So I'll go try a covid-approved dance lesson tomorrow evening even if just to enjoy the lovely wide open floor. I'm sure it'll be much better than I think it will be.
OMG I was so right about that!!! **swoons from relief**
I’m sorry to gush about this because I know it might make some of you jealous. And I truly apologize if this comes across as rubbing anyone’s nose in the lack of similar opportunities right now in your own studios - that is absolutely NOT my intention; nor am I that type of person. I simply need a place to talk about this with people who will understand my feelings. I hope all of you will soon be able to take lessons again too.
I decided to post this here, rather than the “how are your lessons going” thread, because this post is very much about dance specifically in the time of corona, even though it describes a lesson.
So...it feels like the dynamic definitely has changed between me & Pro.
When I arrived, he asked if I wanted to go ahead & schedule my next lesson. I said, “mmm...not right now. Let’s see how this one goes first.” He nodded & said, “I think you’ll be pleased. This is MUCH better than just seeing each other on a computer.”
He gave me a short questionnaire to fill out before we started...very professionally done on glossy card stock, studio logo at the top, preprinted questions... (now I see why lessons cost so much)... mainly health & potential virus exposure questions, like whether I have had any of these listed symptoms in the last 14 days, have I been around anyone who has these symptoms, or who has tested positive, have I traveled recently to any hotspots (I’m paraphrasing), etc. But one question I didn’t expect: “do you want your dance lesson to be touch-free?” I checked the “no” box. Holding hands is better than nothing.
He appears to be taking me more seriously as a student. He was clearly impressed with the amount of progress I’ve made over the last 2 months, making repeated comments about the improvement in my overall balance, and the way I’ve corrected (almost all of) the things he told me to correct. We were able to take several things to the next “layer.”
WRT the back step in the rumba box,
@Warren J. Dew you were right - he said I was leaning my upper body too far back when I stepped back on my R leg. I demonstrated the box (practically perfectly for a beginner bronze student), & he raised his eyebrows & said, “well, you didn’t do it that way in your video. But THAT was very good.”
I talked freely (and happily) about IFP and details of what we’re working on. I demonstrated several of the practice exercises she gave me, and he nodded approvingly, especially at how well I incorporated them into the (very tiny bit of) actual dancing we did. A couple times, though, he frowned, & said, almost accusingly, “she does international!” I agreed that she does indeed. “And she knows I’m learning American rhythm, but she says - ” and he overlapped the rest of my sentence by finishing what I was about to say: “ - that the body movements and concepts are mostly the same. Yes. But that straight leg! You just finished that step with your leg and foot so pointed...that’s not how we do it.” He demonstrated a couple of Latin style steps, very fast, sharp/crisp movements, legs super straight. I said, “I love that! It looks so good! Can we do International?” He was not enthusiastic. “Maybe later. American will give you a broader base for your dancing.” (Or something along those lines.)
I also described her use of the term “chichis,” her explanation of why chichis are so important, and how to integrate them into one’s dancing. He nodded solemnly. I asked (curious rather than accusatory), “why didn’t you teach me about chichis?” He shrugged & replied, “we just hadn’t gotten there yet.”
The other big thing that he & IFP disagree on is when to introduce arm styling to a beginning dancer. As I said in another post, IFP believes arms should be taught from the very beginning, so the student gets used to coordinating the movements of body and arms; also because using the arms helps the body move correctly - everything is tied together. He doesn’t see it that way. “You can’t learn to use your arms until AFTER you learn how to use your body. Your arms are an extension of the body. Until you know how to use your body, your arms are just - ” (he demonstrated some awkward, stiff arm movements). I argued with him, showing how my cha cha steps and crossover break swivels are more fluid when I use my arms, because they provide just enough extra momentum to help my body change direction and move smoothly. He just hmph’d and looked dubious.
I would NOT have argued with him before. For one thing, I had no knowledge or experience from which to form an argument. For another thing, I thought he dripped gold from his mouth when he spoke, and accepted every word he said as gospel (the curse of the newbie addict). Working with IFP changed both of those things.
At one point, the sound system started playing a samba song. I jumped right into the studio’s samba line dance, which I’ve never danced at a social, so no one has EVER seen me do it (I’ve never even uploaded any samba videos). After a couple measures, I stopped so we could resume our rumba work, but he said, “no, keep going. Let’s do it together.” So we did the samba line dance, and I gotta say, it’s much more fun - and looks much better - when more than one person does it. I told him I had done Studio Mgr’s challenge & learned all the line dances. He said, “I know! I saw your videos.” (I didn’t know he’d watched them all...he only ever critiqued rumba and waltz.)
Speaking of waltz, I don’t remember how it came up, but at some point I showed him my promenade chassé, much improved due to his telephonic advice. He said, “yes! You understood! That’s what I wanted!” [As an aside: his instructions had to do with not rushing through the “2-and” before landing on 3, and his specific words were “you need to stay up as you’re coming down.” But somehow I managed to interpret and apply that correctly.] He was so excited that he grabbed me in a double hand hold and started waltzing me across the floor, taking such long steps I could barely keep up. I laughed in surprise, and he laughed too, saying, “you have to understand...I haven’t waltzed in a very long time.” And I think THAT was when it registered with me: he has genuinely missed teaching. He loves what he does.
Anyway. Another unexpected thing: his schedule is NOT booked up at all. At the end of the lesson, he said, “I have openings tomorrow if you want to have another lesson.” I said, “well, I have a lesson with [IFP] tomorrow evening.” He said “my openings are in the afternoon. I don’t know what your work schedule is like these days...?” I told him I’m working from home, and except on court days, my schedule is completely my own. He said, “if you want, you could have a lesson at 1 and 2 tomorrow.” I asked in surprise, “you mean, I could have a double lesson?” He said “of course,” & sounded surprised at my surprise. So I said yes, & declared, “we’ll work on smooth tomorrow.” (Before our enforced separation, I would probably have phrased that as a question.)
I was surprised at how much we were able to cover in 40 minutes (I think we might have run over a little). I was also surprised at how natural it felt to be back in the studio with him, despite having been away for 2 months (which is one-third of the whole time I was with him before [mid-Sept thru mid-March]).
And, as a final bonus...[nerd alert!!!] ... I got to practice my Ukrainian. The other pro there yesterday was one of the ladies, so I started a conversation with her as I was about to leave the studio. She laughed delightedly & said, “you’ve learned so much!” Then she grabbed her phone & said, “I have to take a video to send to my friend in Ukraine. Start talking!” I backed away & she cajoled, “come on, you’re wearing a mask, they don’t know you...please?” So - WTH - I carried on a two-sided conversation with myself in Ukrainian while she recorded me. (I have no shame. And apparently a lot less self-consciousness than I used to.)
Wow. This turned out to be a very long post, even for me.
