[fluffie-bunnie]

Hi guys

I am thinking of training to teach jam. This might sound like a weird query, but do any of you instructors still also join in other peoples classes? Is it easy to flip between mirroring and doing it the "right" way round?

Reason I ask is because teaching is not my main job, I just do it cos I love it! I already teach combat twice a week, and also do other peoples classes and have no problems switching between the two. If I train jam I will probably only get cover classes, so would still want to be a participant, otherwise I would end up jamming less than I do now which defeats the purpose of training!! Although I have no trouble swtiching back and forth with combat I'm concerned I will find it too confusing with jam as the moves are not symetrical like with combat where you do everything on both sides.

Hope that makes sense I know its a bit of a weird question :-)

Beth x

[Mel]

I don't teach jam (can't even participate very well, lol!) but I had a friend in australia who did and I know she used to find it hard switching sides. Sometimes she skipped doing the workshop cuz she didn't want to have to relearn it on the other leg.

[agnodice]

It isn't easy! :biggrin: The problem is two-fold-first it just feels more natural to do it one one side vs. the other, and then also I'm more apt to get confused teaching it if I switch up. Of course usually in a few weeks my participants know the choreography better than I do, so they're quick to get me on the right (or left) side again. Sometimes I have a track that allows me to come down on the floor with them-like the Roponggi line dance from 45 so it helps to be able to do both sides. At the quarterly we learn as a participant and it does affect you a little bit when you are first learning. I've only been teaching for about 5 months and like you I was an avid participant. I would love to go back and just take my Thursday night class, but I know it would just really jumble everything up for me.