Potential partner problem

[nimmity]

I've just moved and am sorting out dancing in my new city. I've found a great teacher who I get on well with, pushes me and is able to explain everything in as much detail as I want.

However as there is no pro-am here I have to find a partner.

I've had 2 lessons with a potential partner and whilst he is an ok partner (a bit short for me) I really don't get on with his teacher. He doesn't like me asking questions constantly, can't explain why in some situations and finds it difficult to give me concise instructions. It took about 5 minutes of me asking him to clarify for him to say turn your head and hips but keep your torso facing forwards.

Is a "bad" teacher reason to not partner up?
Do I voice this to the potential partner?
Or do I grin and bear it so I can compete again?

[Another Elizabeth]

I think you have to tell the potential partner that you are having difficulty interacting with his preferred teacher, and that you would like to make yours the couple's primary coach. See where it goes from there - he might like the lessons with your coach better, too. But if you can't talk to your partner about something as important as who the couple should take lessons with, I would say that he's not the right partner.

[Sagitta]

Has your partner done a lesson together with you and the teacher that you find so great? Perhaps if your partner has a lesson with him he may prefer his teacher, but not have objections to yours. In that case it may not be a problem for him to switch.

[Warren J. Dew]

If the interactions with the coach are bad enough, it could be a reason to look for a different partnership.

That said, five minutes of question and answer to learn a proper promenade is actually quite quick in the greater scheme of things. Some people go for years without learning that.

[waltzgirl]

I'd suggest, if you talk with your partner about this, you put it in terms of what you need to learn effectively, rather than criticizing the teacher. He might be a great teacher for someone who learns differently. And people are often loyal to their instructors and don't like to hear them criticized, so I think your talk might go more smoothly if you presented it as your needing a certain kind of teaching.

[toothlesstiger]

How much you endure will of course be a function of how hard it is to find partners where you are. Your description of your potential partner already indicates a lack of enthusiasm, with his teacher only making matters worse.

Assuming you decide it is better to stick it through... If your potential partner appears to be loyal to his teacher, you could suggest alternating lessons between the two, which would only be fair. You two may have different learning styles, so that both teachers might be needed for the partnership, in any case.

[nimmity]

Thanks for the advice.
He's coming to dance with my teacher on friday and hopefully he'll get on well. T
here is a definate lack of partners where I am so its important to make the most of the opportunity. I'll carry on asking questions because I want to get it right.
He's happy to share teachers so I'll be having at least one lesson with my teacher each week and he can always clarify things for me if I need it.