Promenade Position - Tango

[GoldStar]

Hey guys,

I'm a ballroom dancer for an a half of a year at this moment.

In this coming Tuesday there is my studio's In House Showcase and I do Tango.

Anyway, when I'm watching this awesome dancer Mirko Gozzoli I can tell that there is a problem with my Promenade position. I don't know what it is but it seems like I don't have thix X factor because I'm doing like I was told but still there is something I miss.

When I'm watching Mirko Gozzoli, I can see that he makes a real fast and sharp move when he is turning to Promenade poistion but still his arms and his back are perfectly straight like a stick.

So what is this sharp move about? I mean, It's not his back and not his arm, so It's only a fast and sharp move of his head or head and also his hips?
Is he doing something else though? Something I missed?

Im so sorry If I wrote too much but I really want to work on my Promenade position as I said. Your suggestions and help will be so much to me. Maybe even some extra help with suggestions for keeping my back straight?

Thank you in advance,
and I hope I will be able to do Perfect Promenade this tuesday :)

[Warren J. Dew]

That's an international style tango link. Mirko Gozzoli has probably been working on his for about 30 years. You might not get yours there by tuesday.

Are you using the link as your entry to promenade, or are you using some other figure? There are other perfectly good promenade entries that don't have the head snap.

In any case, the main thing that's being done is leading the lady to promenade. There is some action in the neck and head, and some in the waist, and while the position of the arms stays constant relative to the torso, the torso may move a bit with the arms moving with them. Probably the best thing to do is to get your instructor to work on it a bit more.

[GoldStar]

That's an international style tango link. Mirko Gozzoli has probably been working on his for about 30 years. You might not get yours there by tuesday.

Are you using the link as your entry to promenade, or are you using some other figure? There are other perfectly good promenade entries that don't have the head snap.

In any case, the main thing that's being done is leading the lady to promenade. There is some action in the neck and head, and some in the waist, and while the position of the arms stays constant relative to the torso, the torso may move a bit with the arms moving with them. Probably the best thing to do is to get your instructor to work on it a bit more.

Okey.

Now, of course I won't be Mirko Gozzoli for tuesday but I just wanted to start working on it.. and I didn't know where to start.

I'm using the link to my Promenade.

You said "Torso". Now, because my english is a bit lame, I'm not sure about what you said. As I found out in the dictionary, torso is our body excluding head, hands or legs.. Is it right?

So if I got you right, let me summary what you have just said. The whole body should take an action in this link like a tough and constant board excluding the hands and the legs. This tough board can move together but the main thing is to keep this board ("Torso") constant? The head should turn in a rapid way while keeping my hands and legs constant?

Of course I would ask my teacher to work on it more. But the reason I ask it's because I want to shock and also honor her.

If there are some more advices I would listen really carefully again :P
but for the time being, did I understand you right man?

Thank you, again.

[Josh]

There are about two bajillion different ways of entering promenade position in tango--which one are you using?

Don't worry about doing the "perfect promenade" on Tuesday--have fun, be entertaining, and enjoy the experience.

[GoldStar]

There are about two bajillion different ways of entering promenade position in tango--which one are you using?

Don't worry about doing the "perfect promenade" on Tuesday--have fun, be entertaining, and enjoy the experience.

Thank you.

For example, lets take the classic link.
I mean when you end the basic step and whant to go to promenade closed position.

so what should move there, only your head? headd and waist? do the waist need to go to the other side in the begining of the link and then change to the promenade side?

or maybe is just the head?

[latingal]

and welcome to DF GoldStar!

[waltzguy]

Entering promenade position is, IMO, a very difficult thing to learn in Standard Tango. Mirko Gozzoli makes it look easy. I highly suggest getting a coach to evaluate, like someone else already said. Say anything too detailed over the Internet can be rather difficult and may lead to more issues.

[GoldStar]

Entering promenade position is, IMO, a very difficult thing to learn in Standard Tango. Mirko Gozzoli makes it look easy. I highly suggest getting a coach to evaluate, like someone else already said. Say anything too detailed over the Internet can be rather difficult and may lead to more issues.

Well.. thank you.

one in the General dancing forum told me about an imaginary picture to imagine when linking to Promenade.. which is pretty much funny but useful.

Anyway. I'll ask my instructor to work with me on it but it's just that for most times I can watch a video again and again but finally I will be able to understand what happens there.. I won't be able to do that perfectly many times but I will be able to see the points to work on. But this time it's just not working.. like you just said.. it's look pretty easy but unfourtunetly it doesn't.. which is really annoying fact!

I'm sure everything will be great. The show will be absoulutely lovely anyway.

Thank you very much!

[Warren J. Dew]

So if I got you right, let me summary what you have just said. The whole body should take an action in this link like a tough and constant board excluding the hands and the legs. This tough board can move together but the main thing is to keep this board ("Torso") constant? The head should turn in a rapid way while keeping my hands and legs constant?

I can see how you got that from what I said, but it's not really what I meant. The arms should move with the rib cage and shoulders, which are part of the torso, but there is movement within the torso, with the rib cage and shoulders moving relative to the hips, which are also part of the torso. There are a lot of body parts moving in different ways in the link, and some differences of opinion on how the details should work.

I think you're making the right decision to have your instructor work on this with you in person.

[madmaximus]

. . . I can see that he makes a real fast and sharp move when he is turning to Promenade poistion but still his arms and his back are perfectly straight like a stick.

So what is this sharp move about?. . .



Welcome the ultimate in ballroom illusion.



That snap is one of those moves where the man gets the credit for the woman's crisp effort.

Look closely.

Typically, the head and the Left leg are the prominent things that the man moves, not much more (and for the PUNDITS out there, yes there is some internal technique like hips and a bit of the right arm that need to snap a little blah blah blah).

(The point is...) the woman has to create the illusion of the snap and promenade along with the man's head turn and left foot snap.

This move actually should take less effort than what we usually see on the competition floor (because tragically this is always overdone--in the mistaken notion that it is the man makes this move work).






m

[waltzguy]

Welcome the ultimate in ballroom illusion.
...
This move actually should take less effort than what we usually see on the competition floor (because tragically this is always overdone--in the mistaken notion that it is the man makes this move work).

m

OK I'm dumb-founded. My instructors have taught me that the man makes this move work. Clearly, there's a lot to be known about link/PP in tango.

[Joe]

The man initiates the move, but the lady does most of the work.

[Josh]

OK I'm dumb-founded. My instructors have taught me that the man makes this move work. Clearly, there's a lot to be known about link/PP in tango.

I think that most everything can be said this way: the man initiates the movement, the lady finishes.

I would describe that the man does make the move work, because the lady certainly can't do a crisp link on her own--but it's the lady that actually moves the most and finishes the action. As I was taught for the link, "the man is the hinge, the lady is the door."

[ireniecat]

As I was taught for the link, "the man is the hinge, the lady is the door."

Nice! I might just have to borrow that :)

[waltzguy]

I think that most everything can be said this way: the man initiates the movement, the lady finishes.

I would describe that the man does make the move work, because the lady certainly can't do a crisp link on her own--but it's the lady that actually moves the most and finishes the action. As I was taught for the link, "the man is the hinge, the lady is the door."

Yeah, makes sense.

[waltzgirl]

I think that most everything can be said this way: the man initiates the movement, the lady finishes.

I would describe that the man does make the move work, because the lady certainly can't do a crisp link on her own--but it's the lady that actually moves the most and finishes the action. As I was taught for the link, "the man is the hinge, the lady is the door."

I really love that feeling of getting the (fairly subtle) lead for that and finishing it with a dramatic movement. Like he's the fuse and I'm the explosion.

[j_alexandra]

Headsnap.

<Swoon>

[tbayneil]

Hey guys,

I'm a ballroom dancer for an a half of a year at this moment.

So what is this sharp move [promenade tick] about? I mean, It's not his back and not his arm, so It's only a fast and sharp move of his head or head and also his hips?
Is he doing something else though? Something I missed?

Im so sorry If I wrote too much but I really want to work on my Promenade position as I said. Your suggestions and help will be so much to me. Maybe even some extra help with suggestions for keeping my back straight?

Thank you in advance,
and I hope I will be able to do Perfect Promenade this tuesday :)

How did it go?

It takes a while to learn how to make the international tango tick look really sharp & vicious yet feel subtle. Getting the right contra-body movement is more important; she'll make you look good if you can pull that off.

And for the back - a lot of us guys have this problem... for some reason we want to curve out like we have a beer belly and a big butt. My help has been to roll my hips under and forward, stretch my lower and mid-back upward, press my shoulders down and slightly forward, and stretch my neck. Then I get into frame and do my routines & patterns by myself repeatedly to commit that feeling to muscle memory so I don't lose it mid-dance. It's a lot of contortion if you're not used to it and takes a while to learn.

I'm in 2 years... stick with it!

[Angel HI]

As usual, MM, spot on.

[GoldStar]

Hi guys..

Just to be sure.. I'm talking about the Leader part.

Something is wrong with my promenade position. I don't know what it is.. my coach was working with me about this and I did got better in this position.. but somehow this issue always coming back to me.

Is there a CBM in Tango Promenade position?
And if there is, my body should turn to my partner while my hips and legs to the othe other side?

Someone knows a video\a book\a website where I can find information that will help me to dissolve this problem? of course it will take some time but I need something to start with.

[Joe]

You could call it a type of CBMP. And yes, your upper body should be towards your partner while your hips are open (but not to the other side, because I don't think anyone is quite that flexible).

[UKDancer]

Certainly not CBMP, because you are in promenade position. For a typical movement into PP, such as a Promenade Link, the key is to turn the lady around your R hip, so that you create a V-shape between the bodies, with the Lady's L Hip tucked just behind the Man's R Hip, and with the opposite hips open (but only enough to be able to allow the rear feet to pass through the gap between.

As the Man turns the lady to PP, he rotates his upper body to the R, so that instead of looking forward over the lady's R Shoulder (as in normal closed position), he is looking over his own L wrist. This body turn is essential, or the dance frame is completely lost. The body weight will be on the back foot (Man's R & Lady's L), and the other foot placed, without weight, to the side. A forward movement from PP should be felt as a side step, not a forward step, so if it doesn't, you have almost certainly opened up the V-shape too much.

[tangotime]

Hi guys..

Just to be sure.. I'm talking about the Leader part.

Something is wrong with my promenade position. I don't know what it is.. my coach was working with me about this and I did got better in this position..




One of the more complex actions in "dance ", an Itern. style Tango Prom. from a Prog. link . It can be quite deceptive .

The written word will not really resolve your problem without visual attention from someone who is able to isolate the "where and how " this figure is eluding you .

.May I suggest, on your next lesson, ask your teacher to work ONLY on that figure until you feel it is comfortable .

You also did not state how long you have been involved with the Intern. style.

[White Chacha]

...
.May I suggest, on your next lesson, ask your teacher to work ONLY on that figure until you feel it is comfortable ...


$15K later... ;-)

[Larinda McRaven]

that's all?

[Warren J. Dew]

Certainly not CBMP, because you are in promenade position.

Certainly you are in promenade position, which is a different thing from CBMP, however, the inside step of a closed promenade is still "forward and across in CBMP". There's no CBM, though.

he written word will not really resolve your problem without visual attention from someone who is able to isolate the "where and how " this figure is eluding you .

Agreed that the original poster likely needs a competent coach to look at it.

[GoldStar]

One of the more complex actions in "dance ", an Itern. style Tango Prom. from a Prog. link . It can be quite deceptive .

The written word will not really resolve your problem without visual attention from someone who is able to isolate the "where and how " this figure is eluding you .

.May I suggest, on your next lesson, ask your teacher to work ONLY on that figure until you feel it is comfortable .

You also did not state how long you have been involved with the Intern. style.

I'm not involved with the Intern.Style.. I dance the American Style and for 8-9 months. Half of the time I took 2 private lessons each week and the other half I took 1 private lesson each week.
I learned so far: Slow Waltz, Tango, Rumba, Cha Cha, Hustle, Swing, Salsa, Merengue. In Arthur Murray studio.

It's just that Arthur Murray has their syllabus so maybe It's just that I didn't learn to do it. The link I belive is only in Bronze 3 and I'm Bronze 1.. But still I want to progress faster and when I watch myself and after that watch one of the really known dancers.. I see there is something missing with I belive is the CBM.

So what I wanted to ask if there is some guidelines for this position on video or a book (video is much better of course).. than maybe I will see something I didn't know is even exist.

CBM isn't in my syllabus for Bronze 1 I belive... so haha..

It's just.. I don't have the money to take 4 private lessons a week to progress fast as I want to. I'm 18 and I'm not getting younger (I always wanted to say that)! So I'm trying to watch lectures even though they are about Intl Std and I'm dancing the American.. And I do progress much faster because of it..

I don't like the Arthur Murray syllabus so far.. it feels like it stops me better than give me the progress I could have reached with my great teacher without this syllabus. I went to a class on Intl Std and did the Natural turn well while in the syllabus I think it's Bronze 3 which will take some time to get to. I don't say it is a bad syllabus.. It's just that in this period of time it feels like I could have done much better in standard.

[Josh]

If you're learning hustle, salsa, and merengue because you like them, then go for it. But you said "I'm not getting any younger" and if your desire is to be a competitive dancer, as your posts have seemed to indicate, then those three dances won't do much for you, particularly hustle and merengue. They're fine dances, but be sure they are in your "plan"... or save them for those times when you get so frustrated with your other goals (it will happen) that you need a break to learn something new :-)

[tangotime]

CBM isn't in my syllabus for Bronze 1

I'm 18 and I'm not getting younger

It's just that in this period of time it feels like I could have done much better in standard.

I think you may be a little confused on a couple of issues.

First; CBM is not restricted to a specific level or style. Its a "technique" thats applied with certain figures in the Smooth Div.,and is NOT, probably, the answer to your problem.

Also, you may or may not have been farther ahead learning only Intern. style ( I doubt this for several reasons ).

And, the Amer.style Prom figure should be danced differently than the Intern.style, Why?.. because its a different dance. Its more closely related to T/Argent. in its approach .

AS to your age, you probably made a lot of people smile when they read that !!..

"Dance" is not a "Sprint ", its a " Marathon ".

[GoldStar]

If you're learning hustle, salsa, and merengue because you like them, then go for it. But you said "I'm not getting any younger" and if your desire is to be a competitive dancer, as your posts have seemed to indicate, then those three dances won't do much for you, particularly hustle and merengue. They're fine dances, but be sure they are in your "plan"... or save them for those times when you get so frustrated with your other goals (it will happen) that you need a break to learn something new :-)

Look, it's really frustrating.

Yes, my dream is indeed going to the master level.. that people here will search my name on YouTube to watch what THEY are doing wrong.

But the question is what is possible for me and what isn't.

I do progress well for a student in my Arthur Murray studio.. people who are dancing there FOR YEARS watched me and amazed.. I didn't know why, I still don't! I don't think I quite realised it that I am a dancer.

I do belive that everything is possible. Every each one of the great dancers said it to me.. and so as successful people in other topics.

and now for the big But.

I don't have much money to pay for my lessons. Taking private lesson each week is difficult for me.. I hope in some years I will have the money to take even 4 a week but I am afraid it will be too late.

I live in Israel. Now, don't get it wrong, as a Jew I love my country but in ballroom dancing there is many difficulties:
1.When a European wants to take some lessons in the UK or Italy he just find a lousy job, place to stay and he is done. I need to collect money so I will be able to live there without a job (It is illegal to work there).
2. Every competition you compete in.. cost a much lot because of the flight cost..
3. And this is the mose difficult one. Well, because of the owful reality.. Israelian have to, by law, to join the army for 3 years with a pay of only 100$-300$ salary for month. I will be recruited in the next 3 months.

I'm not trying to unload my bad feelings or something.. It's just that I feel in your responses like I am only a boy with an outstanding wishes but no willing to give his soul for making those wishes true.. and I just wanted to show you it's a little bit difficult..

So.. I still belive I can. Well no one belived that Banting would be able to invent the Insulin which is necessary for Diabetics.. but still... for a sudden, he understood the way the Pancreas work and started to develop it. I don't say I am Banting, I say I don't want to quit before I really started.

Why did I learned the Hustle and the Merengue? well, the Merengue I just know from pracitice evenings and from a 15 minutes of explanation from another coach.. on the Hustle we did give some work and time but I don't know why.. It is necessary in Arthur Murray studio.. I mean, In the medal ball it was one of the dances I competed in (and won). The time we gave to Hustle isn't even get closed to the time we gave for Tango or Waltz.

What I'm hoping for is learning American style in those 3 years of army, slow but hard with my coach in Arthur Murray.. because I'm 100% sure she knows what she is doing and also 100% sure she wants to see great proress from me and teach me for it. Then. I will do a trip to the UK and learn the Int'l Std.. giving my soul so maybe I will be able to compete once.. maybe I will invent the Insulin! and now I trying to get how the Pancreas .. no I am trying to START to understand how the Pancreas works (or in this issue.. the balalnce, posture, poise, swing, swivel CBM..).


First; CBM is not restricted to a specific level or style. Its a "technique" thats applied with certain figures in the Smooth Div.,and is NOT, probably, the answer to your problem.


I know. but in Arthur Murray I don't think they work on the technique or even tell you about it until you are Bronze 3 at the syllabus.

[tangotime]

I know. but in Arthur Murray I don't think they work on the technique or even tell you about it until you are Bronze 3 at the syllabus.


Just to let you know, I was a coach for A/M for many yrs ( state side ) and it is NOT ( techn. ) restricted at any level. You may have a teacher who chooses not to inform you at present ( tho I dont know why ), but I doubt that that will continue for the extended period of time.

I suggest you mention to your teacher, what you feel you need at this point in time .

[Warren J. Dew]

I know. but in Arthur Murray I don't think they work on the technique or even tell you about it until you are Bronze 3 at the syllabus.

It's possible for them to work on your technique to some extent without telling you about it in words.

[GoldStar]

Just to let you know, I was a coach for A/M for many yrs ( state side ) and it is NOT ( techn. ) restricted at any level. You may have a teacher who chooses not to inform you at present ( tho I dont know why ), but I doubt that that will continue for the extended period of time.

I suggest you mention to your teacher, what you feel you need at this point in time .

I had a talk with my teacher.. about what I want to become.
I haven't spoke about Blackpool bacuse how will we say it.. the only answer for it is "take 4 lessons for week" and I don't have the money at this moment and so as I learn the Amercian while Blackpool is only about Int'l Std.. isn't it?

But I did said I want to compete (even though I don't know where I able to compete as Israelian in the American style). I said I want to perform some great shows and maybe someday to become a teacher too. I belive she was really happy and glad I said that, and even though she really cared about my progess and challenged me before.. After this talk (made 2-3 weeks ago) I feel she care and challenge me even more without any concessions.

I hope and even belive that in some day I will get my wishes true.. but for this time I do what I am able to do :)

[GoldStar]

It's possible for them to work on your technique to some extent without telling you about it in words.

Maybe they are.. how can I know? :P

[Josh]

I'm not trying to unload my bad feelings or something.. It's just that I feel in your responses like I am only a boy with an outstanding wishes but no willing to give his soul for making those wishes true.. and I just wanted to show you it's a little bit difficult..

I am also "a boy with an outstanding wish" -- we all have goals and dreams. I was simply trying to help you by saving you some time and money, since you had stated your goal on the one hand, but on the other hand were learning dances which do not do anything to work toward that goal except perhaps keep you doing something fun and interesting on the side.

on the Hustle we did give some work and time but I don't know why.. It is necessary in Arthur Murray studio..

This is the reason I said what I said. Why is it "necessary" to learn certain dances? Many social dance studios have a "program" where you (are forced to) learn 6 or 8 dances, 3 or 4 from each of the american styles. It helps new dancers become well rounded so they can dance most dances when they are played socially. However, if your goal is not this, then why it is "necessary" to learn the dance?

I know. but in Arthur Murray I don't think they work on the technique or even tell you about it until you are Bronze 3 at the syllabus.

"Technique" is not a column in a chart that you check off-- "posture, lead and follow, sway, technique"... And teaching technique need not even include words like CBM or sway. From the moment you take your first steps in dancing, in order to learn how to fit bodies together, or use the hands to communicate, or whatever it is you're trying to accomplish, learning the "how" (the technique) is the key. A good teacher will often explain how it's done without letting you even know that you've learned "technique." Hopefully that's the case for you!

We all want you to do well (I think I speak for everybody in that respect). I believe in you, and my advice would be to enjoy the NOW. If you are so concerned with your goals that you don't enjoy what's happening in your dancing now, then you'll never be happy, even if you reach your goals. ENJOY it. And good luck! :-)

[Piggles]

I don't have much money to pay for my lessons. Taking private lesson each week is difficult for me.. I hope in some years I will have the money to take even 4 a week but I am afraid it will be too late.
**
I'm not trying to unload my bad feelings or something.. It's just that I feel in your responses like I am only a boy with an outstanding wishes but no willing to give his soul for making those wishes true..
**
Why did I learned the Hustle and the Merengue? ** In the medal ball it [Hustle] was one of the dances I competed in (and won). The time we gave to Hustle isn't even get closed to the time we gave for Tango or Waltz.
**
I know. but in Arthur Murray I don't think they work on the technique or even tell you about it until you are Bronze 3 at the syllabus.

Hi GoldStar,

I read your post with a great deal of sympathy and understanding. I'd imagine most, if not all of the DF posters are as passionate about dance as you are. Why else would we spend countless hours writing about a topic we'd much rather be persuing on the dance floor. :)

But learing ballroom is truly something that is more about the journey than the destination. There's no real fast-track to your destination; more lessons help, but so does time. I once recall reading on this board (years before I took the step to join) that learning is more than lessons: it's also what you observe, and what you figure out for yourself. And I can see you're certainly taking these steps by reading your posts. So don't worry about how many lessons you can afford - think of it in terms of how much time you can afford (while maintaining a balanced life...).

I can't speak for franchises and dance communities around the world, but I can tell you about mine. I danced at A/M for 4+ years and found that the studio I was at tended to move students at a slow pace regardless of natural ability. In most cases I learned good technique. Sometimes I wish they had given me more advanced technique sooner, but then the question arises as to whether I had the skill to understand it at the time. But my experience with A/M was generally a positive one, and with a good teacher you will become a solid, strong dancer.

While hustle is competed within the A/M comps, it's not considered to be a competitive dance (if I recall correctly, the syllabus only goes to BR4). But I know that at the A/M studio I went to, they really pushed social dances because it was a social studio. As a previous poster indicated, learn the social dances if you enjoy them, but your program should be based on what you want to learn.

And I believe you've learned the basic promenade link, but the link you may have seen Mirko doing was something more like the advanced link that I think they teach at BR3/4.

Hope this helps!

[GoldStar]

Hi GoldStar,

I read your post with a great deal of sympathy and understanding. I'd imagine most, if not all of the DF posters are as passionate about dance as you are. Why else would we spend countless hours writing about a topic we'd much rather be persuing on the dance floor.

But learing ballroom is truly something that is more about the journey than the destination. There's no real fast-track to your destination; more lessons help, but so does time. I once recall reading on this board (years before I took the step to join) that learning is more than lessons: it's also what you observe, and what you figure out for yourself. And I can see you're certainly taking these steps by reading your posts. So don't worry about how many lessons you can afford - think of it in terms of how much time you can afford (while maintaining a balanced life...).

I can't speak for franchises and dance communities around the world, but I can tell you about mine. I danced at A/M for 4+ years and found that the studio I was at tended to move students at a slow pace regardless of natural ability. In most cases I learned good technique. Sometimes I wish they had given me more advanced technique sooner, but then the question arises as to whether I had the skill to understand it at the time. But my experience with A/M was generally a positive one, and with a good teacher you will become a solid, strong dancer.

While hustle is competed within the A/M comps, it's not considered to be a competitive dance (if I recall correctly, the syllabus only goes to BR4). But I know that at the A/M studio I went to, they really pushed social dances because it was a social studio. As a previous poster indicated, learn the social dances if you enjoy them, but your program should be based on what you want to learn.

And I believe you've learned the basic promenade link, but the link you may have seen Mirko doing was something more like the advanced link that I think they teach at BR3/4.

Hope this helps!

Of course it helps.

What I was taught is what they called "tango close" and then turning to Promenade.. I don't know how to describe it..
What I saw Mirko doing is Progressive Link which I now know I haven't been taught.. but I do know how to do it now and I'm working on the technique on my own.. WHen the time will arrive I'm sure it will help.

Thank you for encouraging me.. I do give a lot of time of my day to dancing.. I work a lot and trying to make a progess but there is alway too much missing.. when I thought I did a step well and went for another.. I find myself going back to the previous step and work on it again and again.. it never stops but well, I love it! It's challenging.. I mean, this is the whole point isn't it?

What I was affraid about is my wishes against the reality. I see other guys from my studio.. they don't have the same wishes.. even not closed ones.. but still.. one of them learning for 2 years.. sometimes 1 lesson a week and sometimes 2 lessons a week and he now only ended the Bronze 2?! so if I get to Bronze 4 in those 3 years from now it will be considered as a great progress? it means that at the age of 21 I will be still Bronze?

You see my worries but I guess that as you said the only thing I can do is enjoy my dancing and practice well.. maybe I will find myself in a better progess than anyone else (As I do right now).

I enjoy my dancing very much.. I know it is the most important thing and as I said in my posts before.. actually all the dancers I know agree on that. I actually enjoy it even though I dance with women that are 3 times my age haha :)

Thank you guys..
I sorry if you find me unload some feelings and worries again in the future.. but this push I get from your replies is really helping me. ;)