[Gus]

Funny thing these drops ..... I've just got back from JiveSPree and seen classes where fairly advanced drops were shown to classes of around 400! The teachers were both the ideal size, small, and stocky. HOWEVER, there were many in the class who were tall, not physically well built and not in their 20's.

What I'm trying to say that a drop, especially one at speed, requires an understanding of balances, levers, use of power and balance etc. In my youth I did some martial arts and was tuaght about throws and locks. The principles are not too different to drops. The difference is that while we were strong and well trained we took our time to try these moves out. In dance I've seen totaly amatuers thinking nothing about throwing their partner around the place, putting strees on their backs, muscles and their partners nerves.

In short, drops should be taught properly by experienced teachers, and should be practised assidiously before been used in 'open combat'.

Drops can be real crowd pleasers but as an instructor I'm sick to the back teeth of dancers being dropped or knocked in to by over-enthusiastic dancers. I'm worried afetr seing what dancers try out after trying out a move for the first time. PLEASE, if you are into drops, plesae get taught by a good teacher then PRACTICE.