What do you like in a travelling coach?

[NielsenE]

A side question. What would you do if visiting coach's area of specialization is not the same area you specialize in. I.e. you do standard and the coach is a former latin champion (just making things up, not that I have any specific people in mind). Do you skip the opportunity, or...?

Well I aspire to be a 19-dancer, so...

But it again depends on the strengths -- there are some coaches who are know for being great at teaching how to create drama/story in the dancing. For most of them, it won't matter what their specialty style is and what your focus is. Smooth tends to be lucky (which is my primary with the 19) and can take something extremely valuable away from just about any disclipline.

For other styles its going to depend on the strengths of the coach... I wouldn't ask a latin technique specialist for help with Rhythm. But if I wanted help with say speeding up spins, or arms, or body rhythm isolations, etc those could be promising enough that I give them a trial to see if they can look past the latin/rhythm differences (almost all can) to still focus on the topic at hand. A standard/Smoot coach might be able to help with Bolero, etc

Standard, I feel, is kinda the odd man out. Unless you're looking for the story telling aspect, its going to be harder to pull from the other discliplines, IMO

 

[elisedance]

That's an easy one Sometimes, when I have the time, I design and make jewelry for ballroom dancing, hence the name. It's the name of the business, actually, but it's inactive right now.

Really? Maybe its time to re-activate the business. If I needed some jewelry made in a certain colour to match my dress could you do it? Its acombination of black/red and coral.

 

[DanceMentor]

I try to focus on the coaches that are in the areas where I compete, standard and latin, but I hope to branch out a little, after I have a few accomplishments under my belt.

 

[fascination]

I adore any coaching that I can get at all...am happy for whatever comes my way

 

[Fouette]

Well I aspire to be a 19-dancer, so...

Standard, I feel, is kinda the odd man out. Unless you're looking for the story telling aspect, its going to be harder to pull from the other discliplines, IMO

A number of professional standard dancers take the occasional lesson from important Latin coaches/judges to learn about what a Latin-trained judge would like to see in a standard couple. It could be for the story telling aspect; for the political; for the flow and freedom; for the music, etc.

Ultimately, I think what you can take away from a coaching depends on your mindset - if you go in with an open mind and a willingness to see your dancing from another perspective (ballroom vs. latin), I'm fairly confident you can learn something from a coaching, whether it be technique, performance, choreography, or musicality....the list goes on.

 

[Joe]

I've found that Ms Jørgensen has a phenomenal visual memory for the dancing of even her occasional students. She is able to tell where I've made progress vs where I haven't, even seeing me just three times a year.

Amen.

 

[White Chacha]

...
for the political...

Can I just say that I hate this aspect of choosing to take lessons. This whole business of people making certain they take lessons with judges of upcoming comps to gain an advantage which has nothing to do with the dancing feels wrong.

 

[tanya_the_dancer]

I adore any coaching that I can get at all...am happy for whatever comes my way

Obviously I live in the almost barren wasteland, when it comes to dance opportunities so I take any coaching opportunity which comes my way. I was wondering what people who live in more plentiful areas do.

 

[fascination]

lol, I wouldn't know

 

[Fouette]

Can I just say that I hate this aspect of choosing to take lessons. This whole business of people making certain they take lessons with judges of upcoming comps to gain an advantage which has nothing to do with the dancing feels wrong.

Well, if you approach "political" lessons with the mindset of "Every coach has something to offer", it doesn't have to feel so...dirty. (I'm trying to think of another word, but am failing to at this late hour.) Almost all higher-level coaches have some information to impart, and it doesn't hurt to take a couple lessons to hear what they have to say, even if the lessons seem political - once the information is in your hands, you can decide what to do with it.