I had the same thoughts, and skeptical enough to ask. Thanks.
tango teacher - salon style, dvida - should I avoid?
- Thread starter flyhere
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I had the same thoughts, and skeptical enough to ask. Thanks.
Thanks for the excellent thoughts. I would agree that at my beginners level, it's more important that they have a good training and TEACH well, and less so if they have been to BsAs or they are good dancers (on the premises that excellent dancers don't always make excellent teachers).
With little knowledge to begin with, I am learning what to ask and how to tell if it's a decent teacher. Btw, I did find a couple of drop-in classes, and also asked to observe a teaching session, that's how I started talking to this teacher.
I am not sure if drop-in classes is a good way to start, aren't they like workshops for people who have had some basics? (the drop-in classes are just a couple of dollars more)
Thanks again
fly
Larry's link to the syllabus was very helpful.
What I see there is a list of things that is very, very close to what I learned from Bill Alsup and Megan Pingree when I started lessons here in Portland.
A syllabus is not, in and of itself a bad thing. Surely, anyone who is successful at teaching has a plan, or whatever you want to call it.
In particular I note "weight changes in place" as one of the very first items on their list. Even with people who have many, many skills, being able to do that simple thing well enough to make it worthwhile is not that common even here in Portland, where is comes in very handy in crowded, "close embrace" conditions.
How well the teacher conveys basic technique and the essentialness of the music is another question
Really, you should think in terms of the fact that you will probably end up getting different pieces of the overall picture from different instructors. If you stick with it. And, in a dance that encompasses so many different styles, that should be acceptable.
Think of this as the first step in a journey with many steps.
Some of us have noted that we have quibbles with every instructor we've ever had (just about). Ideally, they will allow you to go one class at a time. Take a look at how much, if any, committment they require, and balance that against the considerations of time, cost, etc.
What I see there is a list of things that is very, very close to what I learned from Bill Alsup and Megan Pingree when I started lessons here in Portland.
A syllabus is not, in and of itself a bad thing. Surely, anyone who is successful at teaching has a plan, or whatever you want to call it.
In particular I note "weight changes in place" as one of the very first items on their list. Even with people who have many, many skills, being able to do that simple thing well enough to make it worthwhile is not that common even here in Portland, where is comes in very handy in crowded, "close embrace" conditions.
How well the teacher conveys basic technique and the essentialness of the music is another question
Really, you should think in terms of the fact that you will probably end up getting different pieces of the overall picture from different instructors. If you stick with it. And, in a dance that encompasses so many different styles, that should be acceptable.
Think of this as the first step in a journey with many steps.
Some of us have noted that we have quibbles with every instructor we've ever had (just about). Ideally, they will allow you to go one class at a time. Take a look at how much, if any, committment they require, and balance that against the considerations of time, cost, etc.
Hi, Subliminal, and welcome to AT.
Peaches lives in Harper's Ferry (says so right there by her name) and dances in the DC area, so maybe she can give you some info.
Peaches lives in Harper's Ferry (says so right there by her name) and dances in the DC area, so maybe she can give you some info.
bastet
Active Member
I guess what I mean by "drop in" is some places allow you to attend the ongoing class on a pay per time basis. Overall this would cost more than paying for the whole set of lessons for the month to do that if you end up going several times and paying for several single lessons, but you could try several places out that way over the course of a month before making a decision and only have spent for one lesson at the places you are considering....like asking if you can pay for a drop in class for whatever beginner set is going on cuurently...that should give you some idea of teaching methods.
I don't have any way to describe what you are terming "drop in" other than just a workshop...we must just have different terminology for it.
Steve's advice is also very good. You may not always get all the pieces of the puzzle from one person...I don't even find this to be the case when I have lessons with masters. Often one will say something I partially "get", then it will get flushed out in a later lesson with someone else and probably on a subject that didn't even seem related at first. But I'd for sure try to find someone who can teach you the basics of connection, lead and follow and so forth.
Steps are steps and they come with time.
Good luck to you!
Terpsichorean Clod
Forum Master
Based on that, I think she's almost certainly a graduate of the Ballroom Dance Teachers College (16 month American Style Bronze training program).
You can get a good idea of the program structure here:
http://teachballroomdancing.com/classes/16months.html
I don't agree with everything they do and hope you won't see them as truly representative of the ballroom community.
Sorry, the confusion is on my part. I was mixing two different things.
There are drop-in CLASSES here which are stand-alone lessons and usually precede a milonga, they are unstructured in what the materials taught.
You of course were refering to drop-in RATES, where the classes are a series of progressive lessons but I pay for each class as I take them. Yes, most schools here offer drop-in rate or pay-for-the-whole-4-weeks rate, the drop-in rate is only a couple of dollars more per lesson.
hbboogie1
New Member
Fly Beware… I can tell you that in Orange County and Los Angeles there are quite a few wannabe tango teachers. Some of them have only been dancing for a short time and can’t dance basics let alone teach them. If you’re serious about tango and want to be a good dancer privates with Martin and Alyssa Vaccaro is well worth the money and one private lesson is worth five group lessons. Martin will teach you the basics and how to dance he won’t teach you show or stage moves. I can’t think of any other teacher in So Cal that is as good as Martine.
Lui
Active Member
In my experience good teacher will..
If no suited teacher is around and you don’t want to travel, how about forming a group and invited a teacher?
- offer a test lessen for a reduced price or for free.
- don’t need a certificate to proof their ability. Interested clients can judge them by test lesson, existing students and the dance they expose at the milongas or shows.
- are seldom the cheapest deal. The most experienced teachers do only tango. You usually have to get good at teaching/dancing when you want to pay all your bills with it - but you can’t give it away for free. Moreover, low prices often means large classes. Large classes means little individual help.
- work as couple, so that both followers and leaders see their role in action.
- will teach you the technique behind the steps. They use the steps as an example and an aid to get you started on the dance floor.
- are worth an hour drive
If no suited teacher is around and you don’t want to travel, how about forming a group and invited a teacher?
Thanks for the warning. From my searching, I notice there are quite a few instructors of other dances, salsa and what not, giving AT lessons as well, can blame them for diversifying into other things I guess.
Thanks
fly
Edmundo and Elizabeth have started teaching at dancesport california in garden grove. It might be worth to check out their group class to see if they resonate with you - i personally like them a lot.
Gssh
...are worth an hour drive
Oh, definitely good teachers are always worth the drive, I used to drive 1.5 hours each week for lessons. I see you're in Germany, then may be you haven't experienced Los Angeles freeways during rush hour, 40 miles can take you 2 hours of frustrating start-and-stop driving. I drove a 4-hour drive from Hamburg to Brussels in winter, it was a lot less stress, we don't have well-educated and autobahn-efficient drivers here.
Dave Bailey
Active Member
hbboogie1
New Member
Martin and Alyssa are your best bet. Check out the link I posted.
http://www.tangoelegante.com/english/