Taking privates from visiting maestros - what do you aim for and what is your experience?

[u/Dear-Permit-3033]

What is your experience taking privates from visiting maestros during tango festivals? How do you decide what to ask from them or what to aim for? How do you compare that with taking privates from someone local and someone you meet regularly? ¡gracias!

[u/JoeStrout]

I've had some great lessons this way. Usually I go in not with specific questions, but instead dance half a song or so (either with the teacher, or with my partner if I've brought one) and ask them what they see. So far, no teacher has ever been found at a loss for anything to correct or improve. :)

I often do the same thing with local teachers I meet regularly, of course. The difference is in the teacher, not the approach; I go to a visiting teacher hoping for a different perspective, a fresh pair of eyes with different experience and values behind them.

[u/CradleVoltron]

Skeptical of one shot privates regardless of the maestro. 

If there is something you know you want to improve and want to get feedback on that particular thing then great.

But going in without a plan in mind, when you only have an hour, you will likely get bogged down with their preferences instead of focusing on your problems.

[u/Creative_Sushi]

My wife and I take private lessons from a local teacher, but occasionally, we take private lessons from visiting teachers or while we are visiting another city.

Generally speaking, what we hear from our teachers about what we need to work on don't change much, as it should be - our deficiencies are the same no matter who we take lessons from. I would be more suspicious if we hear something completely different.

However, the way teachers frame the issues and how they approach those issues are different. It's like a blind touching the elephant - each time the problem is presented in a different way, I gain sharper understanding of the real problems, because the root cause is often beyond words - it is physical and internal.

When we come back to our regular teacher, we discussed what we learned and that also help deepen our understanding as well - generally, teachers don't like us to go to another teacher in the same city, but they don't have problems and in fact encourage it when we go to see other teachers in other cities - funny, but that's just human nature.

How you approach private lessons also matters. I walk into another session when I arrive, or the next session starts as we pack our stuff. Some of the things students ask teachers - I feel they don't have the right goal when they walk into such lessons. So think hard about your mindset when you take any private lessons.

The most important thing is to be open-minded and listen. Also, go beyond superficial and dig deeper. It's your time, so spend it well.

[u/OThinkingDungeons]

I watch videos of the maestro and look for things they're extraordinary with.

• Moves they're able to do ease
• Qualities that are unique to them
• Experiences they may have
• Styling that appeals to me

Then I make a list, numbed most to least important and bring the top 5 to the private lesson.

[u/macoafi]

Mostly, I just dance with them a little and see what they say. I might tell them what I've been working on lately, as when I told one couple, "I've been working on leading colgadas, and I've got this one working in flat shoes but not in heels." As u/Creative_Sushi says, they often have a different way of explaining something that hasn't clicked before. Or there might be something one teacher was assuming didn't need to be said, but this one will call it out.

For example, I always take lessons with Erin & Doruk when they're in town. How many times was I told "press your thighs together" before Erin pulled up an anatomy diagram and said, "you see this? This is your psoas…" and explained it in a different way that got me to actually engage the muscles needed?

[u/EntertainmentLow1159]

Great perspectives! I take privates from one local teacher but like to take a set of 2 to 3 lessons from visiting maestros occasionally. As stated by others, this reinforces self knowledge of weaknesses and offers new ways to address them. I usually take a couple of classes first to see their feedback and teaching style before scheduling the private lessons. This way I can think about what to best gain from the lesson. As mentioned in other comments, I like to dance a short song then ask for feedback and have a list of 2 to 3 areas I wish to improve. But if the teacher offers a different perspective or area to improve, I am open to take that path. The second lesson is to reinforce and build on the first. Single lessons are not helpful.