Dance Lessons with Robert
I find a vital question to ask is: “Where do you train NOW?”
This is one I ask of teachers who are teaching at recreation centers, community hall, church basements and school auditoriums.
Dancing is not something you JUST LEARN and it stays the same forever.
Dancing evolves and a good teacher wants to stay abreast of the new technique.
Sadly, most of the time, the answer is: “I teach what I learned at XYZ Studio in 19/something or other!" The saddest part is that the students taking lessons from this teacher think they are BUYING the “Right Stuff.”
In fact; they are being robbed!
I'm glad you asked because I would love to tell you!
Like a Dog with a Bone!
That's me!
It may seem and I am adamant about asking your dance teacher about his/her background and dance education.
We (dance teachers) like to talk about our training, boast about our degrees, brag about our competition wins and rave about our abilities.
Which makes us look like pure egotists!
Guess What? WE ARE!
But not in a bad or belittling way.
Competent dance teachers are EXTREMELY proud of their accomplishments and “if asked” we will tell you ALL about ourselves.
This is a great clue to find out with which kind of teacher you, as a student, are getting involved.
In my experience I have found that, when I have questioned other dance teachers about their training, they either are alike with me and are willing to go one on one with stories and experiences or they shy away from the subject as if there is something to hide.
Guess what again?
There usually is something to hide and it is “they have little to no training, no experience and no qualifications."
The first question a dancer will ask a dancer is: “Where did you take your training?”
The answer will be one of a few. At a recognized dance studio such as the Arthur Murray or Fred Astaire Dance Studios, for older teachers, or one of a number of Dance Colleges/Universities (Brigham Young University aka BYU) for teachers within the last twenty years and even Independent Studios using such programs as ProDVIDA.
PERSONALLY:
I trained with the Arthur Murray School of Ballroom Dance in Calgary, Alberta. My parents were good dancers so I learned from a very young age and although I was some what of a good dancer already I wanted to achieve even better standards. The A.M. studio was under the watchful eye of (then) Canada’s Top Ballroom Dance Teacher Mrs. Sonya Ruther. She took a personal interest in my progress and a hand in my lessons. An experience worth mentioning, to everyone!
Directly, the next obvious question will be:
“What level/degree did you accomplish?”
It was in Calgary where I achieved a Full Bronze IV Medal Standard but retested again in Australia at the A.M. Studio in Crows Nest, North Sydney in 1975. The same year I also tested my Full Silver Medal Standard.
I was back in Canada and tested out my Gold Medal the following year at the Vancouver Arthur Murray’s.
So let me brag, boast and even rave a little about my background.
My Training?
Until 2010 I kept a regular training schedule through several professional training Private Lessons at a studio in Vancouver.
As well, I enrolled into the ProDVIDA system. It was established in approximately 1995 as a dance organization who researches the most current Dance Material, packages the material into Learning DVDs and Videos for Independent Studio operators. DVIDA, the parent company, also organized several yearly training seminars in Las Vegas (where they are based) and Los Angles at the Emerald Ball.
Currently, I am using only their DVD support and focusing of more Dance Conventions/Congresses to replace my Private Lessons.
