How to find the right dance instructor part 3

[ceech]

I really want to arm y'all with some knowledge and some questions for finding the right teacher.

I was listening to the radio this morning, and one of the commercial was saying something about someone teaching her how to ask the right question. Finding the right instructor means you got to know the right questions to ask.

Here are some good ones.

"Who influenced you to dance ?"
"Who do you learn from?"
"What inspired you to dance?"
"How do you train to get better?"

I think this important because this question give you an idea where this teacher is heading towards. In my opinion, a good teacher should also strive to improve as well. So, you want to know how he/she is doing to improve as well.

[idennisinfante]

I think another good question to ask your teacher is:

"What type of music are we usually going to use in the class?" and also...


For Hip-Hop classes (and this one should be an important one), ask your instructor if they are teaching Hip-Hop dances, or teaching choreography. There's a BIG DIFFERENCE. It also comes down to what YOU want to learn.

Hip-Hop dance has it's foundational steps and moves just like ballet, jazz, tap, etc. In a ballet class, you are first taught each basic move, then to string different moves together, or expand on variations within each one. When first trying a Hip-Hop class, ask your instructor to do the roger rabbit, cabbage patch, or james brown, and if you will be learning those types of dances in class. Those are some of the original steps associated with the dance and if they don't know what those dances are, then most likely you won't be learning Hip-Hop dances. (Example: You won't be in a real ballet class if they don't know what a Demi-Plie is right?)


There are some studios out there that label their class Hip-Hop, but instead of teaching the students the dances that are involved with Hip-Hop, they teach Street Jazz, or choreography. I have nothing but respect for those choreographers, I actually enjoy watching it on stage, but if it is just choreography that you want to learn for fun, then definitely take those choreography classes. There are a lot of good choreographers out there. Just know the difference between the two.

Some people want to learn how to freestyle, and some just want to get better at learning different choreography. Knowing what your personal goal is first will help you decide which instructor you should go with. Find out what YOU want, then choose from that, so you can make the most of whatever class you do end up choosing.

Forget about keeping it real, or going with trends. As long as it's fun for you, nothing else matters.