Oh, I think anyone who has tried Samba knows the answer to that question!! Samba is a Latin dance, but different than the others. That's probably because most of the other dances come from Cuba or a Spanish-speaking culture. Samba comes from Brazil, the Portuguese-speaking culture. Yes, the music makes you want to dance, just like other Latin rhythms, but the dance has its own peculiar style.
The first thing you should do is just stand in place and let your body bounce to the music --- that is, soften your knees slightly on each beat of the music. The tough part about learning the dance is learning to soften the knees as part of the styling. As we age, many people suffer from knee problems, but you don't have to go overboard!! Just soften, the same way your knee bends as you come down a stair to cushion your landing so you don't go thud. Use those little shock-absorbers!! We count Samba "1 a 2, 3 a 4"......each time you say a number you are on a flat foot with a softened knee. And notice that in Samba both knees are softened at the same time, rather than taking turns, one bent knee and then the other, like we do in other Latin dances. That's one of the big differences.
Timing is another difference....we count Cha Cha "1234&" - meaning that 4th beat is split in half. The "a" in Samba is not a full half beat, and therefore requires a partial weight change. What exactly does that mean? The easiest way to think of it is to imagine that your foot is sore and you will only place partial weight on it before putting your full weight on the other foot. The other thing to remember about the timing is that the "a" is split with the number before it....but the number after it, the beat after it, is one full beat of music. That means that it almost feels like a "rest", it gets just a little more time, and a little more emphasis and both knees should be softened.
It's that weight distribution thing that gives most people a problem when they first try Samba, and it really takes practice to get the feeling of the dance. When you take that "a" step your weight should not be centered between both feet (remember it is only a partial weight change!) and that seems to be the hardest thing for people to get the knack of. It is easy to spot if you watch other people.....you can easily see that the person's weight is fully centered between. If you suspect that you are having a problem with the weight distribution in Samba, the best thing would be to practice in front of a full-length mirror so you can see and check where your weight is as you dance a basic box or everyone's nemesis "Two-Way Com Pasos". And ask the Advanced Class how they feel about "Truco" --- they'll have a lot to say!!
And then there is the sliding of the foot!! Just doesn't seem like the natural thing to do, does it? Guess that's the reason so many students start taking little shortcuts. They stop trying to slide the foot and just go through the motions of the pattern, especially during a Copa. Sorry, but there are no shortcuts, folks!! If you are doing a Copa without sliding the foot you are actually doing a cute little polka move!! You are not doing the styling of Samba and not doing the timing correctly either!! It seems strange that Polka and Samba are related, but then most of the dances are inter-related, remember?
I promise if you take the time to learn and master the correct timing and the correct weight distribution of Samba you will learn to love the dance!! The music just grabs you in your tummy and makes you want to hit the boards! I have had so many students tell me they want to learn the dance because it always looks like the people out on the floor are having so much fun ---- believe me, they are!! And they are also proud of themselves for finally getting it --- so just remember as you watch them out there having fun......they've been where you are and they feel your pain! They hung in there and got past the initial struggle of learning and you will too!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
You Are What You Eat.......Seriously!!!
I know I am not as strong or as flexible as I used to be, and like almost everyone else, would like to lose weight. I don't have to wonder how.....a small little orange book was recommended to me by 2 people in the medical profession -- it's called UltraMetabolism by Dr. Mark Hyman. It's based on the latest findings about how foods affect us, and states that there are so many additives in our foods these days that many of us have developed food sensitivities we are not even aware of.
I know this is true. My daughter went through a horrible year feeling sick constantly. She was finally diagnosed as lactose intolerant. No one takes this seriously.....but my daughter is so sensitive that she can feel the "brain fog" rolling in from a food with hidden dairy, and she has a serious problem with food additives. She convinced me to go completely dairy free for just 2 weeks and see if I felt better. The result was dramatic!! I was feeling lethargic and apathetic, and had my own brain fog rolling in. My energy level was dramatically increased once I totally went off dairy---and I do mean dramatically!!
And then I started the UltraMetabolism diet and after 8 weeks on the diet I had lost about 15 pounds, and felt healthier than before. I went through my pantry and the fridge and threw out anything containing high fructose corn syrup --- (which is almost everything!!) --- but the constant pain in my knees was gone!! I don't know if it was the corn syrup or the dairy that was causing the pain, I only know I don't have constant debilitating knee pain any longer.
I hear these complaints from my students constantly. We are all getting older, let's face it, but I wonder how much of our "aging" is actually caused by the food choices we make. Dr Oz featured gluten sensitivity on his program yesterday.....I would think this would be easily diagnosed, but it isn't. He says many of us have a sensitivity to gluten and are totally unaware of it. Symptoms include anemia, depression, fatigue, bloating, headaches, and osteoporosis. Having a food sensitivity involves your autoimmune system going on high alert and prevents you from fully absorbing the nutrients in the foods you eat ---- any of the foods you eat!! Your system is so busy dealing with the food it can't handle (like dairy or gluten) that it can't adequately handle other foods either. My daughter talks about the "shoebox" theory --- when you eat dairy or gluten (or any food your individual system can't handle) your intestines don't know what to do with it and so shove it aside, shove it in a shoebox to get it out of the way, and it just sits there causing problems. Food sensitivity can cause "brain fog" or difficulty concentrating, nasal or chest congestion, muscle aches or joint pain, or skin rashes or acne.
The UltraMetabolism diet consists of totally eliminating certain foods from your diet because these foods often cause problems for people: caffeine, alcohol, sugars in all forms, trans fats, and gluten. When I gave up sugar I stopped craving salt!! I still had coffee in the morning, but it was a muddy blend with almond milk and no sugar. After 4 weeks on the diet, you start adding things back in, but slowly because the idea is to discover if you have a personal problem with a certain food. I discovered I feel better if I limit the gluten in my diet. But here's the really amazing thing I learned that is so shocking: gluten sensitivity is linked to many other diseases!!
On his website, Dr. Hyman states:
" a review paper in The New England Journal of Medicine listed 55 “diseases” that can be caused by eating gluten. These include osteoporosis, irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, anemia, cancer, fatigue, canker sores, and rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and almost all other autoimmune diseases. Gluten is also linked to many psychiatric and neurological diseases, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, dementia, migraines, epilepsy, and neuropathy (nerve damage). It has also been linked to autism."
To find out if a gluten problem is affecting your health you should go totally gluten-free for 2 weeks. Avoid wheat, rye, barley, bulgur, spelt, kamut and triticale; they recommend avoiding oats because of cross-contamination, but if your oat product says "gluten-free" it's allowed. Be aware that gluten is found in many products since it's used as a binder --- read the labels of salad dressings and condiments. You should be reading labels anyway to avoid "shoeboxing" all that corn syrup!! For people with celiac disease, ingesting gluten can be life-threatening and they need to read labels on cosmetics and hair products too!!
I seriously urge you to completely go off dairy for 2 weeks and see how you feel --- especially if you are one of those people who have been buying Lactaid milk. Try soy milk or almond milk instead ---healthier for you and fewer calories!! Hey!! It's only 2 weeks, you can do it!!
I know this is true. My daughter went through a horrible year feeling sick constantly. She was finally diagnosed as lactose intolerant. No one takes this seriously.....but my daughter is so sensitive that she can feel the "brain fog" rolling in from a food with hidden dairy, and she has a serious problem with food additives. She convinced me to go completely dairy free for just 2 weeks and see if I felt better. The result was dramatic!! I was feeling lethargic and apathetic, and had my own brain fog rolling in. My energy level was dramatically increased once I totally went off dairy---and I do mean dramatically!!
And then I started the UltraMetabolism diet and after 8 weeks on the diet I had lost about 15 pounds, and felt healthier than before. I went through my pantry and the fridge and threw out anything containing high fructose corn syrup --- (which is almost everything!!) --- but the constant pain in my knees was gone!! I don't know if it was the corn syrup or the dairy that was causing the pain, I only know I don't have constant debilitating knee pain any longer.
I hear these complaints from my students constantly. We are all getting older, let's face it, but I wonder how much of our "aging" is actually caused by the food choices we make. Dr Oz featured gluten sensitivity on his program yesterday.....I would think this would be easily diagnosed, but it isn't. He says many of us have a sensitivity to gluten and are totally unaware of it. Symptoms include anemia, depression, fatigue, bloating, headaches, and osteoporosis. Having a food sensitivity involves your autoimmune system going on high alert and prevents you from fully absorbing the nutrients in the foods you eat ---- any of the foods you eat!! Your system is so busy dealing with the food it can't handle (like dairy or gluten) that it can't adequately handle other foods either. My daughter talks about the "shoebox" theory --- when you eat dairy or gluten (or any food your individual system can't handle) your intestines don't know what to do with it and so shove it aside, shove it in a shoebox to get it out of the way, and it just sits there causing problems. Food sensitivity can cause "brain fog" or difficulty concentrating, nasal or chest congestion, muscle aches or joint pain, or skin rashes or acne.
The UltraMetabolism diet consists of totally eliminating certain foods from your diet because these foods often cause problems for people: caffeine, alcohol, sugars in all forms, trans fats, and gluten. When I gave up sugar I stopped craving salt!! I still had coffee in the morning, but it was a muddy blend with almond milk and no sugar. After 4 weeks on the diet, you start adding things back in, but slowly because the idea is to discover if you have a personal problem with a certain food. I discovered I feel better if I limit the gluten in my diet. But here's the really amazing thing I learned that is so shocking: gluten sensitivity is linked to many other diseases!!
On his website, Dr. Hyman states:
" a review paper in The New England Journal of Medicine listed 55 “diseases” that can be caused by eating gluten. These include osteoporosis, irritable bowel disease, inflammatory bowel disease, anemia, cancer, fatigue, canker sores, and rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and almost all other autoimmune diseases. Gluten is also linked to many psychiatric and neurological diseases, including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, dementia, migraines, epilepsy, and neuropathy (nerve damage). It has also been linked to autism."
To find out if a gluten problem is affecting your health you should go totally gluten-free for 2 weeks. Avoid wheat, rye, barley, bulgur, spelt, kamut and triticale; they recommend avoiding oats because of cross-contamination, but if your oat product says "gluten-free" it's allowed. Be aware that gluten is found in many products since it's used as a binder --- read the labels of salad dressings and condiments. You should be reading labels anyway to avoid "shoeboxing" all that corn syrup!! For people with celiac disease, ingesting gluten can be life-threatening and they need to read labels on cosmetics and hair products too!!
I seriously urge you to completely go off dairy for 2 weeks and see how you feel --- especially if you are one of those people who have been buying Lactaid milk. Try soy milk or almond milk instead ---healthier for you and fewer calories!! Hey!! It's only 2 weeks, you can do it!!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Swing Tips
Every class is working on or finishing up their Swing section. Here are a few tips to help you make your Swing feel and look better:
1. Remember to keep your knees softened. Those knees are "shock absorbers" and it's impossible to move quickly with locked knees.
2. Keep arms at waist level unless you're doing an underarm turn. For men, this means no dangling of the free arm --- you want to look enthusiastic and it's much easier to get into a double hand hold. Women need to keep their arms at waist level too --- you know he's going to lead something so keep the arm in easy reach and you'll also have an easier time giving him that tone or resistance he expects when he leads.
3. If you are leading or following an underarm turn, remember to keep your arms relaxed!! Don't make it tougher on yourself or your partner by lifting too high or pushing or locking your elbow.
4. Remember that Swing is a rhythm dance. That means NO HEEL LEADS!! All steps should be taken with the weight forward on the ball of the foot, just as you would do if you were involved in a sport that required fast weight changes. Just as in other rhythm dances, keep the toe of your shoe in contact with the floor rather than picking up completely off the floor. This avoids the little wooden soldier look. We're not doing competition Jive and we should not have a "pump the knees" look. In Social Swing you want to look confident, relaxed, and as if you are having fun.
5. Rock steps are not a 5th position break. Women are especially guilty of turning the foot or hooking the foot behind in Open Position. This skews your body position ---- instead think of remaining square to your partner. He's going to lead something and you want to be able to respond quickly.
6. Men need to understand that leads need to come at the correct time and clearly. It isn't good enough to "approximate"...leading too late causes the lady to always feel like she is playing catch-up, while giving the lead too soon at the very least causes confusion and at worst catches her on the wrong foot.
7. Keep those triples under control!!! Beginners usually start with large triples that cover a lot of ground. That's not the goal and you are tiring yourself out unnecessarily. A good rule of thumb is to try to keep the triples about the width of your partner's shoulders. Sometimes a pattern will be more easily accomplished if the triple doesn't travel at all and stays in place.
8. A triple step is side-together-side. That means do not travel forward and back for a normal triple step whether you are a leader or a follower. If you are a leader, you may find yourself feeling off balance; a follower who does a triple backward is generally moving away from her partner.
9. Avoid the "Skippety-Do's Syndrome"!! What's a skippety-do? That's a triple with one foot in front and the other always behind, more in keeping with Promenade in Polka! Ladies who have a habit of using the skippety-do's find it difficult to get around for turns. Sometimes a pattern requires a triple moving forward but this should be a triple with each foot passing the other slightly.....what we call a "progressive triple". You can actually get somewhere with a progressive triple!
10. Remember that Swing is supposed to be fun!! If you make a mistake, just laugh and try to recover. The goal is not perfection, the goal is to enjoy dancing and make it enjoyable and fun for your partner.
11. Some of you are beginning to learn Lindy timing. I used to introduce Lindy, and then turn and see a big "blink-blink" in everyone's eyes, but these days most of my students are familiar with some West Coast. And even if you've never done West Coast Swing you know this rhythm already --- you do 8 count Cha Cha patterns!
12. Men please remember that leading is not pushing, pulling, yanking, or verbally telling your partner what to do!! The Lady does NOT follow your feet ---- she follows your specific and well-timed hand leads, your change of frame, and your body movement. A good leader makes sure the Lady has something to follow!
Next time.......Rhumba!
1. Remember to keep your knees softened. Those knees are "shock absorbers" and it's impossible to move quickly with locked knees.
2. Keep arms at waist level unless you're doing an underarm turn. For men, this means no dangling of the free arm --- you want to look enthusiastic and it's much easier to get into a double hand hold. Women need to keep their arms at waist level too --- you know he's going to lead something so keep the arm in easy reach and you'll also have an easier time giving him that tone or resistance he expects when he leads.
3. If you are leading or following an underarm turn, remember to keep your arms relaxed!! Don't make it tougher on yourself or your partner by lifting too high or pushing or locking your elbow.
4. Remember that Swing is a rhythm dance. That means NO HEEL LEADS!! All steps should be taken with the weight forward on the ball of the foot, just as you would do if you were involved in a sport that required fast weight changes. Just as in other rhythm dances, keep the toe of your shoe in contact with the floor rather than picking up completely off the floor. This avoids the little wooden soldier look. We're not doing competition Jive and we should not have a "pump the knees" look. In Social Swing you want to look confident, relaxed, and as if you are having fun.
5. Rock steps are not a 5th position break. Women are especially guilty of turning the foot or hooking the foot behind in Open Position. This skews your body position ---- instead think of remaining square to your partner. He's going to lead something and you want to be able to respond quickly.
6. Men need to understand that leads need to come at the correct time and clearly. It isn't good enough to "approximate"...leading too late causes the lady to always feel like she is playing catch-up, while giving the lead too soon at the very least causes confusion and at worst catches her on the wrong foot.
7. Keep those triples under control!!! Beginners usually start with large triples that cover a lot of ground. That's not the goal and you are tiring yourself out unnecessarily. A good rule of thumb is to try to keep the triples about the width of your partner's shoulders. Sometimes a pattern will be more easily accomplished if the triple doesn't travel at all and stays in place.
8. A triple step is side-together-side. That means do not travel forward and back for a normal triple step whether you are a leader or a follower. If you are a leader, you may find yourself feeling off balance; a follower who does a triple backward is generally moving away from her partner.
9. Avoid the "Skippety-Do's Syndrome"!! What's a skippety-do? That's a triple with one foot in front and the other always behind, more in keeping with Promenade in Polka! Ladies who have a habit of using the skippety-do's find it difficult to get around for turns. Sometimes a pattern requires a triple moving forward but this should be a triple with each foot passing the other slightly.....what we call a "progressive triple". You can actually get somewhere with a progressive triple!
10. Remember that Swing is supposed to be fun!! If you make a mistake, just laugh and try to recover. The goal is not perfection, the goal is to enjoy dancing and make it enjoyable and fun for your partner.
11. Some of you are beginning to learn Lindy timing. I used to introduce Lindy, and then turn and see a big "blink-blink" in everyone's eyes, but these days most of my students are familiar with some West Coast. And even if you've never done West Coast Swing you know this rhythm already --- you do 8 count Cha Cha patterns!
12. Men please remember that leading is not pushing, pulling, yanking, or verbally telling your partner what to do!! The Lady does NOT follow your feet ---- she follows your specific and well-timed hand leads, your change of frame, and your body movement. A good leader makes sure the Lady has something to follow!
Next time.......Rhumba!
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Why Did God Make Dinosaurs?
Because of the holidays I've had more free time lately and sometimes find myself clicking channels on the TV. I watched some show about dinosaurs and was wondering why He created dinosaurs and wooly mammoths. (Yeah, my mind can go into strange places, especially when I have free time....) I mean, they were huge, they just kept eating everything, and it kinda seemed like a waste of resources. And then for some reason, I thought about people learning to dance. I know, they don't seem to be related, but stay with me ....I just finished teaching a beginners swing class and one of the classic mistakes beginners make is taking huge steps. Men especially cover big areas of floor trying to do those triple steps! After they get more used to the dance, they calm down, tire themselves out and the huge triples disappear, but that only happens over time and with practice. So that got me thinking........maybe He was new at this creation stuff, maybe He was just putting in practice, or like an artist, trying out a new brush to see what it would do. God had an empty canvas and decided to go big and bold? Or needed more practice in brush control to be able to add the fine details? Or was it all part of the original Plan? Got a lot of world here, let's fill it up quickly? Or maybe He was just approaching it all with a sense of humor, and knew that some day little kids would be fascinated by dinosaurs and wooly mammoths, and the thought of all those paleontologists digging in the dirt with little brushes seemed like a real knee-slapper? Told you my mind goes into strange places....... I kinda like the "need practice" or "new brush" theories though....I find it reassuring that all things get better with time and practice, even Creation. Think of the fun He must have had working on dinosaurs before He spent all that time with roses and tulips, and all creatures great and small!! That's a lovely thought, isn't it?
I'm trying to get better with time and practice too. I usually try to set a goal for myself as far as my classes go, try to focus on some skill my students need to learn or improve. But this year, I'm only going to focus on me---or more accurately, on harnessing the energies of positive thinking. I almost have a handle on this ---- oh yes! I have read many a self-help book through the years, and they have all finally started to gel into a life lesson for me. I am going to steep myself in these self-help theories, from Barbara Sher to Dr Wayne Dyer to the Secret to Feng Shui........I am going to re-visit these gurus, because it's there within my reach --- I can almost grab it. It's all about the flow of energy within us, around us and through us. It's about faith too -- not just hoping for the Good, but having such strong faith you expect it and discount all doubt. It's like that song Joyful Joyful --- "melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away". I want to capture that power of the positive; I want my clouds to melt away.
And here's another strange place my mind has wandered into ---- why can't we all do that? This past year or two have been tough on some people. People have lost jobs and homes and family and friends. You may be dealing with helping your children or helping your parents, or trying to cope with mounting bills, or funds that have lost value. I heard there is a group of scientists or statisticians that pay attention to things posted on the internet and make predictions based on the "global consciousness". There is that old saying "you are what you eat", but maybe it is more apt to say we live what we think. Suppose we confound that group of predicters by only thinking positive thoughts, supposing we all embrace the Pollyanna theory? My kids loved that movie, so did I, because there is truly something uplifting about looking for the sunny side and believing in it. Seems like I remember a line from that movie (was it a quote from Lincoln?)...."if you look for the bad in people you shall surely find it". But the opposite is true too; Norman Vincent Peale called his book "The Power of Positive Thinking"--- not the benefits or the good part or the comfort or maybe this will help ---- he called it the Power. Years later Dr Dyer called his book "The Power of Intention". Each of us has the ability to use that power in our own individual lives. But if we all use it, now we're talking power!
I know a lot of old songs and of course, since it's the New Year lots of you have been humming Auld Lang Syne. But there's another song that's connected to New Year, so instead let's all hum or sing "Happy Days Are Here Again!" There's another old song, can't remember most of the words, but these come back to me....."if everyone lit just one little candle what a bright world this would be". Yeah......that's a lovely thought too......and I believe with all my heart that it's possible.
I'm trying to get better with time and practice too. I usually try to set a goal for myself as far as my classes go, try to focus on some skill my students need to learn or improve. But this year, I'm only going to focus on me---or more accurately, on harnessing the energies of positive thinking. I almost have a handle on this ---- oh yes! I have read many a self-help book through the years, and they have all finally started to gel into a life lesson for me. I am going to steep myself in these self-help theories, from Barbara Sher to Dr Wayne Dyer to the Secret to Feng Shui........I am going to re-visit these gurus, because it's there within my reach --- I can almost grab it. It's all about the flow of energy within us, around us and through us. It's about faith too -- not just hoping for the Good, but having such strong faith you expect it and discount all doubt. It's like that song Joyful Joyful --- "melt the clouds of sin and sadness, drive the dark of doubt away". I want to capture that power of the positive; I want my clouds to melt away.
And here's another strange place my mind has wandered into ---- why can't we all do that? This past year or two have been tough on some people. People have lost jobs and homes and family and friends. You may be dealing with helping your children or helping your parents, or trying to cope with mounting bills, or funds that have lost value. I heard there is a group of scientists or statisticians that pay attention to things posted on the internet and make predictions based on the "global consciousness". There is that old saying "you are what you eat", but maybe it is more apt to say we live what we think. Suppose we confound that group of predicters by only thinking positive thoughts, supposing we all embrace the Pollyanna theory? My kids loved that movie, so did I, because there is truly something uplifting about looking for the sunny side and believing in it. Seems like I remember a line from that movie (was it a quote from Lincoln?)...."if you look for the bad in people you shall surely find it". But the opposite is true too; Norman Vincent Peale called his book "The Power of Positive Thinking"--- not the benefits or the good part or the comfort or maybe this will help ---- he called it the Power. Years later Dr Dyer called his book "The Power of Intention". Each of us has the ability to use that power in our own individual lives. But if we all use it, now we're talking power!
I know a lot of old songs and of course, since it's the New Year lots of you have been humming Auld Lang Syne. But there's another song that's connected to New Year, so instead let's all hum or sing "Happy Days Are Here Again!" There's another old song, can't remember most of the words, but these come back to me....."if everyone lit just one little candle what a bright world this would be". Yeah......that's a lovely thought too......and I believe with all my heart that it's possible.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Teach Me Just 1 Dance At A Time!!!!!
When you first start taking lessons in ballroom dance (or social dance) you probably think that you would do better conentrating on just one dance. I hear this constantly from beginners. They just don't understand why I seem to deliberately confuse them with other dances. It seems like they start doing the basics of one dance, gain a little bit of confidence, and are finally able to do those basics but not consistently without mistakes. So why muddy the waters with a totally different dance?
Over the years I have tried different formats for my students, trying to discover which works the best. Experience has proven to me that concentrating on solely one dance, no matter the dance, is not the best approach. Beginners especially reach a point of overload --- because dancing is a physical activity. Any physical activity requires practice and with ballroom dancing we are talking about two people learning to move together in harmony.
Let's say you want to learn to play golf. You take some lessons from a pro, get some tips on stance and swing and hold and timing. Great, but taking lessons doesn't make you a good golfer ---- practice and consistent effort is required. You may know in your head what you are supposed to do, but the old body may not cooperate!! It takes hours on the golf course, more lessons, and helpful hints to improve your game. You are dealing with your own physical movement and an inanimate object ---- it's just you and the golf club out there trying to hit that little ball. How likely is it that you will do absolutely everything the golf pro suggested and do it perfectly? Not very likely. That's because you won't remember everything that was suggested, you will not be able to absorb all the information given to you. Some things will register, some things you won't even hear, or if you do hear it you may not fully understand how to put it into practice. When you are first learning something you have limited experience and may not be able to relate the information to the little bit that you know. You hear it, but don't fully understand the implications. It's all too new.
Now imagine that you are learning to play golf with another person holding that club with you!! Now it becomes even more complicated because now we are talking about two people trying to absorb information and trying to physically perform ---- and trying to coordinate everything and move in tandem!!
If learning to dance were like learning in a classroom maybe the average student would do better to concentrate on one dance at a time. But in dance class you aren't sitting taking notes and memorizing details. You are memorizing and having to get the information into your brain and travel on down to those tootsies! And hope that your partner has done the same!!
It's all new to you, the patterns are new, the experience is new, and your brain can only absorb so much. You have to take in a limited amount of information, but then give your muscles time to use it with practice. You have to have time to practice the basics, the fundamentals of the dance, and have time to learn to adjust to your partner and adjust to the rhythm of the dance.
The wonderful thing about ballroom dance is that all the dances are related to each other in some way. When you learn a Left Turn in Fox Trot it is the same Left Turn you will learn to use in Slow Dance, Merengue, and Waltz. When you learn a basic Box Step in Waltz, it is the same footwork you will put into practice in Rhumba, FoxTrot and Samba, and eventually even in Tango --- that half box gets around!! Although you are learning a different dance with a different rhythm, your body is building muscle memory by repeating the same movements over and over. When you learn the Slow-Quick-Quick of Rhumba you are helping yourself to prepare to learn the Quick-Quick-Slow of Salsa, and for those same rhythms to be used in other dances along the way. When you hold your frame in one dance, you are practicing closed position in other dances. Every time you put effort into practicing one dance, you are really practicing other dances at the same time.
The Basics or Fundamentals of each dance are called Basics because they are the easiest for beginners. If you were to concentrate on just one dance you would be forced to move beyond those basics before you are really mentally and physically ready. I have tried doing 6 or 8 weeks of one dance, and in classes that were not beginners. Every person there reached a point of overload by about the 5th week. It really is best to learn a limited number of patterns and then have time to assimilate what you've learned without additional stuff to worry about. Every good cook knows that sometimes a sauce needs to simmer slowly and let the flavors develop and blend. It's the same with dancing!!! When you are in class learning the basics of Waltz, those basics of Rhumba are on the backburner simmering away. You and your partner learn the basic steps of Cha Cha and the triple steps and hand leads of Swing are blending and burbling on the backburner of your mind. So-----keep learning the basics of the various dances and realize that you are actually letting it all "simmer"!!!
Over the years I have tried different formats for my students, trying to discover which works the best. Experience has proven to me that concentrating on solely one dance, no matter the dance, is not the best approach. Beginners especially reach a point of overload --- because dancing is a physical activity. Any physical activity requires practice and with ballroom dancing we are talking about two people learning to move together in harmony.
Let's say you want to learn to play golf. You take some lessons from a pro, get some tips on stance and swing and hold and timing. Great, but taking lessons doesn't make you a good golfer ---- practice and consistent effort is required. You may know in your head what you are supposed to do, but the old body may not cooperate!! It takes hours on the golf course, more lessons, and helpful hints to improve your game. You are dealing with your own physical movement and an inanimate object ---- it's just you and the golf club out there trying to hit that little ball. How likely is it that you will do absolutely everything the golf pro suggested and do it perfectly? Not very likely. That's because you won't remember everything that was suggested, you will not be able to absorb all the information given to you. Some things will register, some things you won't even hear, or if you do hear it you may not fully understand how to put it into practice. When you are first learning something you have limited experience and may not be able to relate the information to the little bit that you know. You hear it, but don't fully understand the implications. It's all too new.
Now imagine that you are learning to play golf with another person holding that club with you!! Now it becomes even more complicated because now we are talking about two people trying to absorb information and trying to physically perform ---- and trying to coordinate everything and move in tandem!!
If learning to dance were like learning in a classroom maybe the average student would do better to concentrate on one dance at a time. But in dance class you aren't sitting taking notes and memorizing details. You are memorizing and having to get the information into your brain and travel on down to those tootsies! And hope that your partner has done the same!!
It's all new to you, the patterns are new, the experience is new, and your brain can only absorb so much. You have to take in a limited amount of information, but then give your muscles time to use it with practice. You have to have time to practice the basics, the fundamentals of the dance, and have time to learn to adjust to your partner and adjust to the rhythm of the dance.
The wonderful thing about ballroom dance is that all the dances are related to each other in some way. When you learn a Left Turn in Fox Trot it is the same Left Turn you will learn to use in Slow Dance, Merengue, and Waltz. When you learn a basic Box Step in Waltz, it is the same footwork you will put into practice in Rhumba, FoxTrot and Samba, and eventually even in Tango --- that half box gets around!! Although you are learning a different dance with a different rhythm, your body is building muscle memory by repeating the same movements over and over. When you learn the Slow-Quick-Quick of Rhumba you are helping yourself to prepare to learn the Quick-Quick-Slow of Salsa, and for those same rhythms to be used in other dances along the way. When you hold your frame in one dance, you are practicing closed position in other dances. Every time you put effort into practicing one dance, you are really practicing other dances at the same time.
The Basics or Fundamentals of each dance are called Basics because they are the easiest for beginners. If you were to concentrate on just one dance you would be forced to move beyond those basics before you are really mentally and physically ready. I have tried doing 6 or 8 weeks of one dance, and in classes that were not beginners. Every person there reached a point of overload by about the 5th week. It really is best to learn a limited number of patterns and then have time to assimilate what you've learned without additional stuff to worry about. Every good cook knows that sometimes a sauce needs to simmer slowly and let the flavors develop and blend. It's the same with dancing!!! When you are in class learning the basics of Waltz, those basics of Rhumba are on the backburner simmering away. You and your partner learn the basic steps of Cha Cha and the triple steps and hand leads of Swing are blending and burbling on the backburner of your mind. So-----keep learning the basics of the various dances and realize that you are actually letting it all "simmer"!!!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Do You Hop When You Hustle??
When I was newly divorced I attended a dance in the area and was thrilled to be out on the dance floor once again. Someone asked me to dance the Hustle. I didn't know the dance, but figured I could follow. I did follow without much of a problem ---- in fact, every time he hopped on the "&1" I hopped right along with him. Leaving the dance floor, I decided I absolutely hated the Hustle because that horrible hop made me feel totally ridiculous. Oh, I would dance it if asked, but just couldn't get motivated to hop along.
Soon after that dance, I attended another and met my dance partner, Steve, who just loves the Hustle. He was working on a syllabus and launching a business as an independent instructor, so we worked on Hustle. And that hop was definitely not supposed to be part of the dance!! What a relief!! Now I could love Hustle too.
Most people look at Hustle as a dance similar to Swing. I guess it is, because after all it is derived from West Coast Swing, a sort of "spinoff". But the dance has evolved through the years and now in many ways is related to FoxTrot. When doing the Hustle you should be using heel leads and walking steps, just as you do in FoxTrot. You want fast turns of course, but done smoothly. Think elegance on the floor as the leader leads and the lady follows.
That's the fun and the challenge of Hustle. Intricate underarm turns done quickly and smoothly, one following right after another. The Leader has to know how to correctly lead the turns and the correct time to lead the turns. Sometimes you are dancing to fast music ---- it is especially important for the Leader to have relaxed arms that allow the Lady to perform the movements asked of her.....no strong-arming and no pushing, pulling or knocking her off balance!! The Leader uses "fingertip leads", with tone in the fingers & wrists, but not in the arm. Ladies need relaxed arms too or they will make those turns much harder on themselves than need be.
I recently danced Hustle with several men who had all taken lessons at the same studio.....each one thought he was supposed to force the woman through those turns & moves and it was brutal --- and at times actually painful!!! I cannot stress enough the need for light relaxed leads that happen on the correct count. The beauty of Hustle is that the patterns & movement facilitate the turns if done correctly. If done incorrectly it can feel a lot like wrestling!! Maybe that's why we have a pattern called the Hammerlock?
Huslte is a popular dance with the West Coast crowd. They like to style it up when they Hustle and the style is always the arm stuck straight out. Hey, I'm all for styling, but am not a fan of the straight arm. I personally think it takes away so much of the elegance of the dance, and instead would opt for a softer arm. There is a beauty to the give and take of partners on the floor, the lead and the immediate response, the seeming effortlessness despite the fast turns, whether you are dancing the slower 3-count version or dancing to the steady rhythm of the 4-count. And whatever you do -------DON'T HOP!!!
Soon after that dance, I attended another and met my dance partner, Steve, who just loves the Hustle. He was working on a syllabus and launching a business as an independent instructor, so we worked on Hustle. And that hop was definitely not supposed to be part of the dance!! What a relief!! Now I could love Hustle too.
Most people look at Hustle as a dance similar to Swing. I guess it is, because after all it is derived from West Coast Swing, a sort of "spinoff". But the dance has evolved through the years and now in many ways is related to FoxTrot. When doing the Hustle you should be using heel leads and walking steps, just as you do in FoxTrot. You want fast turns of course, but done smoothly. Think elegance on the floor as the leader leads and the lady follows.
That's the fun and the challenge of Hustle. Intricate underarm turns done quickly and smoothly, one following right after another. The Leader has to know how to correctly lead the turns and the correct time to lead the turns. Sometimes you are dancing to fast music ---- it is especially important for the Leader to have relaxed arms that allow the Lady to perform the movements asked of her.....no strong-arming and no pushing, pulling or knocking her off balance!! The Leader uses "fingertip leads", with tone in the fingers & wrists, but not in the arm. Ladies need relaxed arms too or they will make those turns much harder on themselves than need be.
I recently danced Hustle with several men who had all taken lessons at the same studio.....each one thought he was supposed to force the woman through those turns & moves and it was brutal --- and at times actually painful!!! I cannot stress enough the need for light relaxed leads that happen on the correct count. The beauty of Hustle is that the patterns & movement facilitate the turns if done correctly. If done incorrectly it can feel a lot like wrestling!! Maybe that's why we have a pattern called the Hammerlock?
Huslte is a popular dance with the West Coast crowd. They like to style it up when they Hustle and the style is always the arm stuck straight out. Hey, I'm all for styling, but am not a fan of the straight arm. I personally think it takes away so much of the elegance of the dance, and instead would opt for a softer arm. There is a beauty to the give and take of partners on the floor, the lead and the immediate response, the seeming effortlessness despite the fast turns, whether you are dancing the slower 3-count version or dancing to the steady rhythm of the 4-count. And whatever you do -------DON'T HOP!!!
Friday, August 19, 2011
How to do a Pattern WriteUp-----Taking Notes
1. understand that all dances are inter-related. A 5th position break is a 5th is a 5th, no matter the dance.
2. because of this interrelation we tend to use the same language and therefore the same abbreviations. If you try to write your notes like a paragraph, you'll soon get tired of taking notes! Use shortcuts.
3. get familiar with the "elf" and the "arf".......(LF) (RF)
FOOTWORK
LF = left foot RF = right foot LH = left hand RH = right hand
DIRECTION:
L = left R = right < = turn left (counterclockwise) > = turn right (clockwise)
Fwd = forward Bk = back Side Diag = diagonally Tog = together
TIMING
S = slow or 2 beats of music Q = quick or 1 beat of music & = half beat
BASIC TANGO WALK
LF fwd S
RF fwd S
LF fwd Q
RF side Q
LF tog, but do not change weight S
That was pretty simple, huh? If you add the beats, the Slow's and the Quick's, you'll see that the basic Tango takes 8 beats of music, also known as a phrase.
Let's try another 8-beat Basic, the RHUMBA BOX
LF fwd S
RF side Q
LF tog Q
RF bk S
LF side Q
RF tog Q
That was pretty straight forward too. Let's try another 8-beat Basic, this time for SALSA
LF fwd Q
RF in place Q
LF side S
RF bk Q
LF in place Q
RF side S
You'll notice that the timing for Rhumba and the timing for Salsa are very similar. That's because they are both Latin dances and derive from the same rhythm family. If the musicians are playing something slow and romantic you'll want to use a Rhumba Box. If the music is faster and more upbeat, with lots of percussion, you'll want to use the Salsa Basic.
As you progress in your dancing beyond basics, the patterns become amalgamations of those basics. Remember, a 5th is a 5th is a 5th!!!
BACK SPOT & OS - Can you guess which dance?
QQS QQS LRL RLR 1 Basic
QQS LRL Open Break - begin Back Spot on the "S"
QQS RLR Walk under your own LH to end in Open Latin position
QQS LRL Open Latin Walks back
QQS RLR Continue walks back, ending in Closed on the "S"
QQS LRL 5th
Exit with UA........or......back to Basic........OR any pattern beginning with a 5th
HELPFUL HINTS:
1. The best time to take notes is during class or immediately after class when your memory is best.
2. Writing out a pattern reinforces what you have just learned. You have not only physically practiced the pattern in class, now you have also practiced the pattern mentally.
3. Although you may feel confident that you know what you learned in class, will you be able to recall it correctly months later? For this reason, it is important that you not make up your own count!! Saying in your head "123" for Rhumba counts how many times your feet move, but has no relation at all to the music or the rhythm of the dance. You may use a number count rather than slow's & quick's if you prefer, as long as you remember to include the beats of music that you hold (don't move).
4. All patterns should be written from the Man's point of view since he has to know it to lead it. Many times the Lady is simply doing the natural opposite, but if she has an extra move (like an underarm turn) you may want to write out her footwork as well.
5. When you first start trying to write down patterns, it will take you awhile to think it out. But you'll find that with practice it only takes a few moments.
2. because of this interrelation we tend to use the same language and therefore the same abbreviations. If you try to write your notes like a paragraph, you'll soon get tired of taking notes! Use shortcuts.
3. get familiar with the "elf" and the "arf".......(LF) (RF)
FOOTWORK
LF = left foot RF = right foot LH = left hand RH = right hand
DIRECTION:
L = left R = right < = turn left (counterclockwise) > = turn right (clockwise)
Fwd = forward Bk = back Side Diag = diagonally Tog = together
TIMING
S = slow or 2 beats of music Q = quick or 1 beat of music & = half beat
BASIC TANGO WALK
LF fwd S
RF fwd S
LF fwd Q
RF side Q
LF tog, but do not change weight S
That was pretty simple, huh? If you add the beats, the Slow's and the Quick's, you'll see that the basic Tango takes 8 beats of music, also known as a phrase.
Let's try another 8-beat Basic, the RHUMBA BOX
LF fwd S
RF side Q
LF tog Q
RF bk S
LF side Q
RF tog Q
That was pretty straight forward too. Let's try another 8-beat Basic, this time for SALSA
LF fwd Q
RF in place Q
LF side S
RF bk Q
LF in place Q
RF side S
You'll notice that the timing for Rhumba and the timing for Salsa are very similar. That's because they are both Latin dances and derive from the same rhythm family. If the musicians are playing something slow and romantic you'll want to use a Rhumba Box. If the music is faster and more upbeat, with lots of percussion, you'll want to use the Salsa Basic.
As you progress in your dancing beyond basics, the patterns become amalgamations of those basics. Remember, a 5th is a 5th is a 5th!!!
BACK SPOT & OS - Can you guess which dance?
QQS QQS LRL RLR 1 Basic
QQS LRL Open Break - begin Back Spot on the "S"
QQS RLR Walk under your own LH to end in Open Latin position
QQS LRL Open Latin Walks back
QQS RLR Continue walks back, ending in Closed on the "S"
QQS LRL 5th
Exit with UA........or......back to Basic........OR any pattern beginning with a 5th
HELPFUL HINTS:
1. The best time to take notes is during class or immediately after class when your memory is best.
2. Writing out a pattern reinforces what you have just learned. You have not only physically practiced the pattern in class, now you have also practiced the pattern mentally.
3. Although you may feel confident that you know what you learned in class, will you be able to recall it correctly months later? For this reason, it is important that you not make up your own count!! Saying in your head "123" for Rhumba counts how many times your feet move, but has no relation at all to the music or the rhythm of the dance. You may use a number count rather than slow's & quick's if you prefer, as long as you remember to include the beats of music that you hold (don't move).
4. All patterns should be written from the Man's point of view since he has to know it to lead it. Many times the Lady is simply doing the natural opposite, but if she has an extra move (like an underarm turn) you may want to write out her footwork as well.
5. When you first start trying to write down patterns, it will take you awhile to think it out. But you'll find that with practice it only takes a few moments.
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