Riot and Frolic

In between applying for grants and loans and waiting for responses [… crickets… crickets…], I’ve been doing some reading and research about how to improve my business… when I’m not in business. 

Clearly, there’s motivation to do something.  ANYTHING.  Sadly, the biggest motivator is obviously money (which is definitely NOT why I chose to be a dance instructor in the first place, BTW), so I can pay the bills at my business and home.  Secondly, I want to have a client base that will be clamoring to return when we can open our doors, so I’d like to provide a service when our doors are closed to remind people we, you know, EXIST.  Thirdly, I WANT TO HELP MY PEOPLE.  Employees, students, hell, myself.  We all came to the ballroom looking for something that was missing in our lives and apparently we found it because we stuck around.  Whatever that thing is, I feel like it’s important to acknowledge and try to provide that thing.  [More opinions on that here.]

But obviously, partner dancing, and particularly ballroom dancing*, is a victim of social distancing and will be for some time.  As many instructors and studios are turning to online content and virtual lessons to fill the void, I just… can’t.

*  [Why particularly ballroom?  Well, while there are moments of unconnectedness in the main competitive dances, there aren’t a lot of “shines” (AND OMG IF YOU’RE DOING BRONZE, DO NOT LET GO OF THAT PARTNER!) for solo dancing.  Most of the foundational movement is concerned with one’s own posture, frame, and how that connects to another person in a way that communicates movement.  Of course, there are many exercises and drills one can do on their own to improve these areas, but the main deal is partner dancing is… wait for it… partnering.]

In many of the business seminars I’ve read/watched, the advice is along the lines finding answers for certain questions.

Seminar: What got you into the business that you’re passionate about?

Me : Oo, oo!  I know this one!  Sharing the joy of ballroom dance via music! people! touch! physical activity!

Seminar: What CAN you do online? 

Me : Well, virtual lectures/seminars, live Q&As/lessons, and JUST BECAUSE I CAN, DOESN’T MEAN I SHOULD!

It’s been fairly well researched that focus is hard to come by when you’re engaged in online learning.  Whether it’s your own face on the monitor/screen being distractingly beautiful, or your brain trying to get the correct signals from the other person or people that you’re interacting with, the amount of actual engagement in online learning is significantly lower than with in-person learning.  (Can I tell you to stop checking FB in my online seminar?  No.  Can you walk away and get a drink?  Yes. Can you have 17 tabs open at the same time and notifications ringing non-stop? Yes.)

Two-dimensional instruction (in ye olden days from books and now from videos) causes a problem for in-person lessons down the road.  Most instructors have come across people (usually couples) that have “learned” to dance off videos they kind of sort of know where to put their feet when and, if they have a partner, that partner can do the coordinating pattern, but together they have zero-to-bad connection.  If they don’t have a partner, GOD HELP US, because of their guessing and imagining of joints that don't exist.  In the beginner realm, one is mostly better off learning in person.

Trying to take care of “my people” is what I probably feel the worst about.  But I also want to do justice to “my people” by giving them a quality product that’s on par with what they would receive in the studio.  BUT my people are looking for social interaction and face-to-face, in-contact training on not only how to be a great dancer, but often on how to be a better person (introverts, unite!).  For better or for worse, I don’t believe that’s going to happen via a teleconference.  The amount of reeeeeeal interaction and correction that can happen via virtual learning is minimal and not of the substance I’d like to focus on, generally speaking [because it’s often about how one “looks” doing a thing and not how it feels or is produced and let's face it, I've trained for twenty years in how to get people how to do it when I'm standing next to them]. 

Importantly, (I’ve made this point on some platform and I'll make it again) there are MULTIPLE TIME WORLD CHAMPIONS giving lectures and classes for free… with actual video production companies supplying them with equipment, back drops, and platforms to transmit their info.  These amazing teachers, even without the professional staging, have beautiful houses in exotic locations with, like, large spaces and plain old walls to video in front of.  And then there’s me, with a fixer-upper house, not a solid 3’ or more of wall ANYWHERE, a crowd control problem, able to provide sort of the same information (but NOT) with spotty WiFi, and a relatively old iPhone camera. Who needs me when you can get Katusha for free? 

THIS IS NOT TO SAY if you are taking or giving lessons online that you are a nincompoop.  Like I said, there is some AWESOME content being created that’s available FOR FREE or for a good price right now.  And if you find learning in your living room a tolerable and enjoyable thing to do, PLEASE HAVE AT IT.  But on my side, I don't wanna and I can't wait to good-naturedly whack you on the shoulder when you finally do that thing I've been asking you to do all hour IN PERSON.