how are your lessons going? thread II

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I am running out of steam.

Last week, I had SIX lessons - four with the choreographer and pro, two with just my pro.

This week (starting on Sunday), I've already had one (male instructor, focusing on technique), two with my pro tomorrow, one with the male instructor with my potential amateur partner, two with my pro on Saturday, and one with the male instructor on Sunday. Next week, I have two with my pro with another outside coach. (Mind you, I basically started at bronze a year ago, *am still bronze*, and I feel like I am moving too quickly.)

We have a showcase coming up at the beginning of June, but I feel like I haven't recovered from the last one.

I need to pump the brakes on this - I feel like I am going to run out of gas (and money) soon. I'm going out of town next weekend, so I have an excuse for disappearing.
 
You don't need an excuse to do what is right for you. I'm on a break right now. My explanation: "I'm taking the week off. See you next week." (He might not, but that's a whole other story.) The last time I didn't take advantage of a coaching opportunity: "I'm going to pass, but thank you for asking me if I wanted to participate."

I used to feel the need to justify skipping lessons, taking a break, etc. It's become much less stressful now that I don't - I just make sure to give lots of advance notice so that pro can book someone into my standing lesson times. And taking the odd break of a week or two throughout the year has done great things for my health, sanity, motivation and budget. I do it so regularly that pro knows I take the week off after a competition, and that the week after that, usually only do one lesson.
 
FancyFeet said:
...taking the odd break of a week or two throughout the year has done great things for my health, sanity, motivation and budget.
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I find this is true of anything taxing (physical or otherwise). Sometimes you just need rest and there's no shame in that. I tend to take vacations from my hobbies the same way I do from work and it always does wonders for me in the same ways you mentioned.
 
ceterisparibus said:
I am running out of steam.

........
I need to pump the brakes on this - I feel like I am going to run out of gas (and money) soon. I'm going out of town next weekend, so I have an excuse for disappearing.
Click to expand...

I find that I can make great progress by doing some intensive work on occasion, but listen to yourself. People sometimes end up quitting all together when they can't figure out how to pull back.
 
Agreed with all the others. take a break when you feel you need to!

Had a latin lesson last night. My body keeps thinking it knows what to do, since we did it a while 18 yrs ago or so, and i have to remind it that no, it has no idea what to do. Definitely a challenge. Enjoying the lack of knee pain during latin lessons, though!
 
My relationship with my pro has significantly improved but I always feel like I'm one argument from walking away haha... Probably not a good thing, but I'm definitely putting in the effort on that end (my dancing hasn't been the problem it's our personalities).

I kind of sit here wondering if it will always feel like an uphill battle. Anyway, we're doing a coaching lesson today that I'm pumped for. I have some choreography to contribute that my pro thought was really good, showing it to coach today. Let's goooo
 
FancyFeet said:
You don't need an excuse to do what is right for you. I'm on a break right now.
Click to expand...

Exactly. It's your hobby - you can schedule as few or as many lessons as you like - especially since you're the one who's paying for it. Don't feel back about scaling back or taking a break.
 
Took a couple of new lessons with different instructors while I was out in California a couple of weeks ago which were mixed. One was really good (although very, very handsy) and one was very meh. That being said, when I got back to NY my coach noticed a drastic improvement in my dancing which was super nice to hear. A couple of things clicked and my balance and posture are just better.

Starting to work on some more complex choreography (at least more complex for me haha) which is exciting. I’m definitely still planning to drill the basics but it’s nice to have something more involved to work on as well.
 
First lesson back post comp... refreshingly normal. No conversation part 2, no accusations, no crying, no fighting.... just video and excitement, pride and plans (pro) / peeking through fingers and explanations of tipsy weekend video-watching to desensitize (me). Then some fixing of bits. Still not sure where we are - mostly because I'm not sure where I am with everything - but we might get through this.

The compromise deal re: comp costs was honoured to the letter, with no reminding required. Oh, and deciding to wear my glasses thinking we'd just watch vid and talk was not the greatest idea.
 
Rhythm lesson last night was rounds and a few minor detail fixes. Danced well but i am vaguely unsettled for some reason, so hopefully will get that gone with the next lesson on Friday. Performed our 80's aerobics championship show dance routine on Friday and it was a HUGE hit and so fun to do. so so fun!
 
Lessons with New(er) Guy today for the first time in a couple of weeks: I was out of town for a bit and had to cancel another day because of a short-lived, but painful, ankle injury. I love that I can say that I dance better than I did two weeks ago. Pro has done a lot of detail work with me and it came through. Phew! One of the "detail work" days I warned Pro that I might burst into tears at any moment out of frustration (I was having a lot of difficulty putting together a bunch of stuff I already knew). So, all in all, good to see that pay off with NG today. Certainly a lot more work and practice is needed to solidify what we are working on at the moment, but at least it's all headed it the correct direction, even if slowly. ;)
 
Latin on Tuesday, was much more relaxed for me. Pro asked what pill i took to make me dance better. UM PRACTICE, DORK. Rhythm tonight, closed and open. Felt good, looked good. Minor corrections, but it’s just rounds and presentation practice before comp next week! Any going to Wisconsin State?
 
Rhythm last night, was a bit meh. Not bad, just...uninspired. Good to have that one not-so-great practice before comp out of the way though!
 
After a 2.5 year break from competitions and over a year since I've stepped foot in a ballroom, IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK!!!. I miss the smell of a studio. It'a amazing how quickly it comes back to you. Now to go through all my old notes, because I have a lot of students to get up to snuff.
 
Lessons have been good recently. We’ve been focusing more on partnering as I’ve finally started to sort myself out.

Today’s lesson was especially eye opening. Ended the session with me following in Jive which was 1) a ton of fun and 2) super enlightening. I understood conceptually how important a clear lead was, but being shown the difference between a good and bad lead as a follow really hammered home how constant I need to be in my connection.

Now I just need to keep my eyes and ears open for a fill in coach towards the end of May/start of June when the studio basically closes for Blackpool (everyone is headed out to compete). If anyone has some NYC recommendations I’ll gladly take them!
 
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