WestCoastWiggle
New member
Hello!
How would you address a bellydance fitness students who continues to ask you for performance-related tips and advice during/after class? I have a student that does this, and I've explained that the technique taught in class is safe (because that is my top priority, along with getting an effective and fun workout), but is not what I would actually do on stage. Sometimes during class she gets frustrated, sighs and stops moving, says she doesn't get it, and expects me to stop leading the workout and break down the movement again. I've encouraged her, let her know that she's getting better and to keep doing the moves at home (I started assigning homework too), told her to not get hung up on being perfect because the purpose of the class is to have a fun and effective workout that is bellydance-inspired - not the actual art of bellydance - because many of the moves that we do are more exaggerated than what we do on stage.
I've said several times that the art of bellydance is much deeper, that in my performance classes they would learn about rhythm, musicality, improvisational and performance skills, cultural understanding, etc. I've explained that learning the technique and refining that technique is very different from taking a dance fitness course that only exposes you to the basic concepts of bellydance movement and very superficially to the music (because I use many classical Egyptian techno remixes for this class to keep a certain pace going). I feel like I am going around in circles with this student, and though she seems to be having a fun time and asking about the next session, my words don't seem to be registering with her. What do you think are reasonable expectations for dance fitness students to come away with from such a class? How would you stress to students that dance fitness and learning an art form are two different things?
How would you address a bellydance fitness students who continues to ask you for performance-related tips and advice during/after class? I have a student that does this, and I've explained that the technique taught in class is safe (because that is my top priority, along with getting an effective and fun workout), but is not what I would actually do on stage. Sometimes during class she gets frustrated, sighs and stops moving, says she doesn't get it, and expects me to stop leading the workout and break down the movement again. I've encouraged her, let her know that she's getting better and to keep doing the moves at home (I started assigning homework too), told her to not get hung up on being perfect because the purpose of the class is to have a fun and effective workout that is bellydance-inspired - not the actual art of bellydance - because many of the moves that we do are more exaggerated than what we do on stage.
I've said several times that the art of bellydance is much deeper, that in my performance classes they would learn about rhythm, musicality, improvisational and performance skills, cultural understanding, etc. I've explained that learning the technique and refining that technique is very different from taking a dance fitness course that only exposes you to the basic concepts of bellydance movement and very superficially to the music (because I use many classical Egyptian techno remixes for this class to keep a certain pace going). I feel like I am going around in circles with this student, and though she seems to be having a fun time and asking about the next session, my words don't seem to be registering with her. What do you think are reasonable expectations for dance fitness students to come away with from such a class? How would you stress to students that dance fitness and learning an art form are two different things?