Dear Mrs. Maleva,

The 2005 edition of CITA (one of the A.T March festivals in Buenos-Aires) is coming soon, and time has come to register for classes. For the 2004 edition, with, by then, a little more than one year of instruction, I signed for mainly beginners classes, and a few intermediates. For the coming edition, one year later, my first idea was to sign for mainly intermediate classes, and a few beginners.

But last year in the two or three intermediate classes I attended, I noticed that many students had considerably overrated themselves. For instance, Cecilia Gonzales, during a class about boleos, wanted to demonstrate a boleo coming after a preliminary simple molinete (really simple molinete, I was taught it after maybe 6 months of instruction) , and most of the leaders proved unable to lead this molinete, (the few european/australian/japanese leaders seemed ok) so for a moment the boleo class became a molinete class. Later she demonstrated a boleo after a back ocho, and a significant part of the women (non-U.S followers were ok) proved unable to do back ochos. All in all, the few so-called intermediate classes I took were not what I had expected.

So, if I want truly intermediate classes this time, what do I do:
-) I consider that overrating oneself is the common rule, therefore I overrate myself too and sign for the so-called advanced classes, knowing that the main part of the students won't be advanced ones anyway?
-) I consider that the 2004 edition was somehow an exception, a 'bad year', that people in A.T are usually honest when they sign for classes, and I choose, as planned, to share my time between beginners and intermediate classes?

Sure it's difficult for organizers to deal with the students' skills. I saw once, in a festival, a lady who wanted to register for the level 4 (highest) classes but was not too sure, so one of the instructor came, watched her dancing for a while, and said 'level 2 would suit you best. Level 3 if you want but it will be challenging'. As a result she did not register at all...

-P from Paris

Dear P,

Unfortunately what you experienced was not a fluke or a 'bad year'. Intermediate and Advanced classes are always like that. I've been in that situation both as a teacher and a student and I assure you that it's frustrating in both roles.

What I would suggest is that you sign up for the "intermediate" level if you feel that is your current level and do not worry about the other students. Many times a teacher will focus on the student who needs just a bit more guidance in order to get the step and pay less attention to the student who is totally in above their heads. It sounds bad, but it's true. A teacher has a responsibility, foremost, to those that are in the correct level.

Also, if you can bring a friend as a partner to the classes that would be a good idea, and just don't rotate. Many times I've had great learning experiences in classes where the class level was below mine because my partner and I would work on doing the steps the teacher gave in different rhythms, to the left instead of the right and vice versa, and we would even lead it on each other. Even a basic tango class can become quite challenging if you go in-depth in that manner. As a teacher, it's really nice when I see a student do that. It shows that they are taking the initiative to improve.

As for the lady who didn't register because of the instructor's assesment, that's too bad but the truth hurts sometimes. I've always respected and learned more from teachers who have told me the truth instead of those who have just told me what they think I want to hear.

Have fun in Buenos Aires!