Leaving A Good Impression 

The beginning of a private lesson can be the most effective moment of the entire 45 minutes. It can determine if the teacher and the students are going to have a fine or a “not so pleasant” time together.

Here, I am not referring to the amount of information the dancers will receive or the benefit they can get from that private lesson. I am talking about the overall good vibe that teacher and the dancers can, or cannot, get from it.

To end up a private lesson with positiveness is the key to be remembered as a good student to work with. So, what do we need to do when having a private lesson? Here are 5 suggestion to keep in mind:

1. Have a plan for your private lesson

You must know exactly what you are going to ask, which aspects of your dancing you need to check. Even if you are having a private lesson with your coach, don’t expect that others will know better than you what do you need to work on. Start the lesson explaining in short and clear sentences what you would like to do. Then it’s everything in the teacher’s hands.

2. Show your human side

Remember that in front of you there is a person, a human being exactly like you. Same as you, your teacher can have good and bad moments. For this reason, try to start the private lesson in a more friendly way. Don’t attack him with all your problems with your partner or with your bad result from the last competition.

Try instead to start a conversation as you would do with your friend. You can ask him how is their day going. If he/she is a foreign teacher who flew to your city from far away, ask him/her how was their flight and if they’re feeling ok. These small details will affect in positive way the mood of the lesson. Both, you and the teacher will benefit from it.

3. Be intuitive

Generally, a teacher can be specialized in different areas. Some can be really helpful on musicality, others more on the technical side. So if you want to get the most help out of it, try to bring the lesson to their best side.

This is especially the case when you are working with mid-level teachers. When you have a private lesson with legends of dancesport you can be sure they are going to give you all the info you need. But when in front of you there is a teacher that has less experience, try to find his strongest side. You will get good information and he/she will feel confident working with you.

4. Check your attitude

If there is a thing that make all teachers go nuts, it is when a student doesn’t look like a proper student. And with this, I don’t strictly mean dress code. It is all about attitude. Take a posture that identifies you immediately as a dancer. Always be focused on the lesson. Don’t yawn and never ever lose track of the discussion.

5. Be a couple

Last but not least! As we are talking about dancesport, the most relevant aspect is to be a couple. Be a team!

Definitely, it’s the most unpleasant when the man and the lady argue in front of the teacher. We have all done it. We all know that it happens sometimes. But we also know that it is the hardest moment for a teacher when he/she has to watch that kind of theater going on.

The Connection Is The Most Important

In our dancesport world, connections and feelings between people are often the reason to tell a good dancer from a bad dancer. It’s clear to everyone how important it is to be seen by others as a true, positive, willing to work hard person and not someone obsessed only by the need of results .

That’s why I didn’t mention the actual level of dancing you got. All these aspects, that teachers immediately feel as soon as they start working with you, are the main reason to like you or not.

If you want to know how to find the right dance teacher for you, make sure you check our other article here. 

Make sure you also visit Dancesportlife Academy to check our library of courses and camp lectures with some of the best teachers in the world!

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