For a dance school it is very important to have an effective teaching method and being able to take full advantage of its strengths while limit its weaknesses. The perfect method does not exist; however, some approaches are more suitable than others depending on what the goals are. Experience shows that the rotational method, the one involving frequent partner changes, is an excellent candidate for teaching social dance, since through it students learn more effectively. Let’s take a look at what it is all about.
Cuban Salsa
Cuban Salsa is not a standardized dance, subject to strict rules that confine and depersonalize it. It is a dance with a minimum number of general principles and with ample freedom that encourages personal expression. Social dance therefore requires fundamental techniques that students learn, develop and cultivate so that they can adapt to the uniqueness of each dancer.
As such, these techniques are essential pillars that students must master. Dance schools have the task and the responsibility of teaching these key elements during lessons. As I anticipated, the rotation method works great precisely to help teachers and students achieve this goal effectively, efficiently and with some fun.
The rotation method
The idea behind the rotation method is simple: pairs arrange themselves to form a circle, and the teacher calls a partner change at regular and frequent intervals. At each turn, leaders and followers switch places, usually counterclockwise. With this system each dancer practices the steps and figures with all the others, and this happens for several times each lesson.
What makes this approach “special” are a number of features intrinsic of the method along with some interesting “side effects” that I will tell you about in a moment. Let’s look at them in no particular order.
Refine leading/following skills. The only way to improve one’s leading/following skills is to dance in as many varied context as possible. Dancing with many different partners helps refine awareness and sensitivity in leading and following, and it is crucial to practice in class where an expert supervise the process. ThoThose who attend social dance events want classes to prepare them well and provide opportunities to practice with as many partners as possible. Closely linked to this is another crucial factor which is the instructor feedback
Instructor feedback. With the rotation method, instructors also dance and rotate along with their students. This allows them to literally “feel” each student’s technique and provide precise, concrete feedbacks. This system is immensely more effective (and appropriate) than merely giving verbally directions – which, experience shows, are far less impactful1 . In addition, instructors who dance with their students better understand the difficulties they face and can take advantage of this knowledge by planning future lessons lessons in a more targeted and effective way.
Students can enroll in courses alone. The rotation method allows people to sign up in classes independently, without the need (the hassle and frustration) of having to find a dance partner on their own2. So nobody is dependent on a single person – who may get sick, have other commitments or decide to stop attending classes.
The number of pairs may be unbalanced. Even if there are more leaders than followers (or vice versa), the rotation method ensures that each of the students get to practice without downtime. Thanks to the continuous partner changes, students take turns without long waits. Those who momentarily find themselves without a partner2 can observe the instructors a second time, making each moment productive.
Advanced students can help. Related to the previous point, the flexibility of the rotation method allows more advanced dancers to support their peers. This approach has a dual benefit: students get to learn from more experienced dancers, while the latter benefit from a review of their skills.
Encourages socialization among participants, creating a relaxed, cheerful, and enjoyable atmosphere. Students become friends over time and grow increasingly enthusiastic about attending lessons. Their motivation to learn together strengthens, as does their desire to participate in social dance events. This is highly beneficial for both students and instructors.
Weaknesses
Dancing with all fellow classmates also exposes students to those who may “abuse” the platform provided by dance classes. For example, some students may behave in a way that is unpleasant toward their dance partners.
Trying to nip these situations in the bud is important to preent a small problem from becoming a big one. Most of the time, these are minor things that can be solved with little effort.
The most frequent cases are those in which students arbitrarily start “teaching” their partner. Even if their intentions are good – but often driven by a need to show off – this attitude hinders learning.
A student learning a new movement needs to become familiar with it in a stress-free environment, without performance anxiety. A classmate ready to corrects their partner, without giving them the time to “breath”, shifts the focus to the wrong goal – making them worry about being monitored rather than allowing them to learn at their own pace. This ultimately leads to unnecessary pressure and, over time, frustration for those struggling with the steps. It also detracts from the main purpose of dance which is connection and dialogue.
This is why it is important that instructors remind students of their role, especially those who are more skilled. In the classroom, there is only one instructor, and all students are there to learn, regardless of their abilities. This is why it is preferable that they do not assist their classmates unless explicitly “authorized” by the instructor.
Conclusion
My passion for dance is mainly due to its social aspect, which is why I strongly believe in the rotation method, despite recognizing some of its limitations. Not everyone shares my view. The main critics of this method simply do not want to switch dance partners – for reasons that we do not explore.
Through study and experience, I have developed a certain expertise as an instructor using this method. Therefore, I can only guarantee high-quality lessons to students who are comfortable with it. This is a general rule: the most effective teaching method in a school is the one that instructors know best.
I believe however that, regardless of the teaching method used, one key element should never be missing and this is the rotation of instructors together with their students. This serves the students for the reasons mentioned above and is a great tool for the instructors themselves to understand the effectiveness of their explanation. The approach I use in my classes is to practice a step or figure 2-3 times (no more) before changing partners. On average, during a lesson, instructors dance with each of their students at least 5-6 times.
As students, you should be aware that without frequent partner changes you will develop a deficiency in your leading/following skills. Over time, this gap will become more impactful, making social dancing less enjoyable for both you and your dance partners. The most likely consequence is that other dancers will tend to dance with you less and less frequently. You will end up feeling excluded and raise negative feelings toward the dance environment.
Conversely, those who develop good dance technique have more fun and make dancing enjoyable for others too, fully embracing the social spirit of Salsa! So, make sure to choose a school that teaches you what you truly need!
1. It is well known, for example, that simply telling a student how much tension they should have in their hands/arms is not really effective. They need to literally feel it firsthand.
2. With whom they may not necessarily be in sync, which becomes irrelevant in the rotation method but is crucial in the case of fixed couples.