The Four Stages of Awareness in Learning How to Swing Dance

The difference between the Basic, the IntermediateBasic and Intermediate level classes offered by his
and the Advanced levels of dancing proficiency areclub, and he is now an accomplished, well rehearsed
defined by more than just their core curriculums. Indancer. He almost always executes his triple step
the aviation world, for example, it is the differencefootwork flawlessly in every direction to varying
between driving an airplane and flying one! A basictempos of the music; he seldom misses that
pilot can fly straight and level, climb, descend, andimportant "3 and 4" count of his footwork that often
turn. An intermediate pilot can combine these basiceludes less experienced dancers, and he has
"stick and rudder" airwork fundamentals with gooddeveloped a gentle yet firm lead that guarantees him
airspeed control and make acceptable take offs anda willing partner for every dance. All in all, he has
landings; however, only an advanced pilot can takedeveloped into a smooth dancer who confidently
full advantage of his airplane's capabilities by beingperforms the different swing patterns that he has
able to fly it safely to the edge of its performancelearned over the years. The conscious competent
curve. Switching our focus now from the cockpitleader knows what he is doing!
back to the dance floor, let's put the Basic,4) UNCONSCIOUS COMPETENCE: At this final, fourth
Intermediate and Advanced levels of swing dancingstage of awareness, the male dancer has achieved
into their proper perspective by looking at themthe highest level of proficiency where he has
within the context of the four stages of awarenesscultivated a signature style that transcends being well
in the process of learning to dance.rehearsed; instead, he has become just as intimately
1) UNCONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE: At this first stagefamiliar with each inherent part of the patterns that
of awareness, a dancer has never given the subjecthe has learned over the years, as he is with the
of swing dancing any conscious thought. He hasoverall patterns themselves. As an advanced dancer,
never been formally introduced to it and, although hehe can intuitively "mix and match" the specific
may be quite adept at other styles of dancing likehandwork and footwork elements of different
freestyle or Country and Western, for example, untilpatterns to create new patterns, and he has the
he takes his first Basic level swing dance class, he isversatility to frequently intersperse steps from other
really at a stage of unawareness because he isdance disciplines to physically embrace the beat of
simply unconscious of his incompetence.the music. His extensive knowledge of the dance,
2) CONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE: At this secondcombined with his fluid lead authority enables him to
stage of awareness, the new male dancer ormaneuver his partner to the edge of her capabilities
"leader," has been formally introduced to swingso that as a couple, they are able to consistently
dancing at his club and he now fully appreciates itsdeliver award winning performances. Simply put, the
social and recreational potential. He has taken severalunconscious competent is the dancer that the
Basic level classes but he realizes that hisdancers enjoy watching!
performance is marginal at best and that he needs toTEACHABILITY INDEX: How quickly a new dancer
take many more swing dance classes and workshopsprogresses through these four stages of
to sharpen his skills. He is grateful for any helpful tipscompetence depends upon how "teachable" he or
which might improve his dancing; for example, thatshe is! All of us may compute our own Teachability
he may determine his lead hand by looking to seeIndex (TI) which is the product of the following two
which thumb and forefinger form the letter "L." Thisvariables that are rated on a scale of "1" (lowest) to
is the awkward stage for the new swing dancer. His"10" (highest): our Willingness To Learn (WTL) and
hand-leads are generally too strong and his bodyour Willingness To Change (WTC). If our willingness
movements tend to be too stiff and mechanical toto learn how to "dance centered," for example, is a
suit all but the least experienced of his female10, but our willingness to change our body positioning
partners or "followers." At this point in his training, heto accomplish this goal is just a "5," then our
is more prone to be repeatedly answering theTeachability Index is only 50% (WTL x WTC = 50)!
question: "how long have you been dancing" ratherIn other words, the maximum effort that we made
than "where do you dance." All in all, the consciousin class to LEARN the correct way to "dance
incompetent clings to his patty-cake, the think-stepcentered" is half wasted if we are not willing to
pattern like a new western horseback rider clings toCHANGE the way we lead our partner! Always
his saddle horn.remember that both learning and change are the
3) CONSCIOUS COMPETENCE: At this third stage ofinseparable, twin handmaidens of dance proficiency.
awareness, the male dancer has completed all of the