[Tango-L] Attending a lesson above your dancing skills

[Nina Pesochinsky]

Hello, Dancers,

Not only do the teachers have to know how to teach, meaning speak many  
different "languages" of sharing the dance, but the students have to  
know how to take a dance class.

I find this to be one of the biggest deficiencies of social dance  
students - they do not know how to "take" a dance class.

So what does it mean knowing how to "take" a dance class?  In the  
bigger world of dance, such as modern and classical dance, it means  
several things.  First, the dancer must know how to apply  
himself/herself to the learning process.  How to listen to the teacher  
and how to "take" what the teacher has to offer, whether or not the  
teacher is presenting it, is a part of this process. Observation and  
reflection are esssential. In other words, the students need to know  
how to recognize what the teacher has and take it, either by  
listening, interpreting, immitating, etc., and not wait for it to be  
offered to them or installed into them while they remain passive.

Another aspect of knowing how to "take" a dance class is not to trip  
over one's own body.  Social dancers often accomplish this by simply  
putting themselves into the movement without thought or analysis.  The  
problems arise when dancers of lesser skill than the class decide that  
they need to "understand" the movement before they attempt to do it.

If dancers of lower levels know how to "take" a dance class, they will  
not slow down the class and they will learn a lot.  This type of  
dancers MUST take higher level classes.  If they take classes of their  
own level, they will forever remain at that level.

That said, those dancers who do not have the skill of knowing how to  
take a dance class and who wait for the teacher to install the  
material into them, who are passive about their own learning, may not  
benefit as readily from higher level classes.

My very best regards to all,

Nina




Quoting Igor Polk <ipolk at virtuar.com>:

> Sergio wrote:
>
> "This is a typical example of a lesson programmed for advanced dancers which
> is filled with students of lower skill levels.
>
> When faced with this situation one can
>
> 1)  adjust the teaching to a lower level.  The advanced students are
> shortchanged.
>
> 2) Give an advanced lesson as scheduled. Most students can not follow.
>
> 3) Remind everybody that the lesson is for advanced students and ask those
> that do not belong there to leave before the lesson starts.  Many people and
> the organizers get upset.
>
>
> Igor now:
>
> There is 4th possibility which I know great teachers can do:
>
> 4) They grasp the average level of class in a minute. Then they introduce
> enough simple, to the average level of the class, and advanced material so
> that everyone gets his share of participation and new knowledge and skills.
> I have noticed there are several ways to do it. After the lesson there is a
> festive sense of achievement and excitement. I would say these lessons are
> remembered for life!
>
> In fact, any lesson of great teachers is like that.
>
> Igor Polk
> PS. I am not saying that less advanced teachers are useless. No, their work
> and dedication should be very appreciated since they are those who bring
> fresh people to tango, organize tango things for us with their energy and
> time. Teaching is an art itself and not everyone is born with the same
> talent which is rare, but great teachers could not do anything without
> everyone else - we are all community.
>
>
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