Survey: Javier Rochwarger in Portland, 2011

Students who took private or group classes from Javier in 2011 were invited to respond to a SurveyMonkey questionnaire.  Here are the resp0nses:

1. Considering all your experiences in learning tango from Javier Rochwarger in Portland during 2011 (milonga workshop in February; group classes in April; and/or any private classes)
	Very Much	Some	Not Much	Not at all
Did you enjoy the experiences?	89.5% (17)	10.5% (2)	0.0% (0)	0.0% (0)
Were these valuable in helping you advance in dancing tango?	89.5% (17)	5.3% (1)	5.3% (1)	0.0% (0)
Was the time spent commensurate with the value?	89.5% (17)	5.3% (1)	5.3% (1)	0.0% (0)

2. The best thing about these classes was:

• learning points of style: posture, embrace. Learned some great moves too.
• personal attention in private instruction
• Javier teaching. Learning about Tango.
• Javier’s commitment to the Portland tango community.
• Javier is a great teacher, lots of enthusiasm
• Working on technique
• Javier’s keen ability to spot each dancer’s challenges with fundamental skills and to give clear and repetitive instruction on how to work through/move beyond/improve (especially in private lessons, but also in the large group).
• Having a common base of information for the whole community, with regular reinforcement (weekly classes–what a luxury!) I loved the switch of follower/leader roles.
• The emphasis on technique. No matter what the ‘topic’ was, Javier always emphasizes technique. He gave a lot of individual attention which is unusual in a group situation, but greatly appreciated.
• Getting to know people — it was my first time dancing in Portland.
• How the whole community was raised up in ability over the course of your stay. Looking forward to the same this year.
• Sense of community developed. Everybody went and learned and moved up a notch together.
• Learning from and dancing with a humorous salon style dancer who is a joy to watch.
• Milonga classes were very good.
• brushing up on basics.
• Getting fresh input from a good teacher
• that Javier was here for a whole MONTH! Woohoo!
• privates + follow up . I’m working all on posture/technique, so it was helpful to have the constant reminders.
• Javier’s ability to gauge the level that the majority of the class is at and adapt his class so that even if he doesn’t teach what he had necessarily intended on teaching, he is able to change course and leave people like they have learned something instead of leaving frustrated. People may have been challenged but in a positive way that makes them feel as it they want to continue to learn tango.

3. For 2012, the classes might be improved if ….

• for the group classes, keep the first class of the evening focused on fundamentals/basics without any comlex figures; for second class, build elements gradually
• Have two days of classes a week with each session around two hours and a Practica or guided practice after the classes. Start the classes a bit later in the evening and have one of the classes on the weekend. Classes covering Vals, Nuevo, and more Milonga.
• Hmmm, not sure, but perhaps establishing a more distinct difference between a level for all and intermediate/advanced classes.
• More technique, less long chains of steps
• the focus were less figure-oriented and more directed toward advice on maintaining the basics while meaningfully dancing known figures. Our community needs to work on being improvisational, but staying connected to partner and MUSIC. (Not just inserting figures for the showiness of it!)
• …the “advanced” class were not so advanced and driven by figures. These were over people’s heads and in fact no one in Portland has incorporated these steps into their dancing. Replace, perhaps, by helping people use the vocabulary they already have in more
• The ‘advanced’ class, 2nd session was overly technical. The moves were too hard for the average leader, making it tough for followers trying to follow their confusion. I wish the 2nd class could be more like the 1st/beginner class, but with more advanced technique.
• I’m most interested these days in musicality so lots of that would be great!
• Maybe a semi-private group lesson with 4 or 6 more advanced dancers? Some of the more technical things at the group lessons are hard to work on with some of the people who just walk in off the street.
• Less complicated figures. They do not help leaders lead, or followers follow. – some etiquette and practicing of staying in line of dance, as a leader what space belongs to you and where you can’t go. – easy musical moves for tight spaces
• We focused more on connection and simpler figures.
• I think that it is important to focus on the community needs. At this time I believe those to be simple concepts rather than a lot of figures. At a later time figures may prove to be helpful, but at this time I believe that it would be best to focus on basics and variations on very basic figures.
• Series of classes geared for beginner,intermediate,etc. limited to those with appropriate experience.
• Not sure. I never seem to get much from classes.
• I couldnt’ make most of the the weeknight classes, and the one I went to wasn’t super helpful for me.
• I took advantage of the full package that was offered last year (privates and classes) and I learned so much from Javier in the private classes and I was able to really work in a way that was so satisfying that going to the classes felt a little stifling and slow and I often felt frustrated. But I realize this is the nature of private vs class lessons. How to improve this? I don’t have an answer. I originally intended on taking both classes that were offered but I found that 3 hours of classes was a little long – especially when my attention began to wander.

4. Anything else you would like to add?

• Javier’s a great teacher! His classes are challenging but there is also a lot of nice info on basics. He creates a warm and fun atmosphere.
• You rock! Looking for to your return
• A weekly Milonga in Portland during the month of April and have one Alternative Milonga (non-traditional music etc).
• Make it completely clear that there to draw in beginners. The beginners I talk to don’t see value in a one time class or aren’t aware that it is friendly for beginners. by the same coin you can make it clear that other sections are advanced.
• Always look forward to Javier and Chieko’s time with us!
• I am always wanting to learn more about turns. As a leader, I’d love to learn a series of turn skills graduated from the simplest and slowly building in skill level.
• While I personally enjoyed learning the figures taught last year in the higher-level class, I didn’t find them to be extremely applicable to the environments in which I dance. (Some seemed more suitable for performance, rather than a milonga?)
• The packages of classes + privates worked very well. The pricing was attractive and really very generous. Can’t wait for this year’s series!
• I feel so fortunate for our community that you (javier) and Chieko come here for such a good stretch of time. It was obvious that the level of dancing of the whole community went up a very significant notch while you were here. Watching people dance at the Farewell Milonga, I was smiling with great satisfaction to see how much people had improved in the dance, and how much enjoyment there was in the room. So, THANK YOU Javier & Chieko! Please, Chieko, bring more shoes, including some in my size!
• I may have a car you can borrow while you guys are here if you’d like. [name omitted here]
• etiquette, how to mske dance more social and thoughtful of dancers around you – practicing of staying in line of dance, as a leader what space belongs to you and where you can’t go. – easy musical moves for tight spaces
• How to make adornments part of the dance and not something you just “throw in” to “look good. “
• I think it would be extremely helpful to put all teachings in their proper context. For example: an overturned front ocho may would be explained as a nuevo figure, first.
• milonga!
• The private lessons were most helpful to me.
• I thought the intensity of having so many people do privates + classes * practicas raised the level of our whole community!
• All of this being said – I really appreciate all that you all do for the Portland tango community. God knows we aren’t easy to work with and Javier has to spend much of his time reteaching us all that we have forgotten. Thanks for not giving up on us – all of you!

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