Corrections

[Guest cheeriodancer10]

Our studio has been doing a lot of rehersals for a show we're doing in February. There's this one dance that I am in and it's pretty challenging and it's on pointe. At first I was really happy to be in it because it was with girls older and better than myself. But now I almost dread the rehersals because the teacher seems to be constantly correcting me! Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful she selected me to be in it and I respect her, but I'm very overwhelmed by all these corrections.

 

It's also hard because I'm one of the only people who aren;t double cast for this role, so I get no break at all. Plus, I'm the shortest and usually in the front, so I "stick out like a sore thumb" as my teacher once said. Her main correction to me is that I'm not making my arms big enough and that they shrink when I get tired. I guess since I'm the shortest that makes it even more apparent.

 

She did say I was improving though, which cheered me up a little. My director told me once that corrections are good, they mean that the teacher is paying attention to you and wants you to do better. Well it seems she can't keep her eyes off me, as she rarely corrects anyone else.

 

Any ideas of how to cope with all these overwhelming corrections? I practice in front of the mirror everyday trying to use my back to hold my arms.

[Victoria Leigh]

Just keep practicing, cheerio! You are in the front, so she sees you constantly, and therefore you are a target. You will get it, but just keep working on it every day!

[shulie]

cheerio since you have taken the challenge to dance with a group of more advanced dancers so naturally you need to improve quickly. Your teacher believes in you can do it and so she does give you more corrections to help you improve.

I know it can be quite embarrassing especially in front of the other girls but take it as something your teacher is doing to help you advance quicker.

At my old studio my teacher did not give me many corrections. I felt neglected and ignored in a way.

My new teacher is constantly correcting me which I am now proud of since it is a sign of paying attention to what I am doing and helping me constantly improving my technique.

[Guest Dance_Like_This]

Its easy to get frusterated, but practice makes perfect, just try not to get frusterated. Just try to apply the corrections but try to have fun at the same time. But its true that corrections are good because then the teacher likes you and pays attention to you.

[Guest Tinks12115]

just keep thinking that these corrections will make you SOO much better in the future and as you keep dancing!! I've cried once because the teacher corrected me so many times it was just bad for me but being corrected you know what not to do so that's a good thing. DOn't worry about it and keep working hard!!

[~DaNcInQuEeN~]

Cheerio, it is great that you were selected to be in an advanced dance like this! It might seem like your teacher is focusing all her attention on you, but like others have said, that is a good thing! Try to absorb the corrections while having fun. And remember to smile!

[Guest cheeriodancer10]

Thanks for the support, guys! I'm doing my best to improve so hopefully she'll notice that . I just have one question: My teacher was correcting me on a new kind of pique turn we do. I'm not sure if there is a specific name for it, but you turn kind of under. So when you step on your right foot, instead of turning en des ore (spelling?) you turn en des dante (spelling again). Anyways, at first she told me to think about being up on my leg before I turn. Then she said I needed to think about already being around before I start the turn. I was kind of feeling overwhelmed at that moment so I didn't think to ask her. But, is it just me or do those two corrections about the same turn seem to contradict themselves? Any idea on what she meant?

[Guest dancer04]

What I find that really helps me when I am feeling overwhelmed with corrections is to simply write them down in a notebook and constantly review them. See if you get the same ones each day. What I also like to do is what the progression of corrections/compliments. It seems that the corrections become more detailed as the days or weeks or even months go by. It helps me keep them all straight, and it also helps me to remember them so I don't forget what I've already been reminded of. Try that and see if it doesn't help.

[shulie]

cheerio:

 

its correctly spelled: "en dedans" and "en dehors".

[Mel Johnson]

And are you sure? The ordinary piqué turn is an en dedans turn. The other choice is an en dehors turn done by doing a tombé onto the leading foot then bringing the trailing foot up to a piqué in front of you and an en dehors turn happens. Of course, you CAN do an en dehors turn (turning "the wrong way") out of an ordinary piqué, but that's not seen as often.

[Swanilda]

I'm a fairly slow learner and have trouble assimilating corrections and choreography on the spot. What has helped me is to write down all my corrections in a little notebook (right after class or rehearsal) then re-read them before my next rehearsal or class with that particular teacher. While rehearsing leads, after letting my coach or choreographer know, I often tape recorded rehearsals on a microcassette recorder, so that I would be sure not to miss a thing. Then I would transcribe the tapes into my notebook and "study" before rehearsal. Also, be sure you have a copy of the music so you can be very familiar with it. HTH

[fouette809]

cheerio,

i get frusterated sooooooooooo much !!!! My teacher corrects me a lot and it gets really anoying sometimes and even gives a complement to people who don't try as hard. I guess she just wants to encourage me to do better though i would have more of the will to do better with a complement!!! But in a lot of the dances we do, i get selected for good and challenging roles. Your teacher is just trying to make sure you can do well with the advanced girls and if you try to follow corrections (and like write them in a book) she will probably like put you in a dance with them next time too!

[Guest cheeriodancer10]

And are you sure?  The ordinary piqué turn is an en dedans turn.  The other choice is an en dehors turn done by doing a tombé onto the leading foot then bringing the trailing foot up to a piqué in front of you and an en dehors turn happens.  Of course, you CAN do an en dehors turn (turning "the wrong way") out of an ordinary piqué, but that's not seen as often.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sorry Mr. Johnson, I got a little mixed up in all my typing. What I meant to say was the pique was done en dehors, or like turning backwards. Or the "wrong way", however you'd like to phrase it.

[qtpiedanzer01]

are you maybe talking about a lame duck turn?

[Mel Johnson]

No, if she and I are talking about the same things, then it's a piqué that turns contrary to what you would expect. It's a bear, because it sets you in a contrary motion to enter the next turn.