I took my first 6-count class last summer and have pretty much been continually taking classes since. I still consider myself a newbie, but not a complete newbie. This Friday, Georgia Tech is hosting their monthly dance which is usually the largest social swing event every month. It's always…
Originally posted Saturday, January 14, 2006 (6 years ago)
Thanks so much for the advice. I used much of the advice last night and all of my dances were awesome. There were plenty of hickups but most of the time, leading a strong rock-step was all I needed to get us back in synch. When that didn't work, where I'd normally go into a 2-hand open position, last night I used close position to synch up and that seemed to work much better.
I also made heavy use of smiles and encouragement. When a follow would say, "Sorry, what did you want me to do there?" Instead of trying to show her, I just smiled and told her she was doing fine...or if she really did something wierd, I'd laugh about her inventing a new move.
I guess that's really the best advice I got from this thread: Have fun with it. Thanks again!
Originally posted Thursday, January 19, 2006 (6 years ago)
That's really cool, televandalist! I actually had that "inventing a new move" experience last night. My lead did that free spin move (where he spins around), and when he took my hand again, I thought he asked me for an inside turn. As soon as I started it, I realised that wasn't what he was expecting! He said, "That's a really cool combination! I hadn't thought of it." He led me in it a couple more times during the dance, and twice more just after the music stopped, to get it "set." :) It was the best reaction to an oops moment I've ever had!
Originally posted Thursday, January 19, 2006 (6 years ago)
Okay, I get your point, but 4 hurts sometimes, especially when the occasional random newbie lead uses brute stiff frame force to create momentum from intermittent standstills for a move. Maybe say, "pay attention to your frame and don't let her backlead you?"
Originally posted Thursday, January 19, 2006 (6 years ago)
I think it's helpful for a lead to 'move' himself well before thinking about 'leading.' I took a class while ago, and it was all about focusing on your own weight transfer. When you move yourself right, follows will find clear lead. I'm not really a good dancer, but definitely under progress.
Originally posted Thursday, January 19, 2006 (6 years ago)
Stiff frame and good frame are two different things. Loose frame and good frame are almost opposite.
The leader has to be there with a solid frame so that experienced follows can receive leads and inexperienced follows can be guided in the right direction. Good [and stiff] frame is more like a brick wall than a mack truck. And it's more like a mat at a gymnasium than a brick wall. It has some give, but doesn't force anything, is never abrasive. If you want to get into Advanced concepts there are some exceptions to forcing the issue. For dancing with a newbie good frame should be solid and supportive for balance concerns, and strong and guiding like a lighthouse in a storm.
Originally posted Thursday, January 19, 2006 (6 years ago)
Quoted from "trum_petah" I think it's helpful for a lead to 'move' himself well before thinking about 'leading.' I took a class while ago, and it was all about focusing on your own weight transfer. When you move yourself right, follows will find clear lead. I'm not really a good dancer, but definitely under progress.
Not to mention that if a lead is moving well, a lot of the leading is taken care of by simply getting out of the way and suggesting places for the follows to go. Almost half of the job leading without touching. Nice!
Originally posted Friday, January 20, 2006 (6 years ago)
Quoted from "mark0tz" Stiff frame and good frame are two different things. Loose frame and good frame are almost opposite.
The leader has to be there with a solid frame so that experienced follows can receive leads and inexperienced follows can be guided in the right direction. Good [and stiff] frame is more like a brick wall than a mack truck. And it's more like a mat at a gymnasium than a brick wall. It has some give, but doesn't force anything, is never abrasive. If you want to get into Advanced concepts there are some exceptions to forcing the issue. For dancing with a newbie good frame should be solid and supportive for balance concerns, and strong and guiding like a lighthouse in a storm.
Originally posted Friday, January 20, 2006 (6 years ago)
One night when I was dancing out-of-town, I had to contend with a lead who used so much force it was painful, and I had to use equal force to keep from getting hurt. Not pleasant. Later I talked to a couple of local follows who said the guy in question has been talked to about it, and never changes. One will stop in the middle of a dance to correct him, and the other just refuses to dance with him.
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Dancing with complete newbies
I took my first 6-count class last summer and have pretty much been continually taking classes since. I still consider myself a newbie, but not a complete newbie. This Friday, Georgia Tech is hosting their monthly dance which is usually the largest social swing event every month. It's always…
Page(s): < Previous 1 2 ... (39 items total)
Thanks so much for the advice. I used much of the advice last night and all of my dances were awesome. There were plenty of hickups but most of the time, leading a strong rock-step was all I needed to get us back in synch. When that didn't work, where I'd normally go into a 2-hand open position, last night I used close position to synch up and that seemed to work much better.
I also made heavy use of smiles and encouragement. When a follow would say, "Sorry, what did you want me to do there?" Instead of trying to show her, I just smiled and told her she was doing fine...or if she really did something wierd, I'd laugh about her inventing a new move.
I guess that's really the best advice I got from this thread: Have fun with it. Thanks again!
That's really cool, televandalist! I actually had that "inventing a new move" experience last night. My lead did that free spin move (where he spins around), and when he took my hand again, I thought he asked me for an inside turn. As soon as I started it, I realised that wasn't what he was expecting! He said, "That's a really cool combination! I hadn't thought of it." He led me in it a couple more times during the dance, and twice more just after the music stopped, to get it "set." :) It was the best reaction to an oops moment I've ever had!
What I do is this.
1) Smile. And keep smiling even if her nails dig into your palm.
2) Use as many two-handed moves as you can.
3) Don't spend extended time in open position.
4) Maintain a very stiff frame; she will eventually get the idea.
5) Don't offer lots of tips while dancing; wait until after the song is over, and only if she asks.
6) And above all, smile.
Okay, I get your point, but 4 hurts sometimes, especially when the occasional random newbie lead uses brute stiff frame force to create momentum from intermittent standstills for a move. Maybe say, "pay attention to your frame and don't let her backlead you?"
I think it's helpful for a lead to 'move' himself well before thinking about 'leading.' I took a class while ago, and it was all about focusing on your own weight transfer. When you move yourself right, follows will find clear lead. I'm not really a good dancer, but definitely under progress.
Stiff frame and good frame are two different things. Loose frame and good frame are almost opposite.
The leader has to be there with a solid frame so that experienced follows can receive leads and inexperienced follows can be guided in the right direction. Good [and stiff] frame is more like a brick wall than a mack truck. And it's more like a mat at a gymnasium than a brick wall. It has some give, but doesn't force anything, is never abrasive. If you want to get into Advanced concepts there are some exceptions to forcing the issue. For dancing with a newbie good frame should be solid and supportive for balance concerns, and strong and guiding like a lighthouse in a storm.
Not to mention that if a lead is moving well, a lot of the leading is taken care of by simply getting out of the way and suggesting places for the follows to go. Almost half of the job leading without touching. Nice!
What he said.
One night when I was dancing out-of-town, I had to contend with a lead who used so much force it was painful, and I had to use equal force to keep from getting hurt. Not pleasant. Later I talked to a couple of local follows who said the guy in question has been talked to about it, and never changes. One will stop in the middle of a dance to correct him, and the other just refuses to dance with him.
Page(s): < Previous 1 2 ... (39 items total)
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