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Wednesday, July 1, 2020

LAGS: Latest And Greatest Syndrome.

By Jason Shinozaki, Aiea
This is a failing that enters into most teachers at one time or another. Of course, on Oahu, the teacher is aided and abetted by the students. So it becomes a collusion of both parties and is not considered unnatural. At times the teacher will find himself with the opportunity to show his students what a "GREAT" teacher he is, a top teacher, no less. But he will never mention that of of the six hundred or so documented step patterns in the dance, he knows less than two hundred of them. The students, however, may see this as an opportunity of a lifetime.

“Social dancers believe that hoping is how the
very difficult may be possible do after all.”


To learn that step will really stake his claim to being a terrific dancer. Of course, the fact that it may take five years for students to ever do it correctly and with finesse, will never enter into the equation. You can see it every day on our dance floors. The student leader will not very easily be able to lead any follower into that step pattern unless the follower is well versed in it. So he is stuck with whomever was in the same class. And a mortifying time will be held by all when they try to teach someone else how to do it.

"Take Me Home, Country Roads" by Bruddah Iz


Definitely not for Social Dancers when there are so many beautiful leadable step patterns available for the trying. How about in an exhibition dance? Now that is a horse of a far different color. The students learning the dance can apply themselves quite differently for they know they will be seen by an audience. With practice and the help of their very capable teacher they will probably be able to make a good presentation. And the audience of course will love it. They may never have seen it before and it will probably be executed almost to perfection. And the dance teacher can bask in the reflection of the terrific exhibition. Now that is LAGS in the right place and everyone comes out smelling like a rose.

Blogger's Law Number 21b: If people view their problem closely enough,
they will recognize themselves as part of the problem.

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