Feeling constrained by the teacher

I'm not naming any names, because I've had this experience with several teachers, particularly with rhythm dances.

Since I understand music and rhythms, syncopations come fairly naturally to me. Yet, I've run into (more than) a few teachers who wanted to work patterns, and who rarely allowed me to work on syncopations in my dancing. Yet, at home, that's all I do. Play music I like, and syncopate the heck out of my body. :wink:

In terms of learning basic technique, no problem. I understand where the various teachers were coming from. Technique comes first. But, from the perspective of learning patterns, I don't get it. Why not allow me to work the syncopations, since they're just as natural as breathing?

Whatever. This topic isn't about syncopations. The question is about feeling "held back" by a dance teacher. Have you ever felt that way? What did/would you do, in that situation? Or, as the teacher, how do you handle students with varying levels of ability?

I'm lucky. I have an instructor that doesn't hold me back. In fact she, lets me choose and challenges me. Even better.

But, I've heard some stories about other instructors that have not impressed me. Like on outfit that holds people back requiring what seems like perfection before moving forward. Sounds awful.

Freedom and challenge are better then limits and boredom.

Yes would be the simple answer.

BUT-- As Im doing medals its a bit more complicated! Im doing 9 dances for my medals and its only certain dances that Im feeling held back in.
The dances that I feel are just not going any further are Cha Cha, Rumba, Salsa and Mambo.
I know all the steps in these dances perfectly. The problem is technique, sure I can dance it but it doesnt look and feel like it should as the teachers havent gone into any technique work yet. The small amount of technique I have learnt has been from my private lessons so that limits the amount I can actually work on while we go over the dances in medal class.
Jive and Merengue are the other 2 dances in my medal class but they are moving along well as we have only been doing them for 2 weeks.

I take the private classes for my New Vogue medal and they are just steaming ahead at the moment and Im loving every second of that.

Its hard not to compare the NV with the Latin and Street Latin classes, but I do realise that the NV class is totally geared toward me, instead of having to deal with others as well.

As for handling it....well I dont know!

Not at the moment. I'm actually being pushed and challenged to my limits (and past them) in preparation for my exam. :shock: Though there are some teachers that I feel I couldn't learn anything from. Occassionally I get them for a group, but usually no, this is not a problem for me, at the moment.

That may change though ..... 8)

What a great topic... I've been on both sides of the issue...

As a student, I've felt held back before, but I think this was due to the fact that my teacher didn't know much more than I did. :?

I ended up getting additional instruction elsewhere - later I was questioned about where I got the info. I told them I just started hangin out with better dancers than me....... Hmmmmm

As a teacher, when I've had students that were just not ready for the material no matter what, I felt obligated to keep them doing the basics. However, I would always give a little something "extra" that wouldn't detract from their basic stuff that would make them feel like they were moving onward even though we still were drilling the basics.

My philosphy is that we shall serve no dance before it's time. You don't like it, don't ask me to teach you. I will give you 110% of what I have to give, though.

Hiya DancingMommy!! Long time no see! How's it going?

I haven't felt held back, yet, but probably it is because I'm a rank newbie.

pygmalion said:

Whatever. This topic isn't about syncopations. The question is about feeling "held back" by a dance teacher. Have you ever felt that way? What did/would you do, in that situation? Or, as the teacher, how do you handle students with varying levels of ability?

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I probably shouldn't be writing my opinion about anything today but I'll try to be calm....

With exception of a few instructors, I've just had a rough couple of years for this same reason. Why is it that some teachers push you directly into routine and combinations and as well, concentrate on making you a replica of them? That's not what I want to learn. I need the "tools" of dance i.e., strength development, flexibility, body alignment, form, structure, etc. Not your "personal" philosophy. I went to a class last night and the first thing they wanted to do is change me to look like them. :evil: I don't mind if it and certainly welcome correction if I'm having a problem with a spin and they tell me I'm not working from my center. That's exactly what I need. I don't want to hear "Well, people who do LA Style Salsa do it this way and that's why it wrong." Please, give me a break. :roll: First and last class you'll get from me. There was a whole more wrong the situation but I'm gonna stop now...I'm too upset. :? I'll write again after I've calmed down. :evil:

Yes there are time that I have felt like I was being reigned in by my instructor. However coming from a karate background, I always learned that was their job so I never really worry to much about it. In the case of my current instructor, she has always been really good about introducing things to me when my body and dancing was ready as opposed to when my ego thought I was ready. But I am sure there are people who maybe suffer the opposite, or who want to learn something that Their teacher my not like. In which case I think that raises another question. Are you afraid to tell your teacher what you want to learn or more importantly what you expect to learn? Since it really is a partnership.

It's interesting because I've mostly been taking group lessons, so I never really thought about whether the instructor was holding me back. I guess I've just thought of the group as one entity, with an "average" ability that the instructor caters to.

However, this perception changed when I went to a private lesson with the instructor. Immediately, I felt more of my potential and I realized that I wasn't doing too well before because of the lack of personal attention. Now that he actually knows my name (*gasp*) he tend to come over to me and my partner and work out any problems we're having.

So I guess in answer to this thread, yes, I was held back before because I was just a part of the crowd. But now I feel challenged and really excited because I'm making progress. And it's all due to personal attention from my instructor.

Sagitta said:

Hiya DancingMommy!! Long time no see! How's it going?

I haven't felt held back, yet, but probably it is because I'm a rank newbie.

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All is well... I'm getting settled in with the new baby. She is a total doll! ANd the best part is she looks like meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee bwahahahahahahahahahahahah