Who to dance with? :confused:

[Aurion]

Originally Posted by Gadget

Dancing with different people will change my dancing in different ways:

<snip great post>

Very true words, *every* dance is a learning experiance whether you learn a bit more about leading/following in general or just about a particular person and *their* style and how to adapt to it.

It's also an opportunity to learn a bit more of a particular track.
I finally hit a perfect break/slide to "Mercy" last night which was due in no small way to the interaction of the lady I was dancing with, mucho thanks!

A.

[dep]

Originally Posted by Aurion

It's also an opportunity to learn a bit more of a particular track.
I finally hit a perfect break/slide to "Mercy" last night

was there a track called "Mercy"?
I haven't a clue what was played last night, I was concentrating on my partners.

[Sheepman]

When dancing with someone new it'a a matter of assessment and education, assessing what leads should work, (e.g. can I be confident that their weight will be on the foot I expect it to be for a certain move?) And educating the follower as to my style of dancing. (e.g. "spotlighting" may be new to this follower, but if I lead moves where this comes across, if the follower catches on then there is a load of stuff that can result.)

When dancing with familiar partners, it is more a case of "what can I remember to push the boundaries." Inevitably this is what is going to challenge me most, and extend my dancing.

Greg

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by dep

was there a track called "Mercy"?
I haven't a clue what was played last night, I was concentrating on my partners.

Nice sentiment but I think anyone who has a real love for music, and as such some tracks in particular and how great they are to dance to; they'll remember if a certain song was played regardless of how focused they were on their partner. Mercy

[dep]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

Nice sentiment but I think anyone who has a real love for music, and as such some tracks in particular and how great they are to dance to; they'll remember if a certain song was played regardless of how focused they were on their partner. Mercy

Hi Chris,
That was my way of saying "I have soooo much to learn".

[Daisy Chain]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

they'll remember if a certain song was played regardless of how focused they were on their partner. Mercy

I've had quite a few frustratingly ordinary dances to Mercy. Then last week, as the first few bars came through the speakers, I plucked up the courage to grab a passing teacher. Ooo, fabulous. He certainly did the track justice. Made my night.

Daisy

(A Released Little Flower)

[Aurion]

Originally Posted by Aurion

I finally hit a perfect break/slide to "Mercy" last night which was due in no small way to the interaction of the lady I was dancing with, mucho thanks!

A.

Originally Posted by dep

was there a track called "Mercy"?
I haven't a clue what was played last night, I was concentrating on my partners.

ahem ... thanks for quoting out of context.

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by dep

Hi Chris,
That was my way of saying "I have soooo much to learn".

Fair enough, its just someone said something similar to me one night as if it was a profound thing to say. Still, don't people find with the repetition of tracks that your musicality can in large be accounted to memory rather than understanding

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by Daisy Chain

I've had quite a few frustratingly ordinary dances to Mercy. Then last week, as the first few bars came through the speakers, I plucked up the courage to grab a passing teacher. Ooo, fabulous. He certainly did the track justice. Made my night.

Daisy

(A Released Little Flower)

I'd had two thoroughly uninspiring dances to Tango to Evora when I unsuccessfully tried to sit it out on the third occasion; only to be left hugging my partner saying best dance ever. If theres one thing I love about MJ its, its ability to surprise you.

[robd]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

Fair enough, its just someone said something similar to me one night as if it was a profound thing to say. Still don't people find with the repetition of tracks that your musicality can in large be accounted to memory rather than understanding

Yes, I believe so though I think it no less valid as musicality because of it. the track in question - Mercy - I had never heard before until a recent WCS class freestyle night (I obviously listen to the wrong radio stations!) My partner - who has a great musical awareness - was singing along and clearly knew it well and hit the breaks and accents and whilst I responded to allow space in the lead for her to do this I didn't contribute much myself as I couldn't predict the accents. Subsequently I heard it at Utopia and was able to dance to it much better (IMO). Breaks in a previously-unheard piece of music can be predicted (or falsely predicted on some embarassing occasions ) but musical accents are much harder to guess at without prior knowledge of the track.

[Gadget]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

...Still don't people find with the repetition of tracks that your musicality can in large be accounted to memory rather than understanding

with my memory?!?!

I'm hoping that it's "musicality"...... but it could be some weird form of 'musical memory' - oooh, this sounds a bit like X! wasn't there a chorus just after that twiddly bit? There's another track that builds up like this, then it goes silent about... now! The piano seems to float in and out of this track, getting louder just before a dramatic bit...the chorus has "sunrise" in it, I wonder if I can coincide a big arm sweep with that next time it comes round?...
... hmmm... ... isn't that musicality? Do you need understanding to have musicality? I seldom understand what I do - I just do it.

[dep]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

.........Still, don't people find with the repetition of tracks that your musicality can in large be accounted to memory rather than understanding

no.
I listen to my stereo system virtually all day long (probably around 80hrs/wk). I don't remember what's coming by way of breaks/changes in pace, etc.

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by dep

no.
I listen to my stereo system virtually all day long (probably around 80hrs/wk). I don't remember what's coming by way of breaks/changes in pace, etc.

I guess I'm just lucky (or not!) I have quite a musical background so I'm pretty good for my dancing level at interpreting the music even when I'm unfamiliar with the track, but have found just recently that my memory is taking over on some songs when I'd rather it didn't

[ChrisB]

Originally Posted by Gadget

with my memory?!?!

I'm hoping that it's "musicality"...... but it could be some weird form of 'musical memory' - oooh, this sounds a bit like X! wasn't there a chorus just after that twiddly bit? There's another track that builds up like this, then it goes silent about... now! The piano seems to float in and out of this track, getting louder just before a dramatic bit...the chorus has "sunrise" in it, I wonder if I can coincide a big arm sweep with that next time it comes round?...
... hmmm... ... isn't that musicality? Do you need understanding to have musicality? I seldom understand what I do - I just do it.

finding I clearly take a lot for granted

[MartinHarper]

Originally Posted by ChrisB

Don't people find with the repetition of tracks that your musicality can in large be accounted to memory rather than understanding

That and the repetition within tracks.

[DundeeDancer]

Originally Posted by Lory

For me, as a follow, I'm challanged in completely 'different' ways, when dancing with a beginner or an experienced dancer!

What about us hotshot intermediates , do we not give you the biggest challenges of all? DD

[Steven666]

Originally Posted by DundeeDancer

What about us hotshot intermediates , do we not give you the biggest challenges of all? DD

That's the intermediate followers!

*runs*

[Lory]

Originally Posted by DundeeDancer

What about us hotshot intermediates , do we not give you the biggest challenges of all? DD

I'll let you know, 'after' we've danced!