Page 5 of 5 FirstFirst 12345
Results 81 to 89 of 89

Thread: Class Levels

  1. #81
    Registered User Freya's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Up near the ceiling!!!
    Posts
    2,035
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Class Levels

    Quote Originally Posted by TheTramp View Post
    Absolutely. For so many reasons, not just Ceroc

  2. #82
    Registered User NZ Monkey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Auckland, NZ
    Posts
    1,109
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Class Levels

    Quote Originally Posted by David James
    "Technically challenging" means different things to different people. To me, that would mean stuff about balance, weight transfer, posture, connection, exact positioning, and so on.

    But no-one says the descriptions of the class have to be mini-essays - could be just a couple of words:
    For a "high energy" class: "physically demanding" .
    For a class with lots of moves: "complex routine".
    For an AT class: "precise movements"
    and so on.

    Heck, you could even have icons for these if you want - that's what they do with hotel descriptions etc.

    That way, you could stay well away from ever using the "A" word, which to me would be a bonus.
    Well, the class did require you to have good balance, weight transfer, etc. so perhaps ''technically challenging'' would be the appropriate description for you after all DJ

    As for the brief two word descriptions of what is required - I can't see how this is any different from what is done already. ''Physically demanding'' can be interprited as requiring excellent cardiovascular fitness, being strong, being flexible or being coordinated. Is that really any better than calling it ''high energy''?

    A ''complex routine'' might mean one with lots of moves, or a few long and tricky moves, or perhaps even only a couple of the most mind-boggling moves the world of Ceroc has ever seen.

    Without going into a detailed description of what will be covered, all the arguments against marketing the classes the way they are at the moment can be applied to these two word descriptions. All it takes is for someone who wasn't happy with something to say them or write them down, and we're all back at square one again.

    That being said, I would like to formally acknowledge that giving a blow by blow description of a class would be far too overboard for its marketing.

    This all just brings me back to the idea that the teachers need some method of benchmarking the ability of their students if they're going to teach either very large numbers, people they've never seen before or both. Especially if they're covering specialist or potentially dangerous material.

    Quote Originally Posted by David James
    We're very much hamstrung by a lack of such definition; although by necessity it would be a narrow definition, at least we'd have one.
    Any kind of benchmark that could be set would have to vastly over-simplify a persons individual abilities, which is why it shouldn't be treated as the be-all and end-all of someone’s skill. It would definitely help from the teachers perspective though, and this helps the students who are able to get more focused teaching as a result.

    It also provides a more objective way of the student assesing themselves before deciding to do classes or workshops as well. Even if they never intend to get graded they can still compare themselves against the criteria if they are not sure they would be able to keep up.

    Quote Originally Posted by Alice
    {stuff}

    Quote Originally Posted by Freya
    Also just thought I'd say that I at southport I only attended one class because I decided that I didn't really like the huge numbers being taught at once! Also as minnie said the different levels in the class described as intermediate!

    I learn better with smaller numbers or am I just spoiled living in Scotland?
    Small numbers make a huge difference when learing moves and technique, and even musicality. Greater numbers help with freestyle practice, but I think there's a saturation point when it just doesn't matter if you have any more potential dance partners.

    Living in Scotland can't possibly hurt either...
    Last edited by NZ Monkey; 6th-October-2006 at 12:19 PM. Reason: Formatting issue

  3. #83
    The Forum Legend
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Nottingham
    Posts
    10,672
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: Class Levels

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    This all just brings me back to the idea that the teachers need some method of benchmarking the ability of their students if they're going to teach either very large numbers, people they've never seen before or both. Especially if they're covering specialist or potentially dangerous material.
    Well, they could just demo the routine at the start (I'm sure that most do) and if people are honest about their limitations (I'm sure that most aren't!), then they can pull out before it starts. They'll still have time to get to one of the other rooms (at a weekender) before that class starts - although, they will probably miss the demo of the other routine then!

    Of course, this could lead to mass exoduses at the start of an advanced class! Or maybe not!

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    Living in Scotland can't possibly hurt either...
    It certainly can't!

  4. #84
    Registered User NZ Monkey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Auckland, NZ
    Posts
    1,109
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Class Levels

    Quote Originally Posted by The Tramp
    Well, they could just demo the routine at the start (I'm sure that most do) and if people are honest about their limitations (I'm sure that most aren't!), then they can pull out before it starts
    Everything looks easy when the pro's do it

  5. #85
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Worcester, UK
    Posts
    4,157
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: Class Levels

    Quote Originally Posted by TheTramp View Post
    They'll still have time to get to one of the other rooms (at a weekender) before that class starts
    By the time I got down from watching the demo of the misadvertised class by Simon Borland, both the other two classes were already underway. So, no. Demoing the routine is great, and I'm glad Simon did so, but it's no substitute for decent class descriptions in the first place.

  6. #86
    The Forum Legend
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    Nottingham
    Posts
    10,672
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: Class Levels

    Quote Originally Posted by MartinHarper View Post
    By the time I got down from watching the demo of the misadvertised class by Simon Borland, both the other two classes were already underway. So, no. Demoing the routine is great, and I'm glad Simon did so, but it's no substitute for decent class descriptions in the first place.
    Fair enough. I guess it relies on all demo's taking place at the same time. If that happens, then if you move quickly enough, you shouldn't miss more than the first minute or so of the class. And if they demo BEFORE they get everyone into lines and organise the 'housekeeping', then people would miss nothing. Maybe there's an opportunity for organisers and teachers to take up?

    (But I agree, a decent class description would help too).

  7. #87
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Norf Lundin
    Posts
    17,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: Class Levels

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    As for the brief two word descriptions of what is required - I can't see how this is any different from what is done already. ''Physically demanding'' can be interprited as requiring excellent cardiovascular fitness, being strong, being flexible or being coordinated. Is that really any better than calling it ''high energy''?
    One's a promotional description, one's a set of requirements. For example, a "strictly sinful" class doesn't require you to be sinful

    In other words, they serve different purposes.

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    A ''complex routine'' might mean one with lots of moves, or a few long and tricky moves, or perhaps even only a couple of the most mind-boggling moves the world of Ceroc has ever seen.
    Same diff, surely? Same requirements anyway (i.e. good memory!), so I don't see why all these types shouldn't be advertised as the same.

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    Without going into a detailed description of what will be covered, all the arguments against marketing the classes the way they are at the moment can be applied to these two word descriptions.
    Ah, but the requirements are definitely not aimed at advertising or marketing the classes - almost the opposite in fact, they're almost warning people what to expect. Some classes may have some requirements that are not obvious from the class description.

  8. #88
    Registered User NZ Monkey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Auckland, NZ
    Posts
    1,109
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Class Levels

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidJames View Post
    One's a promotional description, one's a set of requirements. For example, a "strictly sinful" class doesn't require you to be sinful

    In other words, they serve different purposes.

    snip

    Ah, but the requirements are definitely not aimed at advertising or marketing the classes - almost the opposite in fact, they're almost warning people what to expect. Some classes may have some requirements that are not obvious from the class description.
    Ok, I take your point. Wouldn't the strictly sinful classes be so much more fun though if.... *cough* Um, I mean...never mind.

    It's a little difficult to separate the two though isn't it? In the weekender all the info we have fits onto a small brochure. In workshops elsewhere its a single flyer and a very brief plug from a venue teacher. As a promoter you'd hardly want to put customers off by telling them all it's going to be really hard. As a teacher you want people who can really learn what you're trying to get across (safely). Without having some convenient measure to let people know where they need to be to cope I can see the two desires conflicting.

    So far I've seen ''so many months dancing'' and ''confidence in freestyle'' used as those measures - neither of which are particularly good, but it's all we have right now.

    I'm not completely opposed to the idea of having a series icons as you suggested earlier, but I also don't want to see a checklist at the bottom of every booking form I see.

    I'm reminded of a fiasco that happened in NZ years ago with educational reforms. The government introduced a system where subjects were broken into segments and taught and assessed in those segments. It was possible to pass fractions but fail surds, ace calculus and bomb out in statistics. Students of mine often had the attitude that once they'd covered and tested a topic it had ceased to exist. While it gave you plenty of information where your individual weaknesses were it didn't exactly breed great mathematicians. Maths is not something that can be treated as completely separate topics easily. Neither is dance.

    I know it's really a completely different situation to the ceroc one, so please don't jump on in and point out all the reasons why teaching and assessing maths to high school students and dancing in a social environment are different. I just thought it nicely illustrated an idea about compartmentalising skills too much

  9. #89
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Cruden Bay (Aberde
    Posts
    7,053
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Class Levels

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    This all just brings me back to the idea that the teachers need some method of benchmarking the ability of their students if they're going to teach either very large numbers, people they've never seen before or both. Especially if they're covering specialist or potentially dangerous material.
    No - students need some method of benchmarking the teachers/classes so they can decide what's appropriate for them.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Dance levels: "Card" system?
    By David Bailey in forum Let's talk about dance
    Replies: 229
    Last Post: 4th-March-2006, 06:26 AM
  2. New Brechin Class
    By Lorna in forum Social events
    Replies: 45
    Last Post: 23rd-January-2006, 09:24 PM
  3. Edinburgh class
    By ymac in forum Beginners corner
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 12th-January-2006, 06:16 PM
  4. Levels of Dancers on Workshops
    By Andy McGregor in forum Let's talk about dance
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 24th-September-2005, 05:06 PM
  5. Improving overall dancing levels
    By David Bailey in forum Let's talk about dance
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 15th-June-2005, 03:58 AM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •