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Originally Posted by RobC
From a beginners perspective, I really don't think it is the right place to start worrying newcomers to dancing with extra information about how to make the moves look better. It is far more important to ensure that they learn, understand and put into practise the basics of dancing, that being the lead & follow techniques and the basic moves which are building blocks which can then be expanded on in intermediate classes/workshops without first having to un-learn bad habits picked up as a beginner.
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Originally Posted by MartinHarper
For beginners I'd have thought it more important to concentrate on basic moves & technique, and avoid crushing any innate style already present. If someone ignored style for the first few months of dancing, would it do them any harm?.
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Okay, although I still rate myself very much a beginner, I
have got past the raw tyro stage and am comfortable with the basics of most beginner moves (even one or two of the new Classic moves). My feeling now is that I want to be able to dance these well, and hopefully with a pleasing style, rather than just start trying to collect more and more moves danced rather indifferently. Poor (if not downright bad) as well as good dancers can be seen in Freestyle and I don't want to stand out as one of the former.
If I bring any prior dance experience into MJ it will be ballroom - perhaps largish steps and some rise and fall. But that was a long time ago. I'm a bit concerned that, as Gadget has brought up, there might be too much movement and I might be seen to be bounding and flailing about a bit - I've no idea what the free arm might be doing most of the time. I have a feeling I'd hate videos of myself just as much as still photos.
I don't think one gets much in the way of style guidance from the teacher in the beginners' class (Nor, for that matter in the Intermediate class).The moves are very standardised and only now and then is the leader urged to emphasise a particular movement, give a firm lead at this point, strike a little 'attitude', show who's in charge, etc.
I suppose it just has to come from informed observation, practice and experience, attending workshops where available and, perhaps most importantly, gauging the reactions of the follower.