When do you stop being a beginner?

[twnkltoz]

Or maybe you might take it as "We're all just beginners! Join the club!"

 

[bordertangoman]

That was sortof my knee jerk reaction too. I think it's reassuring for people starting out to hear from a more advanced person that the more advanced person still occasionally feels like a beginner or that they are still struggling with certain aspects of the endeavor and that they experience lapses in their confidence.

But for someone who is at the top of the pyramid to just generically say "I'm still a beginner" is sorta insulting to someone who really IS a beginner and the struggles and doubts they experience. If I were taking a lesson from the top ranking whatever (Tiger Woods, YoYo Ma, Michelle Kwan, etc) it wouldn't make me feel better for them to say "I'm still a beginner".

It would feel patronizing.

However, it would probably help me a lot to have them talk about some specific area of the skill that always gave them trouble and still occasionally does, and more importantly, how they deal with it. It would help me to hear about who inspires them and how they work to continually improve, and WHAT they feel they have to still work hard at because, even for them, it doesn't come easily.

I know I am not a beginner. I still have trouble with certain aspects of Tango that I've struggled with from the start. I still make colossally stupid mistakes on the dance floor sometimes. I definitely have off nights where, at the very least, I am aware of things not being smooth and easy, and at worst, my partner and anyone watching can tell.

But I don't think it helps the newbies one iota for me to simply say "I am still just a beginner". If they don't know me, they might think they are completely hopeless because if I'm still a beginner too, then they ought to be dancing as I do.

i endorse that..I still make mistakes, and i encourage people not to get hung up on making mistakes and keep dancing, or work on them.

i dont have off nights, unless i'm actually unwell.

your third point reminds me of a heckler Marshall Rosenberg had, and through empathic questioning, he found out the man wanted to hear that Marshall had worked hard at it and had experienced difficulties in applying it.

 

[AndaBien]

Or maybe you might take it as "We're all just beginners! Join the club!"

We're all learners, except for those who have, sadly, quit learning. But that doesn't make us all beginners.

 

[dchester]

We're all learners, except for those who have, sadly, quit learning. But that doesn't make us all beginners.

True, some of us just dance like beginners.

 

[AndaBien]

True, some of us just dance like beginners.

Dancing like a beginner is the best way, I think, if you do it really well.

 

[Zoopsia59]

True, some of us just dance like beginners.

Luckily you aren't one of those... :kissme:

 

[dchester]

Luckily you aren't one of those... :kissme:

 

[newbie]

When you sign for an intermediate class and after the warm-up dance, the teacher does not come to you and say, excuse me, you don't qualify.

 

[bordertangoman]

When you sign for an intermediate class and after the warm-up dance, the teacher does not come to you and say, excuse me, you don't qualify.

or roll his or her eyes

 

[Imbrace]

or roll his or her eyes

Funny

I'd say when you're very comfortable leading/following any partner who's at your level or higher.

 

[Zoopsia59]

When you sign for an intermediate class and after the warm-up dance, the teacher does not come to you and say, excuse me, you don't qualify.

When you take any workshop or class on any topic and the instructor doesn't correct your posture or walk at some point in the class.

(making me still a beginner... )

 

[sixela]

When you take any workshop or class on any topic and the instructor doesn't correct your posture or walk at some point in the class.

(making me still a beginner... )

Actually, I observed the reverse. Teachers will always try to correct your posture or your walk, since you're usually dancing your dance and not his/hers, unless there's so much work he/she doesn't know where to start. Argentines are especially likely to do so. Often you do learn something, but that usually doesn't make you dance exactly how they'd expect you to dance.

I think you're not a beginner when at the start of the workshop he/she corrects one thing but gives you more than your fair share of attention in doing so, gives up in the middle, and pats your back with a big smile at the end.

 

[LoveTango]

When you take any workshop or class on any topic and the instructor doesn't correct your posture or walk at some point in the class.

(making me still a beginner... )

Or at advanced workshops, you are used by a teacher as a partner for demonstrations?

 

[Zoopsia59]

Or at advanced workshops, you are used by a teacher as a partner for demonstrations?

Yay! I'm not a beginner after all!!

Although, if I'm being totally honest, this happened more some years back than recently. I think it had less to do with my own level and more to do with the comparative level of me to others in the classes... and the others caught up eventually.

And I DO still get corrections on my walk and posture.
ONE DAY I'll get them mastered!

 

[newbie]

Or at advanced workshops, you are used by a teacher as a partner for demonstrations?

It happened to me a couple of times.
:banana:


Then the teacher said "See, class? This is bad. Now let me show you how to do it."