A group class in a partner dance studio is designed to provide instruction on a level that works for the median of the class. The amount of material taught can vary depending on the instructor and the group attending.
It can be tough to predict what one will walk away with as they leave the class, especially the first few times attending it. One can have their own set of expectations based on the class description, comments from other students, knowledge of the reputation of the instructor, and his/her own personal aims. If those expectations aren’t met, a person can walk away feeling like money and time were wasted.
For the benefit of feeling like the time was well spent, one has to pick and choose what material s/he wants to walk away with. Focusing on one (or several) take away(s) will help make the experience of attending the class better.
Here are a few examples:
- A fun experience – A class can be a source of enjoyment and diversion either because of the instructors’ approach or the classmates one shares it with.
- A new point of view on an old move – Every instructor has his/her own approach to executing even the most fundamental moves.
- A specific technical adjustment to a move that has always been challenging – A set of fresh eyes on the way one dances may find some technical adjustment that can improve the way a pattern is executed.
- New vocabulary – Beyond basic vocabulary, each instructor has their own personal “bag of tricks” full of moves and styling variations.
- More exercise in working with different people – The more often one attends a group class and changes partners, the more confident s/he will be about dancing with others socially.
- Relief from work – How better to let out the stress of the day than by cutting a rug on the dance floor?
Even after 10+ years of dancing and teaching, I can still attend an intermediate or advanced class in any of my specialties and walk away from it with something that made the experience worthwhile.
