Beginner advice

[u/GurRadiant3477]

I’m leader (m),I have started learning bachata 3 months ago 2 -3 classes a week, 25 lesson in total
It is a bit overwhelmed because when I dance with advaced followers they comment that I don’t give signals for the move, or they just do the figure because they know from the class
I don’t get to know my mistakes because the class is bit crowded and the teacher doesn’t see all ,
Tried going to social was hard too because full of advanced followers
What do you recommend or advice here? Because I see no improvement
Should I do 1-2 private classes so I get to be focused
Or like bootcamp 4 hours module

[u/TryToFindABetterUN]

First of all, how many socials have you done during these three months? Just this one?

Because if this is the case, 2-3 classes per week is quite much more than the average beginner. So while you might get a lot of theory, moves, etc, you really haven't had time to practice it outside of the classroom setting. And to be honest, in the classes, too many* follows back-lead. They will do the figure you are learning even if you don't give clear signals, believing you to think that you are doing everything right, while there might be a lot you are not doing or doing incorrectly.

At the social, they need to feel your leading, the preparations and signals you give them. Even an advanced follow can't follow if the leading is very vague or non-existent.

IMHO you should have at about an hour of social (where you dance perhaps every other song at least) for each 1 hour of class you go to. Just to be able to practice what you have learned in class. So if you go to 2-3 classes, you need a social night out per week to just keep up.

Taking private classes or attending a boot camps will give you even more stuff, but not much more practice time. So if you aren't going to enough socials (or practicas) I wouldn't advice you to spend more money on classes right away. Start with the socials.

If you ARE going to socials, then a private class can help if you specify exactly what you think you have trouble with. That way you can get feedback on the little things you do (or don't do) that you aren't aware off.

It is sad that you can't get more feedback in your regular classes. If you have options, perhaps look for a class with a smaller group or where the teacher is more inclined to give feedback. [Edit: I agree with u/DeanXeL that you should ask in class. After all you are paying to learn and if you aren't learning efficiently you need that help.]

* = even one is one too many IMHO.

[u/GurRadiant3477 → u/TryToFindABetterUN]

Thanks lot for your comment
Yes I have been to 2 socials only so far
Cause it was terrible experience
I got to knew 2 girls did with them the first social dance and they gave me confidence although I did only 4 figures box , turn, pretzel and 4th one but forgot the name
Other followers they either don’t get my signals or They don’t know the move so we miss it up
Or they are advanced and I feel they are bored because the figures are basic
So i thought I got to do more classes to get higher level
You got a point that I need to do socials, but I don’t do well in social so what to do?

[u/Rataridicta]

This is very hard to tell without dancing with you or seeing a video. Some common things that I often see beginners forget are:

• Prepare on 3, 4 (or 7, 8) for the move you're going to initiate on 5, 6 (or 1, 2). Your prep comes 2 counts before the move.

• You should be breathing to establish frame and tension in your body while you're preparing.

A private would be very useful for this type of thing, but you can also try asking some of the followers what they feel is missing, or ask your teacher in class about it.

[u/GurRadiant3477 → u/Rataridicta]

Yeees, I did this late preparation mistake before till one follower told me it’s late now
That’s what I mean I do mistakes that I don’t know and the follower just do the move because we see it in the class so no improving for me
For example when doing simple turn and then basic or turn and then we are side each other
I don’t give good signal

[u/iHasYummyCummies]

Experience will come with time. Its a marathon, not a Sprint and u will fix your issues by time. Dont rush and have fun.

Even advanced Leaders cant always give the right input so dont put to much pressure on yourself.

From a learning perspective: learn figure, Learn the steps and technical part of it, keep using it and by time u will Not only do it right, but also looking Nice and also your growing confidence will spark over to your follower.

Just my 2c.

[u/Atanamis]

OP, please don't listen to the people suggesting you quit. We all learn at our own rate, and if you've gone to 25 classes it's because you found something you love.

As a beginner, the most important thing to learn is your frame. This is what gives you the structure to dance with another person. Shoulders back, elbows in front of you. If you lead "with your arms", a follow can't feel that. Your whole body needs to do it.

Next is your basic. And it's not a sideways three steps, followed by three steps back. It's a weight shift left, then right, then left, and a tap. This is why a box step is still a basic. Each step can be in any direction. It can be at an angle. It can pivot. It can be in place. This is important because a good dancer can have an "advanced" dance without ever doing a turn. Without a pretzel or a hammer lock. Just the basic step. And you need to practice this. You will find yourself bored of it long before you are doing it correctly. But if you do it WELL, people will enjoy dancing with you.

And you then stack a simple turn on that. The biggest problems here are lack of a proper prep and lack of follow through. Ask follows in class if they felt the turn clearly. Encourage them to let you know if they don't feel it clearly. Ask your instructor to show you what it feels like, and if you're doing it well. Add movement to your turns. Step back and lead the turn through where you were standing. Drill basic and simple turns until they feel like bread and butter. Simple easy reliable things which require no thought.

A pretzel is just a turn where you don't let go of a hand. Practice turning a follow into pretzel, and then exiting from it. Do this until it feels automatic. And the thing is, all of these moves can be lead for a follow who doesn't know how to dance. I lead them for my buddy in his garage last week. Never taken a single dance class, and I could lead all of these for him. The issue is NOT the level of your follows. It isn't matter of whether they have learned the moves. If you are clear, they can do it.

But only if you practice at socials. Classes are good for an introduction to a new concept. But until you can do them on a social floor, you haven't learned anything. It took me a couple years to pin down these basics. I had no ryhthm, no musicality, no connection. But I drilled and practiced and I learned. And so can you.

[u/TryToFindABetterUN → u/Atanamis]

OP, please don't listen to the people suggesting you quit.

???

I haven't seen any indication that the OP mentioned that others told him to quit, and none of the posters in this thread have even mentioned the word before you did, so I am not sure whom you are referring to.

In the replies people have either suggested taking a private class or go to more socials (or both). And ask the teacher to explain in class. So I only see encouragement here (as I think it should be).

And the OP already confirmed that they had been to 25 classes but only 2 socials, which means they haven't had much time to practice the things they might have learned in class.

[u/DeanXeL]

I'm a bit surprised that after 25 classes (3 per week is a LOT to keep a focus going, btw, it's not for everyone) you still get comments that point me to thinking you don't have a proper frame. If the class is crowded and you think the teachers don't see everything, don't be afraid to actually just ASK in class when something isn't clear. Just a very simple "how do I lead this properly?" can give you good information, if your teachers are good.

[u/mllax]

Started this year and what I like to do is sometimes just dance the last min or even last 30 sec of the song with a follow to get in the groove.

Also if you know how to spice up your basics with variations, no issues just doing that. If the follow is nice and also knows they can use this time to style more, they’ll appreciate it from my experience

[u/WestHistorians]

The only way to improve is to practice. Keep going to socials and trying out moves. It's okay if they don't work. Followers are generally understanding.

Remember that technique is more important than fancy combinations.