That might sound like a sweeping statement, but allow me to explain. There are essentially two parts to this explaination. You may have heard me saying "Keep your nose over your toes and you won't step on hers." When you walk forward you want to keep your weight in the balls of your feet and your body slightly in advance of your feet. In other wrods we don't want to stick our legs and feet out before we make and advance through our body, which will lead the lady.
The lady also has an important role to play when going back. Once you feel a lead through the man's body start to take your leg back, but think woring underneath your body so as to keep the closeness between you and your partner. Remember to extend back from the top of your leg (which starts as high as the top of your hip). You want to feel as though you are going forward by extending over the knee of your standing leg and drawing back from the top of your moving leg - this action creates a beatuful long line and the appearence of a "big" sweeping step. This is what creates the long gliding strides seen in high quality dancing - and not trying to take big steps!
As a lady dancer you want to imagine yourself as a trolley that will only move when a gentle force is applied. The mans job is to lead you through his body and its your job to respond by moving at his pace without separating too much in the hip area. Try to imagine that your legs are always working underneath and behind your body, otherwise you open yourself to bruised toes and fights with your partner.
Hope this helps,
John
Wednesday 2 January 2008
Tuesday 1 January 2008
Timing is everything!
Two people dancing in time to the music, in time with eachother is what ballroom dancing is all about! Dancing through the music, ahead, behind or not having a sense of timing between you and your partner can hamper your progress. When your sense of timing is better you begin to apprectiate the music and dance a whole lot more. The slower dances such as the Waltz and Rumba are good examples where innacurate timing doesn't allow you to enjoy the fullness of the rythym.
Timing occurs when the foot touches the ground; if you wait till you hear the beat and then start to move your feet to the final destination, you will be late. This sounds very obvious but I often notice students not working exactly to the music. Here are a few practical tips to help you improve your timing both individually and as a couple:
Listen to muisc - listen to a variety of ballroom and latin songs and try to clearly count in beats (not just slows and quicks!). The more music you listen to and count out loud to, the better your understanding will become. You could even shout out the strong beats, e.g. in waltz - 1! or cha cha-1! or Rumba - 4! Also try to imagine your steps to the count. Also try to count the "in betweeners" e.g. in Rumba. 1 "and" 2 "and" 3 "and" 4 "and".... by counting the "ands" you will develop a better sense of timing and know when to hold your movements and exactly when to begin the next movement. You can also use these "and" to pass your feet and prepare through the body for the next step. Do this excercise as a couple as well.
Brush your feet - brushing your feet gives you something to do to the music, which will improve the look and timing. normally done on the "ands" eg. in cha cha basic : 1 "and-brush" 2 "and" 3 "and-brush" 4 "and" 1... Speak to me if you are unclear where and when you need to be passing or brushing in each dance.
hope this helps,
John
Timing occurs when the foot touches the ground; if you wait till you hear the beat and then start to move your feet to the final destination, you will be late. This sounds very obvious but I often notice students not working exactly to the music. Here are a few practical tips to help you improve your timing both individually and as a couple:
Listen to muisc - listen to a variety of ballroom and latin songs and try to clearly count in beats (not just slows and quicks!). The more music you listen to and count out loud to, the better your understanding will become. You could even shout out the strong beats, e.g. in waltz - 1! or cha cha-1! or Rumba - 4! Also try to imagine your steps to the count. Also try to count the "in betweeners" e.g. in Rumba. 1 "and" 2 "and" 3 "and" 4 "and".... by counting the "ands" you will develop a better sense of timing and know when to hold your movements and exactly when to begin the next movement. You can also use these "and" to pass your feet and prepare through the body for the next step. Do this excercise as a couple as well.
Brush your feet - brushing your feet gives you something to do to the music, which will improve the look and timing. normally done on the "ands" eg. in cha cha basic : 1 "and-brush" 2 "and" 3 "and-brush" 4 "and" 1... Speak to me if you are unclear where and when you need to be passing or brushing in each dance.
hope this helps,
John
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