[Tango-L] Beginners-and classes

[Deby Novitz]

I want to build a little bit on what Sergio posted.  When I first came 
to Buenos Aires to dance, the classes were not broken down into 
Beg/Int/Adv.  Teachers taught basics and believed that all students of 
all levels could benefit.  There are still many teachers here who do not 
break their classes.  They teach to all levels.

Do you wonder why?  How can they do that?  Simply because they are 
teaching simple movements and technique.  This is something every level 
of student can benefit from regardless of how long they have been 
dancing or at what level.  That said, the breakdown of "levels" usually 
happens when teachers are teaching steps and not movements.  Fancy and 
complicated moves.  The beginning student gets completely lost.  (So do 
most of the others, but then that is another topic altogether....) 

I have known some teachers in the Bay Area (San Francisco) to tell their 
students that in order to take the intermediate class they need to take 
at least 10 of the beginning classes.  If a student is beyond the beg. 
class, then the teacher can invite the student to the next level.  
Unfortunately I think it all boils down to money.  No one wants to turn 
someone away.  If a student is not appropriate for the class, they need 
to be told.  It is very easy.  Yes, you might lose a person, but then 
you would probably lose them anyway or someone else by having them in a 
class they are not suited for.