Things Dance Instructors Say

Being a dance instructor is a very unique profession...It involves a lot of versatility and multi-tasking and sometimes in order to get a point across, a dance instructor would need to use some “sophisticated” wording and as we know, they all use them for the greater good. 

“It’s okay…if you get dizzy and fall down…it will be beautiful!”

“Guys, remember! Balls over balls!”

“Do it again and, make it not terrible this time…Okay?”

“That was not good, but it’s fine.”

“Open your legs for me.”

“No! I want to feel you.”

“I said your balls, there is a big difference between my balls and my toes.”

“First I’m on bottom, then you’re on bottom”

“This is not Latin my dear…from now on you need to dance like you want to pee.”

“You guys look like exotic animals on parade.”

“Hurry! There is no time to explain! Spread your legs!

“Ok ladies one more time, then I’ll do the men”

“I want you to milk it!!! MILK IT!!”

“Mmmmm … Feel the of JOY of repetition.”

“Hold the crown jewels.”

“Boobs on balls and chin on elbow”

“Harder. Harder. HARDER!... Now Faster!”

“Neck up and head still; like a chicken. Think chicken and you will be gorgeous.”

“One jellyfish and another jellyfish don’t make a dance couple!” 

“Spread ‘em, spread ‘em, spread ‘em as far as you can!”

AREN’T DANCE INSTRUCTORS AWESOME…😉

French Chefs love butter and Dance Teachers love basics. 

This obsession is nothing new but there is more to it than meets the eye so, let's take a deeper look behind why your teacher may have you do that extra change step, hesitation, or rumba walk.

1. It's the Foundation

The basics are building blocks. Sure, people say that all the time but think of actual building blocks… you can't build up without them.  

Rule: You emphasize the basics to support the more advanced material you learn

2. Styling Depends on It

The first place where you'll learn advanced styling is with, you guessed it, basic patterns.  

Rule: You won't learn advanced styling on advanced patterns. 

3. Social Skills

When it comes to Social Dancing, you are much more likely to ask, and answer, questions during the basic moves versus the brand-new stuff.  

Rule: Talking and breathing is easier to do with the basics.

4. Leading and Following

Leading and following depends, in large part, on comparisons.  

It's the dance version of a blind taste test and every new move you want to lead, or follow should be compared to a basic first. 

Rule: Compare and contrast exercises start with a basic

5. Dance Rules

The basic step in each dance teaches the basic rules for that dance.  

Whether it's the basic closed changes in Waltz, the walk in Tango, the Jive basic in, you guessed it, Jive or the basic step in Salsa.  Each dance has its own set of rules, and that rule book is written on the basic. 

Rule:  The rules for each dance are written on the basic.

As a final thought, keep in mind that this is a healthy obsession.  

In fact, if they weren't obsessed, you may not even be a dancer anymore since the opposite of this approach to the basics is to acquire as many new patterns as possible.  

This "pattern happy" feeding frenzy will, very soon, leave a student frustrated, overloaded, and lacking real substance in their dancing. 

Is your teacher obsessed? Absolutely.

Is it for the right reasons?  You bet your basic step!

Dance instructors and coaches have a unique challenge of giving information in a way that is clear and memorable and the desire to get the point across can bring out the emotion and creativity of the coach along with the information…when that happens, the statements can be priceless.

Presenting to you, the actual quotes said by different dance instructors and coaches (with many thanks to our anonymous contributors):

“This is a straight line…This is what a straight line looks like…This is a LINE that is actually STRAIGHT! …Hmmm, okay, so let me draw a straight line for you…”

“I need to come inside you, then outside you…”

Teacher: “Stretch, stretch….” Student: “I feel like I’m going to fall over.” Teacher: “Good, at least you will fall elegantly.”

“Feel me, use my body, don’t finish before me.” followed immediately by: “You seem distracted. What are you thinking about?”

“You’re a piano… Good…Better…Now, the piano has wheels…”

“Left. LEFT! More LEFT! Stretch your head left. HEAD LEFT! Stay to my right side…Left…Give me your right side. Find ME! HEAD left! More left! GO!!! LEFT!!!”

“I want you right THERE…between my legs!”

“Don’t dance where your feet are…”

“I need you to do an arm kick right there!”

“The other Left.” &… “The other Right!”

“I need you to be firm and stay up.”

“Use your front leg, then your hind leg.”

“You’re being a fridge”, “Stop being a fridge”, “Why are you dancing like a fridge?”, “You can’t be a fridge!”, “Less fridge!”

“…and then you screw yourself into the floor!”

“Use me…USE ME! Why don’t you use my body?!”

“Pretend you are dancing on a toilet seat…” (When explaining the need to take SMALL steps)

“You pulled out! I told you NOT to pull out!”

“Fall forward on your face. Do it aggressively. Be feminine…and RELAX.”

AREN’T DANCE INSTRUCTORS AWESOME…😊