Better Instructors: Always Learning

Do your instructors occasionally step into the student role? Those who do are often the best instructors around.

The stronger teachers realize that they never stop learning themselves. It's helpful if they occasionally study new dances (or other subjects) where they are beginners again, because that refreshes their perspective on starting at the bottom of a learning curve.

I observed this myself a few weeks ago, when I decided to take a few back-to-back classes. As I settled into my first class I glanced across the room and saw the instructor for my third class that day, working as hard as the rest of us. She was both a student and an instructor in the same day. The instructor for the first class had taken a challenging ballet class the week before. Both instructors were working to sharpen their skills.

I've taken classes from both of them and I understand why they are so good. They learn from the other great instructors and students, and they adopt the best practices they find in other classes. Neither instructor "needed" to take the additional classes; they’re already well known for excellence. These two are not unique.

It makes sense to me. Just because they teach doesn't mean they know everything, or that they can't learn something from other great teachers. I see this all the time among better instructors.

Entering the student role also provides new perspectives because each instructor approaches dance differently, even when teaching the same type of class.

I see the same thing with salsa professionals. Edie the Salsa Freak still takes private lessons as she travels around the world teaching. One day she may teach over a hundred students at a salsa congress, and while social dancing that night, find someone doing something interesting or different.

I've seen her book a private lesson with them that same night, and before her next class she acts as a student, finding something new to add to her vast experience. It's one of her strengths as an instructor, and it's also why she continues to get rave reviews on her teaching. She learns from everyone, and looks for people with different experiences she can combine with her own. I like that approach from an instructor.

When you're seeking out better instructors, find out if they still venture into the student role occasionally. It provides you insights into their experiences, and you'll be amazed how many of the best instructors are also students and/or they have studied with lots of instructors along the way.

Let me know about your favorite instructors, and see if they are also out there taking some classes occasionally.



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