without constant attention from a teacher; the problem I have is more that they are expected to perform them rather than just develop some of the initially key ideas for their own enjoyment, sense of accomplishment and longer-range learning benefit.

This answers some questions that I have had about the show since I first started watching it. (I did not see the first one or two seasons.) Thanks, Chris...

[ballroomdance201]

I also believe in persistence over natural skill.

[Oldgeezer]

I agree. Which is why the TV show Dancing with the Stars bothers me, because they are trying to suggest that in a week someone can learn how to dance a particular ballroom dance.

If a person receives some 40 hrs training on one dance "Private lesson" then they are getting probably twenty weeks of one to one training in one go.
I'm not saying that they will gain full command of that dance but if:-

1) They are half decent and have had some form of dance training or athletic discipline in the past.
and
2) They have a good Pro teacher who sets achievable choreography "For the Celeb"

Then yes they can learn to dance a particular ballroom dance "proficiently".
except Samba "unless they are Latin decent" and Foxtrot!

[Oldgeezer]

Ballroom Dancing Lessons - 3 Common Misconceptions Addressed



1. You either have it or you don't
Misconception number one is that you have to be born with some extraordinary natural ability to dance, that if you cannot immediately pick it up, you are forever doomed. In reality, the only things that matter are hard work and dedication. Learning how to dance is really not as ambiguous as people think. During your Ballroom dancing lessons, your instructor will break down the various dance principles such as foot placements, timing of music and other techniques. You will find that the instruction is actually quite black and white, a step by step process that requires no innate ability. In fact, the naturally talented ones may have it worse. They may be so used to learning dance quickly and easily, that when confronted with a challenge, they become frustrated and discouraged. Their improvement slows down because they are not used to putting in the work. They are, of course, experiencing the normal learning process. The only sure way to consistently progress is through hard work and dedication. So forget about how talented you are or are not and instead practice, practice, practice.

I agree with you to a point but some natural ability does help! (it can help the teachers sanity). To make a point for the student though, sometimes the boot is on the other foot! I knew two very natural dancers, at the time both from the same studio, Donny B and Sammy S.

S.S. only got irritated with others because what he was teaching them, "to himself" was so natural that it was a case of "what's so difficult"?

Donny B was just in his own "Brilliant" world, at his level, anyone was welcomed to join in "if they could breath in the thin air"! (He wasn't teaching at the time, just dancing)

2. Group classes are enough
Myth number two is that you can be really good from just taking group classes. As a professional dance instructor, I am here to tell you that group classes alone will not get you far. The reason is that you do not get enough personal attention and critique. Individual attention is crucial in the Ballroom dance learning process for developing the right habits and eliminating the wrong ones. Your group classes could be level specific, the instruction could be very informative and thorough, and still your progress is minimal. Having you and an x number of other students in the same class diminishes the time your teacher can allocate to correct any mistakes that you may have. Most of the class time is spent on general information for the entire group with a few minutes for individual corrections. If you really want to dance well, you should strongly consider doing private dance lessons to supplement your groups for consistent improvement.


I agree with many of the other comments for the pros of group lessons, especially technique and learning along with your peers. In the UK many of the medallist schools are the bedrock for bringing on competitive dancers (could now be past tense) "technique is taught in good schools as part and parcel of the teaching process, LOD etc". When a good student from a "good group taught" medallist school comes into a competitive school/studio the basics are already there and this is normally where private lessons begin!

"There is a place for group teaching, what a student gets from it depends on the ability and levels of the student the group and the teacher!"

I have seen kids come from such a school, into a competitive school and within two years win the British Junior championships!

[Leonid Turetsky]

I totally agree with you that competitive students can get lots out of group classes...and I am not discounting group classes at all... Usually those competitive students ARE ALREADY doing privates anyways. And they use group classes for extra practice.

I think for the competitive Latin dancer group classes offer an invaluable resource, if they focus on technique, drills, etc (not the usual 'yada yada ok take a partner' social class). This is proven time and time again when I see younger students advance rapidly thru hours of Latin walks and choreography.

The standard dancer gains much insight from a technique based class (Giampierro Giannico at Starlight in NJ held weekly classes 2 years ago that not only were insightful and thoughtful, but were attended by the top dancers in the area; he gave us all the chance to see and work with others, which is how I imagine it is in more advanced countries LOL)....