The value of Jordan and Tatiana.....

[Amir]

Don't forget the indirect benefits from having these guys over!

Us modern jive teachers / performers learn new ideas about performing and teaching by seeing 'big names' even if we don't do wcs/tango/latin.

If you come to a musicality workshop with me, for example, many of the ideas and teaching tools are things I have learnt from wcs/tango workshops, adapted for modern jive.

Maybe you prefer to do classes with Simon & Nicole, Marc & Rachel etc, but one of the reasons their classes are so good is because they also do classes in different styles, or at least get new ideas and inspiration from them. I am pretty sure all the best teachers do - it is very hard to develop great stuff without being exposed to other great stuff.

The big names I am sure benefit from seeing our modern jive events and classes too - it is a two way exchange of ideas and everyone is better of for it.

Plus there is no reason why we can't have events with top UK jive teachers and top 'imported' stars. In fact I think we do have such events! (Insert plug for 'Blaze' here - which will have great Ceroc teachers and some American 'big names.')

I think the value in exchange of ideas, inspiration and knowledge is immeasurable, for everyone in the long run, not just west coast swingers.

[killingtime]

Originally Posted by ducasi

I'm not especially interested in how "big" the name is, just on how good the teaching and dancing is.

That's the point for me as well. A top of the game WCS, Tango etc teacher means little to me since I'm no where near a level they can potentially teach at and, generally, they aren't teaching to the sort of level they could teach at. Though a lot of the big names (that I've been to lessons with) do also seem like very good teachers, perhaps due to training or practice from being full time in it, I'd rather prefer someone who maybe wasn't a stunning dancer but a great teacher teach than someone who is a stunning dancer but can't get the concepts of that dance across as well.

Originally Posted by Sheepman

It's not just a case of how good the teaching is, there is also the novelty factor. For example, I think that Amir is one of the best teachers around, but I wouldn't especially pay to see him at a weekender, as I can get lessons with him every week.

I'd agree that Amir's teaching has always been spot on and since I'm not in London then the opportunity to attend his classes at weekenders are a big draw for me. So I suppose he's still an imported resource for me that I'll book to go see.

Though you are right about the novelty factor; just different teaching and dance styles leads to you getting new ideas and being able to integrate that into your dance. I think imported teachers are worth it but Id book weekenders "blind" assuming that there will always be some classes that interest me be it with unknown or famous teachers.