Wiggling (lack thereof)

Pete · 3rd-November-2004, 11:08 PM

I've been working on 'promenading' - walking forwards and backwards when doing moves like baskets and sways but I always seem to end up doing them in a kind of lurching march style

I noticed that the women I danced with tonight seem to do effortlessly stylish wiggling movements when doing these kinds of moves so I tried to let them lead but I still couldn't really get my hips going. Any tips?

**Gadget** · 3rd-November-2004, 11:59 PM

Toes. Try doing the walks on your toes as if you were wearing heels. Actually, you only need to raise your heels slightly, but it will give everyone else a laugh

You will also find that tilting your pelvis forward helps.

When ladies 'stalk', they are placing their feet in a line; one foot is placed in line with the next. The leg going infront will roll the hip with it, so that the hip 'walks' with the feet. Since you're male however; do this too much and it's "mincing" and you need to have your arms bent at the elbows with hands hanging limply.

I have no idea where "snake-hips" ends and "mincing" starts... I think that's a lady's call.

*Andy McGregor* · 4th-November-2004, 12:11 AM

When wiggling you need to be wary of cheap imported wiggles which don't meet the Department of Wiggling ISO9001-3. There have been attempts by the agents of S.M.U.R.F. to flood the market with their sub-standard wiggles. Be ever vigilant and leave all reports of suspected non-conforming wiggles in the Hollow Tree for further investigation.

At no time should you attempt to use a wiggle that you suspect may not be suitable for humans.

MartinHarper · 4th-November-2004, 12:55 AM

Quote:

women [...] do effortlessly stylish wiggling movements

Women have different shaped hips, and the bones are in different places. They've also been socialised into walking with a mild wiggle since they started walking. As Gadget explains, guys can learn how to mimic this, with practice, but we're starting at a fairly hefty disadvantage. If it makes you feel any better, woman have equal trouble trying to walk like guys.

Quote:

a kind of lurching march style

I'd say aim to fix this first, and worry about wiggles later. The standard advice seems to be to bend at the waist and knees, so you're less stiff and upright.

Gojive · 4th-November-2004, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

Quote:
a kind of lurching march style

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

I'd say aim to fix this first, and worry about wiggles later. The standard advice seems to be to bend at the waist and knees, so you're less stiff and upright.

I'd agree with that - plus, make sure you take small steps. It's easier to get something akin to a "manly hip movement" that way ( apparently

)

Pete · 4th-November-2004, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gadget

Toes. Try doing the walks on your toes as if you were wearing heels. Actually, you only need to raise your heels slightly, but it will give everyone else a laugh

You will also find that tilting your pelvis forward helps.

When ladies 'stalk', they are placing their feet in a line; one foot is placed in line with the next. The leg going infront will roll the hip with it, so that the hip 'walks' with the feet. Since you're male however; do this too much and it's "mincing" and you need to have your arms bent at the elbows with hands hanging limply.

I have no idea where "snake-hips" ends and "mincing" starts... I think that's a lady's call.

Blimey. It works!

Just been doing it up and down my office

Mincing potential is alarmingly high, though

**Zebra Woman** · 4th-November-2004, 10:24 AM

If the lady is beside you get your hand on the lady's hip bone and try to mirror it's movements with your hip.

Keep your upper body really calm, feet close together, knees bent. Imagine you're working behind a bar and secretly dancing with the lower half of your body only.

Practice, practice, practice. You are not alone. Loads of men have spent months working on their wiggle. Next time you're down the pub , checkout the bottom half of the bar man.

ZW

ToeTrampler · 4th-November-2004, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

Blimey. It works!

Just been doing it up and down my office

Mincing potential is alarmingly high, though

**Rachel** · 4th-November-2004, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete

I've been working on 'promenading' - walking forwards and backwards when doing moves like baskets and sways but I always seem to end up doing them in a kind of lurching march style

I noticed that the women I danced with tonight seem to do effortlessly stylish wiggling movements when doing these kinds of moves so I tried to let them lead but I still couldn't really get my hips going. Any tips?

Please don't take offence, it's only personal opinion and many would disagree, but men shouldn't wiggle. It just doesn't look right. I'm not saying you should be all stiff and upright ( you know what I mean

), and salsa type hip movements (where you sink into the leg your weight is on) can look good. But don't try the effeminate wiggles unless you want to look effeminate (and if that is what you want, that's fine by me).

In basket-type walks, etc, let the women add the stylish wiggles and flourishes (not that I can), and just provide her with a good frame to work from. Glide along, slide your feet, be smooth ... My most hated of all moves are the ones where the guys hold you in tight and shove your hips out with their own, from one side to the other - it's forced, unnatural, and looks ridiculous. Though I'm sure you don't do anything like that - and the women probably love dancing with you!
Rachel.

**Lory** · 4th-November-2004, 11:09 AM

I agree with most of what Rachel said, (apart from the basket wrap walks, I love those!

)

But, I don't think men look right if they do a false, over exagerated wiggle, they tend to look very camp! There are a couple of very macho guys, who wiggle divinely but you can tell its very natural.

Maybe, just try making your walk a little softer and lighter, it might feel less like marching

For what it's worth, I've tried walking without a wiggle and I find THAT impossible!

**Rachel** · 4th-November-2004, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lory

I agree with most of what Rachel said, (apart from the basket wrap walks, I love those!

)

Oh I love those too - I just hate it when the guys give you no room to breathe or manoever, and then forceably push out your hips from side to to side.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lory

For what it's worth, I've tried walking without a wiggle and I find THAT impossible!

But you do it so beautifully, why would you ever want to not wiggle?!
R. x

*Andy McGregor* · 4th-November-2004, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel

But you do it so beautifully, why would you ever want to not wiggle?!
R. x

Maybe Lory is trying to go incogneto. Lory without a wiggle would be like, err

umm ...

.. Lory without a smile

**foxylady** · 4th-November-2004, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lory

But, I don't think men look right if they do a false, over exagerated wiggle, they tend to look very camp! There are a couple of very macho guys, who wiggle divinely but you can tell its very natural.

Men that can wiggle are divine to dance with (and watch

), but it is a natural thing.... Watch SilverFox's bottom next time you get a chance Lory !

Men that have been taught to wiggle, especially the on-the-toes-almost-'mincers' are really not at all sexy !!

Foxy

bigdjiver · 4th-November-2004, 12:24 PM

[quote=Rachel]... My most hated of all moves are the ones where the guys ... shove your hips out with their own, from one side to the other - it's forced, unnatural, and looks ridiculous... [quote]

I do lots of this, intended as a dance joke

One of the best lady dancers at Bedford is superb at giving lots of verbal feedback - mostly positive - "Yeah" goes a long way. Silence means "could do better", and there is the ocassional "too tight", "slower" etc. Because it is mostly positive I do not get the feeling that I am not up to her standard, though it is obvious that very few can dance at her level. The feedback on at what I am doing wrong helps me to be a better dancer. Ladies - please follow Rachels example and tell us what you like or do not like. You want better partners - help us to be them.

Fortunately I do not tend to repeat the exagerrated wiggle, unless the lady obviously likes it, just as you try not to repeat the same joke.

**SilverFox** · 4th-November-2004, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxylady

Men that can wiggle are divine to dance with (and watch

), but it is a natural thing.... Watch SilverFox's bottom next time you get a chance Lory ! Foxy

Quote:

Originally Posted by pete

I noticed that the women I danced with tonight seem to do effortlessly stylish wiggling movements when doing these kinds of moves so I tried to let them lead but I still couldn't really get my hips going. Any tips?

If you try and wiggle your hips Pete, you will either look (a) as camp as a row of tents or (b) like your haemorrhoids are seeking revenge. - "The Grapes of Wrath"

Forget about the hips for a moment. All you have to do is bend one knee slightly, transferring your weight on to that knee whilst keeping the other leg locked straight and your body straight. Now bend the other knee again transferring your weight on to that knee.

Stand in front of a mirror repeating this sequence and you will be pleasantly surprised to discover that your hips are now doing a gentle figure of 8 wiggle - whilst looking quite manly!

**Rachel** · 4th-November-2004, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdjiver

I do lots of this, intended as a dance joke

... just as you try not to repeat the same joke.

Hey, moves that are done as a joke are fine as long, as you say, as they're not done all the time. Anything that can raise a smile or laugh and take the seriousness out of dancing is good in my book!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigdjiver

.. tell us what you like or do not like. You want better partners - help us to be them.

Well now you've opened the floodgates!! Can I start with a special plea for guys to NOT do that move where they position themselves in front of you, turn their head to look at you and then ... poke their tongue out or thumb their nose. Ok, done once in a dance is alright, but done all the time is just not funny in the extreme!
Rachel

**SilverFox** · 4th-November-2004, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel

Well now you've opened the floodgates!! Can I start with a special plea for guys to NOT do that move where they position themselves in front of you, turn their head to look at you and then ... poke their tongue out or thumb their nose. Ok, done once in a dance is alright, but done all the time is just not funny in the extreme!
Rachel

You're spot on there Rachel. The Almost Pretzel (I think!). Though to be fair it's not just a guy thang, there are a lot of girls who poke their tongues out at me .... for all the wrong reasons!

MartinHarper · 4th-November-2004, 02:08 PM

Tongue-pokes can be fitted into any move!

Personally, I reckon that the worst place for guys to practice wiggles would be in a basket promenade or similar, because when you're close up like that you've got a lot of body-to-body contact, and wiggling is likely to interfere with the lead - at least until it's under control.

I think it would be better to initially practice wiggle walks in a face-to-face position, with no contact outside of the hands. I find it's fairly plausible to lead a simple walk in face-to-face: lead the lady to walk backwards, and walk towards her (or vica versa). You'll also get some fairly direct feedback from the lady's face as to how "manly" you're being...

**Lory** · 4th-November-2004, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy McGregor

Maybe Lory is trying to go incogneto. Lory without a wiggle would be like, err

umm ...

.. Lory without a smile

Aww

I was only trying as an experiment. and I can't do it! Do I care? No way!

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxylady

Watch SilverFox's bottom next time you get a chance Lory !

Shhh I'll take a sneaky peek next time!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rachel

Well now you've opened the floodgates!! Can I start with a special plea

My turn!

Guys, please remember when dancing with me,

I simply HATE the dragged through the hedge backwards move, the one when we have to reverse our nice clean hair under a sweat

3rd-November-2004, 11:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pete Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sheffield Posts: 45 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 10	Wiggling (lack thereof) I've been working on 'promenading' - walking forwards and backwards when doing moves like baskets and sways but I always seem to end up doing them in a kind of lurching march style I noticed that the women I danced with tonight seem to do effortlessly stylish wiggling movements when doing these kinds of moves so I tried to let them lead but I still couldn't really get my hips going. Any tips?

3rd-November-2004, 11:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gadget Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Cruden Bay (Aberdeen) Posts: 6,004 Rep Power: 5 Reputation Total: 1492	Re: Wiggling (lack thereof) Toes. Try doing the walks on your toes as if you were wearing heels. Actually, you only need to raise your heels slightly, but it will give everyone else a laugh You will also find that tilting your pelvis forward helps. When ladies 'stalk', they are placing their feet in a line; one foot is placed in line with the next. The leg going infront will roll the hip with it, so that the hip 'walks' with the feet. Since you're male however; do this too much and it's "mincing" and you need to have your arms bent at the elbows with hands hanging limply. I have no idea where "snake-hips" ends and "mincing" starts... I think that's a lady's call. __________________ I used to be an angel, you know with halo and those wings; Now that i'm a devil, my mind's on other things... My feathers turned to ash, and my harp has broke in two; I took uppon myself, to have a dance with you... ¤ TheEvolutionOfMJ ¤ SensualDancing ¤ TechniquesOfLeading ¤ MarkOfaGoodTeacher ¤ Style ¤ Moves,moves,moves ¤ MoveMap ¤ DanceingTest ¤ DanceFloorSlease ¤

4th-November-2004, 12:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
Andy McGregor Commercial Operator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sussex by the Sea Posts: 6,848 Rep Power: 5 Reputation Total: 1494	Re: Wiggling (lack thereof) When wiggling you need to be wary of cheap imported wiggles which don't meet the Department of Wiggling ISO9001-3. There have been attempts by the agents of S.M.U.R.F. to flood the market with their sub-standard wiggles. Be ever vigilant and leave all reports of suspected non-conforming wiggles in the Hollow Tree for further investigation. At no time should you attempt to use a wiggle that you suspect may not be suitable for humans. __________________ “Any fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius-and a lot of courage-to move in the opposite direction.” Albert Einstein

4th-November-2004, 10:24 AM	#7 (permalink)
Zebra Woman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Just outside the Safari Park.......at the Race Track. Posts: 2,015 Rep Power: 4 Reputation Total: 1286	Re: Wiggling (lack thereof) If the lady is beside you get your hand on the lady's hip bone and try to mirror it's movements with your hip. Keep your upper body really calm, feet close together, knees bent. Imagine you're working behind a bar and secretly dancing with the lower half of your body only. Practice, practice, practice. You are not alone. Loads of men have spent months working on their wiggle. Next time you're down the pub , checkout the bottom half of the bar man. ZW __________________ 'She even bleeds black and white ' - quote Sparkles.

4th-November-2004, 11:09 AM	#10 (permalink)
Lory Forum Bombshell - Our Queen! Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: North London Posts: 6,597 Rep Power: 6 Reputation Total: 2864	Re: Wiggling (lack thereof) I agree with most of what Rachel said, (apart from the basket wrap walks, I love those! ) But, I don't think men look right if they do a false, over exagerated wiggle, they tend to look very camp! There are a couple of very macho guys, who wiggle divinely but you can tell its very natural. Maybe, just try making your walk a little softer and lighter, it might feel less like marching For what it's worth, I've tried walking without a wiggle and I find THAT impossible! __________________ "If you're going to do something tonight, that you know you'll be sorry for in the morning, plan a lie in." Lorraine

4th-November-2004, 12:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
bigdjiver Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: bedford Posts: 3,614 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 730	Re: Wiggling (lack thereof) [quote=Rachel]... My most hated of all moves are the ones where the guys ... shove your hips out with their own, from one side to the other - it's forced, unnatural, and looks ridiculous... [quote] I do lots of this, intended as a dance joke One of the best lady dancers at Bedford is superb at giving lots of verbal feedback - mostly positive - "Yeah" goes a long way. Silence means "could do better", and there is the ocassional "too tight", "slower" etc. Because it is mostly positive I do not get the feeling that I am not up to her standard, though it is obvious that very few can dance at her level. The feedback on at what I am doing wrong helps me to be a better dancer. Ladies - please follow Rachels example and tell us what you like or do not like. You want better partners - help us to be them. Fortunately I do not tend to repeat the exagerrated wiggle, unless the lady obviously likes it, just as you try not to repeat the same joke.

4th-November-2004, 02:08 PM	#18 (permalink)
MartinHarper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 4,025 Rep Power: 4 Reputation Total: 1754	Re: Wiggling (lack thereof) Tongue-pokes can be fitted into any move! Personally, I reckon that the worst place for guys to practice wiggles would be in a basket promenade or similar, because when you're close up like that you've got a lot of body-to-body contact, and wiggling is likely to interfere with the lead - at least until it's under control. I think it would be better to initially practice wiggle walks in a face-to-face position, with no contact outside of the hands. I find it's fairly plausible to lead a simple walk in face-to-face: lead the lady to walk backwards, and walk towards her (or vica versa). You'll also get some fairly direct feedback from the lady's face as to how "manly" you're being...