Comments on: Of beginners, initiates, novices and advanced http://www.limericktango.com/2008/06/of-beginners-initiates-novices-and-advanced/ ...from the Shannon to the Rio de la Plate Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:46:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: koolricky http://www.limericktango.com/2008/06/of-beginners-initiates-novices-and-advanced/#comment-116 koolricky Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:48:00 +0000 http://www.limericktango.com/blog/?p=461#comment-116 Hi there: I think the time gradation is also necessary. For example, in the last event that i organised I described the levels with a time reference and a description of what people should be comfortable with when applying for this level. I also think that if one wants to start teaching he has to have had a good few years of tango behind him even if this person is a prodigy and can learn a lot in 1 year. Sometimes, time is also valuable, not to understand things but to let them mature... But obviously that the time notion on its own is very precarious. Hi there:

I think the time gradation is also necessary. For example, in the last event that i organised I described the levels with a time reference and a description of what people should be comfortable with when applying for this level.
I also think that if one wants to start teaching he has to have had a good few years of tango behind him even if this person is a prodigy and can learn a lot in 1 year. Sometimes, time is also valuable, not to understand things but to let them mature…
But obviously that the time notion on its own is very precarious.

]]> By: msHedgehog http://www.limericktango.com/2008/06/of-beginners-initiates-novices-and-advanced/#comment-115 msHedgehog Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:50:23 +0000 http://www.limericktango.com/blog/?p=461#comment-115 To be quite honest, I've always graded myself more or less on the fencing model. In that dance or lesson, did I deliver what was led, or not? If not, what did I not deliver, and why? What is the next thing I can work on or fix? Actually I've usually had at least two things on the go so as not to get bored. If I were leading I'd have to take a slightly different approach. It would still be a progressive one-thing-at-a-time approach, but I wouldn't be benefiting from the leaders' input as I do following. The problem is, once you can deliver everything that normally gets thrown at you in social dancing, it gets much harder to find the next thing to work on. You can just end up getting distracted by shoes. Which is plain depressing, compared to steady improvement. Nobody ever explains what they expect you to be able to deliver after one year, six months, or whatever, so I've never taken any notice of that. To be quite honest, I’ve always graded myself more or less on the fencing model. In that dance or lesson, did I deliver what was led, or not? If not, what did I not deliver, and why? What is the next thing I can work on or fix?

Actually I’ve usually had at least two things on the go so as not to get bored.

If I were leading I’d have to take a slightly different approach. It would still be a progressive one-thing-at-a-time approach, but I wouldn’t be benefiting from the leaders’ input as I do following.

The problem is, once you can deliver everything that normally gets thrown at you in social dancing, it gets much harder to find the next thing to work on. You can just end up getting distracted by shoes. Which is plain depressing, compared to steady improvement.

Nobody ever explains what they expect you to be able to deliver after one year, six months, or whatever, so I’ve never taken any notice of that.

]]> By: msHedgehog http://www.limericktango.com/2008/06/of-beginners-initiates-novices-and-advanced/#comment-114 msHedgehog Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:31:01 +0000 http://www.limericktango.com/blog/?p=461#comment-114 You're completely right that the time-based model is useless. Where someone is after a certain amount of time depends so much on their own motivation, approach, and goals. And there is such a huge difference depending on whether you lead or follow, but classes are marketed as though the same amount of experience got you to the same class level for both. In reality, a lot of intermediate classes do more harm than good for a moderately experienced follower, and she would be better off attending a beginners' class, or going to a milonga. How do you think class descriptions should go? I think your approach is the right one, and I'd be interested to read what you come up with and how people react. Any proposals? You’re completely right that the time-based model is useless. Where someone is after a certain amount of time depends so much on their own motivation, approach, and goals. And there is such a huge difference depending on whether you lead or follow, but classes are marketed as though the same amount of experience got you to the same class level for both. In reality, a lot of intermediate classes do more harm than good for a moderately experienced follower, and she would be better off attending a beginners’ class, or going to a milonga.

How do you think class descriptions should go? I think your approach is the right one, and I’d be interested to read what you come up with and how people react. Any proposals?

]]> By: LimerickTango http://www.limericktango.com/2008/06/of-beginners-initiates-novices-and-advanced/#comment-113 LimerickTango Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:06:43 +0000 http://www.limericktango.com/blog/?p=461#comment-113 Tango dancers do grade themselves, but too often it is in terms of how long they have danced. Fencers are helped in keeping themselves objective in that they can win or lose (and they can win or lose well or badly). Under what criteria do I evaluate whether I won or lost a dance or a tanda? Tango dancers do grade themselves, but too often it is in terms of how long they have danced.
Fencers are helped in keeping themselves objective in that they can win or lose (and they can win or lose well or badly). Under what criteria do I evaluate whether I won or lost a dance or a tanda?

]]> By: Johanna http://www.limericktango.com/2008/06/of-beginners-initiates-novices-and-advanced/#comment-112 Johanna Tue, 01 Jul 2008 03:45:28 +0000 http://www.limericktango.com/blog/?p=461#comment-112 But Tango dancers also grade themselves! Perhaps that is the problem :-) Besides, fencers have sharp, pointy objects to keep them objective. Oh wait. In Tango we have stilettos. And even the basest novice has license to wield at will.... But Tango dancers also grade themselves! Perhaps that is the problem :-)

Besides, fencers have sharp, pointy objects to keep them objective. Oh wait. In Tango we have stilettos. And even the basest novice has license to wield at will….

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