Violence in Dance Class....

peachexploration said:
(I've been on Salsa "dance" vacation for a while.) A couple of months before that, I had to stop classes for about two weeks because I kept throwing my back out.
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So that was the source of your salsa hiatus :idea: , PeachE!

It was a Rueda/Casino class, right? Last year, I went through the same thing. I turned up to a Rueda class (by a very well known teacher) just to learn a few moves. What made me stop going was because of how rough the leads were :x .......! Admittedly, it was a pretty intense class & fairly complex moves (most of the guys were way below this level, while for some of us it was just right). I got pulled & sholved by that many rough leads I twisted my wrist.......ouch!

That was the only class in my whole life I've walked out of :evil: (either that or risk crying in public because of the pain, or kick a few heads & cause my own chaos)!!!!!!

Having said that, I'm still great friends with the teacher & Casino is still my favourite style.

Last week, I was injured again. This time it was my left shoulder, and I was helping to teach a beginner's salsa (not Rueda/Casino). Man, some of these newbies are so rough!!!!!!!! Serioously, I'm a girl from old-school momentum based salsa so I'm more than capable of handling heavy leading.......but so much pushing & yanking :x ???!!!!!!
 
Danish Guy said:
SD was the first that showed me a pattern, where all the details were explained. Furthermore he showed what was most likely to go wrong, before if happened among class. And he was just a guest teacher. :notworth:
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:oops: :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:

Thanks DG, but I wasn't really even a guest "teacher" ...since I'm not an instructor!

It just worked out that, when I ended up staying in town an extra week, Sorn asked me if I'd be willing to show the advanced class some of my stuff the next time since I dance a very different style. I am *most* flattered, however, that you found my explanation useful... especially since, as already noted, I'm not actually a teacher. :oops:
 
Again, thanks. :oops: :oops: :oops:

I'm not someone who learned dance easily so I just try and think of everything that I would've found helpful when I was still getting started...
 
SDsalsaguy said:
I'm not someone who learned dance easily so I just try and think of everything that I would've found helpful when I was still getting started...
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8) That actually makes you a better teacher than most.......!

For people who learn dancing easily, it can be hard to understand some of the subtlties that make a difference.

So how about it......SD? I shall see if I can arrange some gigs for you downunder :wink: :lol: !
 
Danish Guy said:
What might get the situation worse, is if the teacher doesn’t explain the basic rules.

There’s the “It’s always the guys fault”.
There’s the “Never use force while leading”.

The there’s the patterns themselves.
Does the teacher give away all detail to the pattern? Small things like leading on the shoulder, not the hand to hand connection. A gentle push on her back on 5. Stop her on the low right hand connection, and then turn under the left. You get the point!

Good teachers get this into the instruction.
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You make a really good point, Danish Guy.
Good teachers explain not only how a move should be led but also why it has to be led that way. And the why is often about indicating your intention to the follower clearly without causing any discomfort or pain. These teachers show you what will happen if the move is led the wrong way.

Unfortunately, these good teachers seem to be few and far between, and there are too many pattern dispensers who forget to teach the lead/follow aspect of the patterns ... :evil:
 
MacMoto said:
Good teachers explain not only how a move should be led but also why it has to be led that way. And the why is often about indicating your intention to the follower clearly without causing any discomfort or pain. These teachers show you what will happen if the move is led the wrong way.

Unfortunately, these good teachers seem to be few and far between, and there are too many pattern dispensers who forget to teach the lead/follow aspect of the patterns ... :evil:
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To what extent is emphasis one these kinds of things maintained in the casino rueda setting?
 
Chris Stratton said:
To what extent is emphasis one these kinds of things maintained in the casino rueda setting?
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Unfortunately it varies a lot between teachers :( .........

I know that from experience, the casino/rueda classes tend to be fun focused instead of technique focused........while L.A. classes can be heavily technique-based & no time for fun (Disclaimer: my personal experience only).

Heck, is it possible to cover both areas in classes, no matter what style :x ?!
 
salsachinita said:
Heck, is it possible to cover both areas in classes, no matter what style :x ?!
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Yes, it is !
My favourit cuban teacher in Paris manages to teach both the fun part of dancing, and the technique of the paterns, as long as you are willing to take the classes in the order they are supposed to, and not jump sessions.

Of course, he can not teach everything, and give everyone a personalized correction, since his classes are so popular that I have never seen one of his classes with less than 2 ruedas to fit everyone attending (and have actually seen it once with 5 ruedas :shock: )

But you get the arm patterns, the turning patern around your partner, the turning patern vis-a-vis the rueda, some of the body movements (wave...) and the places where you can change something to the patern.

Throw in the jokes and just pure fun and happyness into the mix, and you'll begin to understand why I am not the only one to believe he is one of the greatest thing since cheesecake !
 
salsachinita said:
Last week, I was injured again. This time it was my left shoulder, and I was helping to teach a beginner's salsa (not Rueda/Casino). Man, some of these newbies are so rough!!!!!!!! Serioously, I'm a girl from old-school momentum based salsa so I'm more than capable of handling heavy leading.......but so much pushing & yanking :x ???!!!!!!
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This was along my experience too, when I went to my first Salsa lesson! Being one who picks up dance easily, I really wasn't sure what to expect out of these people (who were actually part of a WCS group doing a special workshop); but I got a lot more than I was worried about in a few leads! The heavy "leading" from those leads was just painful at points in time! ...Mostly because I think they thought women turned into ragdolls when doing any sort of turn, so they can whip us around with our arms wrenched up and back. :evil: ...Although, maybe I didn't get hurt as much because I have an older brother I used to get into huge fist/wrestle/"nearly anything goes" fights with... :lol: :roll:

Are all or most newbie leaders (or leaders in a dance that's new to them) so awful in their leading? I'd hate to think they are!

Lita_rulez said:
Throw in the jokes and just pure fun and happyness into the mix, and you'll begin to understand why I am not the only one to believe he is one of the greatest thing since cheesecake !
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*nods* Jokes combined with fun and happiness make up the other half of why I love my teacher so much! ...And if I liked cheesecake, I'd be cheering for him then, right along with you! :wink:

Sakura Kitty :kitty:
 
salsachinita said:
SDsalsaguy said:
I'm not someone who learned dance easily so I just try and think of everything that I would've found helpful when I was still getting started...
Click to expand...

8) That actually makes you a better teacher than most.......!

For people who learn dancing easily, it can be hard to understand some of the subtlties that make a difference.

So how about it......SD? I shall see if I can arrange some gigs for you downunder :wink: :lol: !
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No can do SC... I still want to be able to do some amateur ballroom competition here in the U.S. (if I can ever find a good new partner!!!) so I can't really teach salsa. I am always happy however, and as I did in Denmark, to share whatever I can with others... :wink:
 
That's the most appalling thing I've ever heard, Peach.

I'm glad I wasn't there. Because if I saw anyone doing something like that to you, they'd get a taste of what real violence can be like in a dance class. An immediate, unconditional, and uninhibited taste.

I'm so hot right now I've got to go cool down.
 
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