Motivation
- Thread starter dancerdol
- Start date
For me, simple things help the most.
Back in the days I have no partner, feeling so stuck because I can't exactly do what my teacher told me to do, wonder what is the point since I started dancing late in my life and am lack of energy/talent/flexibility/body cooridination, I was encourage to keep going to team practice. So after several months of practicing of my own, someone asked me for a try out and I get my current dp.
Think about this now, all it takes is for someone in the team asked me, "are you coming to practice tonight?"
There are inspirations coming from my coaches. However, being able to keep practising, regardless I total screw the comp, feel awful of my dancing, etc, is invaluable for me.
Back in the days I have no partner, feeling so stuck because I can't exactly do what my teacher told me to do, wonder what is the point since I started dancing late in my life and am lack of energy/talent/flexibility/body cooridination, I was encourage to keep going to team practice. So after several months of practicing of my own, someone asked me for a try out and I get my current dp.
Think about this now, all it takes is for someone in the team asked me, "are you coming to practice tonight?"
There are inspirations coming from my coaches. However, being able to keep practising, regardless I total screw the comp, feel awful of my dancing, etc, is invaluable for me.
dancerdol
Member
My DVD's motivate me. I recently sat down with a glass of wine and watched the last five comps from this year- starting with when I first debuted in Silver Smooth. What a BIG change in my dancing. Even when I screwed up the choreography I could see where I had improved with my movement, musicality etc. It makes me even more determined to focus in my lessons and train hard.
I'm also kept "up" by my dance team gals - they do a great job of cheering at comps and our wine/whine times help keep the ups and downs of practices in perspective.
I'm also kept "up" by my dance team gals - they do a great job of cheering at comps and our wine/whine times help keep the ups and downs of practices in perspective.
My dance team members motivate me with encouragement, feedback and support. I am fortunate to dance with a group of women who cheer each other on after our respective rounds/days of dancing. The more positive I feel, the better I dance. Is positive support, feedback, etc, also part of the pro's role on competition day? In other words, should a good pro know how to keep students focused, energized and positive while competing?
mindputtee
Forum Master
The other members on my (collegiate) team motivate me a lot. It makes me able to see where someone who started dancing just a year or two before me is doing so much better and I can get to that point in a year or two too.
dancerdol
Member
I think the dance team is VERY important.
I also think that a pro needs to know how to find and celebrate the growth of each dancer at a competition. For one dancer - it might be praising how well they did holding their poise at set-up and not running over to drink water in between rounds - for another dancer it might be giving them a big hug after they placed well in single dances. Everyone expects their pro to turn them out and beam with pride when they win a championship or scholarship - but, isn't it the small "atta-boys" after a round that also motivate us?
I also think that a pro needs to know how to find and celebrate the growth of each dancer at a competition. For one dancer - it might be praising how well they did holding their poise at set-up and not running over to drink water in between rounds - for another dancer it might be giving them a big hug after they placed well in single dances. Everyone expects their pro to turn them out and beam with pride when they win a championship or scholarship - but, isn't it the small "atta-boys" after a round that also motivate us?
tanya_the_dancer
Well-Known Member
Doesn't one eventually grow out of that sort of thing? I mean, at some point certain things are expected, and giving praise for them would be sort of like me praising my HS junior for getting dressed in the morning.
What really makes my day at a competition is when people I don't even know come up to me and tell me that they enjoyed watching me dance. And also, I think, in some way, I have learned to feed off the positive energy in the audience, even if it is not directed at me personally.
The other kind of motivation, the kind which keeps one going on a daily basis, after the competition is over, is harder to come by, I think. I have times when I struggle with it, especially if I feel like I am going over same things over and over, and nothing gets better. Now that is the time when positive feedback from my teacher makes a huge difference, because he can point out little things which are getting better.
dancerdol
Member
I think this may be part of the challenge as a dancer progresses - the type of feedback, praise, timing of motivational techniques used with an adult student moving up the ranks varies but, does the pro then adjust his or her motivational tools? Are some pros better with motivating bronze students? Or do they adapt their working style as the student progresses to silver and gold?
chomsky
Well-Known Member
Very nice thread dancerdol!
I was just asking myself the same question. What is motivation? Is it just from within? Is it just from my teacher, family, friends?
fascination
Site Moderator
most of my motivation is internal...but I am always lifted by people at comps who take the time to tell me that they enjoy my dancing...I also quite often concentrate on people who beleive in me and love me unconditionally...as to how my pro motivates me; I would say that is simply a matter of his behaving as if I have no limits...his expectation of excellence... that everything be done exceedingly well ...so, if I don't want to do it 3000 times on one lesson, I will learn how to do it on time, and in a technically proficient manner, alone.... as quickly as possible
I believe that part of a pro's role is not just to dance or teach dance, but also to encourage and support the student's internal confidence in their abilities. Granted that does change from level to level, and from person to person. It also changes if you are in the classroom or at a competition. Tanya the dancer, I would say one never "grows out" of receiving positive feedback, regardless of the form, from the person we work so hard to improve our dancing with. The type of feedback may change as we progress, but it should still be there. In Fasc's example, the feedback has progressed into an expectation of excellence, which is a good example of how feedback can adjust as the dancer enters the open gold levels.
fascination
Site Moderator
actually, it didn't progress...that has always been his way of operating...for better or worse, that is who he is....lots of positive affirmative is not sold here...and I am cool with that...as long as there are no personal attacks--which there also aren't and have never been (and I do make a huge distinction between being critical of my dancing and being demaning of me as a human being)...he is about one task, and that is about getting the most out of me...I have known from the beginning that the twice yearly "well-done" out of the side of his mouth, or hug or high five is the most to hope for on that count...and it means alot when it happens...I am not advocating that style for anyone...it is what I have, it works for me...perhaps in some places, the tone changes with progress...but in my case, that has always been the tone and I suspect it always will be...again, it works very well for me...as I like to have to find my strength from within...and because he has never insulted me as a person (and I have been there before in another life so that wouldn't fly ever again) I am completely cool with him being hard on my dancing...I do know this; others work differently, their way may be just as effective or more effective for them and for their students...but this way works for me... it keeps things exactly where they need to be between the two of us...he is not there to emotionally support me...and I don't want to need or crave it from him...I respect his skill, he respects my determination...the end...that he pushes me hard is all the motivation I need from him
dancerdol
Member
Well said Debmc and Fascination...
I recently picked up the book The Ballroom Dance Coach and four stages of change are outlined. Stage 1 is "we don't know what we don't know" Stage 2 is - Conscious Incompetence - "we know that we don't know" Stage 3 is Conscious Competence - "we know that we know" and Stage 4 is Unconscious Competence - "it's second nature"
Stage 2 seems to be the point where motivation to continue is a challenge "As we slowly realize how much we don't know about dancing, some of the fun and excitement wears off. We begin to recognize nuances and understand that, in addition to the basic steps, we also need to master hip movements, body rhythms, and floor craft. With this newfound knowledge, we can feel a bit deflated or unmotivated."
She goes on to say that this stage became apparent when she compared herself to other dancers and asked her instructor how long they have been dancing.
The stages don't appear to correspond to bronze, silver, gold, open etc - I know I can be in Stage 1, 2 and 3 in the same lesson!
How do you move past Stage 2 in your own dancing?
I recently picked up the book The Ballroom Dance Coach and four stages of change are outlined. Stage 1 is "we don't know what we don't know" Stage 2 is - Conscious Incompetence - "we know that we don't know" Stage 3 is Conscious Competence - "we know that we know" and Stage 4 is Unconscious Competence - "it's second nature"
Stage 2 seems to be the point where motivation to continue is a challenge "As we slowly realize how much we don't know about dancing, some of the fun and excitement wears off. We begin to recognize nuances and understand that, in addition to the basic steps, we also need to master hip movements, body rhythms, and floor craft. With this newfound knowledge, we can feel a bit deflated or unmotivated."
She goes on to say that this stage became apparent when she compared herself to other dancers and asked her instructor how long they have been dancing.
The stages don't appear to correspond to bronze, silver, gold, open etc - I know I can be in Stage 1, 2 and 3 in the same lesson!
How do you move past Stage 2 in your own dancing?
danceronice
Forum Master
I agree with Tanya. I've kind of outgrown the 'pat on the head' praise phase (before I started dancing, really, as they don't do that much at all in riding and that's what I did as a kid--from a hunter/jumper trainer you're more likely to get 'STOP SCREWING UP' than 'that one little bit was good.' There is no prize for trying.) Especially now I know enough to know when something was crap and pro is just trying to make me feel better.
I like applause. Also, I like when I make eye contact with strangers in the audience and they smile and applaud. Winning is nice, but between not having an unlimited lesson budget or the body type for Ladies A Latin (try being a short size 12-14 in her thirties and having to dance against svelte 19-year-olds. Yeah.) that really isn't likely to happen much against a large body of competitors. So hearing how good I looked is about as good as it gets. (No, I have very little in the way of internal motivation. I figure if no one else praises you, what's the point? But if they praise you for crap, also what's the point?)
I like applause. Also, I like when I make eye contact with strangers in the audience and they smile and applaud. Winning is nice, but between not having an unlimited lesson budget or the body type for Ladies A Latin (try being a short size 12-14 in her thirties and having to dance against svelte 19-year-olds. Yeah.) that really isn't likely to happen much against a large body of competitors. So hearing how good I looked is about as good as it gets. (No, I have very little in the way of internal motivation. I figure if no one else praises you, what's the point? But if they praise you for crap, also what's the point?)
Yes, on the other side of positive feedback would be how the pro presents criticism.. in a constructive way or in a demeaning way. While it seems that the desire for positive feedback varies from student to student and from stage to stage, I don't think anyone enjoys what can seem as personal attacks. It is difficult, but I work with grad students in a clinical arena myself ( not dancing), and I have learnt how to critique without sounding critical, if that makes sense.