What is the best ballroom dance to learn for MJ?

[JiveLad]

If you had the choice of spending some learning a ballroom dance for a few weeks, which would you choose and why?

This is from the position of then going back to MJ and applying some of the learnings in that context.

I am considering of Cha-Cha and/or Tango. Any views?

Thx.

[Astro]

Originally Posted by JiveLad

If you had the choice of spending some learning a ballroom dance for a few weeks, which would you choose and why?

This is from the position of then going back to MJ and applying some of the learnings in that context.

I am considering of Cha-Cha and/or Tango. Any views?

Thx.

That's a good question.

I've seen the Rhumba danced beautifully at a Ceroc Freestyle, and there were a few similarities with blues.

[geoff332]

Originally Posted by JiveLad

If you had the choice of spending some learning a ballroom dance for a few weeks, which would you choose and why?

This is from the position of then going back to MJ and applying some of the learnings in that context.

I am considering of Cha-Cha and/or Tango. Any views?

Thx.

A few thoughts - with a warning.

When you start ballroom, you typically learn a few basic steps. The technique is taught quite slowly over a long time. Quite a few of the steps can be transferred across. But the real value lies in the solid grounding in technique. The problem is, it takes quite a while to learn that technique. To put it another way: ballroom isn't a quick fix for improving MJ technique. But over time, the value is huge.

Personally, I find rhumba most useful. At a beginner level, the moves are quite easy; at the more advanced level, the technique is as difficult as anything in ballroom/latin. It's that technique that you can stretch over into MJ.

I found cha and jive too fast to be much use for MJ (but you do learn triples). Ditto quickstep and Viennese. The classic ballroom - waltz and foxtrot - are excellent for defining a frame, for balance, for knowing how to control your weight, and how to lead with your body. Tango is very cool - but I find it less applicable/relevant for MJ. Pasa has some very interesting ideas for variations, but I rarely bring them across: the leading is too tricky. The same's probably true for Samba - although if you learn bota fogas, it makes bodyrolls and waves comparatively easy.

All these positives are things that take months, if not longer, to learn properly. Half learnt, they aren't much help.