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Private Dance Lessons (Tips)Purpose of Dance Lessons. Be clear on your purpose for taking private dance lessons. Ask yourself why you want to take dance lessons. To improve your social skills? To look look good for a wedding dance? To have a regular exercise program? To meet new people. To have more fun? To fit in with the crowd at clubs? To compete in dance competition? To connect with your partner in a special, exciting, romantic way? To learn ballroom dancing? Free style dancing? Argentine tango? Swing? It can help if you communicate your purpose to your dance instructor. He or she can then tailor your lessons with that purpose in mind. Franchise Dance Studios. Be careful of franchise dance studios that use high pressure tactics to sign you up for a long series of lessons. They will sometimes double-team you in a small room after giving you a free, introductory lesson. They will try to convince you of the great savings you'll make by signing up for months of lessons. For more info.on this caution about private dance lessons, you may find this discussion helpful. Video Tape Your Lessons. Ask about video
taping the lesson. Some teachers will allow you to do this, but they may
charge a little more for the lesson. It may well be worth it, because
you can learn review the steps years later, if you like. Dance Notes. Take notes on your lessons. The best time to do this is immediately after your lesson. Forgetting happens the most rapidly immediately after learning. If you review immediately, you'll be able to move what you've learned into long term memory. Consider getting a computer program to help you organize and review notes and improve your memory. Instructional Dance Videos. Look into buying an instructional dance video on the dance you are learning. Use the video to supplement your dance lessons. You can make much faster progress that way. Be a Leader and a Follower. Consider learning both the follower's and leader's part. This can be tough and confusing at first, but it is well worth it. One advantage of doing this is that you can help a practice partner learn various figures. Another advantage is that you will be a much more sensitive leader or follower if you know what the opposite role has to go through. Dance Parties. Go to dance parties -- ideally at a place that provides practice space. Take some time out from dancing on the main ballroom floor to practice your steps. Invite your dance partner (or a potential dance partner to join you.) When you go to a party, have in mind a number of dance figures that you'd like to practice. Practice Dance Partner. If you don't have one, find a practice partner. Use the term practice partner when approaching someone rather than the term "dance partner." The term "dance partner" can be a little threatening for some people because it may imply a degree of intimacy that people are not ready for. You will certainly learn faster with a practice partner than without one. Once you develop your dance skills, it will be easier to find a regular dance partner if that is what you'd like. Having warned your about the term "dance partner," you may still want to explore a website designed to help you find a dance partner online. It called, aptly, dancepartner.com More than a Practice Partner. It could be that you will find yourself attracted to a practice partner. Perhaps you would like to move toward a more romantic relationship. There's nothing wrong with that. But I suggest that it is best to have a lot of patience. You may want to communicate your interest very subtly and gently -- always giving the other person a lot of "space" (as we say in California). A good place to start is to invite your practice partner to join you for some other event -- a movie about dancing is ideal. Other suggestions would be a summer jazz festival where people are free to get up and dance. Another idea is to invite your partner to attend a dance sponsored by a different organization. Join Online Dance Discussion Groups. You can learn a lot by participating in dance forums or dance webboards. For example, here is a webboard that focuses on Argentine tango dancing. Purpose when Dancing. I suggest that one's purpose when dancing may be different depending on whether you are a leader or a follower.. If you are leader, your purpose is to help your follower look and feel good (it's not to show off your own fancy steps.) If you are a follower, I suggest that your main purpose is to relax and have a good time. Thanks for your interest in Private Dance Lessons |