There has been a conflict among teachers. One group prefers to teach more patterns. Another group emphasizes solid basics.
And most students want more patterns. Hands down. Majority vote for more patterns has not changed for years, even decades.
So, what should a teacher do?
As a background, I have seen many learners. Here is my opinion based on my observations. It's quite simple but may sound harsh to some.
For students/learners:
(i) Only few learners who want to be good at the dance (and actually become good) make efforts on solid basics and foundations. They practice basics and do drills, which can be boring.
(ii) Acquiring more patterns is important and it is not wrong for wanting more patterns. Dancing new patterns can make you feel good, and may give you a sense of achievement. They may even feel they are better dancers. But you should know that you are feeling good does not mean you are looking good nor you are a good dancer.
(iii) Watchers don't give a damn about how much time or money you spent, or how much efforts you made, on your dance. You look good there and watchers assume you have danced so long or have taught the dance.
(iv) Good partner dancing requires skills and solid basics. Naive learners may want to believe otherwise and put your feeling first and claim it is good as long as you feel good, but it does not work that way.
Now, how do I see the question, "what should a teacher do?" (and comments for teachers)
(1) In a social party, on street or on stage, for casual watchers, your titles don't work. There are always some who has never seen or heard of you. Only how you dance there counts. Dancers whose dance do not look good are "the Emperor with no clothes". Many will know it and eventually someone will call it publicly.
(2) A very distinguishing factor is, how you present your basics. Doing your basics beautifully is a place you claim your expertise.
(3) Only after you have good basics, fancy patterns start looking good. Basics are basics for a reason, and everything else is built on them. Poor executions of many would-have-been-fancy patterns are an eyesore if watchers apply a higher standard.
(4) All dancers/learners with poor basics are viewed as beginners. It does not matter how long you have danced.
(5) Learners who work on their basics are taking the path to intermediate and advanced. Teachers should encourage them.
Teachers who want to teach solid basics and teachers who want to teach more patterns are both correct. The former want to cater to select few who are serious about the dance and want to be good at the art. The latter want to cater to popular demand, whether the learners are ready or not. Since there are more students who want patterns, from the standpoint of the school's finance. it may make better sense.
In summary, if you are a learner and if you want to be better than intermediate and look good, work on your basics.
If you do not care about how your dance looks and if you are fine with just moving yourself and having fun, seeking more patterns may work. From the standpoint of your improvement, it is a slow path, and you may or may not become a good dancer. You probably do not want to admit it, though.
And you should know there are teachers for both paths. It's your choice.
If you are a teacher, it also looks like a choice. Cater to select few, or cater to pattern-hungry beginners? In fact, it is not either/or question for teachers. You have to have an ability to cater to both, and there is no choice in the regard. Your choice is about how you split your efforts. Drill classes are for select few who really want to be good. You should be able to run popular pattern classes anytime.
