Words and Contractions

Matthew Neff | Nov 30, 2007 | 0

My name is Matthew Neff. I'm a dancer/teacher/choreographer living (sometimes struggling on peanut butter and jelly) in NYC.  So what am I going to write about here? Everything important and nothing important! I will mostly talk about my struggles trying to be a creative artist in this city.  I'll also give my insight on teaching techniques, audition tips, how to be a dancer when the parents finally cut you off financially and other tricks of the trade that have helped me out.

CLASS TIPS:
1: I remember the days when I first started exploring all the studios and their faculty in Manhattan.  I used to go take a class to see if I liked the vibe and the teacher. It's expensive these days to go "test" out a class. Take some time out and go watch parts of the class you might be interested in. As an observer you want to remain as discreet and quiet as possible. Most studios have viewing windows that you can take advantage of. You should just be watching. Don't try to dance in the hallway. You will make the teacher angry and probably hit someone in the chin with your battement.

2:What should you be looking for in a class? Look for a teacher that is going to challenge you. You want to be challenged. You don't want to be clueless. Pick the appropriate level. If you are just starting out then you shouldn't go into an intermediate class. Everyone wants to take the cool class and do the fun combinations. That's not always the best thing for you and for your progress.

3:Dance class ettiquete seems to have left with the dinosaurs. Rule # 1 - Keep the mouths shut. This is a dance lesson not a singing lesson. If you are new to a class then stand toward the back. Especially in a class where the warm-up starts in the center new students should let the regulars be in the front. They know the warm-up usually and it's beneficial to see an example in motion. It's also so rude to stand in front of people that have already claimed a position on the floor. When doing a phrase across the floor be ready to go. There is nothing worse than people standing there looking surprised when it's their turn to go. Count yourself in. Time wasted in class is money wasted. Class is with a group of people so if you are wasting your time in line that means you are wasting some other people's time.  **Boys remember that you should let the woman go first across the floor. Boys go last. Boys normally go last so the piano player can slow down the tempo so the jumps can be bigger and blah blah blah. Most of the time teachers don't adjust the tempo but out of courtesy just wait until the end of the line to go

4: Look for an educated teacher with working experience. Experience is key. Dolly Dinkle who learned to teach by instructional videos should be avoided. Teachers that just dictate their warm-up and combinations without offering insight into the style or technique are stealing your money. Teacher's should be offering personal corrections to students. Most teachers have assistants that demonstrate during the class. If the teacher is spending more time watching their assistants then the rest of the class the teacher is stealing your money. It is also a clue that the teacher might not really know what they are doing. Some students don't like having a teacher touch them during a correction but it's the nature of the beast. (Of course, inappropriate touching is a NO NO) You should walk away from class being sweaty and tired but you should also walk away learning something new. If you aren't challenged then you shouldn't be in that class.

5: Please have the appropriate clothing on for class for your body. No one likes to see a muffin top hanging out of a baby t-shirt. It's not sexy. Boys should be wearing a dancebelt. It hurts and it not the most pleasant experience in the world but it's a must! Also wear the dancebelt on the inside of your tights/shorts. True Story: I had a male student who didn't speak English walk into class with a dancebelt over the top of his tights. I tried to explain to him that he needed to fix it but he just kept smiling and giving me the thumbs up. I finally gave up and just gave him the thumbs up back.  More and more people are just wearing socks to class. I don't have a problem with that but for a beginner student I do. If you aren't used to moving with a sock on a wood or marly floor then you might just fall and bust open your chin. You are always dancing at your own risk. Don't set yourself up for disaster.

6: Explore different styles. There is nothing worse than a dancer that is only good at one thing. Lots of people love taking the same class because it works well on their body. It's a recipe for disaster. Remember the Graham scandal where the company was out of work for a bit. They spent hours and hours training in one style. Once the company was gone they had this wealth of knowledge with no where to go but to teach it.  The company looks like its here to stay again so those dancers were lucky. But what if you are a ballet dancer that just can't get into a reputable company? Supplement your training with different style and expose yourself to new people. You never know who you are going to meet and where they can lead you. But, playing devils advocate, don't let some jerk lead you into some sleazy job for a few bucks.  

7: Make sure you are having fun. If you are miserable you shouldn't be doing it.  That statement applies to both recreational and professional dancers.

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