Teacher Appeal

[DanceMentor]

So what makes you want to work with a certain teacher?

Is it their credentials, popularity, personality, success of their students, communication, height, or some combination of these?

 

[bia]

Yes, all of the above except for height, since I compete am-am. Popularity only before I know them myself, as likely to be a result of personality & communication. Credentials also as an early criterion, as an indication that they're likely to know what they're talking about. So, yeah, credentials, popularity, and success of their students will make me want a first lesson. Whether I stay or not will depend on my judgment of how well they work for me, which will be based on my experience of their knowledge, communication, and personality.

 

[danceronice]

#1 thing was proximity. #2 was how we communicated and did I feel like his teaching style was working for me. It helped that I'd had him suggested to me by someone I trusted, who knew who my other teachers were and would have some idea what I was already used to.

 

[Hedwaite]

When I look at them on a dance floor and think "Man, I want to dance like that". Whether or not they can impart that after the fact is another story, however.

 

[Dancing Irishman]

I use credentials, proximity, and observable quality of students to decide with whom I'll take a trial-type lesson. Then it's all about how much I feel like I'm learning from the teacher and how much they can push me to grow and develop as a dancer*.

*Without injury! If a teacher "manhandles" me and I feel like I have to fight against them to avoid an injury, it doesn't matter how much great content they might have for me.

 

[Cal]

Intelligence is primary in what draws me to a teacher, then a combination of work ethic and credentials.
If there isn't mental quickness/intellect in my teacher, I'm just going to lose interest. (And no, it doesn't have anything at all to do with whether they have academic degrees or not.)

 

[Mengu]

Some combination

credentials - these play a fair role for me. They should have experience in my style of interest.
popularity - isn't so important to me, but good instructors tend to be popular.
personality - not hugely important, I can handle personality quirks, as long as they aren't conniving money grabbers.
success of their students - not so important from a results perspective, but if I like the way the students dance (which I consider as success), that's of course a plus.
communication - this one is pretty important, we should be able to communicate on the same wavelength.
height - I mostly do am-am, only dabble in pro-am, but I'm 5'11", so I can dance with a pretty wide height range of ladies.

 

[Janson]

As Am-Am, height plays no factor.
Ultimately I'm most bothered about their communication, personality, and skill and style - can they teach me well and make me a better dancer?
Popularity is a bit vague, and quite hard to gauge. Student success and credentials are both confidence bringers and give you an idea of whether they are good.

 

[chomsky]

So what makes you want to work with a certain teacher?

Is it their credentials, popularity, personality, success of their students, communication, height, or some combination of these?

It's very funny that you asked this question. All throughout today hubby and I were pondering on this. Actually, it boils down to how bad the teacher wants to teach a student how to dance. It shows how much the teacher loves what he/she does and how much the teacher will inspire me and motivate me to keep on learning. What do you people mean by proximity? If what you mean is "first impression"and instant dislike then I'm with you there. I guess that's why teaching is individualised in the sense that one teacher is better for one student and not for another.

 

[fascination]

credentials; hmmm...only yes because it is combined with skill at teaching, popularity=no, personality= no, success of students=yes, communication=kind of, sort of, in some ways, height=no, but certainly a plus...

 

[cornutt]

For me, matching their teaching style with my learning style is a big deal. I've figured out that the ways I think about dancing are rather atypical. I've had the experience of taking coaching with someone who, although he is generally a very good instructor, has a teaching style that meshes poorly with my learning style. It was frustrating.

 

[dancelvr]

Proximity....yes! I started with my DP, as he was the only one available in my area. I have since decided to stay with him, as his teaching style is perfect for me....even if he isn't a specialist in my style of dancing. He has put himself to school on my behalf, and that speaks volumes to me. We may pursue some coaching in the future, but.....he's my DP....period.

 

[ajiboyet]

All of the things mentioned above by everybody else are important. But some of them might off set the others, as in:

There's a certain former world champion lady who I think is quite rude and quite obnoxious, from watching several videos of her lecture. So I would make a larger-than-normal allowance for what I think is a bad personality, because she's got good knowledge and teaching skill.

 

[fascination]

ah yes...work ethic....huge for me...proximity, not so much...I will go a long way for a good instructor...that being said, I expect him to share the wealth of what he knows..I expect to continue to learn...every single time...I can look past a bunch of other stuff if that is present

 

[Dancing Irishman]

For me, matching their teaching style with my learning style is a big deal. I've figured out that the ways I think about dancing are rather atypical. I've had the experience of taking coaching with someone who, although he is generally a very good instructor, has a teaching style that meshes poorly with my learning style. It was frustrating.

As an engineer by training, I sympathize wholeheartedly with this. I knew one prospective coach wasn't for me when she told me I didn't need to activate any muscles to move my hip to a spot, I just needed to move my hip forward (in Latin).