My full name is Zina Lee. 
I'm a teacher and student under Ariel and Molly Bennett at Heritage Irish Stepdancers.
(see also Ariels exercises to make you a better dancer)

In any kind of dancing -- you see it in ballet, tap,  and really, I suppose, just about any area in which  there is both an art and a craft to whatever it is  you're talking about -- there are always two general  types of practitioners.

 The first is the group that wants to do whatever it is  for fun, or for a casual outlet for creativity.  The  second is the group that doesn't think it's fun unless  you also concentrate on the craft -- the preciseness  of a brush stroke just *so,* the exact cant of the foot to the rest of the body, and so on.

 I think when there's lots of sympathy in the latter group to the former, it generally works out all right. And so long as the former group understands that there are times when the latter group may not want them in a set or in other situations, that works out too.

 The trouble always seems to begin when the "for-fun" folks want to partake in some activity in which the craft is important, such as a show or a class, but still keep their "for fun" attitude, or when the "for-craft" folks forget that sometimes having fun is more important than getting it right, like at general ceilis.

 My significant other, Pete, is a Class A volleyball player.  We were discussing having a party for our disparate friends, with some volleyball nets up, but we also discussed reserving one net just for the competitive volleyball players.  Many of them won't play with "jungle ball" casual players - one, because most of their injuries come from less skilled players running into them or whatever, where a competitive player wouldn't, and two, what
 most of them enjoy most about volleyball is the craft, and it wouldn't be fun anymore if the craft was less important.  We're not sure now whether or not to include volleyball at this party, because we don't want any conflict between those who want to play with the "good" players and the competitors who don't really want to play with "amateurs."

 I can sympathize, actually.  I love the big ceilis we have at the Mercury Cafe here in Denver -- they're fun, people learn new dances, nobody cares too much about footwork  -- I can drink and not worry how it'll affect my form or stamina <grin>.  However, I've sustained a few injuries from people not being where they're supposed to be or whatever.  The worst was a woman beginner during the Fairy Reel (square in diamond, of course).  She not only stepped on my foot, but then stood on it, grabbed me frantically for balance, twisting me around and then pushing me down, kicking me in the process. Gave my ankle a hell of a wrench, and right before a feis, too.  She didn't even apologize, thinking it was all part of the fun.

 I've heard complaints from casual dancers who take a form class -- "that teacher is so mean -- she pushes me too hard" is usually the basic plaint.  I think that probably stems from a casual dancer not understanding that in a dance class, it's the craft that's more important, not the fun.  In my limited experience, a dance teacher who can tell a student is trying will always be sympathetic.  It's when they're not trying to do anything approximating their best that teachers seem to be shorter of empathy.

 I don't think one group is better or above one or the other.  I think it *is* important to be aware that other priorities exist besides yours, for both groups.  That way, you can be aware of when the two attitudes collide, and compensate.