your opinion on using different instructors...

I am currently taking group and privates from an instructor I like very much. She's really fun and knowledgable. BUT...two of the things I need to work on are my frame and following. She has such a light touch when she's leading me that it just doesn't feel the same. Her husband has also taught a few times and is good but I am hearing good things about a guy in DC area. I have tentatively scheduled a private with him but I 'm wondering if it's a good idea. Do you think I should just stick with one instructor? I have definite ideas on what I'd like to learn from one vs the other initially...

Actually, FS321, I think it would not hurt to take a class from the instructor in DC just to see if he has what you're looking for. There is so much "both" can teach you. As Lolita mentioned both has his/her own style and there is a lot I'm sure you can learn from either one. Especially, if you like them as an instructor. Now, if you need to work on frame and following, a lead's perspective is probably the way to go and that's how your following skills will develop more in my opinion and experience. Not that your present isn't good at teaching it but it may not be her strong point and sometimes, the opposite view helps more. So I think you should at least try. If it doesn't work out, then you can always stress to your present teacher that you need to focus on your following skills. The thing about private classes is that you have a little more control on what you're learning and the instructor can pretty much adjust. Hope this helps. Anyone else?

I was as confused as you are, FS321, when - after a false start - I got seriously into Salsa.

I decided to make the best of both worlds. I took lessons from both male and female instructors. It was interesting to compare the different perspectives. I also used a lot of different instructors, in order to be better able to compare and contrast. It helped a lot, and now I've been able to make an informed decision as to which instructors I want to stay with in the long term.

Hope that helps,

Rosa

I think it is really good to take classes from many different instructurs, because all instructors focus on different things.

I agree, pr. Apart from the gender issue, all instructors have their own particular focus of interest and it's in a student's best interests to get as many viewpoints as they can. Not too many, of course - that would simply confuse the issue. But if you take regular classes with say, two different teachers per week then right away you're getting opinions which may be conflicting, corroborative or anything in between, which will give you lots of food for thought and hopefully help you develop some insight into your Salsa.

Rosa

I agree with pr and Rosa -- it's a very good idea to try different teachers if you feel your current teacher isn't the best person to help you work on specific aspects of your dancing. Even when you are happy with your current teacher, I still think you can learn a lot by going to different teachers. And my experience has been that good teachers encourage you to do this.

So, what are your thoughts so far FS321?

I am going to try the male instructor this weekend to focus on following and adding some styling that I've learned but don't want to practice on the dance floor until I try them out with him first.

I appreciate the input from everyone! as I said my female instructor is really good but I think I will benefit from his teaching as well...

I'll let you know!

I think you need a balance between consistency AND variety.
You need a teacher that can your progress over time, so it is important to find a good teacher, and stay with them for a while. That said.... it is also important to get other views on your dancing, because will find that other teachers have other strong points.

Personally once you reach a certain level of being able to cope with the basics I would recommend that you dance with and learn with as many different people as possible - everyone's styles vary and you'll find one teaches one move in a way that works for you but another that doesn't and that they will do something different that you get. Take the bits that make sense to you and work and build on those - the more teachers you go to, the more experience and teaching you are taking on.

You will even learn from those you don't get on with / like / don't make sense to you!!

It is good to have more than one instructor if

- you are able to peel out the essence of what they say. If you just take the words it sometimes will be contradictionary and confusing. But if you look for what is behind it it will often be different parts of the same thing.

- you do not necessarily tell one about the other