What makes you go back to the same instructor week in, week out?

You enjoy the music; you like the dances; and yes, you like the instructor.

It is the weekly instructor – the grass roots person who in my opinion is the unsung hero in the line dance world, irrespective of the size of their class or the standard of dancing they achieve.  It is he/she who has the pressure of inspiring and maintaining that class week after week, which I truly believe is more difficult than doing one-off events all over the country.  There are already weekly classes being closed, forcing people to look elsewhere, and the possibility of a domino effect is very real, leaving fewer classes around.

The instructor is key to the success or failure of the weekly class.  I am not talking about their ability as a dancer but their ability to run a lively, fun night whilst maintaining some structure to the evening.  In other words there should be a good mixture of pace and level.  They should be able to break down a dance so that the class can understand clearly; they should not only be able to cue, but if possible pre-cue (i.e. say the next step as the dancers are finishing the last one, enabling them to flow straight on); they should be able to teach from memory and not by reading a step sheet. I believe these are just a few criteria, if not blatantly obvious, although the list can go on.

I have a reputation for teaching fast but thoroughly.  I do work totally from memory and I do pre-cue. I type my own dance sheets for every dance I have ever taught; I do teach the latest as well as the old dances, the easy as well as the hard; my sessions involve loads of energy and pace and I do play my music loud!   Oh, and I am also fortunate enough to be invited to instruct/perform at loads of one-off events.

Above all, my weekly classes are my greatest priority and it would take a once in a lifetime opportunity for me not to be there.

My style – just like fashion designers, does not suit everyone.  I know I will not please everyone all of the time so I go with what I feel is right.  The dancers that come to me week after week know what to expect and that gives me the strength to do what I love best – to be myself and teach from the heart.

Lynne

All replies are printed in the date order they were received, with the most recent being at the top.

(2 Jan)
Lynne,
I think that people will always notice if an instructor is bad - word will spread rapidly. But they won't necessarily notice when an instructor is good - especially if they have known nothing else. They take it for granted but will complain if that instructor fails to teach the latest dances taught on some recent "Weekend Holiday Camp Extravaganza".

Jean Greenhough
Fareham

Hi Jean,
I totally agree. People do take a good instructor for granted, especially if they have known nothing else. I always think it healthy for dancers to attend other classes, so that they can experience other styles of teaching as well as the varying ways the classes are run. As long as they attend other classes with an open mind, they are more in a position to judge.
Thanks for writing in.
Lynne

(14 Dec)
My Dear Lynne,
I have been going to the same instructor for 2 years now and she is brilliant. Her name is Crystal and she is a shining example to all. Not only is she friendly and charming but she is also bright and bubbly and a twinkling star in the firmament of line dancing.  I have been to other classes but none of them can hold a candle to our Crystal and I would like to say on behalf of our little class in Gloucestershire - `Well done Crystal – we all love you’.
With the very sweetest of wishes.

Sherry Glass
Cheltenham

This is a wind up isn’t it!  Both Sue and I have tried contacting you but to no avail.  I have not heard of any instructor called Crystal in Gloucestershire.  Could you contact us again so that we (and maybe others) can send best wishes?
We have chucked many crank e-mails away, but this made us laugh so much that we decided to post it.
Lynne

Yes Jim, I do agree although I would not call the instructor’s role in this instance secondary – the instructor is still just as important and in fact if those good dancers did not like the way the instructor was running the class they would find an alternative. All three of my classes are totally different – two being frequented by the hard-core dancer and the third the more social dancer. I adapt all three accordingly. However, I regard my role as instructor/deejay pivotal as I do not only teach but am responsible for the structure of the sessions. It seems that the majority of the `weekly instructors’ handle their own music as well.
Thanks for your compliments re: the site. I am sure both Sue and the Bellamy Brothers will be pretty chuffed.
Regards
Lynne

Below is yet another fantastic letter from one of Lynne's class members.  Lynne is deeply touched by all who took the time to write in to this Viewpoint to express their feelings.   Unfortunately due to the amount received it has not been possible to post them all on this page.  Huge apologies to those whose letters have not been posted but please rest assured that Lynne has kept them all. 
Many thanks.
Sue - Webmaster

(21 Nov)
Like most things there is no single answer. A cake would be pretty bland if it was missing a major ingredient no matter how it was put together. Also if it had all the ingredients but was not properly compiled, it too would not work.
What I think makes a good instructor is one who combines all these things in the right order and right quantity...no mean feat. First, a love of dancing has to permeate, as this is something that cannot be faked and is essential. And My Instructor is a great dancer and really looks the part. A genuine caring for his/her people, staff and customers alike is also essential and this is displayed in abundance. Even to coming to a venue during a rare 'closed ' night to ensure everybody knows why!
A knowledge of the various stages of learning and an ability to be all things to all of them as evidenced by a great evening - I have just returned from Mill Hill where complete newcomers mixed happily with more experienced dancers. This part is all about pace which has to be right, not too fast for the newcomers and not too slow for the more experienced. HARD! A broad range of music and dance types also brings the possibility of keeping everybody happy, although there is an inevitable pressure to keep up with the latest.........trad dances and music mustn't be forgotten.
A good spirit and friendship amongst the class with an absence of `cliqueiness’ is vital as newcomers like to feel integrated or they don’t return. Venue is also important as nobody likes to be dancing on top of the next dancers toes - space and comfort are important and as if that's not enough, it is important not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg...........cost is ever a factor!
I wonder why we keep coming back Lynne!!!!! You must be getting it right!
Thanks for some great evenings!
Keep up the great work.

Reuben Lewis
London

Rueben and his wife Adrienne have been dancing with Lynne for 2 years.

Rueben what an excellent letter!
Having danced for many years, you and Adrienne decided to give me a try when your existing club closed – you came with no preconceived ideas, an OPEN MIND and gave me a chance – the result speaks for itself. THANK YOU.
Thank you both for supporting that excellent charity event on Saturday (20^th Nov), which you mention, as well as your support week in and week out.
Fondest wishes
Lynne

(16 Nov)
You don’t mention what surely is the most important thing a good instructor does – and that is to do what the class wants. After all, without dancers going to classes there wouldn’t be a job for any of you anyway. So if the class wants to do a certain dance or wants to learn more or less than the teacher wants to teach, you have to do what they want. I think the instructor is there to please the punter – after all, isn't the customer always right?

Yes Margaret, I understand what you are saying but it is not as simple as you make out. In your letter you assume that the `class’ all want the same thing, which I think is rather inaccurate. If I were to do what every individual wanted all the time there would not be enough days in the year to fulfil everyone’s wishes. So it is a case of compromise to a certain extent. But the bottom line is if I don’t feel comfortable with what has been requested of me and because I would be so busy trying to please this one and that one, probably hating and resenting what I am being asked to do, my enthusiasm would die and this would be reflected in the way I handle the classes. The most simplistic analogy I can think of is "how do you feel when you go out in an outfit that you feel uncomfortable wearing? – it’s just not you – I bet you can’t wait to go home and change." Remember, what I do is very much based on feeling.
Thanks for writing in.
Lynne

Below are two of several spontaneous replies from members of Lynne's classes

(10th Nov)
Hi Lynne.  I've just read the latest viewpoint and I thought I'd drop a line to let you know why I keep going to the same instructor.  She was the very first instructor I went to, some three years ago now. I have been to other classes, most of which have now folded, but although in my early months of line dancing I had a great thirst to learn, I have now reached a point where I would rather dance than learn loads of new dances. Some classes, I feel, rely too heavily on packing as many new dances in as the human brain can absorb. Whilst this can satisfy those who wish to be able to dance every dance there is (or maybe just brag that they can!), it can make the session seem a bit too much like going back to school. Many people then drop out of the classes because they can't keep up, and they end up either packing it all in or finding another instructor. The problem lies in determining how many new dances is too much, but even that is different for each class, and indeed for each person in that class. Also the maturity of a class causes its own problems, at what point does a class' thirst for new dances begin to ease? Fortunately my instructor introduces new dances at a comfortable pace for her class, I know that I don't get fed new dances at a rate which could see me dancing all night at a club, but if I went clubbing (which I don't) I could pick up the rest of the dances on the floor, or I could find them by other means (mags, Internet, etc.). We have also had fairly consistent numbers for quite a while now, so my instructor must be doing something right!
One other point is that of all the classes I have been to, only one instructor has made the effort to get to know every person who attends her classes. Whenever new people attend, she takes the time to introduce herself, and to find out if the new arrival is a line dance 'virgin', or what level of ability they have. Everyone is remembered by name (a rather remarkable achievement in itself, I cant remember the names of half of those I dance next to every week!) and we are all treated like good friends, and not just like those from whom she earns a living. Long may her success continue.
Can I also say that after reading the radio interview, that radio fella is a bit of a pratt! He seems typical of some of the ****heads in the media today.  It all seems to be part of the "I don't like it, so neither should you" attitude of many people in a position to sway public opinion.  All I can say to him is this; I line dance because I love it.  I hope you never try it, because we can do without miserable whingers on the floor. As far as there being no sex in line dancing, well I've got to tell you that from where I'm standing, with all those girls bums.....ooeerr!!!..... It can really upset your concentration!

Bryan Harris
London
Bryan has been a regular at Lynne's classes for just over 3 years.

Many reading this would think that you have a problem picking up dances and that is why you have said what you have said.  Well the truth is you are absolutely foot-perfect and have no trouble in picking up any amount of dances I throw at you.  Bryan, thank you for understanding where `I come from' and may I say that it is a privilege having you attend my classes.
Fondest wishes,
Lynne

(10th Nov)
I've been to a variety of classes, each instructor having their own individual charm and style. There are, no doubt endless more classes that pull in the regular/not so regular dancers for their own reasons. I go back to my class week in, week out, because the motivation I have received from my instructor has been endless. She has been a true inspiration to me over the past couple of years and line dancing has become so huge in my life. On a more personal level, I received a lot of support and guidance from this instructor when I had an accident that stopped me dancing for a few months, and during that time, she never forgot about me. This showed me I wasn't just a statistic in her class and it also showed me that she is a businesswoman with a heart. So I keep on going back to her class twice a week not only because I want to reciprocate this support but also because I truly love the content of her classes - they draw me like a magnet.

Karen Neidus
London
Karen has been dancing with Lynne, twice a week for two and a half years.

Karen, what can I say?   If it weren't for people like you I wouldn't have a class.  It is individuals like you who make my `job' a joy and a pleasure. 
Fondest wishes,
Lynne

(7th Nov)
I always think that it’s shame that we pay so much homage to these American choreographers who come over two or three times a year and run a few workshops or classes. The poor old weekly instructor has to take a back seat whilst everyone bows and scrapes and tells these people how marvellous they are. Once they are back in their homeland, it is the instructor who is going to have to spend the next few sessions going over the dozens of dances they taught whilst their visitors were here, regardless of whether they like the dances or not.

Darren Viles
Rotherham

Hi Darren.  I agree with you to a certain extent.  But whether you like it or not, at present, there seems to be many people wanting to see foreign (not all are American) choreographers/instructors, and I guess we are lucky enough to live in a free market economy.  Having said that, I am also thrilled that you have recognised the plight of the weekly instructor.
Thank you.
Lynne

The following is an extract from an article written by Johhny Two Left Feet, who sent the complete article to Lynne directly.

Being a good dancer does not make a good teacher, nor for that matter does a good teacher make for a good dancer.   Instructors throughout the country are trying to please the majority and are doing a great job in keeping the line dance active.  Instructors continually have to face the problems of what dances to teach and obtaining the music.  This is a minefield in a bid to please everyone.  The average instructor does his or her homework, for example, they look through mags or the internet to find the CD is obsolete or its not going to be released for several months.
Why not give the teacher some feedback and support them rather than supporting the glut of foreign instructors primed to extract as much money out of you as they can!

Johnny Two Left Feet
York

I couldn't agree more Johnny - a good dancer does NOT necessarily make for a good teacher.  It feels good to know that someone else recognises what the regular instructor has to consider on a weekly basis.   As far as foreign instructors go, well isn't it just a case of many thinking the `grass is greener on the other side'.  Having said that, I have no objection to foreign instructors coming over - if people want to see them it means there is a demand, and I say good luck to those instructors/ choreographers;  my concern is that yes, the regular instructor who has a much harder job, does tend to take a back seat.   That is because it is a certain `taken for granted scenario' - the regular instructor is just `there' whereas the `foreign' instructor/choreographer is more novel and many assume they know more and are `better' which in some cases may be true although definitely not always.
Thanks for sending in such an excellent article Johnny and allowing us to print extracts.
Lynne 

(5th Nov)
Hello Lynne.
After reading your Viewpoint referring to `the instructor is the key to the success or failure of the weekly class', can I please ask you something?  Are you saying that if a class shuts down, it is the instructor's fault and that automatically the instructor cannot be very good

Brenda Solomon
Portsmouth

No, not at all.  Every instructor needs willing dancers.  If there are no willing dancers in that area for any number of reasons, then the instructor doesn't stand a chance,   no matter how good or bad he/she is.  My Viewpoint has taken the assumption that there are dancers out there willing to learn; the point being that if they are not happy with one particular class, they will look elsewhere.  If they look elsewhere and prefer that class, I believe it is usually because of the instructor.
Lynne

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Last modified: 15 February 2001