Leaving space for a woman to do her thang

Clive Long · 3rd-January-2005, 09:04 PM

I was going to beddy byes, but things just keep poppin into ma l'il old head.

Ladeez.

Do you ever wish men would stop leading, leading, leading and give you some space to shake it on down?

Is this only something you can achieve if your partner has reached a level of "dance familiarity" with you? Argentinian Tango (a subject on which I speak with great authority and little knowledge) allows / encourages the man to create space for the woman to "ornament". Does this, can this happen in MJ?

I have danced a couple of times at Hammersmith (as much as one can dance at H'smith) with one woman who does the most elaborate "ornaments". And even though I am heavy of jowl, grey of hair and weak of knee I decided to wiggle down to the floor with her and managed to get back almost un-aided.

'Twas a near-religious experience, disconcerting and somewhat out-of-control.

CRL

Yogi_Bear · 10th-February-2005, 09:43 PM

the short answer is - yes. The spirit of Argentine tango can sometimes be found in MJ dances, believe it or not...

**Lynn** · 11th-February-2005, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clive Long

Do you ever wish men would stop leading, leading, leading and give you some space to shake it on down?

Yes.

(I sometimes do it anyway

but I apologise and I don't think the men mind too much)

**Banana Man** · 11th-February-2005, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynn

Yes.

(I sometimes do it anyway

but I apologise and I don't think the men mind too much)

**foxylady** · 11th-February-2005, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clive Long

I was going to beddy byes, but things just keep poppin into ma l'il old head.

Ladeez.

Do you ever wish men would stop leading, leading, leading and give you some space to shake it on down?

Is this only something you can achieve if your partner has reached a level of "dance familiarity" with you? Argentinian Tango (a subject on which I speak with great authority and little knowledge) allows / encourages the man to create space for the woman to "ornament". Does this, can this happen in MJ?

I have danced a couple of times at Hammersmith (as much as one can dance at H'smith) with one woman who does the most elaborate "ornaments". And even though I am heavy of jowl, grey of hair and weak of knee I decided to wiggle down to the floor with her and managed to get back almost un-aided.

'Twas a near-religious experience, disconcerting and somewhat out-of-control.

CRL

Absolutely.... Infact I really don't like dancing with 'straight' cerocers, as the control is so rigid....

I just love boys I can play with

. Infact I danced with a really nice guy at Hammersmith who was so fabulous to play with, that i told him so

. Never found out who he was though.

Foxy

**Sparkles** · 11th-February-2005, 12:19 PM

Down, Foxy, bad girl!

S. x

**Lory** · 11th-February-2005, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sparkles

Down, Foxy, bad girl!

S. x

No no! She has her name to live up to....and she does it sooooo well!

**El Salsero Gringo** · 11th-February-2005, 12:41 PM

IT would be a nice idea in an intermediate class to include a move where the lady had a few bars to shine. Presumably, having seen how to fit it in, it would be easy to improvise into future dances? There's a huge amount of it in Salsa, too.

Andreas · 11th-February-2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

IT would be a nice idea in an intermediate class to include a move where the lady had a few bars to shine. Presumably, having seen how to fit it in, it would be easy to improvise into future dances? There's a huge amount of it in Salsa, too.

Hehehe

I have done that in the past. You have no idea how embarassed them girls get when they have to perform in a class situation. It was also quite amusing (sorry

) to teach Merengue turns. But to be fair I tought ihem to the whole class, guys and girls.

Bottom line, is, although people were quite shy in the class, they actually did practice the stuff at home and in freestyle and dance it! So that was great satisfaction as in many cases bugger all people do the moves you teach them.

I guess that has to do with the fact that usually the whole pressure of memorising the moves is on the guys and then there was something for the girls to do and play with.

**El Salsero Gringo** · 11th-February-2005, 01:18 PM

OK. The hidden subtext was: would somebody please explain to me a smooth way to 'lead into' having the lady improvise, and a smooth way 'to get back out of it' - then I'll be happy to do it all night. I'm sure it's not hard, but I've obviously left my imagination at home today.

No need to draw diagrams, a simple description will be fine!

Ta!

**Lory** · 11th-February-2005, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

OK. The hidden subtext was: would somebody please explain to me a smooth way to 'lead into' having the lady improvise, and a smooth way 'to get back out of it' - then I'll be happy to do it all night. I'm sure it's not hard, but I've obviously left my imagination at home today.

No need to draw diagrams, a simple description will be fine!

Ta!

I don't know how the man should get into it but from the woman's prospective, I know how 'I' usually get out of it and return to being lead.... when I've finished doing 'whatever'

I find an appropriate moment in the music and give the man a light nudge on the chest/shoulder to get them to step back and catch my hand.

No ones taught me this but it seems to work

**El Salsero Gringo** · 11th-February-2005, 01:39 PM

No, I simply can't picture how that would work at all. You'll just have to demonstrate it for me until I get it - and I'm such a *slow* learner that could take several dances...

Clive Long · 11th-February-2005, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

No, I simply can't picture how that would work at all. You'll just have to demonstrate it for me until I get it - and I'm such a *slow* learner that could take several dances...

You charmer you. Lory's a sucker for all that kind of talk. But you won't be disappointed dancing with her.

**El Salsero Gringo** · 11th-February-2005, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clive Long

You charmer you. Lory's a sucker for all that kind of talk. But you won't be disappointed dancing with her.

I never have been yet!

**Banana Man** · 11th-February-2005, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foxylady

Absolutely.... Infact I really don't like dancing with 'straight' cerocers, as the control is so rigid....

I just love boys I can play with

. Infact I danced with a really nice guy at Hammersmith who was so fabulous to play with, that i told him so

. Never found out who he was though.

Foxy

....and you were only playing!??

MartinHarper · 11th-February-2005, 04:06 PM

I reckon this is quite a personal thing, but some ideas...

Leads for "Play, please.":

* Let go.
* Stop leading.
* Lead a "freeze" (aka "frog", "break", etc)

Leads for "Would you like to play?":

* Lead something minimal - slow comb, slow man spin, et al
* Use a lighter lead than normal

**Allez-Cat** · 11th-February-2005, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clive Long

'Twas a near-religious experience, disconcerting and somewhat out-of-control.

CRL

Faint chord struck somewhere (as in amplified 'BOING'). I got hijacked recently by a certain lady with a venomous wiggle, and loved it to bits (once I'd recovered from the shock). I now go out of my way to seek a dance whenever she shows up: apart from the sheer fun, it's teaching me to ease up on the caucasian retention and dance with the lady and the music.

So here's a fan for the foxylady - I know, I know, girls jus' wanna have fun....

**Lou** · 11th-February-2005, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

I reckon this is quite a personal thing, but some ideas

And a cute request (with some partners) for "Can I play for a bit?" is a squeeze of the fingers...

**El Salsero Gringo** · 11th-February-2005, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lou

And a cute request (with some partners) for "Can I play for a bit?" is a squeeze of the fingers...

Just to be clear, we are still talking about Ceroc here?

3rd-January-2005, 09:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
Clive Long Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London-innit Posts: 1,465 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 1316	Leaving space for a woman to do her thang I was going to beddy byes, but things just keep poppin into ma l'il old head. Ladeez. Do you ever wish men would stop leading, leading, leading and give you some space to shake it on down? Is this only something you can achieve if your partner has reached a level of "dance familiarity" with you? Argentinian Tango (a subject on which I speak with great authority and little knowledge) allows / encourages the man to create space for the woman to "ornament". Does this, can this happen in MJ? I have danced a couple of times at Hammersmith (as much as one can dance at H'smith) with one woman who does the most elaborate "ornaments". And even though I am heavy of jowl, grey of hair and weak of knee I decided to wiggle down to the floor with her and managed to get back almost un-aided. 'Twas a near-religious experience, disconcerting and somewhat out-of-control. CRL

10th-February-2005, 09:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Yogi_Bear Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Norwich Posts: 1,107 Rep Power: 3 Reputation Total: 180	Re: Leaving space for a woman to do her thang the short answer is - yes. The spirit of Argentine tango can sometimes be found in MJ dances, believe it or not...

11th-February-2005, 12:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sparkles Glitter Queen Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Camberwell, London Posts: 2,939 Rep Power: 4 Reputation Total: 1724	Re: Leaving space for a woman to do her thang Down, Foxy, bad girl! S. x __________________ "Some people hope for a miracle cure, Some people just accept the world as it is" -Billy Joel "I'm going to miss you when you're gone" - Dan Hudson

11th-February-2005, 12:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
El Salsero Gringo Ceroc Teacher Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London Posts: 4,881 Rep Power: 4 Reputation Total: 2374	Re: Leaving space for a woman to do her thang IT would be a nice idea in an intermediate class to include a move where the lady had a few bars to shine. Presumably, having seen how to fit it in, it would be easy to improvise into future dances? There's a huge amount of it in Salsa, too.

11th-February-2005, 01:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
El Salsero Gringo Ceroc Teacher Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London Posts: 4,881 Rep Power: 4 Reputation Total: 2374	Re: Leaving space for a woman to do her thang OK. The hidden subtext was: would somebody please explain to me a smooth way to 'lead into' having the lady improvise, and a smooth way 'to get back out of it' - then I'll be happy to do it all night. I'm sure it's not hard, but I've obviously left my imagination at home today. No need to draw diagrams, a simple description will be fine! Ta!

11th-February-2005, 01:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
El Salsero Gringo Ceroc Teacher Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: London Posts: 4,881 Rep Power: 4 Reputation Total: 2374	Re: Leaving space for a woman to do her thang No, I simply can't picture how that would work at all. You'll just have to demonstrate it for me until I get it - and I'm such a slow learner that could take several dances...

11th-February-2005, 04:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
MartinHarper Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Worcester, UK Posts: 4,093 Rep Power: 4 Reputation Total: 1825	Re: Leaving space for a woman to do her thang I reckon this is quite a personal thing, but some ideas... Leads for "Play, please.": * Let go. * Stop leading. * Lead a "freeze" (aka "frog", "break", etc) Leads for "Would you like to play?": * Lead something minimal - slow comb, slow man spin, et al * Use a lighter lead than normal

11th-February-2005, 05:45 PM	#20 (permalink)
drathzel Ceroc N.I. Franchise Owner Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Bangor, Northern Ireland Posts: 7,681 Rep Power: 4 Reputation Total: 1312