| So You Think You Can Be A Salsa Instructor? Well | | | | your students in a state of confusion and is |
| let me tell you..You can! If you have the dedication, | | | | disruptive to the positive energy. On the other hand, |
| passion, time, and necessary investment then you | | | | don't be a drill sergeant. This is a social dance, not a |
| are on your way. But those things are just | | | | military exercise. Be positive, informative, FUNNY (it |
| prerequisites. Being a GOOD teacher requires much | | | | helps), and responsive to questions/concerns. |
| more and we have some tips to strengthen your | | | | 7) Don't Get Stuck in a Loop. So you've spent all this |
| teacher status. For the fresh-out-the-box or the | | | | time working on your script and salsa vocabulary, |
| seasoned veteran, these tips will remind all teachers | | | | now let's change it. Once you find a good method to |
| what it's all about. | | | | teaching, DON'T stick with it. I know that sounds |
| 1) Firmly Embrace Your Salsa. I mentioned before | | | | backwards, but let me explain. Familiarity breeds |
| that passion is a prerequisite but more than that it is | | | | contempt. If you teach the same pattern, the same |
| fundamental to being a good teacher. No one wants | | | | way, your students will either feel bored with your |
| to be lectured on the specifics of the dance or get a | | | | instruction or overconfident to the point of being |
| history lesson when they are first learning. If you do | | | | arrogant dancers with limited ability. That doesn't |
| this, your students will likely give you the same | | | | mean start speaking another language or dropping |
| reaction as a college student would in a lecture at | | | | everything you've learned. No, instead refine and |
| 8am in the back row, Snoresville! You have hopefully | | | | concisely edit while at the same time add. Offer |
| gained enough experience dancing that you are | | | | different styles, challenges, complex moves, |
| comfortable and can honestly enjoy it, and that | | | | choreography, anything that you feel is helpful with |
| should be reflected in your teaching. | | | | salsa and keeps your students on their toes. "Absorb |
| 2) Immerse Yourself in the Salsa World. You know | | | | what is useful, reject what is useless." - Bruce Lee |
| that feeling when you go out and see your student | | | | 8) Challenge Those Who Need To Be. There are |
| at the club or your teacher. It can be a little | | | | times when you will be teaching beginners and |
| awkward especially in a normal grind-booty dance | | | | advanced in the same class. Therefore make sure |
| club, but at Salsa Night I've always felt that to be | | | | the move you teach is interesting or adaptable for |
| endearing. To see your teacher having fun and | | | | both levels. If you can accommodate both parties |
| practicing what he/she preaches only further instills | | | | without over-stressing the beginners or boring the |
| the desire to dance. So go to the club and dance, | | | | advanced, then you're doing it right. Variations include |
| even with your students. If you want to show that | | | | multiple spins, more advanced styling, slightly different |
| this dance is worthwhile you need to be its flag | | | | hand holds, advanced footwork, etc. Another method |
| bearer. | | | | to appease all is to offer multiple variations. While it |
| 3) Go Back to School. Go to salsa congresses, gain | | | | might not challenge the advanced dancers fully, it will |
| more experience. Take lessons again. Starting from | | | | give them more possibilities to play with during the |
| scratch is difficult but luckily there have been many | | | | move. |
| before you. So check out what other teachers are | | | | 9) Community Outreach. Become friends with your |
| doing and mimic them. Nothing jump starts your | | | | students (unless they are creepy). I would not be as |
| teaching skills like receiving lessons yourself. Plus | | | | involved in salsa if it weren't for my salsa instructors |
| everyone can use more training; there is so much out | | | | befriending me. The benefit for the student is a new |
| there you can't possibly learn it all but you can learn | | | | group to dance with, the advanced dancers. The |
| enough. | | | | added benefit for you is a stronger connection with |
| 4) A Leader is to a Follower as a Follower is to a | | | | your students as well as increased credibility in being |
| Leader. What I mean is if you are a leader learn to | | | | a great teacher. If there isn't a salsa night in town, |
| follow and vice versa. If you only stick with one role | | | | start one. If it wasn't for my friends and I, our Salsa |
| you are missing out on half of the experience. To | | | | Night would have disappeared. When we started, we |
| truly understand how your partner moves, you | | | | were completely ignorant about salsa music and |
| should dance in their shoes, figuratively. This can be | | | | dancing for that matter. We just knew that we got |
| an immediate confidence booster when teaching by | | | | a job DJing but we hadn't bought the equipment yet |
| yourself. Furthermore, if students see that you can | | | | and we had to find the music, etc. It has since |
| teach both roles then your credibility will have risen. I | | | | blossomed and it is a great source of fresh students |
| know those traditional gender roles will be challenged | | | | who want instruction. |
| but get over it! Sorry, you want to be able to teach, | | | | 10) Be humble. Arrogance is useless. It will lose you |
| you need to be fluent in both roles. | | | | more students than gain you. Looking down from |
| 5) Find Your Own Style. At first, you will resemble | | | | your ivory tower just proves how alone you are, so |
| those you admire. After practicing and teaching | | | | strive to be the sparkle in the crowd, but be apart |
| regularly, you need to develop your schtick (not the | | | | of the crowd. Turn your nose down and engage |
| razor). Even that "(not the razor)" thing is part of my | | | | your students eye to eye. Help them to be as good, |
| schtick, which most people will probably scoff at as | | | | if not better than you. There is no glory in ending |
| stupid. But nevertheless I enjoy putting a little absurd, | | | | your career without inspiring another generation. |
| self-deprecating, slightly narcissistic humor into my | | | | It's impossible to make a list of all the things that |
| lessons. Whatever works for you, just make sure it | | | | work and don't work but if people come up to you |
| also works for your students. Again look to those | | | | at the end of the lesson and say "thanks for the |
| who are successful teachers and "borrow" what they | | | | lesson" then you succeeded. Conversely, don't get |
| do. | | | | discouraged if you don't get any praise, just ask your |
| 6) Become a Tag Team. Get a partner that | | | | students what they like and don't like and become a |
| compliments your teaching style. A teaching couple is | | | | better instructor for them. |
| far more appealing than one instructor and can help | | | | We hope that you want to teach at some point in |
| on the nuances of leading and following. This, | | | | your life. It can be a very rewarding experience; and |
| however, DOES NOT negate the benefits of learning | | | | can seriously improve your own abilities. Enjoy and |
| to lead and follow. With that being said make sure | | | | we'll see you on the floor! |
| you two are compatible. Arguing teachers leaves | | | | |