“I take lessons with Myles and Tessa, but those hours in the studio with them is a drop in the bucket compared to what they have taught me.
They have encouraged and taught me to be a community leader, roll model, and all around better person. I have been honoured with their full-service mentorship. A few months ago they answered a video call at 2am to walk Alpha and me through a technical skill we were planning to teach in a workshop the next day: they were in bed, in their pyjamas, at a WCS event on the other side of the continent. Epic. While I would like to think I’m special…. I see them do this with many others, in many cities.
When they find someone who is driven, their teaching does not end on the 1-hour mark. They buy-in completely. I can’t imagine this level of dedication and generosity is common.”
Jen M
“I’m grateful to have had Myles and Tessa as teachers. Their ability to identify crucial moments in dance, then explain them in a clear concise manner makes every minute of their private lessons indispensable. I admire the way they target their teaching to give me exactly what I need to grow as a dancer without overwhelming me.”
Doug R
“I am so grateful for the privates and workshops that have accelerated my dance progress. Myles & Tessa’s ability to interpret my learning style and body mechanics, imparted foundations and skills that allow me to feel I can understand what can improve many situations even on-the-fly while dancing. A work in progress, but I’m now more aware when I can improve a move, figure out what is missing, and how to adjust. The bonus is that I can also better follow other instructors in workshops and fill in the blanks if necessary. Looking forward to continued development and enjoyment of musicality, partner communication, boing, and kissing, that turn a good dance into a great experience.”
Mike M
“I just wanted to say a big thank you again! I received so many compliments on my connection after my private and especially after the mini intensive. Myles, thank you for the feedback on finals, and for all the fabulous dances throughout the weekend! Tessa was able to analyze what was causing me long term pain during my anchor, and after making a simple adjustment, I haven’t had an issue with it since!”
Tiffany Y
“On a personal level, Tessa and Myles have both personally helped me move beyond my limits. They are encouraging as teachers, their collective knowledge of movement and dance, and sheer experience shines through in their interaction. Their private lessons are effective, but be prepared to work: their analysis and attention to details leave no stone unturned. They move beyond the monkey-see-monkey-do by presenting the concepts behind the ideas, reinforcing the foundations beneath the help you want. Be prepared to walk away from these guys a better dancer!”
Ian M
Last week, I published Part 1, which you really should read first, to get the context of Part 2. If you had a chance to read it already, something to notice in both articles is how often the words “technique needed” are mentioned. When we lay out advice like this, it really stands out how […]
“What should you do if…”, “What happens when…”, “How can I handle…”, “How do I deal with…” These are all questions that students of all levels batter their teachers with. They are tactical questions – they ask for circumstantial advice, or recommendations for particular situations that have to do with not just the physical side […]
Quick access to the best 2017 articles you may have missed – SHARE SHARE SHARE! The Coach’s Corner blog allows us to discuss common topics our students asked, published in a format that dancers worldwide could learn from and respond to. We enjoy “talking shop”, but for the blog I draw the line at skill […]
The best articles you may have missed – you’re gonna wanna share these! The Coach’s Corner blog allows us to discuss common topics our students asked, published in a format that dancers worldwide could learn from and respond to. We enjoy “talking shop”, but for the blog, I draw the line at skill development: physical […]
Hey. You look a little stressed… a little adrift. Maybe it’s time we sat down and had a chat. Pull up a comfy chair, order your favourite hot beverage, and get cozy. Let’s get you feeling anchored. This time of year can be emotionally draining, even pulverizing for some. While I don’t proclaim to be an […]
It’s US Open season! This means many competitors are hard at work preparing their choreography, and are turning their attention (if they haven’t already) to planning their costumes. There are dozens of factors to consider when choosing/creating a costume, it’s easy to miss some. But the reality is that little details make a BIG difference. […]
We all solicit, teach, encourage, and promote WCS to newbies all the time in an effort to grow our community. But the first rule of marketing is “know your customer”. How can we hope to attract and retain new Westies unless we step into their shoes and figure out what concerns they have, what orientation […]
West Coast Swing lives online, and if you don’t know how to operate your social media tools, you risk missing opportunities or being left out of the loop entirely. Even if you are savvy with Facebook, you may not realize how some of the features are restricting you if you don’t take control of them. […]
Last week I released Tough Love: Read at your own Risk (Part 1). You really should read that first, in order to put this article in perspective, and catch the points that are made about aspects of WCS outside of competition. This article is aimed specifically at Competitors. Here’s my disclaimer again: If you are […]
As an educator, I spend most of my time trying to make learning enticing: convincing kids to want to learn more. They want to freeplay, but there are so many life skills that they need to learn that are mundane or challenging. As a dance teacher, most of the time I get to teach people […]
