Northern NJ instructors- most "bang" for buck?

[Brush Tap]

OK... given a choice of any of the instructors/coaches at Battista Dance Studio in Hackensack and Rogers in Fairfield, who would you choose or recommend for just a handful of lessons for a female student to supplement weekly lessons with one's usual instructor in preparation for a comp (full silver American Smooth)? Feel free to PM me if you do not want to make your thoughts public! I appreciate the info and insight.

[Brush Tap]

Just to clarify, in my mind, the options would be as follows (in absolutely no particular order):

Mario Battista
Jennifer Morgan
Mayo Alanen
Michael Johnson
Holly Johnson
Lori Putnins

(I'm assuming that Gary and Diana do not do any pro-am lessons at all.)

If it would be better to go with a male instructor, that brings us down to Mario, Michael, and Mayo.

Or... is it better to try a female instructor to get the female perspective, which typically a female pro-am student dancing with a male instructor, would miss?

[Katarzyna]

(I'm assuming that Gary and Diana do not do any pro-am lessons at all.)

I am not sure about this but I heard Diana does pro-am lessons...

Haven't taken with any of the people you mentioned therefore can't suggest who would be a good teacher for you. But I think it depends on your learning style. I would take some lessons with different teachers and then decide whose approach works well for you.

[alemana]

i'd do the same.

what's lori putnins up to these days? she and edgar aren't together anymore i guess... is she retired?

[Brush Tap]

Interesting. The thing is that I'm not looking to switch to a new instructor permanently- I just want to take a few lessons with someone to supplement what I'm already doing. My current teacher is fantastic... but he's injured and has a trip coming up, so I'm just looking for someone to keep me going in a positive direction and make use of the time effectively.

[mamboqueen]

I don't think Mario "instructs", but rather coaches couples.

[standardgirl]

You said Smooth, right?
I believe Mario is better in international style......
Not sure about Gary and Diana teaching pro/am smooth either.
But I heard that Gary is better in coaching standard while Diana is better in coaching Latin.

[Kitty]

(I'm assuming that Gary and Diana do not do any pro-am lessons at all.)

I am not sure about this but I heard Diana does pro-am lessons...

you probably heard that from me...
Yeah I know a person who did pro/am including competitions with Diana, so they do do pro-am.

[contracheck]

If it would be better to go with a male instructor, that brings us down to Mario, Michael, and Mayo.


You've missed one of the best male instrutors: Andrei Seminoff (sp?). He does Pro-Am. I've known him since Continetal Ballroom (DE) days, and most ladies say that he is good.

[Brush Tap]

I thought he only did international. I've actually met him before and didn't think our personalities would get along very well.

[Chris Stratton]

What aspects would you like to cover in lessons?

In some cases, cross training with a standard specialist could be one of the best things you could do for your smooth... personal compatability working, of course.

[Brush Tap]

Actually, probably 90 to 95% of my training has been in standard. It is the smooth that is relatively new for me. Things I would like to work on would be consistently maintaining the appropriate shapes when I'm not in closed position, arm movement and styling, and using stretching to dance with greater volume.

[contracheck]

I thought he only did international. I've actually met him before and didn't think our personalities would get along very well.
In my opinion, another good one at Battista is Arturas, but most of these good instructors trained in East Europe/Russia are standard dnacers. For some reason, Barttista does not house high caliber pros/coaches who compete in top pro circles. I don't think there was one single Battista pro who competed in Blackpool, for instance (I don't know if Giacomo still teaches there but I don't find his name). The best Smooth coach in Northern NJ I can think of is Tom Sheppler, whose career is exploding now with JT, after many years of mediocre performance. Tom teaches at any studio where he can rent floor.

[contracheck]

Yeah I know a person who did pro/am including competitions with Diana, so they do do pro-am.
Yeah, Diana did pro-am in Balckpool last month and won.

[Larinda McRaven]

The best Smooth coach in Northern NJ I can think of is Tom Sheppler, whose career is exploding now with JT, after many years of mediocre performance. Tom teaches at any studio where he can rent floor.

not Tom Sheppler... Tony Scheppler

[contracheck]

The best Smooth coach in Northern NJ I can think of is Tom Sheppler, whose career is exploding now with JT, after many years of mediocre performance. Tom teaches at any studio where he can rent floor.

not Tom Sheppler... Tony Scheppler
Yes, thanks. This is deliberate attempt on my part. I thought you were going to throw me out since my posts could have been cosntruded as promoting certain coaches - paranoia.

[Larinda McRaven]

well, we do throw out the jerks...

[Chris Stratton]

well, we do throw out the jerks...

In my opin^[NO CARRIER

[Brush Tap]

Chris, I can't see the rest of your reply. I don't know if it is something weird on my machine, or if it got messed up on your end.

[mamboqueen]

I was wondering if there was something wrong with his a/c ????!!

[contracheck]

I was wondering if there was something wrong with his a/c ????!!
You mean he is getting a heat stroke? Me too close to having one.

[Brush Tap]

Looks like he has recovered!

[alemana]

hahah chris made ze leetle joke.