Teacher Alert

During my student days I have always witnessed a variety of teachers and their teaching pattern. Dance is an art that needs a deep study to learn and a deeper study to teach, I feel. And that requires a comfortable bond between a student and teacher. While we teachers always discuss about the different kinds of students there are equal number of teachers who showcase different qualities (yeah right!! ) Here are some points not only a new dance instructor showcases but some of the well experienced teachers too.


 Punctuality: Yes, we are teachers. We are an example to our students and not some big shot to arrive at our own classes late every single day. You cant expect your student to be punctual if you yourself dont have that discipline. A teacher has a bigger responsibility to conduct a session that not only teaches given topic but to inspire every student he/she comes across. Some of the teachers do believe that students must enter the class before the teacher and welcome the later upon arriving, while some of the teachers enjoy welcoming the students. Again as I said in my earlier blog,every institute has different set of rules.

Shut Up is the word most of the teachers are willing to use / sometimes actually use while teaching. Now being a teacher I can understand the urge, if you have nasty students. But again, students look up to us as their mentors (at least some of them do) And using harsh words like stupid, idiot etc may lower their confidence level. Though if there is point where you have to be extremely strict at one moment, find another moment in a class to crack a joke just to make them laugh/ relaxed. A tensed student and irritated teacher can never make a successful session. A combination of strictness and friendly approach is always beneficial for both student and teacher.

It is true that a student is someone who is still in the process of learning that particular dance style or a move but there is no harm in taking some suggestion from them once in a while. It may or may not be regarding dance only, it can be about costume, or favourite soundtracks, accessories, hair do and so on. Finally the decision is going to be yours but a little involvement can make things better. Also it is helpful to consult your seniors if you are a new bee in the business or on apprenticeship. Bottom line is a healthy discussion with your Teachers and your Students can be fruitful.

Be the leader that creates leaders. This is something that I have experienced with great pain. Couple of my own teachers never wanted us (their good students and dancers) to become teachers or free lancing professional  dancers. Of course they must be having their own reasons for the same. I on the other hand believe in promoting the talent that my students already possess, and just try to sharpen their skills more. After all if you are not being the right guide they will find another. You inspire your students and see the change in them. They will have respect and love towards you, by seeing a true leader or guru in you.

There are always ifs and buts and two sides to a story. Many of us have different set of ideologies. And we all want to be better teachers as we grow old. Having a little more understanding towards our student might give us a better outlook towards this teacher student relationship.

But then why am I sharing all this with you? Dance is not something just to talk about. Dance is to dance. So get up and dance and you will know the reason behind my smile :D (haha..) Trust me, dancing will surely make you happier.

Keep smiling and keep dancing

Pay attention, Students !!

And I am back to blogging. Though I wanted to blog first about how teachers manage and maintain their dance establishments, I just thought it might be better if I focus first on the students. I have often come across various kind of students for different dance styles, just like any other teacher, and have tried to vary my teaching pattern according to students. It is essential to understand that each student is different. While at personal training it is very easy to build a rapport with a student, it gets kinda tricky in a general batch. Yet the teaching part comes much later, and there are certain things that need to be followed when it comes to discipline. And no one is excused in this case, neither a student nor a teacher. Following are the points that are mostly for adults, and well, for minors too.

Rules and regulations again may vary from an institution to other. But every teacher expects her disciple to be disciplined in certain manner, for instance, being alert ; in the class (at least). You are making your teacher angry if you constantly text during the class or take unnecessary breaks or just yawn because you cant control it. It aint a lecture where you are just a listener and the teacher is a speaker. Its DANCE. It requires equal involvement from a teacher and his students. You ain't reading something; sitting in a bean bag; at your home, you are at a dance class- A place where You are paying big amount to learn something new and exciting. It was Your choice to learn it and no one is forcing you. On the other hand an alert student makes teachers happy. They ask questions regarding a particular move or music variation in the track and that brings excitement in the class as well as to the teacher.

Another thing a student needs to follow is being punctual. While accidents and emergencies can occur at any point of time, and one is always excused for the same, an irregular or unpunctual student may really get a teacher angry. 'Sorry I was partying last night' , 'I cant wake up that early', 'Oh I forgot', 'It was my anniversary', 'Its my kids birthday', 'We are going for a movie' !! These are very few excuses from the long list which I have heard. Tell me that if you are taking an off from your office too. I am not saying I have never missed a class. Once a year may be. I have attended the classes even when I had fever, but that's because of my super interest in dance. But the silly excuses now a days i hear are hilarious, from not so young adults !! One of my teachers used to say to the late comers, "Don't give excuses and don't say sorry. You are the one who's missing out on everything. I feel sorry for YOU (with a sarcastic look)" A punctual student is always naturally one of the favorites of the teachers. He/She enters the class rather early, practices the previously taught step or a routine, helps or seeks help from other students.


The term that a students must never say in the class is "I cant do it", specially when you are still learning the technique. While some of the moves are actually difficult or sometimes a particular technique is difficult for a student to grasp quickly, one must believe that nothing is impossible. Almost all of us are blessed with one same body. No one has bone less back/spine to do a body wave or 4 hands to do a handstand. If your teacher can do it so can you. He/She has been doing it for more than a decade or two and you have just started it. A confident student would rather try the step / move, until its somewhere closer to that of his teacher. If your teacher doesn't see you trying, he wouldn't even bother to pay attention to you. There is a big NO NO in teacher's guidebook for spoon feeding.

The (over) smarty pants : Someone who displays intelligence in an (over) annoying way. These are the kind of students who come with a lot of baggage and try to act smart every now and then. While you must have learnt a particular dance style from another teacher, it is not necessary that you have known everything about it and its your chance to show it off to your new teacher. Every person teaches you something new. We believe, even every student teaches us something new. Hence it is your chance to be a good example of a down to earth or a normal student. Be a blank slate when you are a student and you will be able to learn everything. I know everything attitude will just boost up your ego, not knowledge. And all the teachers love interactive sessions. There is also a better way to show your knowledge to your teacher in discussing or asking genuine questions about a particular technique. "No, but i was taught like this before" or "Oh how nicely you showed, my previous teacher was so bad" are equally wrong ways.

These are some basic etiquette and rules that a student should follow to not only be in good books of ones teacher, but most importantly to be a better student, a better person altogether.

But then why am I sharing all this to you. Dancing is not just to talk about. Dancing is to dance. So get up and dance and you'll know the reason behind my smile: D (haha...) Trust me, dancing will surely make you happier.