how are your lessons going? thread II

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Lesson Friday with first Pro...did a variety of dances, including AT...first pro did a lot of advanced stuff we hadn't covered much...seemed to go ok...first pro had nothing bad to say about it, which is as good as it's going to get...my observation is that AT teaches patience, along with following, if nothing else...lesson Sunday with second AT Pro...worked on AT showcase routine...it's coming along...suggested changing song to something I like better...AT Pro wants to demo the routine sometime in May...some discussion on coaching for the routine...
 
Loki said:
The tango freaks are going to start throwing seizures when they see the word "routine". LOL!
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Perhaps "demonstration" might be a better word choice. I am just learning AT, and while pros think I am doing well with it, I need some structure to this little event. It's a non-starter without some sort of game plan.

Song is a techno arrangement of Libertango, which is my favorite tango. Probably that would cause a hissy fit for AT enthusiasts too. Some of what's presented as AT music sounds to me like caterwauling cats or nails on chalkboard. No thanks. Libertango works for me.
 
Purr said:
Perhaps "demonstration" might be a better word choice. I am just learning AT, and while pros think I am doing well with it, I need some structure to this little event. It's a non-starter without some sort of game plan.

Song is a techno arrangement of Libertango, which is my favorite tango. Probably that would cause a hissy fit for AT enthusiasts too. Some of what's presented as AT music sounds to me like caterwauling cats or nails on chalkboard. No thanks. Libertango works for me.
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Speaking of Libertango, I love the Bond version!
 
Lesson tonight was lots of talk about hip technique and what's sufficient vs overboard, and then a discovery that my legs actually slightly hyperextend and that's causing my leg actions to look off when I don't do it.

Then jumped deep into arms theory - much homework left there.
 
Things I said/conversations that were had at my lesson last night:

1.
Me: "I'm feeling you really pull your left arm back after we get set. Why are you doing that? Are you trying to tell me something?"
Pro: "No, I'm just trying to make my elbow angle sharper."
Me: "Okay, well, could you do ťhat before we get set? Because it's pulling me twisted."

2.
Pro keeps asking for more and more connection (things feel fine to me). I keep increasing it... finally declaring in exasperation: "This feels horrible. I keep giving you more, but it's making me feel like I don't have any room to move because I'm glued to your side."
Pro: "I think you're right. Go back to what you were doing before."
I do... we dance.
Pro: "Yeah, that's better. Ignore me."

3.
We're tinkering with some styling in tango. I'm in a really big exaggerated shape to the left, and pro tries to change it to a different really big shape to the right quickly... and literally pulls me off my feet. I explain what I'm feeling, and propose 2 different fixes. Pro proceeds to do exactly the same thing, with more force... this time, both pulling me off my feet and tweaking my back. Then goes: "yeah, okay, you're right. That doesn't work."
Me, rubbing my back: "You think?"

It's a rare day where pro is that off... wonder if he thinks a similar 'WTF?' when I have a paricularly bad day...
 
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closed rhythm for the first time in 10 months? a year? it was a lot of amusement as we both tried to remember the patterns. looking forward to smooth tonight, but my body isn't. i just took a week and a half off working out! and yet, THE SORENESS.
 
AT lesson yesterday...went fine...some discussion about future coaching...pro suggested coaching with a known in the community AT Coach...I reply I heard that Coach doesn't do coaching with newbie AT students (like me)...I am also concerned that I have a lot of not so latent Am. tango tendencies...helps that I follow and pick up patterns quickly...but dancing probably isn't true AT either...leave pro to figure coaching situation out...

Wish there were more people at parties that danced AT, but there aren't...only can dance it with AT pro and other pro...sad...am thinking partial reason that AT pro wants to do this "demonstration" is to generate some interest... :(
 
I was told that my dancing felt like "milk and honey" in my lesson tonight. That was only in reference to, oh, maybe one measure, but I'll still take it. :) It did feel wonderful. I had a few literally jaw-dropping moments interspersed throughout the lesson because it felt so...natural. Pro:"It's a lot easier when you do it correctly, isn't it?" :rolleyes:
 
Got text from AT pro yesterday...seems to have gotten AT coach to agree to work with us...told AT pro to text me the particulars...am worried about what AT coach is going to think of my ballroom tendencies...
 
Lesson excited my pro, threw curveball, he caught and ran with it and is quite happy "out of the box of the regular lessons he teaches which he is excited about" yea!!!! Felt good to be back and not sore is truly a good thing.
 
Purr said:
Got text from AT pro yesterday...seems to have gotten AT coach to agree to work with us...told AT pro to text me the particulars...am worried about what AT coach is going to think of my ballroom tendencies...
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As with any lesson or coaching, take the information you can use, and make the best of it. I hope you have a good experience. I am sure your ballroom teacher will have plenty of ballroom tendencies as well!! But since this is for a showcase, in the end the routine is whatever you and your teacher want it to be. So if the AT teacher doesn't like what you're doing, or if you can't learn what the AT teacher would like you to learn in time for the showcase - so what? As long as you and your pro end up with a routine you both like, you're fine. And I'm sure you'll learn something interesting from the AT pro. Let us know how it goes!
 
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