Yes, you.
I've heard a variety of excuses for not wanting to take a one-on-one lesson with a professional instructor:
- I'm not ready yet.
- I'm not good enough.
- I don't know how to dance.
- That teacher only takes advanced dancers.
- I don't know enough.
- I don't want to compete.
- I don't know what I'd work on.
Guess what? These are the exact reasons that you NEED a private lesson.
Let's address these very common concerns.
"I'm not ready yet."
It does not matter what level you're at; whether you kind of know left from right or you've been dancing for several years, professional instructors are available to give you skills and tips to help you succeed at ANY LEVEL.
Did we all start with some good ol' walking steps? YES, WE DID. (Sure, some dancers started with walking steps when they were 5 years old, but WE ALL STARTED WITH THE SAME BASICS.)
Good instructors will work with absolute beginners, people who can't hear music, people who were dragged in by partners (and not excited about dancing... yet), and EVERYONE ELSE.
"I'm not good enough."
This is EXACTLY WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE PRIVATE LESSONS. Group classes and social learning is fun and great, but a teacher who is working with you (or you and your partner) personally will exponentially increase your understanding of techniques, figures, and styling.
Plus your humility is A+ in my book. Please come take a lesson and let me help you dance better.
"I don't know how to dance."
I get this, but um, HOW ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO LEARN?!
Again, I GET IT. Admitting you don't know how to do ANYTHING is scary, but damn brave, as well.
Knowing you have to walk into a studio (a scary, new experience for most), tell at least one person you don't know what you're doing (ugh, a humbling thought), and then put yourself in the hands of someone [who might be a generation younger than you] to teach you something new is ALL SCARY.
BUT THIS IS MY JOB.
I honestly LOVE IT when absolute newbies come in. There's no bad habits to break and I get a clean slate!
Again, your bravery in trying something new (that could change your life in great ways) is honorable, so get your ass into the studio.
"That teacher only takes advanced dancers."
There are some instructors whose schedules are full [BLESS THEM] and cannot take new students of any level. There are very few instructors who will not teach beginners.
Even if a particular instructor seems OH SO ELITE AND BUSY, asking for a private lesson never hurt. Even if they are crazy busy, many will make time available, or put you on a waiting list for when they have a cancellation.
This goes for instructors who have a large number of competitive students, as well. As their students progress into higher levels, their availability for beginning students opens up.
In other words, ask. If anything, the pro will be honored you asked and give you a rec for someone else worthy.
"I don't know enough."
Similar to the first few examples, but I've heard this from some people who "only" know a couple moves, or took some community education classes, or have social danced a certain style.
Again, teaching people, at any level, in many different dances, is professional instructors' JOBS. It is literally what we are trained to do. And have spent years of our lives and most of our money learning to do better. [insert laughing and crying emoji here]
You've done Salsa in clubs? Cool, let me show you some Cha Cha, and then Rumba.
You took a community ed class seven years ago? Let's refresh some basics and extend your repertoire and add some technique specific to you.
"I don't want to compete."
Many, MANY students of ballroom dance don't compete. Many have NO DESIRE to even perform.
Ballrooming is still super fun without competition.
You still get to learn how to move to music with another person in a social and friendly atmosphere which will give you an excellent workout, stave off mental decline, and keep you active for yyyyyeeeeeaaaaarrrrrssss to come.
"I don't know what I'd work on."
That problem can be solved by... taking a private lesson.
It seems a little circular, but if you have an inkling that you'd like to take a lesson, come in and take a lesson, and you and your instructor will figure out what to work on from there.
It might mean you have to dance a little something with/in front of your instructor so that person can come up with a plan. It might mean you say, "I know this and this in Samba, but it doesn't feel right/look right."
But your lack of ideas WILL NOT be an obstacle to a professional (in the nicest way I can mean that).
Other reasons that you should take private lessons:
- I'm not seeing the progress I'd like.
- I'm not seeing the competition results I'd like.
I am SO EXCITED to break these down for you:
"I'm not seeing the progress I'd like."
Honestly, if you're not taking private lessons, I'm surprised you're seeing much progress.
All respect to group classes because they are a great place to discover patterns and general technique, but the personalized focus of private lessons on the skills, figures, and techniques that YOU NEED cannot be beat.
I often hear "why am I still at [name your plateau] after [name your amount of time]?". If you're going to tell me you've been dancing for 10 years, but have only taken group classes (#sorrynotsorry) and 20 private lessons over that time and are wondering why that person who started two years ago, but takes 20 privates lessons A MONTH and goes to group classes and practices outside of the studio is in the advanced class and you're not, then I have some words for you: commitment and focus.
And MAYBE IT'S NOT YOUR TIME to commit and focus on ballroom dancing. THAT IS FINE. Really! It is! But comparison is the damn thief of joy, yo, so stop it. Go on your own damn dance journey, you hear?
BUT REALLY, DO YOU HEAR?!
But if you want to see progress, take some private lessons, okay?
"I'm not seeing the competition results I'd like."
Different, but the same as above.
I often hear "why am I not beating [name your nemesis] or making [name your elusive round]?".
The variety of answers could be somewhere along the lines of:
Your material is out of date/out of category/too long/too boring.
Your technique is invisible (and not in a good way).
Your timing is non-existent.
Again, this can happen fairly easily in a group learning environment, when the lowest common denominator is often catered to more than the ... greatest common divisor.
If you take private lessons, many of these issues can be worked out with, get this, the personalized attention of a ballroom dance professional.
(The only thing you need to be able to do to take a private lesson is AFFORD it. If that means you can take one private lesson and practice that material for a month before your next lesson, that's great! Be clear with your instructor about your goals, time and budget. Most teachers can work out a plan for nearly anyone. Private lessons are not inexpensive, but the payoff is considerable.)
