Thread: Need a mentor and private lessons

Hi All,
I am sure I could do a search on this and find some advice, but I have a headache and I want to be force-fed answers...

Background...I've been dancing for 3 1/2 years and I've moved through a lot of teachers. I've liked them all for different reasons. My most recent teacher ended our class because she joined a troupe. The thing is that around here there are not a lot of highly advanced level teachers. There is one, but I don't have the energy or time to take regular classes.

So I am taking a break from regular classes because of life, but I don't want to digress or rather, not progress...so I have a plan to practice at home, use DVDs, supplement with workshops and do the occasional private lesson.

But I've never taken a private lesson and I just wanted to know what to do. Do I pick a topic and then stick to it? Do I work with a teacher on a choreo? Do I let them pick how they want to help? I have a couple ladies in mind that I want to try, I am just trying to figure out how it would work...

The most effective way to get your money's worth from a private lesson is to choose a topic you want to work on, then approach a teacher you feel possesses the skills to address that topic competently. Tell the teacher ahead of time what the topic is so that she can have time to think about how she might help you with it.

The topic can be whatever you feel you need most in your current phase of your dance journey. You could develop a choreo and then have a teacher work with you to refine it, which could include modifications. You could choose a technique topic such as stage presence and have the teacher work with you on that. You could take a video of yourself performing with you (warn the teacher ahead of time that a DVD/TV will be needed or take a computer), watch it together with the teacher, then mutually agree on a topic that you need coaching on and focus on that topic. You could ask the teacher to introduce you to a dance technique or style that you don't already know, such as dancing with a certain prop. Any of these are valid, just choose what suits your current needs, let the teacher know what it is, and then do some prep work before the lesson.

I'd suggest going for multiple lessons on the same topic, so that the teacher can give you feedback on your progress from one time to the next. Continuity can help.

The more clear your goals are, the better equipped the teacher will be to work with you. The better you prepare for each private (such as rehearsing your choreography, buying needed music/props, etc.), the better equipped the teacher will be to work with you.

You discuss your goals with the teacher ahead of time. Today I go to my first private lesson with Sonya of Chicago. Since I teacher-hopped a lot, I'm missing stuff. I want to be more of an advanced dancer, so I have previously discussed these goals and what I want out of my private lessons.

I also take private lessons from Danielle of Chicago. She's been training me in tribal. I really like these classes, because she is a stickler for posture and carriage.

These are fairly frequent (every other week and weekly). If you do something much less frequent, you could ask what the person specializes in and then pick a topic from that. I took a private lesson from Aradia when I went to Las Vegas this past Dec., and prior to taking the lesson, she had discussed with me what she specializes in.

Thanks. That is helpful. I decided that this was the year of the props for me, so I will add that to my list of topics. I'd also like to work on spins/turns, and arms and hands. Finally, I would like to learn karslima (spell?).

Oooh thanks for posting this Andalee, I have been saving up for a private or two and wondered what to do once I got there..l;, I just want some one on one time for starters-for the teacher to assess my basic skills and give me pointers on the details like, "am I actually doing a hip drop or are my hips sliding back instead of down?" etc.

I like Michelle Joyce's stuff for at home.

Originally Posted by *Shira*

The most effective way to get your money's worth from a private lesson is to choose a topic you want to work on, then approach a teacher you feel possesses the skills to address that topic competently. Tell the teacher ahead of time what the topic is so that she can have time to think about how she might help you with it.

The topic can be whatever you feel you need most in your current phase of your dance journey. You could develop a choreo and then have a teacher work with you to refine it, which could include modifications. You could choose a technique topic such as stage presence and have the teacher work with you on that. You could take a video of yourself performing with you (warn the teacher ahead of time that a DVD/TV will be needed or take a computer), watch it together with the teacher, then mutually agree on a topic that you need coaching on and focus on that topic. You could ask the teacher to introduce you to a dance technique or style that you don't already know, such as dancing with a certain prop. Any of these are valid, just choose what suits your current needs, let the teacher know what it is, and then do some prep work before the lesson.

I'd suggest going for multiple lessons on the same topic, so that the teacher can give you feedback on your progress from one time to the next. Continuity can help.

The more clear your goals are, the better equipped the teacher will be to work with you. The better you prepare for each private (such as rehearsing your choreography, buying needed music/props, etc.), the better equipped the teacher will be to work with you.

This is all most excellent advice!

I just wanted to pop into the thread to congratulate you on taking this step. I truly think that private lessons with an excellent teacher are key in order for a soloist to take their dancing to the next level. Even as expensive as they are, and with additional travel costs (for me, nearly a 2-hour drive each way), I find my once or twice a month privates are much more valuable than a weekly or even twice weekly group class would be.

I am getting into the same thing. I need one on one-fix my this or that and teach me this style or technique type instruction so that I can get out of this intermediate phase and into a solidly advanced dancer. Some things I excel in but I also teacher hopped a lot mostly because we don't have much to choose from around here so I used a lot of DVDs and attend lots of workshops. I feel like there are holes in my education and as an educator I am always desiring to learn more. Good luck Andalee!

Originally Posted by AmiraStar

I am getting into the same thing. I need one on one-fix my this or that and teach me this style or technique type instruction so that I can get out of this intermediate phase and into a solidly advanced dancer. Some things I excel in but I also teacher hopped a lot mostly because we don't have much to choose from around here so I used a lot of DVDs and attend lots of workshops. I feel like there are holes in my education and as an educator I am always desiring to learn more. Good luck Andalee!

Thanks! You too! I think I found the right teacher, we just have to work out scheduling.