UNDERSTANDING THE IMPROVER LEVEL

Hello friends:

We’ve recently introduced the IMPROVER level in our classes. As we reach the end of our current round of lessons and many of you are readying to continue dancing with our school, I wanted to give you all a more detailed explanation of what Improver is, so you can better understand our expectations and the advantages of this level, which is more of a stage.

Usually, Cuban dance schools from around the world follow a rigidly linear patter of progression consisting of Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and so on. We are departing from this model to implement the Improver stage: this is the stage where you build a specific set of skills that allow you to properly become an intermediate dancer. These skills are acquired by taking TWO ROUNDS of Improver level. In the first round you’re introduced to new concepts, and in the second one you consolidate through practice and reviewing.

Please, note that a typical Cuban Casino dancer in Cuba is an intermediate dancer. You might be surprised to learn this, but the reality of this dance as a sociocultural phenomenon is that most Casino dancers don’t know a lot of turns and figures. They actually know just a few, but they execute them very well thanks to having a solid foundation.

Some of these foundation steps are:

-       The basic steps in the closed position

-       The diagonal step

-       The Dile Que No

-       The Guapea

-       The inside turns

-       The outside turns

When you join Improver fresh from Beginner (that is, when you do your first round of Improver), as you’re introduced to new concepts you will benefit from the experience gained by those who are doing their second round of Improver (the consolidation round). By creating this scenario, we somewhat replicate the ideal learning setting we enjoy when we learn how to dance in Cuba, because we always learn from more experienced dancers.

When you do your second round of Improver, as you review and consolidate, you also help the newcomers learn better, and you also prepare yourself for the reality of social dancing in Vancouver, where you’ll always be invited to dance by someone with less experience. Fostering this sense of solidarity and collective empathy will help everyone move forward faster and more confidently. While the second round of Improver has this “social service” component, the reviewing of foundations is what you need to pay attention to and concentrate on improving. Ask your teacher questions, film yourself dancing and very importantly, go out and practice.

As you choose your next class, remember:

a)     If you are finishing Beginners, sign up for Improver, but get your instructor’s consent first

b)    If you’re finishing your first round of Improver, sign up for another round. Don't try to skip and go straight into Intermediate. You'll be refunded.

c)     If you’ve done your two rounds of Improver, you’re good to go into Intermediate but still, get your instructor's consent.

There are several students who took our old Intermediate 1 and then moved to Improver. Those students can now sign up for Intermediate but must ensure they get an instructor’s consent.

Finally, we want to make sure that everyone entering Intermediate level has had an opportunity to build the skills required for the figures and moves that will be taught. In the rare case you’re advised to repeat a level because you’re not there yet, worry not, we won’t charge you. Take your time and learn well, before you take the Intermediate leap. Everybody eventually gets there. In the meantime, you’ll keep making friends under our Dance Umbrella.

If you have any questions, please WhatsApp your current instructor, I’m still veeery busy watching a beautiful human being grow up.

Cheers,

Julio.