Any tips to finding a (follower) partner as a "perpetual beginner" for 17.5 years?

Bailamosdance I'm not trolling anybody...Due to life events, I'd whittle those 17.5 years down to maybe 7.5 ... I don't have too much time on my hands but I guess I can honestly say I'm often unproductive with my time I have...

For all --- I think I've been pigeon holed the wrong way ... I'm not a mathematician, scientist, engineer, programmer, or have Asperger's or the sort ... I actually peaked academically (AND athletically) when I was 16 years old (and I say I'm often the stupidest person to ever graduate 2.5 years earlier than the avg. student from a top New England university). Yes, I'm much more analytical than artistic, but I appreciate both ... Again, the key to my poor showing is my $hit memory {I can honestly say sometimes having a poor memory "helps" for my job, but certainly not for this hobby}

j_alexandra again, I do want to dance, because studying dance solo has not worked, I need the muscle memory from partnering repetition, especially with the upper half of my body...

open_mind Good question ... Personal dancing goals are not really existent at the moment, and I'd actually give the partner the power in determining them. I just want a to able to mesh all the steps into my head, and be able to know what goes after anyone to a much greater degree than the average dancer, and simply be able to just "acceptably do them" .... if I had to project, I guess ultimate goal for doing is to be a the male equivalent of a " successful dance mom" to any younger family member if this hobby is pursued (because my own personal max is so limited) ...

Larinda --- Grade inflation in USTA, USISTD has had fewer people achieve the highest marks.. Also, thank you for that, I didn't know the rules.
 
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my point is almost everyone gets an A+, B+ on the USTA members page (so it is of less use to me), while there are few of the highest marks on the USISTD of A++, B++ ... there should be more delineation within USTA membership, and if there is, showcase it on the members page, otherwise the tests are not hard enough.... again, I'm not just looking for ISTD or IDTA (Guy Howard) syllabus, people ... I'm actually looking for people with more syllabus knowledge from the harder books of WDSF (DTV), DSI, FRDS, so my ideal expert is probably from Europe, probably not from Russia/Ukraine, and unlikely from America...
 
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NeveraPartner - if you're serious about wanting a different outcome from your dancing than what you've gotten so far, please go back and read through the responses in the thread from the beginning with an open mind. You've shot down nearly every suggestion offered.

We realize you are looking for a certain type of practice partner. But you don't seem to realize that a number of posters have offered you suggestions on how to improve your overall dancing, which in turn will make it more likely that you'll be able to find a partner. Things like, take private lessons, and let the teacher instruct you on things beyond that which you think you want to learn. Things like, give a teacher a chance even if they have only studied one or two of the syllabi you are interested in. And give a teacher a chance even if they don't impress you with their published videos. (Yes, have them work with you on a bunch of patterns if you like, but also let them work with you on whatever technique they think would be most helpful for you. Let them help you with timing, leading, etc. You may find, for instance, that working on some of these other aspects of patterns with a teacher will help you remember the sequences. Sometimes the path from A to B in dancing is different than what you would think.)

And I apologize if my earlier posts come off as terse or not helpful. I stand by their content, but will admit to being frustrated by your unwillingness to consider trying the various helpful suggestions other posters have put out there. So that frustratoin is where my tone was coming from.

Best wishes in your dance journey. I'd be willing to bet that everyone who has taken the time to type a response would like to see you succeed.
 
NeveraPartner said:
so my ideal expert is probably from Europe, probably not from Russia/Ukraine, and unlikely from America...
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There are tons of dance pros from those countries in the USA. Lots of them in NY and NJ. Even a few of them out in the relative middle of nowhere flyover country. You think you know what you want in a teacher, but you don't even know what dance resources are available in your own back yard.

But you don't really need an ideal expert right now, anyway. You need a very good, and very patient private instructor. Because you don't know a lot about a lot of aspects of dance, but you are ready to dismiss most people who have plenty of expertise to share with you, if you would only be willing to listen. And that is going to try the patience of a teacher.
 
Larinda - I'm not sure why you think I'm confused ... Yes I know that ... what I've said is why did the USTA stop at A+ as "Licentiate or Higher" ... they should show who is higher (Fellowship) and let it be ++ .... Secondly I know of one instructor who got the A+, B+, etc but got lower marks on USISTD and I know doesn't know their stuff .. by the fact so many fewer get the A++ on USISTD relative to the number of applicants (even going back years for those not active anymore), then the inference is the USISTD can better show the top-tier teachers.

raindance - no I haven't shot down all the suggestions offered ... there were several observations that hit home and were(are) true, and I will pursue a change ... that's why I think at this time (again), there's nothing more that needs to be said from anyone on this forum (unless someone can offer something very specific) ... I have to make a couple modifications to my dance approach, even if I can't articulate them exactly right now and I'll repost here maybe around early 2022 with an update.
 
Larinda said:
huh?
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Well, there is a well-known (in some circles) joke about Harvard, that "The hardest thing about Harvard is getting in." (I'm not opining here on the accuracy of that joke, nor on the apparent analogy any "grading system" in the dance world; but *maybe* that sheds *some* light?)
 
NeveraPartner said:
Larinda - I'm not sure why you think I'm confused ... Yes I know that ... what I've said is why did the USTA stop at A+ as "Licentiate or Higher" ... they should show who is higher (Fellowship) and let it be ++ .... Secondly I know of one instructor who got the A+, B+, etc but got lower marks on USISTD and I know doesn't know their stuff .. by the fact so many fewer get the A++ on USISTD relative to the number of applicants (even going back years for those not active anymore), then the inference is the USISTD can better show the top-tier teachers.

raindance - no I haven't shot down all the suggestions offered ... there were several observations that hit home and were(are) true, and I will pursue a change ... that's why I think at this time (again), there's nothing more that needs to be said from anyone on this forum (unless someone can offer something very specific) ... I have to make a couple modifications to my dance approach, even if I can't articulate them exactly right now and I'll repost here maybe around early 2022 with an update.
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It seems to me that you have over-constrained your potential solution space. I can't think of a specific "thing to do" to suggest, that you would seem likely (extrapolating from my read of your posts in this thread so far) to accept, that would also seem to me to be helpful.

The only useful suggestion that occurs to me is that, to whatever extent you may be able to relax any of your constraints (e.g. what kind of classes to take, what kinds of teachers are acceptable, what kinds of dance venues and circumstances are acceptable, etc.), the chances that you will find a workable solution will most likely increase commensurately. Good luck; I hope you find your path.
 
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DL said:
Well, there is a well-known (in some circles) joke about Harvard, that "The hardest thing about Harvard is getting in." (I'm not opining here on the accuracy of that joke, nor on the apparent analogy any "grading system" in the dance world; but *maybe* that sheds *some* light?)
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PS (I would have edited to add, but alas I was too late) -- I "hasten" (not enough to "edit") to add that I'm pretty sure the Harvard folks have their own jokes to tell about folks in those circles who might feel inclined to tell that Harvard joke.
 
#1. About the certifications...

I find those certifications are more like references or guidelines to find good instructors, but that's all. I used to live in a place every few blocks there's a studio and tons of ISTD fellows (those ++ ones). Before I moved to where I live now, the dread was there were no ISTD (or other almost as prestigious certified) instructors. There is still no. There are a bunch of franchised certified instructors... So I had nil expectations and only tried to keep up. How wrong was I. I ended up learning tons from people without ISTD or other prestigious certifications. Also, outside coaches exposed me to eye-opening philosophies that totally changed how my body feels and moves. And those coaches, esp active pros, usually have no certification since they are busy competing.

#2. About what DL's comment on NP about limiting himself

I would recommend talking to a therapist. What NP struggles with is much deeper than finding a partner that suits his needs or anything related to dancing. Not allowing oneself to explore possibilities that are otherwise fine to explore is a condition. We as strangers can offer suggestions but if NP does not allow himself to consider possibilities, there is very little we can help. Also, only NP knows what he needs. I don't think we have been very helpful or smart enough to find out what can be helpful for NP. There are a lot of questions that NP needs to ask himself first. The answers to those questions may help NP find some answers (I will be hoping for the best for you)!
 
NeveraPartner said:
I don't know exactly how practice sessions would work ... it would be a joint decision ... but the books will be there, and if they don't take a large part in the session, it's between there will been have "homework" of syllabus studying and video watching between sessions ... so the less syllabus at the session, the better, cause that means the homework will have translated to actual effective dancing ... but I'm sure there will be constant reference to the tablet or looseleaf binders or physical books, esp. at the beginning.
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You wrote the above description days ago. The process you describe is studying. With a study partner. The subject happens to be partner dance.
 
Out of curiosity, where do you find the certifications? One of the studio owners around here claims certification of some sort by "US Terpsichore Assn." But his name isn't under "http://www.usterpsichore.org/active-members/". I've assumed he could have been certified in the past but doesn't maintain membership. Other than the active members page, I don't seen any page of everyone who has qualified at any time in the past. Does one exist?
 
For ISTD members... just check US ISTD's website.
lucia_l said:
Out of curiosity, where do you find the certifications? One of the studio owners around here claims certification of some sort by "US Terpsichore Assn." But his name isn't under "http://www.usterpsichore.org/active-members/". I've assumed he could have been certified in the past but doesn't maintain membership. Other than the active members page, I don't seen any page of everyone who has qualified at any time in the past. Does one exist?
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For others orgs, they are not as transparent as istd. However, NDCA lists all registered dancers (am and pro). For a pro, NDCA lists his/her certification(s). For example, (almost) all instructors in my studio are licensed via one of the two franchises. A young male pro recently got licensed a few years ago after I joined the studio (he didn't have one when I joined). NDCA lists all orgs including istd, two franchises, dance vision, terps, etc.. NDCA does not list the level of the certifications tho, i.e, associate/student teacher, licentiate, and fellows (I'm using ISTD's names, other orgs using other names for different levels).
 
lucia_l said:
Out of curiosity, where do you find the certifications?
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Where the credentials allegedly come from. In the last USA Dance election, it was discovered that a candidate running for president had lied about his credentials - they were a long list of certifications that, upon checking, were fraudulent. FYI he was taken off the ballot (but curiously, despite having done this, is still in governance at USAD, and chairs a few committees, including the Junior Athlete Committee, go figure) but he had this on his resume for years - even judged USA Dance Nationals. So, if you are interested in a teacher make sure you contact the organizations, not necessarily the 'teacher'.
 
Larinda said:
(Image your university where you acquire a bachelors, masters, or phd telling you that you were no longer a graduate of their institution and must return all diplomas, if you stopped paying yearly alum fees?)
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That's the situation I imagined. The list says active members. That implies someone who paid dues. So your credentials only show if you are up to date on dues. I would imagine lots of people who have no intention of judging will let their membership lapse because the vast majority of clients don't check anyway and to some extent don't care. So there is little business reason to pay the dues.

For what it's worth: I don't plan to take lessons from that studio owner whether or not he's credentialed. I took some way back when (for various reasons). I didn't find them useful. That doesn't mean he's not qualified. Some aspects of teaching are not tested when testing knowledge of figures or other "book" knowledge. This is true outside of dance and I can't help but think it's true inside dance also.

Obviously, it's useful to see if someone has passed certifications. But it's not the only thing.

Honestly, partly for this reason I think it's entirely reasonable for the Terpsichord association to not test qualification at every higher levels.
 
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