Inspired by Sarah's thread , has anyone had experience of what I clumsily name "collaborative dance teaching"?

My idea is, instead of the teacher suggesting to the student that the teacher knows exactly what has to be taught, how it is to be taught and what the end product should look like, the teacher tries to understand what "look and feel" the student is trying to achieve and also introduces things for the student to try out.

My thinking is the student develops in a positive way rather than a negative way. The student must be open to valid, constructive criticism as long as an alternative approach is offered.

Now I assume for competitions this would produce a dancer who would be marked down heaily - but it might draw out new dance ideas and help the dancer to grow in an "eager" way rather than a self-critical way.

What has been the experience and opinion of people who have invested time in taking a series of lessons to develop as dancers? Too idealistic?

Clive