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Originally Posted by jivecat  It was Ceroc time wasted |
Actually I think I was confused, and thinking of Liz's description of being presented with some really bizarre stuff about crossing 'to show you know you're supposed to' (?!?!?!?!????!). I tell you what, though, in tango you really learn to follow. Someone I dance with regularly decided to lead me in some jive and a rumba, which he leads well - I was vaguely plausible in both, and I've never been taught those at all.
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Originally Posted by jivecat I am starting to play a rather naughty little game with myself, though. You know when you're being led through something and there's a bit of a wobble, ... I like to really ground my balance at that point so I know for sure it's him rather than me ... a slight expectation that you will gallantly hold each other up, or at least gloss over each other's balance errors, which I have been omitting to do, just for the sheer fun of it. |
I like that. It'd be interesting. The grounding thing is probably the right thing to do. I remember someone saying this also communicates to him that he has taken you off-axis - how do you do it, I mean what do you actually do to accomplish that?
Once, last summer, I was dancing with guy who had found out that he could do ornaments too, and it was like he was playing, with his feet, those little drums they play in Indian classical music. (Tabla?) He could actually lead quite well at the same time. So I was just following as an interested spectator making sure I didn't laugh. Then he nearly hurled himself right into the DJ and the sound system. I was SO pleased with myself for holding him up. I thought "ooh, I've got my balance! I'm totally responsible for my own axis, with a bit to spare! Result!" What I actually
said was "Watch yourself!"
I've never seen him since, though.
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Originally Posted by jivecat What about buses, lifts and time/dimension teleportation pods? Perhaps you practise your pivots and walking on these? |
Would a teleportation pod work? There wouldn't be enough time, would there? But I live in London and commute to work, so I just do the standing-on-one-leg thing on the Tube. And on the platforms. And while I'm queueing up at checkouts. Honestly, no-one's ever taken a blind bit of notice. And anyway, the walk with your feet brushing past each other and your hips just gently swinging out of each other's way looks fabulous, backwards or forwards. Maybe not the boleos though, could be a bit dodgy in Topshop. I do kind of do little three-point-turns with a backward step, away from the coffee counter, where before I would have just plodded around and stumped off with my feet hip-width apart.
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Originally Posted by jivecat I have been confused about the relaxed free leg as I can't figure out how it can be done, unless it is an inch or so shorter than the other leg. Which it isn't. |
I said that exact same thing. It just doesn't seem like it adds up. At the moment it works for me if I lift the free heel, 'lift' the hip, and allow the knee to bend a little bit more than I used to. And the standing knee has to be soft and not-locked. I noticed recently that if I do allow the free hip to 'lift' slightly, that knee hangs naturally towards the centre, and that 'beat in front' thing feels a bit more plausible to me.
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Originally Posted by jivecat Also, I have to reconcile the relaxation of the free leg with the discipline of good balance and conscious placement of the foot and toes as they move through each step, which generally requires that the rest of me be not relaxed. |
Even once I understand where I'm trying to go, delivering it physically is a totally different matter. I think the way it works for balance is that all the mass is as close as possible to the line from head to standing foot. At the moment I'm ending up with my 'free' knee hanging sort of half in front of the 'standing' knee. I'm not sure if this is going to work out or not though. It might yet turn out to be a bad idea.
The main problem I have with posture is accidentally sticking my bottom out. It makes my lower back ache and I know it's bad, but it happens anyway when I'm tired.
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Originally Posted by jivecat I haven't graduated onto fishnets yet, though I am toying with the idea. I may ease myself into them by trying natural coloured ones first, so I can pretend I'm not wearing them. |
Flesh-coloured fishnets are GREAT. They are as tough as opaques, they cover as much as opaques, and you can even wear them with open-toed shoes. Get some!