"Yes, and watching a video will be great preparation for giving your students their money's worth.... NOT"

So, let me see if I understand you correctly. If someone purchases and studies a video, they are not good enough to pass that information on to another person. Be it a teaching situation or a male/female watching the video and teaching their partner, you are saying that is isn't good enough. Please explain...

Just what do you think videos are used for if not a "teaching tool"?

You are fond of quoting books, why should they be any more of a teaching tool than a dancer performing steps and exlaining them on video? What is different from purchasing a video of a professional coach and learning from it versus paying hundreds to get the same information?

You are also fond of watching competition/showcase videos and critiqing every single step, is that not learning from video?

I support the use of videos 110%. Not only do they provide monetary compensation to websites like this AND the dancers, but they are readily available to view at any time, anywhere.

I've met two people since entering the ballroom scene who, by their own choice, learned EXCLUSIVELY from DVD/VHS. They are just as good as the person next to them, or in front of them.

Dance instruction books or video/dvds are a useful and cost-effective way to study the principles of dance, but they are no substitute for the feedback and constructive criticism which a good teacher/coach can provide.

Of course if your coach was only watching the dvd himself the night before the lesson, and hopes he can get away with "teaching" the steps without his memory failing, and can block your question over a more advanced variation by saying that the answer to that question depends upon you buying $10,000 more lessons, then you must be in the US, and in a franchised chain's studio.

That was a totally inappropriate remark !!--- Your views, like many, are generally way off base , and predjudiced .

What practical experience have you personally had with chain schools in the states ?-- from your remarks-- probably none.

Let me remind you of a world famous english dancer ( and partner ) that far excelled , financially, a large contractual pre paid lesson situation.that went awry .

There are bad apples in most barrels-- that does not meant to say we have to throw them all away !!

As far as learning from and by videos-- they are a tool that can re inforce ideas already in place . The many nuances that exist in dance , are virtually impossible to attain from any video or book .

"You are fond of quoting books, why should they be any more of a teaching tool than a dancer performing steps and exlaining them on video?"

Yes, and I'm also fond of telling people to go take some lessons with a REAL teacher. Especially if they have this idea of claiming to be a teacher, and intended to charge others money for their alleged knowledge.

"What is different from purchasing a video of a professional coach and learning from it versus paying hundreds to get the same information?"

About as much difference as there is between watcing Strictly Ballroom and entering a competition yourself.

In short, there's just no comparison. Videos and books are a supplement only, and cannot replace in-person experience.

Unbelievable! You people embarass me...someone asks a simple, polite question (which is NONE of YOUR business), and you all jump to criticise her. Just get over yourselves! I too am a competetive ballroom dancer, and I CHOOSE to use professional coaches...but dancing is for EVERYONE! People can learn however they choose, and if they can pass on what they know...more power to them. Who knows what they might inspire. And stop knocking the U.S.! There are plenty of studios which are NOT franchised, and plenty of opportunities for people to accomplish their goals (whatever they may be...and don't ASSUME they are the same as yours) Everybody starts somewhere, you know? Don't be so smug...a little kindness goes a long way.

Embarrassed? Why?

Are you SO insecure that you cannot bear to hear or read an opinion with which you don't agree? I suspect that you are living in just the right country. Have a nice day.

Embarassed by your obvious snobbery, of course.

"Embarassed by your obvious snobbery, of course."

Well I'm embarassed to be associated with an industry in which minimally trained people are paid a pittance to teach students who are paying a small fortune for the privilege of "studying" with them.

"Unbelievable! You people embarass me...someone asks a simple, polite question (which is NONE of YOUR business), and you all jump to criticise her. Just get over yourselves! I too am a competetive ballroom dancer, and I CHOOSE to use professional coaches...but dancing is for EVERYONE! People can learn however they choose, and if they can pass on what they know...more power to them."

If they were seeking knowledge for their own interests, or to give away, that's one thing. If they are charging to teach a subject they learned off a video, that's in moral terms getting very close to fraud.

And yes, as members of the dance community, the opposing the proliferation of clueless "teachers" is very much our business.

Do I expect this potential teacher is going to be learning only from videos? No. But the way the question is asked, makes it clear they aren't receiving enough in-person guidance to be building real teaching qualifications.

A potential teacher should either be focusing on the bronze material to build the quality of their detailed understanding (if they are going to be teaching soon... which is unfortunate but happens - this is all they will be teaching. The fraction of students working beyond bronze is miniscule, adn the new teachers won't get them), or they should be out gaining experience as a student and amateur competitor themselves, then start over from the basics in 5 years or so and review everything for purposes of teaching it, seeing it all again, only through eyes that now have enough experience to know what they should be looking for.

Jonathan,

Please stop them.