The most valuable skill of a good follow is sensitivity to a lead. In other words, beyond everything else, you should strive to be the best follow you can be. Any woman can chide a man who isn't dancing the right way, but it takes a real gem to follow even the worst lead.
Posture is Key. A great posture will allow you to move easily in any direction without much of a push. As a close second, good frame is an invaluable tool in following. Always keep your elbows in front of your body. Four out of five doctors agree that good frame is key.
One of the first things that we learn as dancers is with which foot to start. Dancing is very much like walking: Right, Left, Right, Left... That is the pattern in almost 100% of social dancing. You will almost never place weight on the same foot twice in a row. This principle takes most of the guesswork out of following. That being said, commit to every step. You have fully stepped when you can lift up the other foot without falling.
Close your eyes. We as humans rely too heavily on sight, even when we know our eyes can be very deceptive. Next time you are dancing, try it (within reason). You may be surprised by the results.
Close your ears. As a follow, you want to follow the leader. It's the gentleman's job to follow the music. If he's off time, it's so much better to just go with it. A dance couple is two people dancing as one unit, so when you follow the leader (even if it's not on-time), you not only make yourself look better (people can tell who is following well), you also make the gentleman look better. It's a win-win situation.
Disengage your brain. In other words don't anticipate. Be available to be led. Perfect example: Let's say that you are led into a pattern you have learned and you know. Or so you think. In the middle of the pattern, the gentleman switches up and ends the pattern differently than you learned. Because your mind has been set to run through your pattern, you realize pretty quickly that you are no longer following your partner. *Note: Disengage brain does NOT mean to disengage frame, posture, or technique.
Keys:
*Good Posture is key
*Good Frame is a must
*Always be committed to your step
*Close your eyes
*Close your ears
*Disengage your brain
**Helpful exercise often used to demonstrate a great leading a following principle: Partners grab hands at waist level and shift all their weight so the starting foot is free, and the ladies close their eyes. With everyone keeping their respective frames in place, the gentleman shifts his body forward, backward, or sideways, allowing his left leg to move one of those three directions. The lady, feeling the shift in weight, allows her right foot to catch her from falling (AKA: stepping) forward, backward, or sideways. You really get a feel for how to follow the gentleman by his shift of weight.
Friday, April 29, 2016
Leaders: From Puppet Master to Partner
My "two rules of leading" philosophy:
1) Invite 2) Don't mess her up
As a beginner dancers, my general understanding of leading was that the guy is in charge, and that it was my job to make the lady do things. That's correct in a sense, as the gentleman is responsible for setting the timing and direction of movement. The lady in turn keeps the timing and direction the guy has initiated.
However, as my understanding grew, I began to realize that I'm not "making" her do anything! I invite her to dance. She accepts (or declines and that's okay). I invite her into dance position. She accepts (into a position that is no closer than she is comfortable dancing and that's okay). I invite her to turn. She accepts (or declines and that's okay).
It's liberating to me as a leader to be able to invite or initiate a dance pattern and have the lady choose to accept and dance her part, as opposed to holding the mindset of making her do something, which implies that I have to do my job AND her job. We're not even getting into the discussion about whether she wanted to or was able to do what I had tried to "make" her do in the first place.
Once I initiate that dance pattern, then I do my best to let her shine. At the minimum, I don't give her any extra "help" by shoving her into the pattern or yanking on her arm.
Think of it this way, you are walking or jogging along the street and someone comes up and pushes you from behind. What happens? You fall down! You weren't expecting the extra energy from behind and it happened to be just enough to throw you off balance. Ouch! Think of that scenario when you are leading. Invite- then don't mess her up.
And remember: when she looks good, you look good.
Rule #1 of Social Dance
Every group class starts with two founding principals: A) The guys are the leaders, and B) Rule #1.
Before I give rule number one, I ask to see who can guess. Most answers include some variation of "guys are in charge" or "have fun" or "be nice" or "have a good frame."
All of those answers are excellent answers; all of those issues are important to understand and follow in order to have a great dance experience, HOWEVER- none of those merit the title RULE NUMBER ONE.
Rule number one has two parts: Part A)fresh breath; Part B)good hygiene.
Most of the people I dance with have impeccable hygiene. Their bodies smell good, or at least not bad. Generally, most people are great about keeping rule #1b. RULE NUMBER ONE, however, can easily be broken without the person even knowing! So, take precautionary measures: brush, floss, and mouthwash. Also, drink lots of water. Not only is water essential to life, it also keeps your mouth clean and hydrated. Bad breath tends to favor dry mouth.
Once you are at the dance, gum and mints are great to have handy.
Some of the best items I've found for those times between brushings are Colgate Wisp mini-brushes.These are single use, little brushes with a breath-freshening bead and a toothpick end. I recommend these when you are on the go. The other item I recommend is Breath Rx Gum. This is found at Walgreens in the dental care section, and can give you a complete assurance that you aren't breathing fire.
Bad breath can keep the best dancers from getting repeat dances. But that's not you ;)
Before I give rule number one, I ask to see who can guess. Most answers include some variation of "guys are in charge" or "have fun" or "be nice" or "have a good frame."
All of those answers are excellent answers; all of those issues are important to understand and follow in order to have a great dance experience, HOWEVER- none of those merit the title RULE NUMBER ONE.
Rule number one has two parts: Part A)fresh breath; Part B)good hygiene.
Most of the people I dance with have impeccable hygiene. Their bodies smell good, or at least not bad. Generally, most people are great about keeping rule #1b. RULE NUMBER ONE, however, can easily be broken without the person even knowing! So, take precautionary measures: brush, floss, and mouthwash. Also, drink lots of water. Not only is water essential to life, it also keeps your mouth clean and hydrated. Bad breath tends to favor dry mouth.
Once you are at the dance, gum and mints are great to have handy.
Some of the best items I've found for those times between brushings are Colgate Wisp mini-brushes.These are single use, little brushes with a breath-freshening bead and a toothpick end. I recommend these when you are on the go. The other item I recommend is Breath Rx Gum. This is found at Walgreens in the dental care section, and can give you a complete assurance that you aren't breathing fire.
Bad breath can keep the best dancers from getting repeat dances. But that's not you ;)
Private lessons top 10
Top ten reasons to take private ballroom dance lessons at Mandeville Ballroom Dance Studio:
1) No Contracts!
2) Pay as you go
3) Flexible schedule
4) Focus on your personal goals
5) No switching partners
6) No waiting for a group class that suits you.
7) Progress and improve faster than group class.
8) Slow down and fully understand the answers to your questions.
9) Learn a new dance routine for performance or competition.
10) Shine! Group classes can't be all things to all people, but private lessons do a great job of filling in those gaps.
Everyone is different. Different strengths, weaknesses, different features. Dance styles, dance patterns, and embellishments are tailored to the music selection, but also to the individual dancer, designed to help you put your best foot forward.
Ready to take the plunge? Call or text 985-966-0178 to set up a time or click here to book online!
Ready to take the plunge? Call or text 985-966-0178 to set up a time or click here to book online!
Group class top 8
Top 8 reasons to join group classes at Mandeville Ballroom Dance Studio.
1) Fun -
Dancing is fun! Good fun is better in good company.2) Easy -
Group classes are good for learning new patterns, with less emphasis on technique and progression.3) Inexpensive -
No doubt, getting together with a group of people brings everyone's cost down to a much more palatable level, especially in the beginning stages of dance training. Think $50 per person per month.4) Make new friends -
No Partner, no problem! We always rotate partners, which encourages a healthy cross-training environment. It also facilitates meeting new people and making friends, regardless of whether you come with your own partner.5) Accountability -
You know that once every week, there is a class that you've already paid for and dance friends who will wonder where you are if you didn't make it to class. That provides for some accountability. Additionally, you can get together with others from class to go over class material outside of, before, or after, classes.6) Learn what dance is all about (Quick Start - Tuesdays 7pm) - ($100 enrollment)
START ANYTIME! RETAKE FOR FREE! DROP-INS OKAY!
This class is a series of 8 lessons covering one dance each week, in the following order:
Waltz, Rumba, Foxtrot, Salsa, Night Club 2 Step, Tango, Cha Cha, Swing
This class is designed to give you an introductory-level understanding of the most popular and useful social dances. Because of the structure of this class, you can start anytime or even try a class for $15.
Once you have taken all the classes, you can retake the course free of charge to become more comfortable with your basics. This is great for those who want to find out what dance is all about in a group setting.
7) Deepen your understanding. (4 Week - Monday classes)
Want more focus on a single dance style? This class is for you!
NEW SERIES BEGINS EACH MONTH
This beginner class $50 per person (mondays, 7pm) is a series of 4 lessons covering one dance style. progress through four weeks of a single style, so registration is only open the first week of each month. For those who have taken the Beginner series (or even those who haven't), this is the class you've been asking for: Spend one month studying a single style of social dance. Perfect for expanding your social dance repertoire. $50 per person per month.
8) Take it to the next level (Intermediate)
The intermediate class is currently Tuesdays at 8, and are open to those who have completed the beginner group course or who have achieved comfortable basic skills through private lessons. In the intermediate classes we delve into one dance for 8 weeks. Each class material is based on the material covered in the class prior to that, so intermediate classes are only available as a series. $100
Ready to jump right in and join the fun? Click here to register or email aaron@mandevilleballroom.com to sign up!
Top 10 coolest things to do as a ballroom dancer
As a ballroom dancer, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the number of fantastic new dance opportunities open to you, as well as the vibrant new life that is added to many fun events you already love!
1) DANCE CAMPS
Camp is not just for kiddos! Plan your next vacation in July and travel to Tunica, MS for an intense week of dancing! If you are an avid dance-lover, who enjoys learning fast from great instructors all day and dancing for three parties every night, making new friends and having lots of fun, then All Star Dance Camp needs to be on your calendar.
Just can't get enough dance camp in one week? There are others for you to check out!
Dance Camp Las Vegas http://www.masterycamps.com
Lindy Focus
2) EXCHANGES
The Lindy crowd had a great idea! Invite other dancers from across the nation to a special weekend of local dance scene immersion. Local dancers open their homes to host out-of-town dancers and travel together to special dance socials, classes, and other local events.
Fleur de Lindy is our local NOLA exchange. Set in April during French Quarter Fest, it's the perfect opportunity to swing out with local and out of town dance enthusiasts!
Here's a useful website for finding exchanges across the country!
3) CONGRESSES
A congress is another type of weekend (or longer) featuring social dancing, workshops, performances, and even competitions. Generally, congresses tend to focus on Salsa and similar dances.
4) COMPETITIONS
5) MUSIC FESTIVALS
If you live in the New Orleans area, you already hear live music all over the place many times per year! Everyone enjoys a live band, but as a dancer, you can now do more than just sit and listen. Bonus: musicians love when their music makes people want to get up and move. Your energy and enjoyment as you dance to live music will invigorate the musicians.
So many others! That's NOLA for you.
6) CRUISES
Cruises always have at least 3 or 4 bands playing all over the ship, presenting nightly dance opportunities. And although you have to supply your own partner, the upside is that everyone loves to watch dancers. In fact, every time I get up to dance (even a bad dance) multiple people compliment my dance skills!
And that's not even counting the dance cruises! Think dance camp on the ocean.
7) SHOWCASES
Everybody loves watching a good dance performance. Just look at how many seasons DWTS has been running. Now that you're a dancer, you have the opportunity to bring dancing to many local dancers in a live and personal way by performing in a showcase. It's also a great way to perfect new choreography and technique to shine on any occasion.
8) LOCAL DANCE SCENE
Dance Opportunities are all around, if you know the right people and places. Meet up with some of the other dancers you meet at the studio and find out where they like to go dancing! Make a night of it and hang out with your dance friends at:
-Mandeville Ballroom Dance Studio Parties
- studio parties are great for practicing your moves in a relaxed low-key environment. With playlists set for a good mix of dance-able and fun music, there is no better place to come dance without the pressure of wondering whether the person asking for a dance is looking for more than just a dance. You don't even need liquid courage to dance, because everyone is friendly and understands that we are all on the same progression from beginner to advanced. No partner, no problem!Saturday Night Ballroom - On the first Saturday of each month in Baton Rouge, there is a huge dance party. Similar to the studio party, but hosted by a group of avid dancers; SNB is always fun and inclusive.
USA Dance - The Gumbo Chapter of this national organisation hosts dances in Metairie on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Also, USA Dance offers many valuable resources on competitions and other dance opportunities.
Club Silhouette
Rock-n-Bowl
Many, Many Jazz venues on Frenchmen street in New Orleans.
9) FLASH MOB
Here is another interesting phenomenon that's been gaining popularity lately. It's basically a surprise public showcase. :)10) MOVIES
Every so often, movies and TV shows are looking for skilled dancers as featured dancers or extras. It's a pretty good way to get a few extra bucks doing something fun and then you get to say you were a featured dancer in a movie!You'll probably never see this one.
Astronauts Wives Club episode 10
You may catch a glimpse of me in these..
The power to control the world- Musings of a film buff
As village sorcerer posed the question to each candidate wanting to be his apprentice, a finger would be chosen and put down with a slow shake of the head. Finally, it was Willow's turn. He hesitated and finally chose the final wrong answer.
"No apprentice this year!"
See that scene here
What really struck me as interesting about this interaction is the discussion that follows:
Discussion
In a nutshell, Willow's hesitation was that he should choose his own fingers. That was the correct answer!
I like to think of this story when looking at leading turns. My hand has the power to invite her to go farther away or closer in, to go left or right, quick or slow.
So, if the lady is too close, I'll send my hand out a little bit farther, or if she's too far away, I'll reel it back in for future turns.
Dance is an art- you are working together to create something magnificent.
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