How to size up your salsa instructor

In four years of salsa dancing, I’ve taken lessons from numerous instructors and I can honestly say they all do their job phenomenally well.
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve walked away feeling like I didn’t get my money’s worth. And on those rare occasions, it had less to do with the instructor and more to do with the level of instruction.

I’ve learned that instructors will cater to the skill level of the majority in class, and that makes both business sense and common sense. A lesson that’s too advanced will leave people confused, discouraged and most are unlikely to return.    

I believe you can learn something from every single instructor. They all have their strengths and individual style. I’m going to talk about some attributes that all the best instructors share while highlighting some of their teaching tools and techniques.

INSTRUCTION OFFERED IN TWO TRACKS -- There’s one for beginner and another for intermediate-advanced.  The pace is faster and turn patterns are more complex are reserved for intermediate-advanced track and partners are more evenly matched in skill level.

BUILD ANTICIPATION/REVIEW SESSION -- I went to a bachata workshop and the instructors asked if we would like to see what we were going to learn. After getting affirmation, the instructor lifted his partner overhead and walked out the door. Of course, they were joking but it got our attention and we paid close attention to the actual lesson, which was much simpler by the way. Every lesson should end with a review. This gives everyone a chance to see what the final move looks like again and an opportunity to videotape the lesson. 

SHOWMANSHIP AND HUMOR -- The best instructors grab your attention from the beginning and throughout the lesson. They’ll take light-hearted jabs at the class if some dancers seem to have trouble executing a move that’s being taught. Or they’ll use a bit of humor in explaining how a sexy move can be used on the dance floor. This all adds an element of fun and spontaneity and the lessons are more enjoyable. 

DEEP KNOWLEDGE AND VERSATILITY --The best instructors know the footwork, styling and arm positioning for both leaders and followers. Or they will have a male/female partner who can provide additional perspective. The best instructor offers additional context or sprinkles in background information as they teach. They may talk about timing, improving your musicality, or the history of a particular dance or genre of music. You feel more knowledgeable too and it may inspire you to do research on your own.

INDIVIDUAL  ATTENTION -- There may be more than 20 people in the class but the best instructor will take turns focusing on each couple, perhaps offering advice and looking for the part in the sequence that may be giving either partner trouble.  An instructor may even repeat the demonstration for the entire class. The best instructors know who regularly attends their class and interacts with them in some way during the lesson or calls them by their first name.

ALTERNATE EXITS OR ENDINGS -- The best instructors also give you alternate exits or endings for the same move. This helps you increase your repertoire of moves more quickly.

PROGRESSIVE LEARNING – The best instructors don’t throw the entire kitchen sink at you all at once. They realize a new routine is best taught in steps, or smaller pieces. They will explain each step along the way and then show you how to piece it together.

NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF BASICS – Even when turn patterns become more complex and intricate, the foundation for all of those moves are basic steps like the Right Turn, Left Turn or Cross Body Lead (guiding your partner across your body from one side to the other). A great instructor will emphasize those basic moves and show how they can be used in a more complex move.   

Wil Shamlin is an avid salsa dancer and author of Salsa Scene blog. For more information, visit http://blogs.courierpostonline.com/salsa