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Originally posted by Josie_D
Hi Franck,
You are quite right about how much better it looks to dance "small and neat", but as a lady this is also tied in with my ability to spin on the spot. If I were to start a spin and end up several feet away from my start point then the poor man leading me would have no choice but to stride across the dance floor to catch me as I finished. On the other hand, the ability to spin and end up where I started helps the man (and me) not to have to over-extend our arms. It looks and feels much better, and I'll be quite honest, it makes the dancing easier too. |
Hi Josie and welcome to the Forum.
Spinning (and turning) on the spot is an essential skill for women, and the one fault that causes most problems (Loss of balance etc...). It also makes it very difficult for your partner to keep up with you, and crucially, to plan sufficient floor space for moves, resulting in many clashes while dancing, even when the floor is not too busy.
Quote:
| By the way, I would thoroughly agree about keeping the tension in the fingertips (and arm muscles, by definition), though it can go a little awry if you and your man miss the catch when you are both travelling backwards at speed - there is not so much leeway as with a more solid handgrip! |
Yes, that does happen every so often, but as mentionned in another thread, each partner in the dance should more or less be in charge / control of their own momentum, ie you should not need the man to send you into a spin, and conversely, you should not need the man's hand to stop you either!
While the above might sound a bit drastic, it is a good habit to develop as it will make your dancing appear neater and more deliberate...
Cheers,
Franck.