how are your lessons going? thread II

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I'm at a FA franchise, and the studio owner had some bad experiences with previous students at Ohio. Also, it's right after one of their nationals, and we only have two male pros at the studio, so it's a bigger loss for them. I have assured them that if i don't make it out of the first rounds, i will cry but I'm not going to blame them lol.
 
RiseNFall said:
I'm also at a FADS, but in my case, I could have gone years ago if I wanted to--I was the one resisting it!
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Again, i'm jealous!!! dang. our region is a bit weird about independents, sigh.

back to the thread - missed my second latin lesson of the week on thursday because i had a cold. that was apparently the reason why i was so sore and tired at my wednesday lesson. and since it was my BIRTHDAY friday, i wanted to rest up! Was able to perform my bolero at the party - i was not 100% still, so it could have been better, and the one dance wore me the heck out. Recovering from the exertions this weekend and hoping i am fully recovered to practice tomorrow and compete this weekend at the regional comp.
 
Lesson Sunday. WCS coming along nicely. Coaching from a few weeks ago was a shot of confidence. AT was ok, not as good as last week. Pro explained two possible outcomes starts from leg crawl; I say starts because from there the outcome might morph into, well, anything. Am so thankful that my feet don't hurt anymore, and my balance is so much better than it was even a couple of months ago.
 
Lessons have been going well overall. Lots of focus on arms (especially in Cha Cha) as I gear up for my first comp in October but...that being said...screw. reverse. turns.

They've been fine for me in Samba up until now but there's one part of my routine that calls for me to go from a whisk straight into a reverse turn and for some reason things just break down. I can feel my coach compensating for me—which considering she's about 9 inches shorter than me and 80lbs lighter is super not okay. I know I'll get it as it's already way better after just a few days of focusing on that part of my routine but for the time being: oooof!
 
two rhythm lessons this week - prep for comp and a few little tweaks. got something new to add into my movement, but it's going to take a while to get it working in my body, so that will be a post-comp focus. Latin lesson was actually really good this week - i finally was able to change my thought process around dancing it, and the results were markedly improved! however, it takes me fighting my natural instincts throughout the whole rumba routine and that was exhausting! hopefully i can make my body realize that it's just gonna have to do it this way, so deal with it.

Also, my latin pro will be moving on from the industry, probably by the end of the year...thank goodness for him, he's so burned out. I'll miss him but not the drama i've had. so may be just rhythm for a while until they can find some other teachers!
 
Today’s lesson was one of the rougher ones I’ve had in a while. I felt like I had three left feet and all of them were pulling me in different directions. I had a feeling it’d be like that before the lesson started (I’m very short on sleep due to school starting back up and taking on a massive freelance project I should’ve rejected which makes my mediocre balance relapse to just plain bad) but that didn’t make it easier.

I’ve come a loooong way since I first started, which is something my coach pointed out to me unprompted (not sure if she could tel I wasn’t my overly optimistic self today), but sometimes it’s hard not to sit and wonder when I won’t suck as well as when some part of this will come easy.
 
made it through lessons, and I'm finally feeling 100%. I think i've been sicker longer than I realized! we took it easy at both lessons, focusing on turns and a few little pieces, since i wasn't up to much of anything else. Getting back into condition will be super fun, sigh. Not much to discuss from my comp performance, other than, it was ok given that i was not well.
 
Missed last week's lesson because I was sick, but looking forward to upcoming lesson. Have big decisions coming up. Contemplating competing for the first time in over 3 years, in AT, which I've never competed in before. Comp under consideration apparently considers AT a smooth dance.

Am feeling angst, because I'm not going to look like the other dancers. It is not practical to wear a long ballgown for AT for obvious reasons (But why, Purr?? You try doing rondes, kicks and flicks in a long dress, and see how you like it. Plus, with AT the focus is on the legs.). And I'd prefer to wear Latin shoes rather than court shoes. Heavy sigh...

Am also feeling angst over body issues. I'm tall and have an hourglass shape, and coupled with the fact I'm not getting any younger the confidence thing isn't there. I go through this every competition, where I look at the pin thin girls and think I'm a fat heifer. It's just not in my genes. I work out, but the effect seems to be building up muscle. Pro commented the other day I'm getting some serious guns, but I think it's making my big arms look even bigger.

Sorry for this rambling post this morning. Time to get busy and get to work.
 
@Purr , it's so hard not to compare yourself to other girls - but there are a lot more shapes and sizes out on the floor nowadays that i see. You work those guns! Also, just because it's "smooth", is there a rule that says you can't wear latin shoes?
 
I don't think so, regarding shoes or costuming. Other issue is I don't want to spend a lot of money for costuming for a few entries (3 total, I think). I was thinking of wearing a burgundy Ralph Lauren cocktail dress, with a coordinating crystal jewelry set. I already own the dress, it's a flattering fit, and it looks good on me. I've looked at practice dresses online, I'm not sure how different an impact one of those would have versus the burgundy dress.

I do own a stoned Latin dress, but I don't feel it's a good fit for AT, and I wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it.
 
Do it. As long as you like how you look, and it moves enough to let you dance, who cares?

(And I totally support not spending huge amounts of money on something you are going to wear for less than 5 minutes. As long as you've made an appreciable effort with your appearance to acknowledge that you are competing, it wouldn't raise my eyebrows at all.)
 
Thank you. I'll make an effort, and it will look fine in the context of AT (argentine tango). It's just that I can't see spending tons of money to wear something for only 3 AT entries at the bronze level. Since I've never competed in an NDCA event in AT, bronze seems appropriate. Plus, I haven't been taking regular lessons in AT for that long.
 
So my studio has now got two new teachers and I have had a lesson with the ballroom one. He came with good results but I was worried about how teaching would go as some people expressed concerns due to cultural difference. However I shouldn't have worried it went well. I got some decent critque of my waltz, was told i follow good. I really like he spent a lot of time talking about the mechanics of positioning and what how to do my job so he can do his.
It was very different from old teacher but although different style it still worked.
Have a latin lesson next week so i will see how it goes
 
Have successfully argued left whisk out of my waltz routine. I've never liked how it looks or feels on me, and now it's gone :) Temporary placeholder is a throwaway oversway with the same double reverse entrance, but pro's open to another picture line/different entrance/fancier exit if I find something I like.

Am enjoying this 'you watch the comp videos and tell me if there's something you think we should change - and ideas for what you want to change it to' approach. He does it too, but I like the equal vote.
 
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