For practice: Private room or Sharing room

[Leonid Turetsky]

For dance students: Which scenario do you prefer.... when having your dance lessons. A private room (smaller most likely), with just you, your instructor and the music? or the way mostly its done, where you are on the floor (bigger room) with other instructors sharing space and the music at the same time?

And why?

 

[and123]

Of course I would rather have the entire floor to myself. But that is a very very rare occurrence. Why? - no distractions (irrelevant music, multiple conversations, general din), no obstacles (people IN THE WAY). Just gotta suck it up and deal.

 

[etp777]

Prifvate room. part of reason I take lessons over my lunchbreak when possible, more likely to have floor to ourselves.

Last 2-3 weeks before a comp though I like to have crowded floor (or party, or whateveR) to brush up on floorcraft.

 

[latingal]

It depends on the dance style and what I'm working on with the instructor.

For a lesson of technique or dancing which doesn't move that much, a small private room is nice. It eliminates distraction and is much quieter.

When preparing for a comp or doing dances/technique that needs room (i.e. smooth, standard, paso, samba, etc.) I prefer having the bigger space and will sacrifice dedicated music and quiet so I can do the movement as it should be done.

 

[ireniecat]

I agree with latingal on both counts.

But I'd also like to add another benefit to dancing on a shared floor... it desensitizes you to others watching you dance. When you're working on new choreography (and feel like it's "not ready yet") or have a show/comp coming up, I think it's better to be around others and have them see you... This way you can get used to dancing in a realistic setting, WITH distractions and people watching

 

[Leonid Turetsky]

Yes i agree, having others on the floor, makes you get used to that pressure, which you might experience in a competition or showcase with many people watching you....

But what about you preparing for a showcase number and need to run through your dance many times, and you need the music? or for competition rounds? while all around there are wedding couples, salsa lesson going on at the same time...and they all need the music and space too..

I agree with latingal on both counts.

But I'd also like to add another benefit to dancing on a shared floor... it desensitizes you to others watching you dance. When you're working on new choreography (and feel like it's "not ready yet") or have a show/comp coming up, I think it's better to be around others and have them see you... This way you can get used to dancing in a realistic setting, WITH distractions and people watching

 

[and123]

You book privates at off-peak times when you need more control like that.

 

[etp777]

Was doing that yesterday LT. Can certainly make things interesting. Actually, had to steer around other couples and had new student waiting for his wife watching the whole thing. Luckily, this time, couples were all either new or working rhythm technique, so they were able to use back half of floor while I used most of front and center. My tango showcase takes up jsut about whole floor, so i only work on that one over lunch breaks.

 

[and123]

If those working on relatively static steps or technique would deposit themselves in a low traffic area, that would be WONDERFUL. Instead they tend to randomly float around the outer walls where the traveling dances (Standard/Smooth) need to go. Very frustrating :?.

 

[etp777]

Agreed, and123. but it sure helps polish the floorcraft.

 

[Leonid Turetsky]

I understand that students don't have the luxury to choose..... but lets say a teacher had decided to teach in a private space always instead of sharing space, would you find that to be a good thing?

 

[ireniecat]

Yes i agree, having others on the floor, makes you get used to that pressure, which you might experience in a competition or showcase with many people watching you....

But what about you preparing for a showcase number and need to run through your dance many times, and you need the music? or for competition rounds? while all around there are wedding couples, salsa lesson going on at the same time...and they all need the music and space too..

That's tricky... If there is really so much activity going on in the main ballroom, I would say in that instance, I would take the smaller private room.

But in general I like to dance rounds in a larger space. And as long as I'm doing it in my usual studio where people know me, they don't mind letting me steal the music for 15 minutes at a time... because they know I would do the same for them.

 

[ireniecat]

I understand that students don't have the luxury to choose..... but lets say a teacher had decided to teach in a private space always instead of sharing space, would you find that to be a good thing?

No, I personally would not like that. I like to be in a large space, for above mentioned reasons. But I know plenty of people who are self-conscious and will not take a lesson unless they are guaranteed a private room.

 

[ireniecat]

If those working on relatively static steps or technique would deposit themselves in a low traffic area, that would be WONDERFUL. Instead they tend to randomly float around the outer walls where the traveling dances (Standard/Smooth) need to go. Very frustrating :?.

Those people just need to be politely asked to plant themselves in the center of the floor and away from LOD

 

[dlgodud]

I understand that students don't have the luxury to choose..... but lets say a teacher had decided to teach in a private space always instead of sharing space, would you find that to be a good thing?

For me, it does not matter, but my previous instructor preferred for having a private room. And I thought that it made him feel better and concentrated on teaching. He looked sometimes disturbed by other people on the floor when we need to share the room. If it helps you teaching students and explain to them, I guess they understand your purposes.