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One of my classmates consistently cues one of the step variations incorrectly, and gives the cue for a different variation. So consistently that I can pretty much see it coming, and do the step incorrectly along with her, if need be. This isn't too tragic in the classroom where nobody's looking, but it doesn't help her (the teacher has corrected her a number of times, but it doesn't take), but she just did it at a public performance, and it really threw off the third person in the trio, who didn't know what the hell was going on.
So, my question is this: is it fair to ask her to not try to lead this step until she can consistently do it the right way? I know I get to my lead and sometimes freeze up or give the wrong cues myself, as I'm sure we all do initially.
OR: do I, along with the other dance partner, go ahead and do the step this leader is actually cueing, so at least I'll be in synch with the third dancer, or do I try to follow the leader, even though she's wrong? Opinions?
So, my question is this: is it fair to ask her to not try to lead this step until she can consistently do it the right way? I know I get to my lead and sometimes freeze up or give the wrong cues myself, as I'm sure we all do initially.
OR: do I, along with the other dance partner, go ahead and do the step this leader is actually cueing, so at least I'll be in synch with the third dancer, or do I try to follow the leader, even though she's wrong? Opinions?
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Los Angeles
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Re: ATS Improv etiquette
Mon, April 28, 2008 - 1:12 PMI would say neither. After following the incorrectly given cue in class, you could either bring it up to the dancer herself by saying that you were confused by her cue and therefore almost went into the wrong step, or you could bring it up to the teacher in the entire class as a "Could you go over the proper cue for this step once again" request. Either way, the dancer needs to know that the cue threw people off. How you bring it up is entirely up to you and I would suggest, as you have, recognizing that she's still learning, no one's perfect, and this is a difficult dance that can be highjacked by brainfreezes easily. Definitely bring it up, though, because following the wrong cue is only going to cause problems in future dances. -
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Re: ATS Improv etiquette
Mon, April 28, 2008 - 1:41 PMBeen there, done that, will continue to do that again. I should clarify- I was asking about how to handle it in a performance setting, when you can't stop and say. "What are you doing?" -
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Re: ATS Improv etiquette
Tue, April 29, 2008 - 7:25 AMIn performance, follow the leader as best you can, even if she's doing the move wrong. But if it's a consistent thing, rehearsal is when it should be corrected. In the classroom, the teacher should correct it, and during a rehearsal as a troupemate, you should be able to say something about it.
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Re: ATS Improv etiquette
Mon, April 28, 2008 - 1:30 PMI agree with Leigh Ann on the most part, but if the teacher has already corrected her a number of times, then I think it would be best if the teacher told her she shouldn't lead the movement until she gets it right. If she's at performance level, there should be some standards set. If she's miscueing and the followers can't follow, the presentation of it falls apart. An incorrect habit is so hard to break. It's best to nip it in the bud, or as soon as possible.
As far as during a performance goes, you have to follow whatever it is she's leading. Fake it until she gets back on track. It's usually a good idea to have a decompression discussion after the show to air out any miscues and/or right-ons.
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Re: ATS Improv etiquette
Mon, April 28, 2008 - 1:30 PMI think good ATS etiquette means not leading until you're ready. Ideally that'd mean you just didn't lead until you were solid on everything, because brainfreezes will happen & people will repeat the mistakes they made in class.
But realistically, many of us are still learning & are imperfect at cueing things, even though we're already performing. In that case, we should avoid performing something that we or the people following us aren't able to do yet. If she knows from class that she's still struggling with it, then it's totally reasonable to ask her not to perform it. Whether she'll REMEMBER not to do it is a whole other thing. -
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Re: ATS Improv etiquette
Mon, April 28, 2008 - 1:38 PMI'd have to agree to Sandi's and April's comments - people shouldn't be leading if they don't have the skills, and doing a cue incorrectly due to lack of awareness isn't the same thing as just doing it incompletely or poorly due to skill level. I have a question though: who's responsibility is it to tell someone that they can't lead until they're ready? What do you do with the totally unaware dancer? This is a HUGE issue in some troupes, and one of the most critical things that rarely gets addressed is how to communicate the need for standards and how to enforce them. -
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Re: ATS Improv etiquette
Mon, April 28, 2008 - 1:40 PMargggh...that's "whose responsibility"
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Re: ATS Improv etiquette
Mon, April 28, 2008 - 2:07 PMI'd say, the teacher would be the one to say something. If you are having problems with another student dancer, bring it up with a teacher and she can decide what to do from there. Because sometimes a teacher may not notice the problem and you shouldn't have to deal with being an authority at that point.
But if you're talking about troupe members telling other troupe members, I'd still defer to the leader of the troupe. Or if you are all able to discuss these things openly, then do so.
This dance form is all about being aware. The "unaware" dancer is not going to survive very well onstage. Oh, but I do know they are out there. If they are good about taking constructive criticism, then it makes things a lot easier. A lot of times, those who are unaware, don't want to be unaware. They just need to told be told/reminded until they can see the problem and correct themselves.
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