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Creates 100% Verifiable Proof That You Improved Your Students…So They Love Your Classes!

To become an in-demand, sought-after, or even world-class dance instructor…

…there are two things you’ll probably want to do:

  • improve your students
  • AND make sure they love your classes

If you do one without the other, eventually you’ll start to lose your students.

Fail To Succeed is a teaching method you can use to accomplish BOTH improving your students AND making sure they love your classes.

Fail To Succeed

The concept is that when teaching a class…

…first, you want your students to fail…

…and then you want them to succeed.

Wait, what?

Do we really want your students to fail?

YES!

If you start by giving them something that they can’t do…

…and if by the end of class they can do it…

…you (and your students) have 100% verifiable proof that you’ve improved their dancing.

You took them from not being able to do something to being able to do something!

This also makes them love your class and we’ll discuss why below, but first, let’s look at what happens if you don’t have them fail first.

Teaching Without Failure First

If you don’t test their ability to do the move/concept ahead of time, you never have proof that they couldn’t already do it…

…and this has two possible negative effects.

Possible Negative Effect #1

You might be wasting their time.

If you had tested for failure first, and they actually could already do the move, then you could have moved on to something else (or gone deeper into the move/concept) instead of spending time teaching them something they can already do.

Possible Negative Effect #2

They might not value your instruction.

Even if you are 100% positive that they would fail, if you don’t test them, then THEY might not ever recognize they couldn’t do it.

So even though you are improving their dancing, they might not recognize this and so they might not value your instruction very much.

Note: If your students don’t value you your instruction, it’s going to be very difficult to become in-demand, sought-after, or world-class.

World Class Dance Instructor Blueprint

So now that we know how valuable this method is, let’s look at…

How To Use The “Fail To Succeed” Method

Step 1. Start by asking them to do whatever it is you want them to do.

Don’t break it down for them.  Just show it to them twice and ask them to do it.

You might want to prep them for this by saying…

“I’m going to show you this move/concept twice and then I want you to do it.  So watch closely because I’m not going to break it down for you. I’m literally only going to show it to you two times and then I want you to take your best shot at it.”

Step 2a. If they succeed right away, give them a new move/concept to try.

You can tell them…

“Wow, you guys got that right away! That’s awesome, let’s see if you can do this. Again, I’m only going to show it to you twice, so watch closely.”

Step 2b. If they can’t do it, or can’t do it the way you want them to, then break it down for them step-by-step and help them do it.

You can tell them…

“Alright, I can see you are struggling with this, so let’s break it down and build it back up so you can nail it.”

or

“Ok, you are doing it but not quite the way I want you to, so let’s break it down and build it back up so you can nail it.”

It’s that simple!

Now let’s look at…

Why “Fail To Succeed” Makes Them Love Your Classes

When your student overcomes a challenge, they get a positive rush of endorphins which feels amazing!

Note: If you want to learn more about the brain chemistry behind this, check out The Winner Effect: How Success Affects Brain Chemistry.

Overcoming a challenge is like winning a game…

…but instead of the challenger being an opponent, the challenger is yourself when you couldn’t succeed.

When you finally succeed, you become better than your previous self, which creates the feeling of being a winner.

Does that make sense? Ok!

Here’s the key…

By giving your student the opportunity to achieve something that less than one hour ago they couldn’t do…

…you are not only making them a better dancer, you are also making them FEEL like a better dancer. 

Don't Ignore Part 2: Success Is Key

Be sure to choose something that you are confident you can get them to succeed at by the end of class.  If they only experience failure in your class, they probably won't be (or feel like) a better dancer afterwards.

So that’s it.

Give your students the opportunity to fail first and then help them succeed and you are one step closer to becoming an in-demand, sought-after, or even world class dance instructor.

Want to know the other steps for becoming an in-demand, sought-after, or even world class dance instructor? Get our blueprint here.

World Class Dance Instructor Blueprint

Do you agree or disagree with this method?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.


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About the author 

Andrew Sutton

Andrew Sutton is a Vice World Champion Lindy Hop Instructor, and one of the original founders of the Fusion partner dance movement. He uses his extensive research in over 254 cities across 38 countries (& 44 dance forms) to help dance instructors be more successful in their teaching & finances during their pursuit to help their students...Make Every Dance Amazing!

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