Tango lessons are a space where we interact with different people. While some people attend tango lessons with their own partners, many others attend by themselves and change partners with people they often know very little about. For this reason, it is important to foster a good and joyful atmosphere that supports the learning process and the creation of a community spirit.
In creating a good atmosphere for the lessons, the role of the instructor is of course fundamental: the different personalities of the instructors will bring different vibes to the lesson: some will be more energetic, some more funny, some more intelectual. But, of course, not all the responsibility falls in the instructor, and this is something I have experienced personally when teaching different groups and witnessing first hand how the atmosphere varies as a result of the combination of the different individualities that gather in the class. In a large way each one of the participants is also bringing their own personalities and contributing to an overall atmosphere during the lessons.
What can you do to contribute to create a good atmosphere during the lessons? To discuss this, I have created an etiquette for tango lessons which is the main part of this post. I suggest reading it carefully and reflect on your own behaviour during class. I believe that the ideas contained in this etiquette are essential for fostering a positive and inclusive learning environment where everyone feels comfortable and respected. The idea is to promote respect and inclusivity as strong foundations for a healthy and diverse community where dancers of all backgrounds and skill levels feel valued. It also helps prevent issues like inappropriate behaviour or discomfort in a close-contact dance like tango.
Argentine Tango Lesson Etiquette
1. Be Polite and Compassionate to others:
Always treat fellow dancers with respect and kindness. Everyone in the class is learning and everyone comes from different backgrounds: dancing will come easier to some people, while others might struggle a bit more. While lessons are often divided by levels, it is virtually impossible to find homogeneous skills in all participants of a class. Always assume that everyone is doing the best they can. When giving feedback to others be respectful and polite. Collaboration and mutual support enhance the learning experience for everyone.
2. Be patient and compassionate to yourself:
Sometimes, during the lessons, we might feel frustrated that things are not going as easy as we thought at first. Be patient to yourself, knowing that consistent practice will lead to improvement. Learning how to dance is partly about understanding the explanations but mostly about learning a new way of moving your body. Our everyday movements (walking, running, going up stairs, etc) are usually executed in a way that we don’t need to think about them, instead when you learn to dance you need to teach your body to move in a different way, and this process might be challenging. Embrace mistakes as a natural part of learning. When they happen, don't get frustrated—use them as opportunities to improve.
3. Ask Questions:
If you're unsure about something, don't hesitate to ask the instructor for clarification. Chances are, others have the same question, and asking helps everyone learn and improves the quality of the lesson. Experienced instructors are able to explain concepts in different ways so even a comment like “I don’t really understand this idea” might be useful to get a different explanation over the same notion.
4. Change Partners Frequently:
Tango is a social dance and dancing with different partners helps improve your adaptability which is an essential aspect of a couple dance. Even if you come with your own partner to the class, be open to dancing with everyone in the class, regardless of their skill level. Changing partners helps to improve the dance, regardless of the role.
5. Harassment Will Not Be Tolerated:
Everyone has the right to feel safe and respected during the lesson. Harassment of any kind, including inappropriate comments or behaviour, is strictly prohibited. If you experience or witness harassment, please report it to the instructor immediately. All reports will be taken seriously and addressed promptly.
6. Listen to the Instructor:
Focus on the instructions being given and avoid talking while the teacher is explaining. This ensures that everyone can hear and understand the lesson. If you attend lessons by different instructors, some ideas might seem contradictory – and sometimes they actually are. Instead of discarding the instructor’s ideas, try the approach, inquire in it, ask questions to better understand the movement and the reasoning behind the explanation.
7. Be Punctual:
Arrive on time so you don’t miss important instructions or disrupt the flow of the class. In order to be punctual, it is important to plan to arrive a few minutes before the lesson so that you have enough time to prepare, change clothes, etc.
8. Wear Appropriate Attire:
Dress comfortably and wear shoes suitable for dancing, preferably ones with smooth soles that allow you to pivot easily. For beginners: it is not necessary to buy dance shoes for your first lessons. Any indoor shoes that allows you to pivot will do, or simply socks.
Hopefully this etiquette will help improving even more the amazing atmosphere that we have in our lessons 😊 Have I missed something? Comment below, I would love to read your thoughts.
See you on the dance floor!
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