[DavidB]

Originally posted by Franck

Of course! The simplest style things you can add to your dance have nothing to do with technique: smiling / eye contact / fun / awareness of the music and musical interpretation will all give you style even if your technique is poor or non-existent (the French are masters in this art: the triumph of confidence over ability!)

Originally posted by Franck
I am currently working on new Style workshops which will be much more specific and targeted, as I have found that one general ÒStyleÓ Workshop had just too much material to fit in one day! The first one, will be a ÓSpins and turnsÒ workshop, which has to be one of the most asked about feature. I am hoping to offer this workshop in September.
I am also planning a Òfootwork and walksÒ workshop to follow...

I think we have different ideas on what is technique and what is style - I would call your workshops 'technique workshops'. For me technique is what you have to do to dance. Style is anything you add onto that to give it your own personal look. You can have good technique and bad style, and visa versa.The difference is you can add or remove style, and it won't affect the way the dance feels. But if you add or remove technique, it will affect the dance.

Leading and following is technique. Spinning and turning is technique. Timing is technique. Body motion is technique. (By body motion I mean how you move your body around the floor, eg when stepping back)

But body action is style. (By body action, I mean anything from hip movement to body popping) The way you finish a spin is style. Musical interpretation is style. Using your arms is style. Smiling is style.

But I don't really care if you call it technique or style - you are teaching something that needs to be taught, and people will dance better as a result.

Originally posted by Franck
I do not like the term ÒadvancedÓ dancer.

I like the term as something to aspire to. I also like to make a distinction between 'Advanced dancers' and 'advanced intermediates' or 'advanced jivers', who are intermediate dancers who know a few more moves. I have seen true advanced dancers in other styles. I don't think there is anyone I've seen doing Jive that can compare to these people, or even come close.

What annoys me is when people who do other styles start saying Modern Jive is not worth being considered, because no-one is at this standard. There is nothing about Modern Jive that prevents someone from getting to this level. It is just that no-one has really pushed the boundaries of what can be done.

For what it is worth, this is a list of who I would stop dancing for...

Lindy - Ryan & Jenny, Skye Humphries
Ballroom - Marcus & Karen Hilton
WCS - Kyle Redd & Sarah Van Drake, Robert Cordoba & Deborah Szeleky, Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollman
Hustle - Arte Phillips, Angel Figueroa
Salsa - Salomon and Sandra Rivera
Cabaret - David Howland & Vivienne Ramsey, David & Leslie Elkin

David