How to make the most from a travelling teacher. 

Every tango community, when it starts to grow, brings in new ideas and information through travelling teachers. These teachers can be wonderful sources of motivation and instruction, but it is very important that you learn how to get the most from them.

Every dancer goes through stages in their learning –

1.      Compilation of material – This is the gathering of steps and elements that comprise the beginner vocabulary.

2.      Sifting – No matter how much material we gather, we end up using only a fraction of what we learn on the dance floor. We find the patterns/sequences that work best for us so we can feel more confident.

3.      Themes - After we have danced for a while we start to notice particular types of movements that we would like to find out more about, e.g. reverse sacadas, molinetes, etc.

Like a child learning to talk, our vocabulary grows and becomes more of a reflection of what we are and how we think.

When travelling teachers come along, they usually set a group schedule which reflects what they do best or what they think the community wants to learn, but when a student has a private lesson it is time to direct this font of knowledge towards increasing and improving our personal vocabulary.

A little homework goes a long way.

First, before your lesson, take the time to note what vocabulary of dance elements you use and which 'mistakes' (uncomfortable spots) you experience most often. The teacher can help you fix the places that don’t feel good as well as show you what sequence fits the 'mistake' you are already using.

Remember: A mistake is usually the perfect lead to do something else. We just need to find out what that is. Now the fun starts.

Second, pick the elements or moves that you like and do well, and ask for other things you can do with them. This will help your vocabulary evolve as well as stimulate your creative ability by giving you new ideas to play with.

Third, this is the time to "test drive" some of the things you always wanted to learn. (eg. Colgadas, Back Sacadas etc.) Just be aware that these are likely to be the elements that you don't get to use very often so the chance of forgetting is increased.

Travelling teachers can give us the techniques and styles that improve the look and feeling of our dancing even when you use your existing vocabulary. It isn’t necessary to show lots of new material in order to present basic techniques. The primary benefit in doing your homework and compiling questions for the teachers is, first, that your natural vocabulary becomes smoother. Second, new material is a result of your dancing evolving so that third, you remember more of what is passed along to you over the course of the lesson.

Travelling teachers can be expensive but we can make them even more valuable when we do what we can to keep the information after they leave.