Learning routines - the ladies perspective...

[QPO]

I must say, it's quite amazing how many folks I run into are not interested in what champions do.  They want to only do what they think is right.  Most of the folks in my city are so frustrated but stubbornly refuse to try a different path.  They just keep doing the same thing for years on end, throwing thousands of dollars at it, expecting different results.  They refuse to take lessons from anyone with pedigree. 

There is a change happening 'though.  There are a few Body Schoolers who started about 11 months ago turning heads in the city, making people question what they think they know.  Exciting times. 

I think Einstein said that doing the same over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. Doing the same over and over sure sounds like insanity to me…

I am glad that the people in your city in turning head and asking questions of the Body School dancers. I think that is how big change happens.

DSV

If I mention it here I get funny looks.....not that my teacher would be against it, they have heard nothing about it. I have discussed it with him but as i cannot show him much it stops there.

[Some guy]

I certainly hope so.  I think the whole "insanity" thing never sets in because everyone tells them that ballroom dancing at a high level is an unattainable goal.  Never do they question, "wait, then how come that 7 year old can dance better than me?", or, "if my coach (or even, coach's coach) never attained that level, how could I possibly get there?!!".

[elisedance]

I certainly hope so.  I think the whole "insanity" thing never sets in because everyone tells them that ballroom dancing at a high level is an unattainable goal.  Never do they question, "wait, then how come that 7 year old can dance better than me?", or, "if my coach (or even, coach's coach) never attained that level, how could I possibly get there?!!".

I think the biggest problem is actually knowing what the outcome can be.  You always trust your teachers to be infinitely educated when you first go to them - you need a critical as well as accepting mind to realize when you have reached the limit of that teacher's abilities.  I think thats the real basis for DSV's brilliant quote 'when the student is ready the teacher will appear': the real reason is that the talented student eventually sees through teacher A and looks for a new one to guide them through the next stage. 

I find myself going through teachers rather rapidly in my violin studies - I have a pretty good idea where I am going.  In dance I've gone up by going back!  My once and present teacher blossomed in the period that I went off to do AM dancing.  He is truly amazing now.

[Dora-Satya Veda]

I think it is very rare that one teacher teaches you all the way from beginner to higher level. I can't think of many teachers that are able to teach all levels and be successful at it. Sometimes the student doesn’t realize the gem of a teacher we had till they have gone to other teachers for a while and sometimes teacher grew be a new higher level.

I have seen students leave a teacher and claim the teacher was no good only to return several years later and making a clear statement that they wish they had never left. I have also seen students leave their teacher because of change of partner and they did not insist that the new partnership keeps the old teacher around. There can be many reasons for changing teachers. I believe you always have the right teacher for where you are at that moment. As Elise pointed out I have said several times “that when the student is ready the teacher appears”. The teachers will often change when the mindset changes and/or when the level of expertise changes.

DSV

[phoenix13]

My question is similar to ttd's.

I can see why a follower in standard would be best served by following rather than memorizing  routines.  I'm not sure about smooth, though.   There are times in smooth where a follow is side by side with a lead or perhaps even in front of him and cannot see what he is doing at all.

Wouldn't the couple be best served if she knows her part?