We have two coaches/instructors that we work with. They are both excellent teachers and dancers, and we want to continue working with both of them. But they don't always agree, actually sometimes giving us quite contrary instruction on foot and head positions. Do other dancers have this problem, too? What should we do when one corrects something we've learned from the other one? We try to divide up the dances so that we don't practise the same steps with different teachers. But this isn't always possible. Last night I got yelled at for dancing a step the way I and the other coach believe is correct. Does anyone have some advice?
Thanks

Not everyone keeps up with their dance education, and some get stuck in old technique or opinion. Our body mechanics are continually being refined on the competition floor, just as our auto designs come from the racetrack. Not everyone is in touch with what is currently successful. I think many of us have probably been through the scenario you describe. Sometimes such a coach has other things to offer (choreography, for example) - but I think we instinctively know what the problem is, and what to do about it (and particularly regarding what a coach costs us), when we ask the question - we just don't like to do it. In my area, I've concluded that it's better to have coaches who are active Pro competitors. No matter how they may stack up against the awesome other pro competition, they are in touch, and have credibility of technique which they are proving frequently in the crucible of the comp floor, versus hiding out in the studio. Instructors have to be masters of self-promotion to be in business, like realtors or lawyers have to be, and like lawyers, there is no sign on the courthouse that says "Bill 2, Harriette 6." But I feel that if a coach is spending time on the comp floor, just like a lawyer who is actually practicing law by litigating versus talking and writing, one may have superior goods - and even if they are not the placewinners, they will know where their own strengths & weaknesses are in terms of current advancement, and train you accordingly.

Yes, I have experienced the same problem. There could be many reasons for it. The instructors may have qualified with different societies which have some minor differences in style or syllabus interpretation. They may have different personal style preferences. One may have trained more recently than the other or attended update lectures at congress etc.

They may also have different targets for your dancing - competition, medal, social.

It is often necessary for an instructor to concentrate on one aspect of your dancing to correct faults or develop technique or presentation. In this case they will temporarily ignore other problems until you have mastered the one small item they are concentrating on. They may overemphasise an action in the knowledge that most dancers don't copy the instructors exactly, even if they think they do. If both instructors are working on different areas their instructions will appear to conflict even if the ultimate aims are the same.

As for what to do, I would try to limit it to one instructor per dance. We split ours to have one for latin and one for ballroom. Some instructors are happy to discuss such problems, but some can get very upset if they know you even think of using another teacher. We have always been very open with our teachers, and most accept that we pay our money and take our choice.

Howard

You are going to have to decide which coach is
correct. If you are preparing for medals tests or
competition, there should be no conflicts between
what you are being taught by each coach. My partner and I have four coaches currently. Two regular and two once a month. We dropped our regular coach the instant we recognized what she was teaching us was wrong and at the least, 25 years behind the time. We first became suspicious and after taking from others, discovered the problem was her. We have gone from last place, (usually 6th or 7th) to 2nd in three months of work just by dropping her as our coach and doing what the new coaches recommend.