The Gift of a Great Ballroom Teacher

This article is a tribute to the many gifted great ballroom teachers and coaches in our industry. The word gifted comes of course from the word gift. A dictionary definition of this word is "a special or notable capacity, talent, or endowment either inherent, acquired, or given by a deity." The Bible has a scripture that says, "Every good and perfect gift comes from above"…Whether we believe that or not, finding gifted great ballroom teachers is most important in learning Ballroom Dancing.

Perhaps you are an amateur dancer wanting to learn Ballroom Dancing to just relax, meet people, or just have fun. Your purpose is to have a hobby and bring joy into your life in a different way. You might be a student that wants to venture into the pro-am competition arena and enjoys traveling to the different Ballroom events. Then there are all the wedding couples that are preparing for their special day and wanting to dance to their special song. I have had the pleasure of working with many wedding couples some of which wanted extravagant choreography and other couples that wanted simple choreography; but every one of them wanted their dance to be perfect. In all the above dance situations there is the need for the right ballroom teacher for each student or couple.

Then we have the professional, amateur, and pro-am competition couples that are driven to strive onward and upward seeking first place. This purpose can sometimes benefit you or defeat you. There is only one first place, so if you do not attain first place that does not mean you lose. You chose to dance because it was a passion in your innermost being, so you must not lose sight of this. Do not make winning your only driving force. The teachers/coaches you train with are most important in your journey ahead, and determine a lot of your future success. They should be people of experience, trained in the area of expertise and style you are dancing in. These teachers need to be people that take a personal interest in your career to lead you in the proper direction. Their personality needs to be one that you respect and feel comfortable with. You need to be able to trust their judgment and advice, especially if you are in the competitive arena. Your teachers/coaches should always be an encouragement whether you win or not.

Not everyone can be a great teacher, it is a gift. These gifted teachers have a desire to help people where they are in their dancing journey. A GIFT is something we receive from someone; so a great ballroom teacher is one that truly is willing to give of themselves and their ballroom dance knowledge to the students in each and every lesson. This type of teacher is very caring, and also very discerning as to how much material each student or couple can handle. Every individual and couple has different learning capacities, and a great teacher knows the limits they can or cannot accomplish.

No matter what purpose has driven you into the world of Ballroom Dancing, finding a great gifted teacher in the Ballroom Industry truly is what is most important no matter what level of Ballroom Dancing you venture into. Teachers are what influence your life, whether in public school or in dance school. They can make or break your purpose, your drive, and even your heart.

In my career, I have had the opportunity to have some of the most gifted teachers and coaches in the Ballroom Dance Industry and also in the world of Adagio, Ballet, and Jazz Dancing. These teachers helped to form my dance career from a young age doing ballet, jazz, and into the Ballroom Industry. They helped to create the team of Hamilton & Silva as champions and performers, and to them both David and I are grateful. To name a few: Margaret Craske, Jo Jo Smith, Marion Horosko, Dagmar Jarvel, Julius Kaiser, Bill Davies, Vernon Brock, Pierre Dulaine, Raven & St.John, and Rufus Dustin. I recently corresponded with Rufus Dustin telling him I was going to write about teachers in this issue of Dance Beat. He wrote me a quote, which he says to himself everyday he teaches and coaches. With his permission this is it: "We are expected and paid to have tolerance, patience and to encourage. We are not expected to or paid for our frustration." Truly this is a quote that all of us that teach in the Ballroom Industry can benefit from. Thank you Dustin.

My hopes in writing this article is that those of you who are looking for a ballroom teacher, and those of you that are ballroom teachers would glean some incite as to what makes up a great gifted ballroom teacher. In today's Ballroom world with shows like "Dancing With The Stars", the glitz and glamour seems to be in being a great performer and competitor; yet behind every great ballroom dancer are the great gifted ballroom teachers that taught and mentored them. To You I Say Thank-You!

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Susan Silva is an NDCA National Championship Certified Adjudicator in all styles of Ballroom Dance plus the Performing Arts. Former Theatrical, Exhibition, and American Style Champion. Broadway, Television, and Film Performer, toured with the Beatles in the mid 60's, Author of a Theatrical Ballroom Syllabus, Choreographer & Lecturer. Available for judging, lectures, choreography, and coaching. Susan is also a Personal Dance Life Coach, certified and ordained to council people in all areas of life.