I have also heard things like "you should never bend your knees while doing this and this move" etc. What bothers me in that is that what is not appropriate in one dance style can well be done on others...
So IMO I think that teatchers should tell what kind of style they teach and when they say "do not do this" they should add "in this style". For example when I do hip circle in modern egyptian style I do not bend my knees (as I have been told), but when I do hip circle in turkish style I do bend knees. Both ways are correct when done in the "right" context.
Saying only "do not do this" creates an illusion that there is only one "right" dance style and others are wrong. I definetly do not think that teachers do this intentionally, but it is a side-effect...
So IMO I think that teatchers should tell what kind of style they teach and when they say "do not do this" they should add "in this style". For example when I do hip circle in modern egyptian style I do not bend my knees (as I have been told), but when I do hip circle in turkish style I do bend knees. Both ways are correct when done in the "right" context.
Saying only "do not do this" creates an illusion that there is only one "right" dance style and others are wrong. I definetly do not think that teachers do this intentionally, but it is a side-effect...