What I mean when I say "Good!"

Anyone who has been in my classes for any length of time is very familiar with a common exclamation I make during drills or at the end of class: "Good! Really good job, guys!"

I say it so much, perhaps it has seemed to lose its meaning. I wonder sometimes if students think I just say it to "be nice" or as a wrote form of encouragement, which is not actually a reflection of what I think is capital G "Good".  But if one pays close attention, you will see that while it is true I say it often, I don't say it every time, and that I do in fact use it only when I think it is warranted.  So let me explain what I mean (and don't mean) when I say "Good!"

Good is not a reflection of perfection. I don't say "Good" because everyone has gotten all the details perfectly right. Good is a combination of factors I see displayed, such as:

• posture
• confidence
• doing the right thing even if it's not quite "there" yet
• error recovery
• smiles
• gaze
• awareness
• joy

All of these things, individually and in combination, are strong and important steps in your growth in the dance. When I tell you what you have done is good, I am telling you that you are on the right path, that you are progressing in the way I hope for you to progress, that you are demonstrating improvement in the skills I am trying to push you toward improving.  Good really DOES mean GOOD!

So rest assured, students, that I am not just blowing smoke and rainbows around when I say encouraging things frequently. It is because you are so frequently meeting or exceeding my expectations, it warrants a verbal pat on the back to let you know you are on track and that I see your efforts paying off. Trust in the word "Good"--when it comes from me, it's for real!

Dancing with others - you are supported!

I remember what it was like to be a new dancer learning tribal bellydance.  It was such a switch for me from other dance and movement styles I had studied.  In the other forms I either performed solo, or if I danced as part of a choreography, I was only responsible for myself--what moves I needed to be doing, when and where I needed to be on the stage.  If I made a mistake, it certainly had an effect on the overall presentation, but ultimately I couldn't single-handedly derail the entire group with a little flub.

When I came to tribal bellydance, suddenly I wasn't just responsible for me. I was responsible for other people! As a leader, what I did was directly connected to, and immediately to be emulated by, those following me.  I loved following, that felt easy. It was a lot like choreography in that if I didn't catch it quite, no biggie, it was just me "messing up". But as a leader...whoooooeee! The pressure I put on myself was so great that I would leave the classroom before we got to the group work we would invariably do at the end.  I just felt too self-conscious to lead other people in the dance, and felt it better to sneak out the back door (literally!) than to push through my insecurity. ME?! One of the least self-conscious, most gregarious people I know. Me. Out the back door. *shaking head at my past self*