How should followers learn to dance tango?

[ant]

Originally Posted by dchester
I thought Zoopsia was in favor of the group classes.

I agree with much of what Zoop posted.

It was because of this that I raised the question as it brought up a number of issues in my mind in relation to the OP and the suggested use of private lessons.

I felt that the suggestions in the OP brought up both learning and community issues, to say nothing of the suggested content which I also disagreed with.

My point was that a first timer should be able to get what they need in a group setting for at least the first month or two of weekly classes (whether they DO is a different issue) It does seem that if a teacher taught those same things to a private beginner student, then you'd have to wonder why they WOULDN"T teach them to a beginner group class. If a teacher teaches a follower to follow when working individually, why not teach that to the group class of the same level? So your point has merit.

I agree and I believe that the intereaction when beginning with other people of the same level is important.

If at this stage you only danced with a teacher the fragility of your technique may well be covered up and you do not know what problems may be thrown up when dancing with other people in the group.

Like yourself starting in a group class is the best way and then back this up with private(s) once the problems begiin to emerge so they can be dealt with.

I agree with with you as well that once you are over the initial stages you can then develop your own learning schedule and with the additional knowledge you have, you will find the classes, workshops and private teachers that would most suit you.

 

[Zoopsia59]

(Trenner/Shulman videos)
Great for basic understandings and a good solid foundation.

And coincidentally (or more like, NOT) my 1st teacher's (you know.. the teacher who taught me proper follower technique from day one) favorite instructional videos

 

[j_alexandra]

I have a tangential response to this thread.

I have been dancing ballroom for a few years. My instructor focuses on lead and follow, time/space/weight management, and connection, so I have somewhat of a grip on those elements.

I have been mildly interested in learning some AT, but never had the opportunity. Tonight, the stars aligned, and I had the time and energy to take a bite of my first real experience with AT, and went to a local group class.

As a first-time AT follower who has read this whole thread, I now know that I would absolutely need to have both private lessons and group classes. I would be more likely to benefit from the privates. Group classes will give me practice with the variety of leaders that show up in the real world. But the private lesson is where I'll be able to ask questions, get answers, get the focused attention that I need in order to learn. YMMV.

And btw, if anyone has a suggestion for an AT teacher in the lower Hudson Valley or northern NJ, please PM me; I may have been infected with this virus.

 

[Peaches]

I have a tangential response to this thread.

I have been dancing ballroom for a few years. My instructor focuses on lead and follow, time/space/weight management, and connection, so I have somewhat of a grip on those elements.

I have been mildly interested in learning some AT, but never had the opportunity. Tonight, the stars aligned, and I had the time and energy to take a bite of my first real experience with AT, and went to a local group class.

As a first-time AT follower who has read this whole thread, I now know that I would absolutely need to have both private lessons and group classes. I would be more likely to benefit from the privates. Group classes will give me practice with the variety of leaders that show up in the real world. But the private lesson is where I'll be able to ask questions, get answers, get the focused attention that I need in order to learn. YMMV.

And btw, if anyone has a suggestion for an AT teacher in the lower Hudson Valley or northern NJ, please PM me; I may have been infected with this virus.

YAY!!!

And we've caught another one! Bwahahaha!!!

Er...I know of a good teacher who is based in NYC proper. Would that work? (Although I think they're out of the country right now...but I could ask him for a referral.)

 

[j_alexandra]

YAY!!!

And we've caught another one! Bwahahaha!!!

We'll See.

<snip>NYC proper. Would that work?

I'm trying to avoid going into the city for lessons -- it becomes a huge hassle (bridge, toll, traffic, parking; or bus/train, subway, and I really don't want to spend 1.25 hours of travel time* each way for a 45-minute lesson). Not to mention that I'm spoiled; my studio is 3 blocks from home, so I have skewed perceptions of what's a reasonable distance to travel for lessons. I don't mind driving a bit, but NYC is the Aggravation Capital of the World, and that also doesn't exactly lend itself to relaxed, alert learning -- I hate to waste time in a lesson just getting over the drivetime jitters.

I'd cheerfully go to the teacher who led the group class -- you know when you connect with a teacher, how that makes everything work? But he, too, teaches in NYC. Fugeddaboudit. I talked to him last night about taking lessons, and he told me that <blush> with my current skillset, I'd be able to take lessons and learn from anyone -- which I found immensely flattering. Apparently, I have some of the tough stuff covered already, at least on some level -- and he could tell just from watching me. How do they *do* that, the teachers? Evaluate a student just by watching?

A recommendation closer to home would be very, very welcome. TIA.

*it's only 25 miles to midtown from here, but it can take an hour and a quarter or more to get there

 

[bordertangoman]

I have a tangential response to this thread.

I have been dancing ballroom for a few years. My instructor focuses on lead and follow, time/space/weight management, and connection, so I have somewhat of a grip on those elements.

I have been mildly interested in learning some AT, but never had the opportunity. Tonight, the stars aligned, and I had the time and energy to take a bite of my first real experience with AT, and went to a local group class.

As a first-time AT follower who has read this whole thread, I now know that I would absolutely need to have both private lessons and group classes. I would be more likely to benefit from the privates. Group classes will give me practice with the variety of leaders that show up in the real world. But the private lesson is where I'll be able to ask questions, get answers, get the focused attention that I need in order to learn. YMMV.

And btw, if anyone has a suggestion for an AT teacher in the lower Hudson Valley or northern NJ, please PM me; I may have been infected with this virus.

With my recent experience of one of the best private lessons ever; you need two people; (or at least two people are better) one to dance with and one to observe; a lot of things can be corrected by a teacher who is dancing with you but some like posture is better seen by an observer.

and like DB says video yourself so at least you can see what's good and what needs working on. Video your privates. I will rephrase that! record your lesson for future reference.

 

[j_alexandra]

With my recent experience of one of the best private lessons ever; you need two people; (or at least two people are better) one to dance with and one to observe; a lot of things can be corrected by a teacher who is dancing with you but some like posture is better seen by an observer.

Thanks. Sounds like good advice.

and like DB says video yourself so at least you can see what's good and what needs working on. Video your privates.

:shock:

I will rephrase that! record your lesson for future reference.

Thanks for rephrasing!

 

[Dave Bailey]

Video your privates

My new sig!

 

[bordertangoman]

My new sig!

F***!:lol:
i cant laugh without feeling I'm going to have a heart attack.....

 

[dchester]

And btw, if anyone has a suggestion for an AT teacher in the lower Hudson Valley or northern NJ, please PM me; I may have been infected with this virus.

My recommendation: Diego Di Falco & Carolina Zokalski

http://www.carolinaydiego.com/

 

[Captain Jep]

Heh ... all those ballroom dancers ... they can hide out for a while on their own forum but they cant run away forever ! ...

I prefer "cackle" to "bwahaha" - but that's just me ...

 

[newbie]

Video your privates.

One of my teachers puts a cam in a corner during the little practice which follows the group classes (not every class but once a month maybe) and then publishes the vids on his site, this way we can see our progression. Or lack of.

 

[tangobro]

I have a tangential response to this thread.

I have been dancing ballroom for a few years. My instructor focuses on lead and follow, time/space/weight management, and connection, so I have somewhat of a grip on those elements.

I have been mildly interested in learning some AT, but never had the opportunity. Tonight, the stars aligned, and I had the time and energy to take a bite of my first real experience with AT, and went to a local group class.

As a first-time AT follower who has read this whole thread, I now know that I would absolutely need to have both private lessons and group classes. I would be more likely to benefit from the privates. Group classes will give me practice with the variety of leaders that show up in the real world. But the private lesson is where I'll be able to ask questions, get answers, get the focused attention that I need in order to learn. YMMV.

And btw, if anyone has a suggestion for an AT teacher in the lower Hudson Valley or northern NJ, please PM me; I may have been infected with this virus.

Hudson Valley info:
http://web.archive.org/web/20110128082152/http://hudsonvalleytango.com/

New Jersey info:

http://www.newyorktango.com/NJTango.htm

Warning - once the virus becomes full blown you may exhibit the same symptoms as other people in your area, they commute to nyc!

 

[Dave Bailey]

One of my teachers puts a cam in a corner during the little practice which follows the group classes (not every class but once a month maybe) and then publishes the vids on his site, this way we can see our progression. Or lack of.

I suggested this at a class a while back.

The resultant collection of petrified expressions was priceless.

 

[j_alexandra]

Thanks for all this info! I appreciate it. However, in the 48 hours a week I'm not on the road, I don't know if I can cram in a tango lesson in NYC, on top of the other stuff I do. Why I'm looking for local.