[TANGO-L] TEACHING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

[Erika Hilliard <hilliard @SHAW.CA>]

Teachers do play an important role in helping to keep people interested in coming back to the tango community. The words that keep coming up in these discussions are technique, elements, details, style, posture, etc. I'd like to add another word: ATTITUDE !



So far, in my limited experience, I've only come across two sets of teachers that I would say have 100% positive attitude: Miriam Larici & Hugo Patyn, and Eduardo Saucedo. Their enthusiasm, kindness, patience are outstanding.  They focus on what is going right, expand on these elements and also graciously comment on what is getting in the way.  This kind of attitude has an enormous influence on one's desire to tough it out, in this oh so complex and wonderful dance.



I've also witnessed famous dancers/teachers, even mentioned on this website, whose attitude, for me, leaves something to be desired. During one workshop, for instance, one teacher said, " If you do this, you look stupid, if you do that, you look stupid, etc. etc." Another teacher said, " If you do this, people will laugh at you." This kind of admonishment is sure to intimidate a great number of the population who experience social anxiety, which is the fear of being scrutinized and judged poorly in any particular social situation. Another teacher, also famous, in one breath commented to me, " You're catching on fast, " and in the next, lifting her hands to her face, as if I had just committed the most offensive crime, " What on earth are you doing?" I'm old enough and passionate enough about dancing that I don't let it bother me much, but I can just imagine what this kind of comment might feel like for more tender hearts that are just beginning in tango.



Teachers, if you want bigger classes and if you want people to keep on coming back to the tango community, please remember that your attitude makes a difference. Positive attitude is like a warm glow that people gravitate towards while a critical or negative attitude is like a bucket of water that douses the fire.  Let's have fun and keep those embers burning.



PS. The attitude of dancing partners also profoundly influences whether a person comes back or not. I loved what Jai said in his email: " Men who "tough it out" remember those who toughed it out with them." Bravo.



Cheers, from Erika in Vancouver, B.C.