| I have been trying to convince my husband of 25 years, that most  have to take written notes,to help w/the mental aspects of dance. Then the 5 or 6 day a week "practice "is for bodies muscle memory. He insists he learns "better", by  visualization! We are 22 months in, & he can't  remember simple figures. He has taken 2 lessons from Victor Fung & Anna, and says " He wants to dance like Victor, me, too!  I know & respect all the lead has to do! I just want to help & reduce >  frustration. Our profession is medicine & I teach it, so he knows how the body/brain works! I am not interested in right & wrong, just different learning experiences! Thank You, so very Much! ScottyBoysDoll |
| How often are you taking lessons?
Also, can you give us examples of some of the "simple figures" which your husband is having trouble remembering?
If your learning strategies are not sound, it makes no difference from whom you take lessons.
jj |
| I thought maybe we were doing to many dances. I just thought it was his lack of commitment! Never thought it was our instructors, plus I have 156 Dance Vision Videos to Reference anything anytime. Our dance schedule is the same every week.
Monday-1 hour practice
Tuesday - 2 hour lesson
Wednesday - 1 hour practice
Thursday - 2 hour lesson
Friday - 2 hour Mambo/Nightclub 2-Step
Saturday & Sunday - 1 hour practice, sometimes. Well, most of the time!
|
| Wow! I'm wondering if the term "overwhelming" has crossed your mind. You don't seem to be giving scottyboy much time to do anything else. Given his apparently wavering interest, I'd suggest maybe cutting back on the dancing a couple nights a week and doing something that he really enjoys - or just letting him have a night out by himself. jj |
| Oh, Sorry for the delay in answer. I thought "Burn-Out", not overwhelmed, because it is his choice to go to the lessons. (Not mine) Not all lessons are private 2 are group classes, and we all go on outings, to eat after, ect. He definitely still races his Harley Truck, we go to community activities, and his favorite is "His remote", but over the last several months he has changed from T.V. to YouTube dance clips, or any of the 156, D.Vision prep videos. Oh, and he still goes to the Club for a work- out 6 days a week. So, we do it all! |
| "So, we do it all!"
Wow! So, when do you guys find time for your day jobs? |
| "If your learning strategies are not sound, it makes no difference from whom you take lessons."
jj is absolutely right on that one. You'll also find that learning to dance (or to play a musical instrument, or to sing, for that matter) is quite a different process from learning most academic subjects. |
| The article to which Jonathan links is very interesting. Although it never mentions dancing, its essential lessons are as applicable to our activity as to any other. 1. Find a good teacher 2. Practice, practice, practice, practice, practice. 3. Submit to regular evaluation by someone other than your teacher. While, academically speaking, the article makes a lot of sense, putting its observations into practice presents some real difficulties. While my second point listed above is almost completely within the students' control, the first and third are not. Finding good instructors (i.e. those who know their subject, are affordable, and - most importantly - put their students' success ahead of their own ambition) is very difficult for someone completely new to ballroom and Latin dancing. Looking at trophies and championships can be misleading. As Terence repeatedly points out, the best dancer is not necessarily the best teacher - or even a good one. Finding opportunities for objective evaluation can be equally tricky. In the US, other professionals operating in the same studio are not going to put the income of their colleagues at risk by pointing out shortcomings. Competition results do not provide the kind of feedback which most students can use. In my area, local showcases give students little more than a pat on the back or suggestions so general (e.g. "Bend your knees more") as to suggest that the "judges" may not have been paying attention. One thing is certainly true for all students: simply wandering into a studio and signing up with the first professional they meet is NOT a good idea. I will continue to give other amateurs the same advice that I always have: find an amateur partner and stick with the partnership. jj |
| We really have not danced for any other Instructors. We do go to take lessons from others. It is a 6 hr drive to Dallas, we are going to start making a regular trip. If we can find someone closer to Odessa,Texas, we would even go to them, as well. |
+ View More Messages
|
