Please do not be offended by this, but you may be weird at times.
The purpose of this article is to understand that being weird is human, quirky, and expected. Your dance teacher just wants to make sure it doesn't go beyond that - to the Super annoying irritation zone.
5 Super Annoying Things that Secretly Irritate Your Dance Teacher
1. "Other Teacher Phobia"
It's normal to connect with your dance teacher, but things can go a little insane if you're avoiding other teachers like they've got the bird flu. If the only thing that is actually wrong is that they aren't your regular teacher, then that's a little insane. Your teacher needs additional vantage points, and you need additional connections in the studio.
Quick Solution: Dance with more people at the Practice Parties. Your teacher can even give you a special assignment with another teacher to draw on their areas of expertise.
2. Evil Ways
It's easy to call your teacher a teacher, or Jim, Suzy, or Vlad, but no matter how you refer to them, one thing is invariably true - they are a professional. This means that teaching is their profession, and it's in their best interest to have students that are happy and making progress. Understanding that, it doesn't make any professional business sense to set students up to fail, have sinister motives, and conspire to hack into your private financial data.
Quick Solution: If any of the evil things listed sound familiar, speak to management immediately.
3. Gossip
Maybe it's 24 Hour news channels, or Twitter is the culprit, but it seems like everyone wants to be able to deliver the Breaking News to people; even if that Breaking News is pure speculation. Gossip, particularly about the teachers or other students, taints the sanctuary aspects of your dance studio. It's normal to share an announcement that the source has communicated with you, but any re-interpretation, passed along as fact, is gossip. Too many people, teachers included, come to Arthur Murray to avoid the negative chatter from the outside world.
Quick Solution: If someone has shared exciting news, ask if it's okay to share. If this is a hunch, speculation, or some bizarre scenario you're convinced of - keep it to yourself. If you can't talk about it with the party involved, it doesn't help anyone by sharing with others.
4. Dance Judge Conspiracy Theories
It's good to care, it's healthy to be nervous, but it's crazy to think that a group of judges are huddled together plotting your Dance Competition doom. This is a combination of nerves, hard work, vulnerability, and trying to find a reason why your results weren't what you planned for. It's okay to be frustrated, and it's even better when you can channel that into motivation to improve, but blaming any bad result on a conspiracy theory should be avoided in all situations (i.e. NBA officiating, Area 51, promotions at work).
Quick Solution: Read the 31 Things Dance Judges want to See You Do, and agree to a new set of goals with your instructor that don't include specific placements.
5. Zero Accountability
Ballroom dancing means that there is always someone on the other end of your dance frame. This sets up a low accountability person with an easy target for blame. Blaming is easy. It's a one sided conversation resulting in a one sided judgment. Accountability, on the other hand, is difficult. It means that there's going to be two sides to the conversation, and that's not always a popular option. The sooner you apply this to your dancing, the sooner you'll see an invisible weight lifted off of your dance partners.
Quick Solution: Read the 3 Business Books Every Ballroom Dancer Must Read, buy the books listed, read them, and immediately practice accountability.
Final Thought
How did you do? The great thing about all 5 of these points is that they are not permanent. This doesn't mean they will all be as easy to learn as a basic box step either. Learning to dance, and learning how to process your dance emotions are both an ongoing process. To start the process, work backwards through this article and start with accountability. It is the all access pass to improving your communication skills, and maybe your dancing in the process.
