Jonathan Tullett

That time of the week again.

Due to over exertion on Monday evening, I wasn’t sure my foot was going to be up to an hour of prancing, but I didn’t want to miss another week so headed along to the class. Same as last week, I skipped the ‘brigding the gap’ class with Mark and only attended the improvers class, this week with Jim as the teacher.

A number of girls had leveled-up from the beginners (cue suitable gamer geek level-up sound effects), and the ratio of men-women was far better than last week – 8:6. With Jim doing a credible impression of a girl, only one person sat out on each rotation.

The routine introduced a couple of new pieces, and this week’s was:
mambo, cross-body open, lady’s right turn, men’s half left (while keeping hold of the hands), hand swap leading to another half left, head comb to close position, cross body.

All the dances were fun, everyone smiling and having a good time. I was complimented on my lead a couple of times, and one partner was disappointed when we had to rotate and she got someone else; that does wonders for self confidence :)

After being unsure last time I had Jim as a teacher, I’m now convinced. His way of breaking down the steps works for me, and he’s a real enthusiasm for teaching, and obviously cares that his students are picking things up. Hopefully I’ll see more of him.

Roll on next week, wherein Mark will be demonstating his new l33t CSS skills, and I’ll be avoiding conversations about old shows on Channel 4.

My first lesson after going to Peru and after my failed attempt last week when I got a puncture on route to the hall.

I skipped Mark’s ‘bridging the gap’ class as I wasn’t feeling confident enough, and took the opportunity to grab thirty minutes kip before heading out. Errands being run before, and completing much quicker than expected, meant I arrived at the halls 30 mins before the lesson was meant to start. I took the opportunity to have a lengthy chat with Imogen.

Due to scheduling conflicts with the usual teacher(s), we had a new couple teaching this week, Mike and Mel.

When the class started, it was apparent that during my near eight week haitus, my entire class had moved up a level, meaning new people to meet and dance with. Awesome. But that, unfortunately, was the best bit of the lesson.

The routine being taught was:
Cross-body inside turn, copa check (aka, in-and-out), head comb, cross body, copa-check variation (not checking the hip, maintaining hand contact, leading out with the right), guy’s half turn, girl’s turn/guy’s half turn.

The main problem was the boy to girl ratio. There were three girls initially, and seven guys. After about thirty minutes, one of the girls dropped out, meaning a 6:2 ratio. This resulted in tired women (who didn’t have a break at all) and a lot of bored guys.

This could have been alleviated somewhat if Mel had danced more with the students (she did for perhaps 5 turns, but for the rest of the hour, danced only with Mike). It would have been almost perfect if Mike had too (given all the other instructors I’ve had could do both the guys and girls moves), but no, apparently it was more important for them to demonstrate the moves continuously so we had something to follow. On that basis, I don’t know how classes with only one teacher cope…

Secondly, it was a real struggle to hear Mike talk. Initially I thought it was just my problematic hearing, but after the third person had approached and said they couldn’t hear, I knew it was a more general issue.

Something positive to say about the teaching: Mike, when I could hear him, communicated the moves along with timing in a way I understood, breaking down what happens on what beat etc. I liked that.

Overall I left feeling frustrated and disappointed with the evening. If things aren’t better next week, I’ll take a couple of private classes from Mark, and jump up to his class. I told him this, well, what I actually said was, ‘I’ll probably grab a couple of your privates in the next week or so.’ Freudian slip? I’ll admit to nothing ;)