Losing your Teacher (Part 1)
I may have mentioned previously that my dear coach left the area for another state. This is the teacher with whom I started my partner ballroom journey, having previously only danced at small performances which included latin elements. I do not exaggerate when I say that, over time, I became attached to my coach and to my regular lessons. When learning with a coach whom you meet regularly, you develop a teacher-student relationship, which, with the right couple, becomes growth-promoting, fun, challenging, supportive. A teacher helps their student meet their goals, whatever they may be. And my goal was to improve my dancing over time, and to sometimes perform and compete. With my coach gone, and no-one locally to replace him, I was rather at a loss and felt a sense of disconnect with myself and with my dancing. Not long ago, on his visit, I had a lesson and I felt very emotional. My technique felt worse, and any feedback felt like a criticism instead of a usually much welcomed correction. It was difficult to see him as a guide, as I had previously and I had to adjust my mindset to try to reconstruct the feeling of learning together that had essentially crumbled with his departure.
Now, several months later, I have discovered and built upon several other dancing opportunities that I regularly enjoy. However, they do not include ballroom dancing with a partner, and that dream, for now, is gone.
Has this ever happened to you? Let me know in the comments.