how I practice. Need critique

[costa226]

Hello all. I have a question regarding my practices and the challenges I face in being a professional. My problem is pretty serious...

As a "professional" I dance 11 hours a day and im getting worse.

I hate to sound dramatic, but its somewhat true and I need to make a strong point clear. The following might sound a little like im whining, but im gonna try and state the facts and realities of my current situation the best I can right now. The way I see it, the best dancers in the world are amateur, maybe not by definition of the ballroom world, but in the way they function. They take lessons, and practice, and do a ton of both. great dancers dont spend all day everyday dancing with random people. I on the other hand spend virtually all day teaching students who are well bellow my level. what happens is that most of the time, im trying to keep them focused on their steps, and on their feet. I have a bad habit of not practicing anything on my own while teaching, but regardless, its hard to find room for improvement in this scenario.

On occasion I get a random lesson, thats one lesson, from a coach that comes into the studio. That will happen once a month.

Other then that I have no professional partner. I come into work early to practice by myself whatever information I got off of youtube somewhere.

So... Can someone help me out with what im doing wrong? Do I need to quit to get some actual practice in and take lessons from more coaches? Imshould be getting a partner soon, who will hopefully take some of the lessons from me, giving us both enough time to practice with eachother. and MAYBE then ill get some assistance from the owners, but im not going to count on it.

I want the cold hard truth and some ideas and tactics on how to improve, given this scenario.

I thought turning pro would make me better, but im not getting the vibe atm.

 

[fascination]

turning pro won't automatically make you a better dancer any more than getting pregnant will automatically save a marriage...you can be good as a pro or crappy as a pro and the same is true of amatuers...and anywhere in between...what is certain is that if you are not getting good coaching at least monthly and are not practicing alone and with a partner, you will struggle to progress...and you need to find ways to be in a situation where you have the time and money for both and/or mentors who care....that being said, you can work (with students who will tolerate it) by doing drills side by side in the mirror working your own technique on lessons you are teaching for part of a lesson, if you actually have enough of your own technique to know how to do it...

 

[SwayWithMe]

Find a coach with whom to train on a regular ongoing basis, so that you get progressive instruction. Visiting coaches are great, but not as one's only training.

 

[costa226]

good advice. Truthfully I love my job and the teaching aspect is a huge reason i love it. but when i go weeks without any significant practice, lessons, or improvement, I feel bad. I wrote this when I was pretty tired so im sure I sounded agitated, but im making a plan to get more practice.

 

[FancyFeet]

^^ I think that's key. Even us ams don't have practice time and coaching, etc. fall in to our laps. Most of us work full-time as well, and find the time to squeeze lessons and practice and so on in to the schedule. It matters, and we want to get better, so we find a way.

Even without a partner, on monthly coachings, you can improve. Figure out how to fit regular, consistent practice into your schedule, maybe treat it like a lesson with a student that you cannot cancel, and work at it. Maybe seek guidance from your coach on the most helpful exercises or structure for solo practice... and yes, a partner will make your partnering skills stronger, and more frequent regular lessons can help you improve more quickly, but your feet, balance, body work, etc. can all be worked solo.

I will add that solo practice can be a huge drag, if that's all you do... it can be hard to stay motivated. Just keep reminding yourself why you do it, and keep plugging away to see the results.

 

[Partner Dancer]

Hello all. I have a question regarding my practices and the challenges I face in being a professional. My problem is pretty serious...

As a "professional" I dance 11 hours a day and im getting worse.

I hate to sound dramatic, but its somewhat true and I need to make a strong point clear. The following might sound a little like im whining, but im gonna try and state the facts and realities of my current situation the best I can right now. The way I see it, the best dancers in the world are amateur, maybe not by definition of the ballroom world, but in the way they function. They take lessons, and practice, and do a ton of both. great dancers dont spend all day everyday dancing with random people. I on the other hand spend virtually all day teaching students who are well bellow my level. what happens is that most of the time, im trying to keep them focused on their steps, and on their feet. I have a bad habit of not practicing anything on my own while teaching, but regardless, its hard to find room for improvement in this scenario.

On occasion I get a random lesson, thats one lesson, from a coach that comes into the studio. That will happen once a month.

Other then that I have no professional partner. I come into work early to practice by myself whatever information I got off of youtube somewhere.

So... Can someone help me out with what im doing wrong? Do I need to quit to get some actual practice in and take lessons from more coaches? Imshould be getting a partner soon, who will hopefully take some of the lessons from me, giving us both enough time to practice with eachother. and MAYBE then ill get some assistance from the owners, but im not going to count on it.

I want the cold hard truth and some ideas and tactics on how to improve, given this scenario.

I thought turning pro would make me better, but im not getting the vibe atm.

Out of curiosity, what do you deem as "getting better." Do you want to
place higher in competitions (even though partnerless now), do superior
performance/shows, be able to dance better socially by improving the
adaptive partnering aspects, or just gain the confidence of knowing
that you have actually improved your dancing skills because you just
_know_ that you can do this or that better from day to day? Are you
interested in being tops at a narrow range of dances/styles or a wide
range? For personal satisfaction or commercially "sellable" reasons?
What do you ultimately want to get out of dancing (at least based
on your assessment today, which may change as time goes on)?
Do you expect to make dance a living for decades/lifetime or just as
a transition career lasting a few years?

There's no doubt teaching beginners and wedding couples all day long
gets old quickly (except perhaps in the satisfaction of helping people).
Even having higher-level students is limiting because of the one-way
teaching paradigm Ballroom uses, which presumes the instructor
"always" knows more than the student. If you are a female pro, then
the options are even more limited, due to the few number of higher-
level male students in pro-am. Even having a pro partner who doesn't
have compatible skils/abilities/goals/etc. as you may be more
harmful than helpful. Or getting erratic coaching/instruction which
may not be customized to your needs. Studios aim to have instructors
who sell lessons, not necessarily ones that dance or teach great.

Once you are clear(er) about your goals/needs, then perhaps you can
map out a better path. If you are handcuffed by the financial aspects
then you have fewer options.