Its offical - ladies can lead a break!

[Chicklet]

Originally posted by Jayne
That wasn't the bunny I was thinking of....

J

me neither.

Where's DS gone?? He needs to come back in here and sort out all the confusement he's caused!!!

[Dreadful Scathe]

Originally posted by Chicklet

Where's DS gone?? He needs to come back in here and sort out all the confusement he's caused!!!

I only said a large battery, i didnt say it was of a size or shape that would necessitate it being secreted anywhere instead of standard batteries ....ive invented the BatteryShirt tm - the whole shirt is a battery - just dont wear it in the shower...or..er..sweat. Theres a few quirks that need ironed out...not literally

Whats a rabbit ?

[Andy McGregor]

Originally posted by DavidB
I usually dance with my forefinger down the side of the lady's hand. She would hook her fingers over my middle finger. This gives me a lot more communication in the lead without it getting too strong or moving too much. Some people call this a pistol grip.

From this grip it is really easy to slide my forefinger onto the top of the lady's fingers. I don't aim for the back of the hand - that can get painful. I would end up holding her knuckles. I dont squeeze - there is probably the same pressure as I would use to hold a phone. This is enough pressure to stop the majority of good followers. And those that miss the lead aren't going to get hurt.


(When I first started using this pistol grip, my middle finger really hurt for a while. It showed me just how much strain can be put on the hand without thinking about it.)

David

I do exactly what David says he does. I just couldn't describe it so eloquently. My forefinger is sort of poised most of the time to be placed on the ladies knuckles as required.

[Bill]

Originally posted by Chicklet


which possibility leads one to ask, where about your person (given that you are not known for wearing long sleeves) would the implement be secreted????????

cx

ooooooh............... the temptation to say something but I don't know what you're referring to anyway so I can't really comment. Don't rabbits hide away in nice dark burrows where they can be nice and snug and warm ?

[Graham]

Originally posted by Bill
ooooooh............... the temptation to say something but I don't know what you're referring to anyway so I can't really comment. Don't rabbits hide away in nice dark burrows where they can be nice and snug and warm ?

Amazingly, Bill manages to take the conversation to a whole new dimension of risquéness.

[Chicklet]

Originally posted by Graham
Amazingly, Bill manages to take the conversation to a whole new dimension of risquéness.

I'm bowing at the screen, it would seem that no-one can keep it up better than Bill these days.

Sir, have you taken to drawing rude things on the board when the students' backs are turned ??

[Bill]

Originally posted by Chicklet
I'm bowing at the screen, it would seem that no-one can keep it up better than Bill these days.

Sir, have you taken to drawing rude things on the board when the students' backs are turned ??

I don't know what you mean ! I have never kept a rabbit but I do know a few people who have and I know where they sleep and hide so what I said was simply factual !! I believe the ears are particularly sensitive when stroked.........but I don't know if they actually make any kind of sound when happy.

And as for drawing rude things on the board. Certainly not........... the students can't read my writing so wouldn't have a clue what any drawing might be !

Can't see how anyone could possibly interpret my comments as being risque !!!!!!!

Everyone who knows me knows I'm a sensitive and very innocent soul

[Fran]

Originally posted by Bill

Everyone who knows me knows I'm a sensitive and very innocent soul

yes to the sensitive.

and very fond of small animals



I am on my holidays now!!! broke up from school at 12.00 for 6 weeks -- Cant quite belive it!!

fran

[Dreadful Scathe]

Originally posted by Fran
I am on my holidays now!!! broke up from school at 12.00 for 6 weeks -- Cant quite belive it!!

so you really didnt have a particular reason to post other than to rub it in that you're on holiday for 6 weeks

[CJ]

... but are we talking about Roger Rabbit, here?

[Grant]

Originally posted by Dreadful Scathe
so you really didnt have a particular reason to post other than to rub it in that you're on holiday for 6 weeks

i think Fran also managed to cast doubt on Bill's claim to be innocent

Grant

[Bill]

Originally posted by Fran
yes to the sensitive.

and very fond of small animals



fran

................. but not THAT fond of them.......if you know what I mean .

I've never had a rabbit but I do have a neurotic pussy. ...called Murphy.

[CJ]

Originally posted by Bill
................. but not THAT fond of them.......if you know what I mean .

I've never had a rabbit but I do have a neurotic pussy. ...called Murphy.

So, you're saying your pussy and a rabbit shouldn't go together then?

[Graham]

I've no idea - best ask Sandy - she seemed to know about these things

[Fran]

Originally posted by Bill
................. but not THAT fond of them.......if you know what I mean .

I've never had a rabbit but I do have a neurotic pussy. ...called Murphy.

urmmmm, thats not quite what I meant. :sorry, personally I am quite pleased your affections are not full of "That" kind of fondness. I was merely meaning that you like animals.


Ceroc Jock wrote
B]So, you're saying your pussy and a rabbit shouldn't go together then?[/b]

well ......................better not go there, but i used to have both, and the rabbit was definatley the boss. a free spirt who was'nt caged up and lived in the garden





[ B]DS wrote[/b]
so you really didnt have a particular reason to post other than to rub it in that you're on holiday for 6 weeks

no its just great not to be watching the cloak and being able to brouse the forum without a guilty conseince.

franx

[Sandy]

Originally posted by Graham
I've no idea - best ask Sandy - she seemed to know about these things

Em just back from short holiday so will think about this Graham!!

Sandy

[DianaS]

Originally Posted by DavidB

I think the argument goes that ladies have far less to think about in a dance, so they should be able to listen to the music more. Could someone explain to me then why so few women seem listen to the music? Or is it that so few men listen either, so what is the point?


David

Hi David
This is a really old thread and you've probably moved on, but I've just come back from BB and did a search for breaks 'cas I SO enjoyed Nina and Nigels workshop. Last night I led some breaks it felt so cool when it went well but just a quicky in response to the above:-

often I find the music if it really absorbs me a distraction I follow the music instead of my partner which can bring me to lead. This isn't too much of a problem if its a regular partner and I've said I really like this track do you mind? and they facilitate the dance rather than lead it. Those guys are lovely they sort of understand how blocked I can feel when I'm not allowed just to go.
If its a guy who couldn't do that or I don't know well enough to ask then I have to turn off the music in my head to follow them cas otherwise I choreograph on the fly and it spoils the flow for them

[DianaS]

Originally Posted by cerocmetro

I thought I should just post a reply for the record and clear a few things up before this gets messy.

In the workshop, we demonstrated that the girls were very aware of what is going on in the music. Quite often they are more switched on than the guys, especially the more intermediate guys who are sweating making sure they are staying on the beat and thinking up some outrageously and unnecessarily complicated moves.

We did this by letting the girls lead the breaks and of course in the workshops all the guys were expecting it and ready for it.

I agree with DaveB that it could be dangerous for the girls to just pull their partners and try and stop them and I would not recommend it.

What I would recommend the girls do is to change their style, tempo, stance where the breaks would be, maybe instead of a return and stepping straight back, be returned and then do some pivoting, shimmying or something else that emphasises the break, lets your partner know you know what breaks are. If he does not understand what you are doing, then provided it fits in with what is going on with the moves, you enjoy the emphasis anyway and you ultimately teach your partner that at times it is OK to play with the moves and timing. To stop someone in full flow takes a huge amount of strength and something is almost certain to give.

Where a girl can lead a break in complete safety is when she has been released from the mans grasp, eg a spin. Some girls have a wonderful way of changing the speed of a spin mid flow, bring it to a beautiful sweep of a leg as the break arrives and the man is left in awe of this work of art.

If he just looks at you and wonders what you are doing, just smile back. (You had to be there).

Sally coming back to your point, if you are serious about "spreading the word.." we could be changing the whole balance of lead and follow. I would not like to be held personally responsible for blood being spilled on the dance floor over who is leading who. The floor would become sticky and awkward for the other dancers.

About the workshop, it appears to have been such a success in Aberdeen, we have decided to run it in London, well just east of London in July. If you would like more details please just drop me an email ceroc@hotmail.com

The reason we have never taught at Camber etc, we have never been asked.

As regards shifting to NZ, yes this is true, but not until November 2004. When we do move, we will ironically have more time for workshops, we will be back every 12 weeks.

Finally I would like to say that we had such a brilliant time in Aberdeen. We have never been made to feel so welcome and loved every minute of it. We were very impressed at the standard of the dancing. All credit to a great bunch of teachers and crew.

Sorry for this long posting but thought I'd get everything out the way in one go.

Adam

Hi Adam
I have read through this entire thread and am totally enthralled!
If you are ever doing this workshop again drop me a line I'd love to come!
BW
Diana

[DianaS]

Hello every one

[An aside to give context]
I'm still flying from BB went to my local venue last night and had a lovely time! I was so enthused still with Nigel and Nina's work on musicallity and leading breaks it was a toss up between getting on the dance floor and talking all night.

There was too much to talk about and how can you share a whole weeks work with your friends during the course of one evening? They must come too next time its official! Back to the thread

On topic
Within the workshops we discussed and experimented with how dancers can use movement to convey the phrases of music leading to breaks and the moment of a break itself. This was done quite simply through both partners looking away, and away, and away until the moment of a break then looking swiftly at each other and pausing just the head movement at the point of gaze. Even if just he woman did it it was very effective and gave the woman as much opportunity to convey the phrases as the man without having to backlead

Nina commented that an easy way to backlead a break was simply to say when there is a break coming up, the guy can then chose to lead it without being taken by surprise by a woman suddenly freezing stiffening or doing something else a little strange

The third method that I remember is when the woman is spun just before a break, she can spin till the point of a break (perhaps by slowing it down or spinning more than once) then to stop dramatically with both hands tucked behine the back (yes! wow, she looked so cool) and not to offer the hand until the break is over. Then the all important winning smile is offered to the partner to soften the moment when the break was made, and the lead returned to the guy by re-offering the hand.

For me those three methods were really useful and I was able to use then with some effect last night.

I didn't try the other method of squeezing the man's hand, lowering it and leading a break. I didn't feel that it would be appreciated, especially if I timed the break badly, but was wondering what other people's thoughts or experiences were?

Also, if anyone knows any other ways of backleading a break can you let me know 'cas a couple of guys noticed the changes in my movement last night and really appreciated it!

Perhaps they'd just missed me though, I'd really missed them!

[Gordon J Pownall]

Originally Posted by Dianas

.........a couple of guys noticed the changes in my movement last night and really appreciated it!

Perhaps they'd just missed me though, I'd really missed them!

We have so gotta dance - so often ladies can take the initiative and Nige and Nina, bless em, are so good at 'levelling the playing field so that ladies can have as much fun as the guys in musical interpretation.........

Sounds like great fun.....