Manly Man Spins

[Dai]

Originally Posted by TheTramp

Just do spins next to Jamie doing his. You'll look manly then!

Originally Posted by Jamie

... Anyone looks manly next to me, I spend most of my time dancing as a lady (Emily Howard Stylee)

He even manages to make me look manly when doing a man spin with him/next to him!!

[Alice]

Every time I see this thread I get the Robin Hood song Men in Tights in my head

Not suggesting you should start wearing tights to look more manly though

[Ghost]

Don't spin at all, just stand there Killing Time

[Gadget]

Originally Posted by killingtime

Recently (ooh say Southport a couple of days ago) I was informed that my man spin was a little... camp?

I've noticed a few dancers (and on some very experianced/good dancers) tend to have 'camp' hands, especially on the man spin - it's not the actual spin that's camp, it's the preperation:

Weight on the back foot, front heel lifted slightly, hips and shoulders turned slightly away, head facing, back elbow behind shoulder line, with the fore-arm away from the body and hand hanging loosley, lead hand holding on.
Assume this position and tell me it's not camp... lier.

A couple of things I try to do that addresses each point:
- when stepping back, heep the hips (and shoulders) parallel to your partner.

- Don't signal, but don't have a 'dead arm'; elbows should be slightly bent at all times and hands slightly raised (Nb: in general terms, the further from your body your hands are, the camper you will look)

- when you draw your elbow back for the signal, the rest of your body follows and you tend to rotate; be aware of this and counter it.

- try not to move the fore-arm away from the body; the follower should be looking down the length of it, not at it's side

- think about having more of the fleshy bit of your palm/thumb facing your partner rather than the top of your wrist (without raising the fore-arm above horizontal)

- On the step in, lead the follower forward, then pivot on the left; this is the point to start taking the hand over your linked hands.

- Don't reach past yourself when turning to catch; let your hips and legs move your body round to face rather than having your shoulders face and the rest of you catch up. (To do this, you may have to alter the timeing of how you normally do the move)

- (There is also a shoulder roll thing that some stylish followers do when rotating to face, bringing the lead shoulder up and forward as they enter the rotation and taking the opposite one down and back on exit; if you have been leading some of them and have started mimicing, then then it can look camp as well.)

... lots more about the lead, connection and timeing you could say, but none of it results in a more or less camp execution.

{This is why I still do beginners classes - so much more to learn about the "basic" moves! }

[Lee Bartholomew]

You could always leave the handbag at your table?

[Lory]

Originally Posted by killingtime

I figured maybe if I gave a manly grunt as I went past?

Ahh that explains it.... I'd assumed it was something to do with your tummy bug

Originally Posted by TheTramp

Just do spins next to Jamie doing his. You'll look manly then!

Originally Posted by Jamie

... Anyone looks manly next to me, I spend most of my time dancing as a lady (Emily Howard Stylee)

If you don't want to emulate Jamie's camp spins.. then, do NOT place your hands/arms across your chest whilst spinning, in the 'about to be layed out in a coffin' style!

love you Jamie

[dave the scaffolder]

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

I want to make my American spins more American.
Any advice?

ON the way round shoot some friendly forces then put on about 5 stone in weight

[Dreadful Scathe]

Originally Posted by killingtime

I don't care if the rest of my dancing looks camp it's just important that said spin of men looks as manly as possible. !

but ALL your dancing is camper than John Inman in a tent....if you fix the man spin it'll just look odd

[SeriouslyAddicted]

Well I would recommend avoiding the whole jazz hands thing as you are signalling the move. Did make me laugh though TT

[TurboTomato]

Jazz hands are great

[Lee Bartholomew]

Originally Posted by TurboTomato

Jazz hands are great

The great untaught move that is Jazz Hands. Second only to the Jackson Crouch Grab.

[Double Trouble]

Originally Posted by woodface

the Jackson Crouch Grab.

does he have to bend down to do them these days then?

[Lee Bartholomew]

Originally Posted by Double Trouble

does he have to bend down to do them these days then?

Soooooo many Jackson jokes soooooo little clean enough not to get me a perm ban from the forum lol.

[killingtime]

Originally Posted by woodface

The great untaught move that is Jazz Hands. Second only to the Jackson Crouch Grab.

Would your arm not get caught half way through the spin if you did that though?

[Lee Bartholomew]

Originally Posted by killingtime

Would your arm not get caught half way through the spin if you did that though?

The secret is to dance with one hand doing the Jazz hands, the other hand firmly on your crotch. Try it next time you dance.

[Lee Bartholomew]

You could always try ripping out your chest hair as you spin.

http://www.jokeroo.com/funnyvideos/s...ntal_kiss.html

[killingtime]

Originally Posted by killingtime

I was hoping that people would pick up on the slightly humorous nature of the thread when I talked about spinning with a pint in hand.

Ooh, actually I tried that at new year (sorry, finding this thread made me re-read it). I was drinking Orange Juice and Lemonade though so I borrowed Wuzzle's pint of Guinness. I thought I was doing so well but then when I'd finished it someone mentioned that my little finger, on the hand holding the pint, was sticking out. Damn .

EDIT: My gosh; this is a year later. If anything my dancing has become more camp. Ah well.

[Gav]

Originally Posted by killingtime

EDIT: My gosh; this is a year later. If anything my dancing has become more camp. Ah well.

I'm not sure about spinning, but I was told recently that my "dance mincing" was coming on nicely!

[~*~Saligal~*~]

Try not limping the wrist - AT ALL.
And try not to show how vulnerable you feel before, during, and after executing the spin
I agree with another forumite... that maybe you could just stand there trying to look too cool to "man spin" aka killing time (by name and by trade)

[Lee Bartholomew]

Just find a move that is better than the man spin. Theres plenty out there.

If you must man spin then dont signal.