Novice, Intermediate and Advanced Dance Levels

Novice Dancer

Being able to feel the music and the connection with your partner is paramount.  A partnership with your partner I like to call the Act/React process -- an understanding and playing off your partner to create a sense of energy.  With a partnership comes chemistry allowing two people to interact and connect with each other.  This partnership and a strong foundation create a connection with each other. 

I teach the three Ts: Timing, Teamwork, and Technique.  No matter what dance you learn the three Ts must be demonstrated within a partnership. I find by continuing to work on timing, technique, and teamwork allows both the leader and follower to choose the direction they wish to pursue.  Whether the student’s goal is to be a good social dancer or a solid competitor, a Leader or Follower will achieve success.

I teach these fundamentals with respect to basics, connection, and technique:

* Basic patterns

* Basic counts

* Body posture & movement

* Hand hold position

* Foot positions

* Connecting with partner

* How to lead or follow

* Act/re-act to each other

* Understanding rhythms -- 3/4 timing and 4/4 timing

* Putting together patterns with music

* Dancing from their center

1. *Timing, technique and teamwork
   

Intermediate Dancer

Foundation is very important and because of that we review the same steps as a Novice dancer.  I find most students give more attention to their patterns rather than their basics.   As a dance coach, I continue to reinforce WCS basics, while building on what they’ve learned at the novice level.  We’ll learn movements and patterns at a higher level of pattern work, technique, and connection. 

Using what they have learned enables the student to connect with their partner at a social dance or in a competitive partnership.  A leader can strut his ability to lead patterns, while a follower can shine, using her follower skills to creating a great partnership.  This level is fun yet challenging.

Focus is given to these details:

* Basic counts 6 & 8 counts

* Body posture

* Hand hold position

* Foot position

1. *Connection with partner
   

2. *Leaders responsibilities
   

* Followers responsibilities

* Body movement with respect to the partnership

* Act /React to each other while dancing

* Follow-up on rhythms - 3/4 & 4/4 timing

* Dancing from one’s center

1. *Timing, technique and teamwork
   

Advanced Dancer

As a teacher, I find myself always following up on my student’s basic foundation.  An advanced student knows how to syncopate their feet, hesitate their movement, and connect directly to the floor and their partner.  They can tighten up body Isolations and movement, developing a close relationship with the music. 

Both Followers & Leaders learn:

* Create chemistry with partner

* Create a give-and-take partnership

* Communicate intention of movement

* Good judgement in pattern choice

* Compensate for a partner’s weakness

* Compatibility of styles and preferences

* Ability to recover from a mistake

Leaders learn:

* Commence lead at correct time

* Exhibit good judgement in pattern work

* Showcase their follower’s best attributes

* Provide variety and contrast in patterns

* Music phrasing

* Bail-out of moves that don't work

Followers learn:

* How to respond appropriately to leads

* Willingness to follow leader

1. *Ability to syncopate - both to the music & in their pattern work
   

* Ability to engage/disengage

Advanced Leaders and Followers have a lot of responsibilities at this level. Each student must continue to work on their basics while being a responsible partner.