one of the loves of my life is dancing. most everyone knows that. the balboa is one of those dances (aside from lindy) that has captured my heart. this last weekend was the balboa rendezvous, which has consistently been the best workshop i've ever attended.
a little background from a post i put on swingorama on deciding what level you are:
I think it should be pointed out, too, though, that placing yourself in a local workshop is a totally different thing than placing yourself at a national/international workshop.Locally, most people are pretty aware where they fall in the food chain. Unless you live someplace like LA, chances are the top dancers in your scene are not necessarily the most advanced dancers in the nation or world.
Nationally/Internationally, you have to be a lot more honest and willing to step down a level if need be. I have been in several workshops were a person might honestly have been an advanced dancer in their own scene, but when they were put in a class with overall advanced dancers, their true level showed through. At that point, changing levels is the polite thing to do.
Again, it depends on how much I'm paying for the workshop. If it's a local workshop that I've paid under $100 for, I'm not going to get bent out of shape if the level I'm in is mixed with people who technically probably shouldn't be there. But if I've travelled out of town and am paying $200-400 to go to the camp or workshop, I really would prefer to get my money's worth. That may sound selfish, but really it's not an incentive to pay the big bucks for a workshop in the future if it's been a waste of time in the past...which tends to upset the event organizers and prevent them from holding great events in the future.
I suppose that's why I don't generally take workshops or classes anymore - I don't ever seem to learn anything and end up being frustrated that I spend most of the rotations trying to teach someone how to do the basic. Call me a dance snob, I guess. But only when it comes to workshops. On the social floor, I'll dance with anyone. :)
granted, at the rendezvous, i was in the invitational level, which contributed to the fact that i enjoyed it so much. everyone that was in the level was at that level since someone had to invite them or place them in the level. all the classes were taught at that level. it was great. there wasn't any backtracking to teach the basics of the move that we were adding (or taking away!) stuff from.
the competition class was probably one of the best. a lot of it was stuff that i think i knew already, but hearing it from someone else reinforced it. plus i got a little tip on my inside vs. outside spins - something i still need to work on!
camp hollywood, here i come!
Posted by kendra at April 7, 2006 01:30 PM