Student Challenges Prevalent in the Pro-am Structure

Want them to? No. Know they're doing it because there's absolutely no need to do what they're fully capable of? Yep. The length of time I've been dancing versus what any one of my teachers has means it's unlikely I'll ever catch up fully (heck, I don't think I'll ever be in PHYSICAL shape to get there-though if there's one thing they do tend to understand it's 30+ feels older when you started a sport at 7), and at this point if anything it would not look good to have a teacher selling it like it's the finals at Blackpool while a bronze student flails trying to keep up.

Yes, and if the pro overpowers the student... it does not present well. One of the things about pro am dancing is that we always have to accept that we simply are not as good a dancer as our pro, yet somehow be able to still feel confident with what we can do when we are out there.

I feel better about that, actually. If I were the better partner, I'd be a wreck. I dance much better when I don't have to worry about the person driving. (Now, if I could just teach myself this about horses and stop buying green beans...)

EXACTLY an am has to have this attitude to own their own dancing and contribute maximally to the partnership

Wow...like that Fasc and 4 styles! Interesting way of looking at it.

I think it's a sentiment my instructor would strong approve of my trying to embrace.

OK, I need help with this. I dance pro-am with an instructor who has now shifted to judging local competitions. So this is limiting where/when I can compete. He has been judging at local competitions this past year so he has suggested that we compete triple-crown comps. This sounds outside of the budget. An amature partner might work but I have no idea where to find one at appropriate age/level/location. Sounds unworkable. That would mean stay with same pro-am but compete 1/year or find someone else. This hurts.
I got into dancing expecting a good social experience but really I just love competing.
Ouch.

....Find a new teacher? That would be my first thought.

Yup.

Step 1: New teacher.
Step 2. Partner ad.

What about doing the comps with your teacher that are not local, but are not triple crown ( more expensive) either? Most proam competitions probably fit in this category... or do you not want to do any comps unless they are local? I would not be so quick to finding a new teacher in this instance... a teacher that also can judge ( assuming he/she is NDCA certified judge) would be invaluable to have in regards to the wisdom they can impart, IMV.

All good advice. My immediate plan is stay with my current teacher (he is an NDCA certified judge) and look for an am partner.