I took a tap class with Chester Whitmore last Saturday before I sped West Hollywood to teach my beginner class. Chester is an amazing teacher. We worked on the move called "up front," seen in This Is the Army starring Ronald Reagan. (I couldn't easily find a YouTube clip so you'll have to check out the film.)
Chester really knows his stuff. After two classes with him, there are two things that stand out about him as a teacher. First, he is all about drilling the steps. He teaches a step and has you do it over and over and over and over and over; repetition gets dance moves into your bones. Second, he makes you sound out the rhythm with your mouth so you know how the steps should sound. As a teacher, I've made sounds to communicate what part of the song required a certain move. Having the students sound out the rhythm is a brilliant tool to get them to practice on their own at varied tempos so they can really get the steps down.
If you ever get the chance to study with Chester, do it.
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