Re: [TANGO-L] Teacher - Student relationships

[Andrew RYSER SZYMAÑSKI <arrabaltango@YAHOO.CO.UK>]

I would agree with most of Trini's points. However,
I'm not too sure about the sharing. A singer with a
new album might well be sharing with their audience,
in the same way a dancer on stage is sharing with
their audience; it's the sharing of the performer, and
their reward is the appreciation they get. On stage
you get that chemistry, feedback, which can be quite
inspiring.
Teaching is only sharing in the old hierarchical "from
the guru to the disciple" environment, with the guru
imparing his knowledge down to his pupils [fee or no
fee]. But teaching is above all a form of developement
for both sides. I must say I have learned much more by
explaining to, and dancing with, total beginners. I
still go to occasional classes, especially when we get
visiting teachers here in London, but I hardly ever
learn much from them, [often, in those circumstances,
I learn how not to teach].
 My students are my main inspiration, and, with every
class, they make me discover something new; I just
cannot regurgitate past knowledge.
The problem in the world of dance, not just tango, is
that teachers teach the way they were taught, and
treat that as the Gospel. By listening to my students,
in a matter of 6/7 years, I have had to change my
approach several times, and even though I was brought
up in the old fashioned way on the Salida, for
example, I soon realised I had to throw it out of the
window in my teaching, since it stopped my students
from developing.
Knowing that I am fallible gives them more confidence
in their dancing: I point out, and explain, MY
mistakes.

Cheers,

Andy.

--- "Trini y Sean (PATangoS)" <patangos@YAHOO.COM>
wrote:

> I guess my point was this  it is ultimately the
> community that judges a teacher.  Calling myself the
> leader of the free world doesnt make me so.  Given
> that tango is taught in social circles, as opposed
> to
> a university environment with tenured
> professorships,
> a tango teacher only has "authority" if the
> community
> grants it to that person.  That's true regardless if
> a
> teacher is paid or not.
>
> Steve has a good point about making students feel
> comfortable dancing with their teachers.  Part of
> this, I believe, is for students to recognize that
> teachers are fallible and that they have the right
> to
> assess their teachers, just as much, as teachers
> assess their students.
>
> Trini de Pittsburgh
>
> --- jhapark@pennswoods.net wrote:
>


Andrew W. RYSER SZYMAQSKI,
23b All Saints Road,
London, W11 1HE,
07944 128 739.


		
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