Why Private Lessons

As my tango journey continues, I have never encountered anything as helpful to my growth as private lessons. I'll run through my personal perspective on why I like them, so you can feel confident in your choice to pursue privates.

The Questions

Interestingly enough, I find that while most know that private lessons are beneficial, the intimidation factor of taking private is quite high(barring other or additional reasons like financial/time constraints). Some of the most common questions are:

• When should I start thinking about private lessons?

• What would private lessons do for me?

• Is it worth taking privates if I already know I need to work on my fundamentals?

• How do I pick who to take private lessons from?

• I don't know what kind of questions to ask during a private

• Is it okay to ask for work on vocabulary that might be outside my current skills?

• I can only do one private lesson once in a while - is it worth it if I can't do it regularly?

• I don't have a dance partner - I don't think a private lesson will be very helpful for me.

• How do I ask for private lessons from my favorite teacher?

The Possible Answers

When should I start thinking about private lessons?

There are a lot of reasons why you might want to take privates, but generally, take them anytime when you feel like you want a focused boost to your dancing, or if you feel like there is a fundamental block to improvement that you would like detailed feedback on. Other reasons might include wanting to work on a specific vocabulary, growing your understanding of concepts, and working on the basics.

What would private lessons do for me?

Private lessons are great for asking teachers what can take you to the next level skill-wise, answering specific questions group classes may not provide the space for, demonstrating the ideal versions of vocabulary/musicality/structure (generally speaking), finding ways to optimize for your body & brain (like adjusting the way you move to ease physical strain or a different way of thinking about a move that has you stumped), and showing you their style (what they find the most interesting and/or valuable).

Is it worth taking privates if I already know I need to work on my fundamentals?

Very much so. It will give you one-on-one time to pick out the most efficient way to improve your fundamentals and connect them to larger concepts. It also really helps to have someone pick out the small details you might be missing when dancing or doing dance exercises. Solo exercises from trusted teachers are a great way to augment the lessons from your private sessions.

How do I pick who to take private lessons from?

Try taking group classes or attending guided practicas with various teachers in your area. Get a feel for their teaching style and how you feel after the lessons - do you feel particularly inspired or comfortable with a particular person's teaching style? This process can take some time but will help you narrow down what you are looking for in an individualized lesson.

I don't know what kind of questions to ask during a private

The best question to ask for myself is what the teacher thinks I should be working on. They have the skills, experience, and knowledge to pinpoint the most valuable thing in their eyes that will improve my dancing. I ask this question generally with teachers who are regularly available and those I would like to model my current foundational base around. Other great questions are those that dive into why certain vocab isn't working comfortably or questions about a concept you have been having a hard time grasping. If there is something your teacher does that you admire, ask how they do it. An extension of this is if someone you admire in dance or watched a video and saw something cool, bringing those questions to class is a great way to kick off a private.

Is it okay to ask to work on vocabulary that might be out of my current skill set?

If that is what you are interested in and makes you want to continue dancing, why not? Even if you haven't had much experience with the vocabulary, teachers will be able to break down what needs to happen for the move to be as successful as possible. It's much better to bring these questions to a lesson or practica and find safe and comfortable ways to execute them for the safety of yourself and others.

I can only do one private once in a while - is it worth it if I can't do it regularly?

Absolutely. Private sessions are concentrated doses of information, and doing them all the time can be detrimental rather than helpful. Think of it like chocolate. Eating some semi-regularly gives you a boost, but eating it every day can make you sick. Do whatever timing feels good and give yourself a break if needed to absorb and integrate. Or, take some time off to reinvigorate.

I don't have a dance partner - I don't think a private will be very helpful for me

Not at all! To some extent, having a partner is the most efficient and beneficial setup for a partner dance like tango. Especially in private when both people can understand what is being taught and can bounce ideas and practice together. However, aspects of technique, musicality, and structure don't require a partner to understand and improve. Plus, many teachers who offer privates can both lead and follow or teach in pairs so you can dance in your preferred role. Ideally, they convey to you what kind of lessons they teach if it falls outside the general norm, like solo follower/leader only. Plus, a lot of people usually feel the same way! Reach out to your community and see who would be happy to take a private together and split the cost. The same goes for practice partners as there are a lot of great people out there!

How do I ask for private lessons from my favorite teacher?

Chat with them after class to set up a lesson, or contact them through email or their website!

Comfort & Safety

An additional consideration is comfort and safety. Often, private lessons involve being in close quarters with someone you may only know by their social/teaching reputation, not personally. If you are concerned about factors like these, grab some general feedback about the teachers you are considering. Here are some questions to consider:

• Do I feel safe around them?

• Do others feel safe around them or have positive prior experiences with them?

• Do they teach in pairs or solo? Do they have students in the community?

• Do they receive good feedback from others?

• Where do they hold their private lessons?

• You could ask them to work in a rentable public dance space - you will likely have to pay the cost of space rental.

If you are uncomfortable taking private lessons solo, ask a friend or someone around the community to take the lesson with you so you can have peace of mind and save money!

Dance has a variable reputation for safety and accountability depending on the community, but large organizing bodies for the area will likely have Safe Space policies or guidelines for appropriate behavior if a reference is needed. Use your best judgment.

I Am Not About Private Lessons

That's okay! Sometimes private lessons are not what you want out of your dancing (or are not currently feasible). Perhaps you like the socialization of tango or just want to dance a few times a year.

If your goals do include taking privates but you aren't sure yet, try reaching out to other dancers that you enjoy spending time with and asking them to practice outside of group events. Or attend a group class with an additional practica so that you can ask teachers for feedback and dance with others.

Resources to Discover Teachers & Reinforce Your Dancing

• Check out Tango Colorado's website for the current teachers on rotation for the month's Tuesday classes(the co-current Beginner 1, Beginner 2, and the Intermediate Series from 6:30-7:45 pm) to try out different teachers and stay for the practica afterward! The Community Calendar is also the current best resource for classes in Colorado so take a look at the various teacher offerings and events.

• Take online technique lessons to reinforce your dancing like those from Gisele Ann(https://www.bouldertangostudio.com/)