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Today I am back
on the road for work after a fun weekend getaway with
the neighbor guys (fully approved by the wives). We
went to a small town in western Wisconsin called Trempeleau
(Tremp-i- low) to see the Marshall Tucker band and
spend a day boating on the Mississippi. Listening
to Marshall Tucker was a bit hard on the ears at times
(I'm being polite) as his days of "belting one
out" have since past. But, he's still goin' and
I'm still dancin', so let's get on with my spin!
As I said, today I am back on the
road coaching in one of my favorite studios in Minneapolis.
I love to coach. It doesn't matter what age or level
of dancer, it is always a challenge to leave that
couple or student with something that I learned from
someone else, to become an accomplished dancer. Knowing
how to take a coaching lesson is as important as how
to give one. I love when I'm teaching a pro/am lesson
and the student looks at me and says "Wow! I
have never heard this before"! There is always
a moment of silence as the teacher, usually standing
next to or behind the student rolls his eyes and shakes
his head. He's thinking, "Never heard this before?
I've been telling you to do this for the last year"!
I just smile because I can hear what the teacher is
thinking as I have been there myself. I think it's
not only important to take lessons from visiting coaches
but I sometimes wonder how much thought and preparation
was given to what the couple hoped to accomplish on
the lesson. Here's a couple of tips on how to get
the most out of a coaching lesson:
1. Have a plan. Know exactly what
you are hoping to accomplish and what you would like
the coach to work on. Maybe your weakness is turning
or you need help with a certain pattern. If you have
an idea of what you should work on, this is a big
help to the visiting coach.
2. Be a sponge. Put all of your
personal dance insecurities aside and focus on doing
exactly what that coach is asking you to do. It doesn't
matter to this coach what the last coach said. This
coach is seeing it at a different time and in a different
way.
3. Ask questions. The hardest lesson
to teach is when there is no interaction between the
student and the teacher. If a coach makes you nervous
and forgetful, then write down a few questions before
the lesson so you have them available when you need
them. This will help the lesson to flow. Otherwise,
it turns into a one hour lecture. Oh yeah... that's
fun!
4. Professionals, prepare the coach
for their day. Give them a short break down of their
schedule and a brief history of each person they are
going to teach. This is so helpful! It gives the coach
a chance to tap into their brain and pull out some
things that they think will be beneficial to the student.
5. Never say, "I've never heard
that before"! Even if you are totally convinced
that your teacher forgot to tell you about cuban motion
in the rumba or rise and fall in the waltz, don't
say it. First of all, the coach probably doesn't believe
it and your teacher is left feeling a bit embarrassed.
It doesn't matter, just keep focused on the lesson.
6. Always tip the coach after the
lesson. A 25% gratuity is the common coaching tip.
OK! I'm just kidding. A nice "thank you"
and "when are you coming back" ? will do!
ANY OTHER TIPS YOU MIGHT LIKE
TO SHARE? DROP ME A NOTE..
Dan
Messenger
06-25-2001
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