3 Tips To Learn More From Classes At Large Dance Festivals

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[@Noivet666]

This video was a little bit different than I expected but still great content. I totally agree that everyone should stick to their level. And the stars now this and offer different workshops in different levels.

[@DanceWithRasa]

@@Noivet666 👍👍👍

[@gogokizomba6903]

I would only add naps b4 night party and staying in venue or as close as possible. You have more energy, time and focus from my experience.

[@DanceWithRasa]

@gogokizomba6903 oh, that 100 per cent 😇

[@Oksana1966]

This is so true! This is the reason I stop going to workshops! And it sucks because i don’t get to know people and it’s difficult to dance at socials later at night because I don’t know anyone!!!! I hope people stick to their level and practice more to get better and go to higher levels… otherwise it ruins experience for everyone!

[@DanceWithRasa]

@Oksana1966 Absolutely, that's why I go to smaller classes 😇.

[@shaolin1derpalm]

After a few years of going to T.O Congress, I am never wasting my time in the big room with the world famous dancers. All the good dancers who can do it all anyways are in the front blocking the view. The smaller rooms with the less "famous" dancers are way more productive.

[@DanceWithRasa]

@@shaolin1derpalm I feel exactly the same 💗

[@Oksana1966]

Oh not only the front row refusing to move they behave like this class is for them only!!! Absolutely disgusting!!!!! And most of them are teachers and performers- and they should know better but they think they entitled!!! I stopped going to classes because of their attitude towards majority attendees

[@DanceWithRasa]

@@Oksana1966 I actually tell them to move 🤣🤣🤣I'm so rude in those situations, I get really angry 😠

[@shaolin1derpalm]

@@DanceWithRasa haha. I thought Raza the dancer was sweet as pie 🥧

[@aryarad1902]

Greetings from Poland! Thank you, Rasa, for the helpful advice as always. I've recently started taking Bachata classes here as a foreigner, so I wasn't sure if I should attend festivals just yet. It would be amazing if you could create a video sharing your experiences with famous dance festivals in Europe and tips on how to make the most out of them. Thanks!

[@DanceWithRasa]

@aryarad1902 Absolutely, I'll make a video like that, and hopefully, it can help you out 😊.

[@anthonyorafferty5632]

'Excuse me!' 🤚You were that girl 😂❤

[@DanceWithRasa]

@@anthonyorafferty5632 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@ahmadfadli4010]

Thank you Rasa. A subscriber from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia here.

[@DanceWithRasa]

@@ahmadfadli4010 amazing, welcome to our family 🥰

[@kerstinlindqvist5250]

I was on event years ago, when a lot of the men (leaders) had overestimated their ability so i did not get what i wanted that weekend. If the leader does it wrong, how can i as a follower learn? I get very unsure of my knowledge and ability instead. At that place, you had to decide yourself on what level you were, but how can you decide that? If you don´t know "from home". If no one tells you.

[@madesteve1]

I have never been to such big classes, but I would like to share my most hated experience which has happened 3 separate festivals recently. This is when the teacher does not have control of the class. I'll explain.....so 40-50 in class couples in circle...There always seem to be a student ( who teaches back in their local area) who seems to think they are a teacher to every next person in the circle ! I am not talking about polite (many) dancers who quietly and quickly help their temporary partner thro the move/ routine if the partner wants a little help ( which automatically happens when dancing with different people). I am talking about me having to wait longer than everyone else to get my next follower because the lead in front of me is on an ego trip to give every follower that comes his way a lesson of his own. Just as annoying the professionals in the centre of the circle allow this rudeness to continue and ignore that this continues. As this ruins the experience of any student who is unlucky enough to be behind them. So, like you who speaks up, I ask the professionals.."excuse me is this lead next to me your teacher ? They say no of course. So I will tell them what is happening, that it is unacceptable, there is only room for the teachers in the middle, and to sort it out. Us students please do not put up with egomaniacs in classes. And teachers please check that your students in the circle are flowing and happy. Rasa this has never happened in your classes. I hope teachers discuss this. Sorry to rant but this happens

[@DanceWithRasa]

You make extremely good point ! I actually have that sometimes in my class, I say change partners and there's always one who still keeping the partner and explaining things. I am known to literally physically to come and take their partner away 🤣

[@FFOndra]

So on your comment about not jumping levels. I have seen this a few times to realize this is a bit of a pet peeve of mine from a student level. Instructors or organizers don't always mark what level they intend to teach to. The first festival I ever went to had no markings about what level the class was and the people working the front didn't know either so we walked into every class blind and there was one or two times where I ended up stepping out because at the time, it was way above my level. I do wish that the festivals that are around me would be more consistently clear on that...

[@DanceWithRasa]

That you are absolutely right. Sometimes, they have an open level, which supposed to be easy for all, and it's way too complicated.

[@shaolin1derpalm]

Speaking on advanced level classes... Some are labelled All levels when it is far too difficult for 85% of the class.

[@DanceWithRasa]

@@shaolin1derpalm that is also true 👍

[@drenmaliqi2301]

This was really useful, finally going to a festival to learn so hopefully I can make the most of it. Jumping levels is the worst, I feel your frustration haha. Only makes things worse for everyone!

[@DanceWithRasa]

@drenmaliqi2301 absolutely, I know you know exactly what I mean 😉

[@acpjr]

Rasa you have 💯nailed all the frustrations with festival classes... but I believe this is a reality that will not change and we have to accept it. I think it's better we set very low or realistic expectations for festival classes. I know the the 'superstar' classes will be way too packed and too unorganized, so I accept responsibility for attending. I also know the very early morning classes will be less attended, and classes held by local instructors too, so again I accept responsibility for seeking them out or not. A festival is what we make it!

[@DanceWithRasa]

Very good points 👉

[@Arnaudbouss]

Nice video, I'm too the kind of guy who is going to be the first to ask questions to the teacher. 😂 Thanks for the tip about practicing with a friend.

[@DanceWithRasa]

😅😅😅

[@juratepetrikauskiene9908]

Thank you Rada❤

[@DanceWithRasa]

@@juratepetrikauskiene9908 😇😇😇

[@myronblack8197]

I’ve been dancing for only 3 yrs and I find it difficult to know what level I’m at while at these festivals. What determines if your a beginner, intermediate or advanced? In my head Im a intermediate dancer but I could be wrong 🤷🏾‍♂️ it’s confusing

[@DanceWithRasa]

@myronblack8197 on my Channel, I actually started making videos showing what steps you need to know to decide what level you are, so have a look , and I'll keep them coming and I'm sure you'll find it useful 😉

[@AkA-sw7rl]

In my experience when you come to a festival with your partner and you have no interest to change partners throughout the exercises you get quite a lot mean side eyes 😂 Just saying. Brace yourself psychologically 😂 Especially if your partner is a great lead and there are more women than men in the crowd.

[@DanceWithRasa]

@AkA-sw7rl well that's not your problem 🤣 they can dance with him during social 🤣

[@KenpachiKanto]

I don't agree with you on don't change partner, we dance social dancing not ballroom. Practice with different people is crucial for the real learning, otherwise you just have the illusion of laerning something but in reality you just learn some meaningless sequence and not the techinque behind it. The real problem is just you pointed out is that people don't accept their real level and go in classes they don't deserve, ruining the experience of other more advence dancer.

[@gonzalogarcia-atance5840]

I guess the advice of not changing partner only applies to masive festivals.

[@FFOndra]

I actually think I've had the exact opposite experience with this. I am all for switching and rotating partners in your typical class setting. I agree it's important to learn how to lead / follow with different people. But I have been in classes before where I am struggling to get my steps down properly because the follows aren't really following they are walking through steps and getting ahead of the leads and not really giving the leads a chance to figure out how to proper lead those steps. There have been a few times where I didn't feel like it was clicking for some reason and my wife and I would go off to the side and practice it and after 2 or 3 times I'd feel like I had it. But at that point I am also with someone who will tell me "I don't feel your lead" or "That lead felt off or uncomfortable" so that I can work on fixing it. It can work well with the right person. It can work better sometimes for people that have different learning styles. There have been classes where I felt like it was more an instructor issues where they are, in your words, teaching a "sequence and not the technique behind it." I can't agree that it is always as simple as people going to classes they "Don't deserve." I mean I absolutely agree that a beginner shouldn't be jumping into an advanced class but I have been to festivals where there is no way of knowing until you show up. Not every festival always marks the level. Some teachers have routines that they might view as intermediate and another might view as advanced. Some festivals have classes that are marked for "All levels" and people at various points get lost in those classes. I have been to festivals where a lot of the classes don't even have a level marked so you wouldn't even know if it is a beginner class or advanced class into your in the middle of it realizing you are way in over your head.

[@AkA-sw7rl]

@@KenpachiKanto I totally can practice dancing with different partners throughout socials. Whenever we go out dancing. For a festival when there are specials teachers I’ve been waiting to attend their class for a long time and now I have those maybe 45-60 minutes to get the most out of that class I prefer to stay with my partner. That’s how I get the most bang for my buck. Festivals are pretty expensive these days plus maybe you even have to pay accommodation if you travel to get there, so… I fully ignore the eye rolls we inevitably get for not changing and rock on. 🥳

[@DanceWithRasa]

Yes, and that's why , for those classes where learning is almost impossible for some, having a friend to practice is good 😉. In very specific situations 🙂.

[@DanceWithRasa]

Absolutely