Daniel S. says, "I've learned from over a dozen dance teachers. It's really hard to find a good one. Some can dance but not teach. Others can teach but not really dance. Some can speak at length on theory without ever helping you connect it to whatever you need to do to dance well. Some make you feel like crap for every mistake. Some avoid the constructive feedback you need to improve. A good dance instructor knows how to provide constructive feedback and still be encouraging. A great dance instructor won't just teach you moves. They'll teach you how to do moves well, and they'll skillfully balance challenge with fun. A great instructor knows how to adapt instruction to the student's individual needs and goals. Colleen and Tommy are exceptional. Not only the best dancers I've known, they have a unique gift for expressing complicated ideas simply. They know how to structure information so that students progress quickly and continuously. They diagnose mistakes precisely and immediately, which is remarkable in itself. Most teachers have to spend twenty to thirty minutes figuring out what I'm doing wrong when I make a subtle mistake that has a domino effect as it throws my whole body out of alignment (like placing my foot a few inches too far in the wrong direction), but Colleen and Tommy have a sophisticated understanding of body mechanics that allows them to save time and energy (theirs and mine) in those situations. While even most good teachers stop at telling you how to move well, Colleen and Tommy place special emphasis on teaching their students to think analytically about the mechanical purpose of every aspect of technique, which facilitates acquisition and retention of new skills and fast decision-making on a crowded floor. They also charge half as much as studios with larger staff, and they host dance parties every week on the largest floor in the city. They've cultivated a welcoming community. Colleen and Tommy are brilliant, beautiful, caring people, passionate about dance and excellent at everything they do. You will not find better." Read more
