how are your lessons going? thread II

Status
Not open for further replies.
double latin lesson last night. Rumba is still very frustrating for me :/ Jive is coming along, samba is getting there, cha cha is getting there. I need to practice it more, but since it's not my main style, it is always a lower priority.
 
Had a great lesson today. We ran through all of my Smooth and Rhythm dances. We're working on refining some of my steps. Pro made one or two suggestions on all of the dances which made me much more successful in making the changes. We're even incorporating some additional steps into my competition routines to spice things up a bit more. One neat exercise we did today was he had me hold a 3 pound ball in my right hand while dancing smooth. I was to concentrate on using my back muscles to help hold that weight. It was incredible how solid and still my frame was. Now I just have to remember to duplicate that feeling every time I dance.

Hope everyone has a great weekend . . .and if you're heading out for competition, good luck!
 
First lesson since my first comp. We talked about the experience and discussed my goals for the future. I definitely want to compete again and do several scholarships in a year or so, so the plan is to start working asap on routines and refining technique. No rest for the wicked! :)
 
So I have had a very rough couple of weeks dance wise. As most know I dance on the uk university circuit and how my uni works is they partner us well I was partnered and very shortly my dance partner didnt want to commit as much and made the decision to split the partnership which hit me hard as I had no options.
So long story short im now going to do pro am a year earlier than planned.

But Lesson wise had a bit of a breakthrough in a latin group class. I struggle with confidence and performance and was able to perform solo in a lesson and perform properly which never happens. Also while I have a looooooong way to go I am starting to feel I can do open choero and feel more comfortable staying for higher level classes
 
Lesson yesterday, only 2 or 3 left before competition. Connection and continuity of dance good. Footwork a little cleaner. Nerves somewhat better, but it was affecting me that VIP coach and pro couple were having a lesson on the floor the same time as my lesson.
 
We've been alternating working on choreography for a Dec 21 showcase and working on technique. The former helps my showmanship, facial expression and so on, but at the risk of getting sloppy with feet, frame and so on. The latter makes sure I pay attention to my feet and frame. (Good technique does need to have some sort of point, after all. Performances are more the point of being good!)

We're doing 3 dances for the showcase. One is mambo with the constantly difficult for me "start on two". One of my self assignments is to listen to mambo and dance on "2" at home....

I've got plenty of time until the showcase and it's just an internal studio get together with a dinner and dancing afterwards. So it's pretty fun.
 
Last few lessons have been really good and left me drenched in sweat like when I first started with my current coach. I can already see a marked improvement in Cha Cha and Samba from just a couple of weeks ago. Really focusing on accents and moving my feet at the last possible second. Also working on arms—not styling but being more cognizant that they’re part of my body (sounds dumb but I swear it makes sense in my head).
 
Lots of fun today. First lessons post comp, plus Pro's going to be out of town next week. Seemed like a good time for one of my periodic "Pro coaches New(er) Guy and me" lessons. My request was that we do some detailed work on whatever he wanted NG to work on with me next week. We ended up working on an 8 measure step in the waltz. Reworked some of it and improved the rest. I started out saying that I was sure I would have reasonably mastered by next March, but it was significantly better before the end of the lessons.
 
Rhythm lesson yesterday after a week of solo practice :p . my brain fell out a bit in cha cha, but the other dances went well. bit heavy in mambo, mainly because the music was slowed and i had to really force myself to dance to the music. Wish they would play normal speed mambos at competitions! two more lessons and one coaching before next comp! and possibly i'll have the new dress for comp... Gotta stay chill :)
 
Much better rhythm lesson today. i definitely overtrained a bit and i had to reset myself mentally. Once i did that, routines went very well. ran through them once, since my body needs to recover AND pro has a cold :( glad he has it now instead of next week! cleaned up a few little things and am ready for coaching today. Mobility exercises ONLY today, no hard workouts...
 
Lesson went surprisingly well today considering I haven't been able to practice for most of the week due to surprise personal drama :rolleyes:. Worked more on Samba and Cha Cha--focusing on body action now and making my movements more dynamic. I get what I need to be doing in my head, but now I have to get my body to do it.
 
I actually had 3 lessons for the first time in 3 months...praise God...felt so good to just be moving again...we will have to completely reconstruct a rumba and a mambo but the rest is still pretty much still in the hard drive and I could begin to envision being ready to compete again by next Fall...possibly sooner for the smooth
 
Starting to work on my new Quickstep routine. I've learned it just enough that we can run it and see how it all hangs together. All but one of the walls seems to flow ok on its own. (I mean, they need a lot of work - but I can "see" the idea of the ones that are working). But one wall is just awkward and some of the connections between walls are boring or too difficult to maneuver. My Pro is having us try different step combinations, or switch the order of figures, or even just change angles or timing slightly to improve the flow/rhythm. Definitely interesting to see how it's being pieced together. I always wonder if I'll ever be able to do the routines justice, but I think I really like this one.
 
Friday's latin tech lesson was encouraging.
Latin teach: "You're dancing differently. Is it the heels? Did you change shoes?"​
Me: "No. I wear these all the time. Good different or bad different?"​
Latin teach: "Good different. You're using the floor more, and really presenting your feet."​
Me: (laughing) "Well, I practiced, and specifically those things... so maybe it worked?"​

Other highlights:
"I love your legs."​
"I could watch that all day."​
"Your next competition dress should be like that [the practice dress I was wearing]. Your body in it, with the line it makes... beautiful. It's you."​
Upon reflection, all of these highlights sound slightly inappropriate... but whatevs. They were innocent, and it made me feel beautiful and proud of my dancing. Breakthroughs are fun.

On the less encouraging front, pro cancelled my planned standard lesson. Did not help with the not-being-at-Ohio funk. I ate chocolate.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Dance Ads

Advertise on Dance Forums Reach dancers, teachers, studios, event organizers, and dance-friendly brands. View ad options
Back
Top