From Previous Blogs
Getting Past the Wall from Friday, August 19, 2011
I don’t seem to be getting better? From Saturday, August 13, 2011
Getting better? Better at what? learning patterns?strengthening my technique? Leading or following? All dancers hit a wall from time to time. The next couple of blogs may help.
Ask yourself some questions. Do I practice enough? When I get to the studio early do I sit and wait for my lesson or do I get up and use the mirror to examine my form, maybe try to remember what I worked on in my last lesson. Do I make phone calls until it is my turn or watch the current lessons and mentally critique that student? How do I spend my time? When I see a student setting and watching the next lesson instead of stretching or practicing I get an insight to that student and how much progress we will make.
Did you find or try to fit time into your day to practice on your none lesson day? Your lesson time may have some practice built into it, but the majority of the practice needs to be done on your own time. Or do you find an excuse why you can’t practice? My favorite is, “I didn’t want to practice it wrong”. I am sure there are things that you know how to do that need improvement. Practice those things and ask the right questions during your lesson so you know what to practice.
But I already know how to do that step..... really? really?
Most experienced teachers and dance professionals practice basic elements over and over and then break things into the smallest elements to perfect those. You will alway have something you can work-on in the smallest of spaces. If we don’t practice we have no excuses. We just didn’t do it, simple as that.
When you read this blog ask yourself if you see yourself in this article? Then maybe you will have some insight on how to get past that wall.
A teaching moment…..From Monday, November 15, 2010
Showcase routines are the ultimate reality TV. You work and you practice you put in the time. You get out there in front of your friends and your peers and it doesn’t go the way you planned.
If I said I have never bobbled a routine or lost my focus or switched something around I would not be telling it straight. This is every teacher’s nightmare. I also think it is every teacher’s reality. I don’t think there’s a teacher out there that hasn’t had this happen more than once.
This is where the reality part comes in, when it happens we have choices about how we can handle it.
I personally don’t like to make even the slightest mistake. But I have a choice when those mistakes happen, I can move forward and keep a smile on my face and be professional, or I can waste valuable time dwelling on it.
It is easy when something goes right. The bigger test of character is how do you handle it when something goes wrong?
Sincerely Ron Shepard
Tango into the night.... Sunday, November 7, 2010
Welcome to the world of Argentine Tango....
This weekend I went to Albuquerque New Mexico to immerse myself in the culture of Argentine tango.
In the past 30 years I have been fortunate enough to become a part of many different dance communities. I have been in the West Coast Swing community, the Country-Western dance community, the Lindy hop community in the Ballroom dance community and let's not forget Salsa.
This weekend I was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy the company of many Argentine Tango enthusiasts. The Milonga I attended last night started at 9 PM and didn't conclude until six this morning. Regretfully, I had a plane to catch this morning so I didn't make it until 6 AM.
Rachael Lincoln and I did manage to get a private lesson from Alex Krebs the tango instructor from Portland Oregon. As an instructor he was easy to work with and very knowledgeable with an easy-going personality.
Rachael and I also attended several workshops as well as getting to practice with others. Unfortunately I did not follow my own advice, which is when going to an event such as this, to concentrate on learning just a couple of things and bring them home. By the end of the weekend my head was spinning with information I had collected. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will have this information sorted out and ready to present to my students.
Since I was up late last night and up early this morning to board the plane to come home, I must now say good night. But I'm sure that in my dreams I will be sorting out tango patterns and tango technique.
Sincerely and truly yours Ron Shepard
How many times have you heard me say “slow down”? I don’t think the lesson goes by that I don’t use those 2 words. Do understand what I’m asking? If not why don’t you ask?
Sometimes I want you to slow down and feel the balance of the step. I want you to feel each muscle work. I want you to feel whether you are using a heel or whether you’re on the ball of the foot. I want you to recognize whether you are using a long side were a short side. I want you to feel everything you can feel whan you are doing the step or movement. And to recognize the right feeling versus the wrong feeling.
You cannot do this fast you can only do this slow, slow enough to feel everything. At some point you will be rewarded when it feels perfect. Enjoy it because you won’t feel perfect every time.
In time you will feel better about the pattern, the step, the connection, the whole of it. Focus and slow down in all things. Enjoy the moments they are not all perfect but they prove we are alive.
