Hope it isnt too early to progress..

[Mr. Dance]

So, in the professional opinion of everyone here... this is my question. As most know, I took a basic ballroom class a couple months back, and at the advice of the instructor I am taking it again now. She advises to take basic ballroom classes for a year to get the fundamentals down and then move on the intermediate, advanced, and private lessons or whatever you choose after the first year. Anyhow, the basic class teaches:

Waltz: Basic box step, basic progressive, spin.
Foxtrot: Basic foxtrot walk, trouble step
ECS: Basic ECS swing step (step-step-Rock*Step) , ladies under arm spin out and back, 1 underarm spin out for the men.
Rumba: Basic rumba box, basic rumba progressive, ladies spin.

All fundamental moves and patterns and ones that neither myself or dancingirl have had any problems with at all. Certainly Im sure our technique can always be tweaked but so far so good.

So anyways, an intermediate class opportunity kind of fell into my lap out of the blue from a friend I met at the basic class who wanted a partner for the intermediate. After speaking with her, and the instructor for that class, and they feeling I was good enough to take an intermediate class now I started it. Its a wonderful class, Im learning so many more patterns, moves, and dances in general than the basic ballroom. Thats expected of course because its the next step up. Anyways it makes the dancing even more fun because of all the things I can now do that I couldnt do even 2 weeks ago before I started this 3rd class ( Im also taking a WCS swing class now as well). My basic class instructor has apparently noticed the improvement and put me with all the ladies who did not have partners this week instead of dancing with my regular partner, to help out the singles more. They all said I was the best leader and helped them the most with the WCS steps and Basic Ballroom steps and patterns so that made me feel good that atleast somebody else thinks Im progressing ok.

Anywho, having said all that..do you think it was wise to start this intermediate class now, or should I have waited ? Im finding it to come pretty natural for the most part just like the basic class and I think Im doing ok in it. The next plan after this set of classes is over next month is to start private lessons, not sure how many I can swing a month but we'll see.

Thoughts?

 

[RIdancer82]

I don't think there's any right or wrong answer to that. Everyone learns differently and progresses at different speeds. If it's working for you, then that's great! Just make sure not to put all your focus on learning new foot patterns... you can't forget about the all technique you need to learn for each one.

 

[Mr. Dance]

Absolutely, I try to always make sure I keep the focus on the technique as much as possible so it stays in the forefront of my mind at all times. Trust me, if my concentration lapses, DancinGirl can tell because my frame isnt straight and we arent the same couple as we are when I do concentrate.

 

[NielsenE]

Assuming that the intermediate class fits your schedule and the teacher says you can take it; I'd go for it. I'ld still take the beginners class a second time, too to help solidify things. During a second or third time through the same material its often possible to pick up more nuances of the technique and/or lets you focus on applying those aspects to the steps.

 

[SPratt74]

I'm new too, but I would say do it! Learning more steps and patterns makes a person that much more excited to dance! I get so excited about learning new steps, because that means I get to show off a bit more than before. I'm already at an intermediate level even though I have so far to go, because I'm not afraid to learn new things. And I didn't know this until I was able to see the differences between being a beginner and being an intermediate level meant until I saw the steps over the Internet. It also helps that I'm taking privates from two instructors though lol. But look at you! Here you thought a while back that you had doubts, but look how far you've come! Congrats!

 

[Mr. Dance]

Assuming that the intermediate class fits your schedule and the teacher says you can take it; I'd go for it. I'ld still take the beginners class a second time, too to help solidify things. During a second or third time through the same material its often possible to pick up more nuances of the technique and/or lets you focus on applying those aspects to the steps.

Yeah Im still gonna finish up the basic class, I think there is 4 weeks left in it. It's good to know the material already (same teacher as last time) so I can concentrate more on technique.

I'm new too, but I would say do it! Learning more steps and patterns makes a person that much more excited to dance! I get so excited about learning new steps, because that means I get to show off a bit more than before. I'm already at an intermediate level even though I have so far to go, because I'm not afraid to learn new things. And I didn't know this until I was able to see the differences between being a beginner and being an intermediate level meant until I saw the steps over the Internet. It also helps that I'm taking privates from two instructors though lol. But look at you! Here you thought a while back that you had doubts, but look how far you've come! Congrats!:wink:

Thanks I appreciate it ..another nice thing about this intermediate class is that the instructor(s) is different than my first classes and different from the basic and WCS class Im taking now. Its good to get a different perspective from another instructor..plus in the inter. class, there is a guy and a lady instructor who seem to work really well together so it helps to speed things along in class when ken can work with us separetly while the carol works with the ladies at the same time and then see them show us together how its supposed to go. Definately helpful.