When our coaches visit we have the wonderful opportunity to work with some of the best dancers and teachers in the country. It can be fun and rewarding to take individual coaching lessons and workshops with the masters in our field. It can also be confusing and conflicting if we have trouble understanding their methods and we may be frustrated if we feel we invested in lessons that we can’t put to use.
There are a few pointers to effectively use your coaching time to your greatest benefit. Probably the most important is to remember the intention of a coaching lesson is much different than that of your regular lessons.
On your regular lessons, your teacher is introducing material and also going through the drills and exercises to build the necessary skills. A coaching lesson is very different. A coach is working with you at a snap shot in time, where you are today. A coach is providing information and exercises, but not with intention to build the skill today, but rather to give you information for your future development. A coaching lesson will often provide you with information that you and your regular teacher will spend the next few weeks or even months focusing on.
Your Dance Station teachers are a great resource to get the most out of your coaching sessions. They often have the opportunity to work with the visiting coach more regularly so are more familiar with the particular coaches ideas and teachings. They also can tailor the new information for you and your own pace.
It is most important to remember that the information you get in a coaches lesson or workshop is something that while you might understand intellectually, must still be given adequate attention and repetition to really change your dancing habits and skills. As effective as a coach may be, they are not the silver bullet of your dancing, it is still the hard work, commitment and determination that really make a difference. 
Lawrence Black is a teacher at Dance Station. If you would like to take lessons with Lawrence or any of our teachers, call 505-989-9788 to schedule.
