Salsa City Forum » Salsa Music and Dance » Salsa teaching course

What do people think of this salsa teaching course I'm reading about?

Who's going to do it and then will they end up teaching other students in Cardiff? Personally I don't think I'd like to be taught to dance by someone who has simply attended a "course" but hasn't been dancing all that long?

I welcome comments.

I don't think the length of time dancing is necessarily the most important factor, although Andy has specified a year minimum, which should ensure a certain level of competence. I always groan when someone asks me how long I've been dancing, because its a blunt instrument. I'm better than some people who started before me, but there are those who've been dancing a third of the time who are way ahead of me. Whether you go out once or four times a week, whether you're on the floor for 3 hours or 6 songs, who you chose to dance with, and most of all how well you pick things up have more influence on how well you dance.

Having said all that, far more important in a class is how well you teach and run a class, which is what I presume Andy will be hoping to pass on to those doing this course. There are probably countless classes arong the country run by people who think they're good dancers, but can't teach. And if they can't teach, students won't learn much or won't stick at it.

I think Andy's the only teacher in Cardiff who knows enough about dancing and teaching to run this course, but I'm still a bit sceptical about it because I think you really do need that in-depth knowledge to teach salsa properly. When Andy mentioned it in the class in the Toad the other week, I looked around and didn't think that any of the men - including myself - were good enough to be trying to teach other people salsa, though two or three of the women might be.

Like Bailamos I am also sceptical. Who would pay to do a course to teach when none of the other teachers have done a course!

Fair enough, we all recognise Andy's experiance as a teacher but it's not like doing a national qualification in 'Salsa Teaching' or anything. It's also alot of money if you break the £150 quid I think he's charging down in to how many lesson it will intail.

We all know that in order to teach salsa in Cardiff you just need to get in with the right people and pay them the appropriate amount of attention. Having a 'qualification' plays no part in this.

Having said all that the syllabus does look intreseting and if I was in Cardiff and had some money to burn, it something that I would like to do. The one class that I did teach was alot of fun (but very very nerve wracking) and I wouldn't mind getting in to it more.

Hopefully the people who want to learn to teach Salsa already know a certain amount. I haven't seen the proposed syllabus, but I would expect to see things such as where the teacher stands with regards to the law, and the minimum third party cover they should carry, especially in the litigeous society we all live in. It should include how to structure a lesson, and plan a series of lessons. It should go through the details of how to do the "simple" steps again, as by the time you are a teacher you probably just do them automatically. It should define what is taught in a beginners, improvers, intermediate and advanced class.

Finally there should be something about the body. We all hear how dips can be damaging to both the gent's and the lady's backs, but what about other moves. I have a weak shoulder and have refused to do moves on the ground it might get dislocated, but the teachers have never warned me of this. I'm sure other people with old injuries have to limit their moves.

Saul, I'm probably getting a reputation for cynicism already but I'd have to say you're probably right. Not mentioning any names, but I've seen one or two people 'teaching' who have neither the dancing ability or the attitude/approach to do it properly.

Conversely, I can imagine that you would make a good salsa teacher on both of those counts.

Well I'm going to try out the course, as I've nothing to lose except for a nice sum of cash, although breaking it down it's cheaper to this per hour than have private tuition.

However I would love to teach, and I feel that there is no other way to break into the scene than to be taken under someone else's wing. As Saul was saying it seems to be that if you "get in with the right people and pay them the appropriate amount of attention" then you do get the opportunities.

Unfortunately, I'm not willing to suck up to people and I don't think I'm a 'brilliant' enough dancer to go it alone; especially because that would ruffle far to many feathers. Therefore there is little choice but to do it the hard way with cold hard cash and plenty of practice.

I think there is a lot to be said about learning 'how to teach' and I believe that Andy's course will focus in on that. I know through being good friends with a few of teachers, that there is a lot of preparation and effort required for each class and there is a lot more to it that just 'here is a new move'! Not to mention as Alun commented you could be the best dancer the World has ever seen, however you could be a lousy teacher and that combination will never work!

Just one other thing, I certainly hope that I don't have to teach good dancers and friends in Cardiff for a long time. Newer people to the scene will be easier to teach as it's impersonal, but more experienced dancers could prove to be more tricky as I've done the same classes and know the same moves as they do, so there could be a little hostility. Guess we'll see what happens...

Hmmm - teaching to teach?!? You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

Where are all these new teachers going to exercise their new skills? In Cardiff? I don't think so. I can name six or seven teachers already off the top of my head. We hardly need more.

Another point I'd like to raise is it takes much more than a certificate to make a teacher - besides, who is the authorizing body? You can't be a formal dance instructor without the necessary qualifications. I can only name two certified dance teachers in Cardiff... John Pamplin, UKA and Paul Gordon-Smith ISTD. Are there any others?

Further to Rob's point about 'minimum third party cover they should carry'. Call me a cinic but I would be very suprised indeed if any of the teachers had insured theselves (and the people taking their classes) againt public liability. Perhaps the teachers could pipe up at his point to clarify. All it would take is someone to take a 'wrist lock' a bit to literally...

Bialamos. Thank you for the compliment. I have always admired your dancing and think that you are very stylish. If you would be so kind as to reveal your identity we could, of course, confirm this!

After reading Saul's comment I wish to state that I DO carry Public Liability Insurance to £6 million.
Additionally, after reading this thread, I also wish to say that whenever I taught lessons I INSISTED that peole spat out chewing gum and always highlighted "risks" when moves warrented it.

Yes Jo, I am a QUALIFIED dance teacher/choreographer via the ISTD exam board. I am actually a Member of the Imperial Society of Teachers Dance. but there is no "formal" exams that can be taken in Salsa. UKA (John Pamplin) is a Latin Ballroom qualification which tried to "catagorise" salsa - this cannot really be done.