Dancing without feeling

[robd]

Not sure the title really sums it up but I noticed an interesting (to me) thing last night. One of the more experienced dancers at the venue is a man my partner does not enjoy dancing with. Indeed she says the experience can be quite scary. I had chance whilst sitting out last night to watch him in action and it was strange that though he was technically very very good (to my eyes anyway) - lots of complex variations - he seemed to view it more as an intellectual exercise than a partner dance. His partner for that dance - who is a very skilled dancer - looked rather nervous as she was sent here and there at tremendous speed. I am not sure what the point of the post is other than it taught me that the ability to do lots of complex moves at a very high speed is not necessarily the ultimate to aim for. It's not necessarily what the ladies aim for either. Is this kind of aptitude what I have seen described elsewhere as a move monster? Or is that a term applied to somebody who is over-reaching themselves and pulling out lots of moves that they simply cannot do correctly (which was not the case here). Do you have someone like this at your venue?

[Andreas]

If you look closely at the persons that eradiate such an aura you will notice that these are self-acclaimed 'better' dancers. They try to put themselves apart by making the other person feel it is an honour to have been granted a dance. It is a sad group of dancers in the middle levels that think they are doing themselves a favour.

Stay away, every beginner that enjoys dancing is more fun!

[Jazz_Shoes (Ash)]

Originally Posted by robd

Not sure the title really sums it up but ~snip/~

I danced with a guy a bit like that on saturday. And he had NO SHOES ON!!! I don't think we danced ONE beginner move the entire dance. He kept doing lots of intermediate moves very sloppily, and it wasn't a nice dance at all *shakes head* I warned Piglet and JoC bout him, plus a few others...shall not be dancing with him again

Ash x

[Gadget]

How can you spin with no shoes on? Last time I tried that I almost burnt the ball of my foot - defentely removed some skin. Now if he were just wearing socks... now that I can understand.

[MartinHarper]

You can step round turns with no footwear. Guys don't need to spin much anyway.

Sometimes I have dances where the feeling just isn't there. Can be tiredness, or an uninspiring track, or something else. Occasionally it lasts longer than just one dance. I tend to dance through such patches and hope for outside salvation.

[Purple Sparkler]

Originally Posted by Jazz_Shoes (Ash)

I danced with a guy a bit like that on saturday. And he had NO SHOES ON!!! I don't think we danced ONE beginner move the entire dance. He kept doing lots of intermediate moves very sloppily, and it wasn't a nice dance at all *shakes head* I warned Piglet and JoC bout him, plus a few others...shall not be dancing with him again

Ash x

Oh, not another 'it's been 6 weeks therefore I'm intermediate even though I don't know what the F*** I'm doing'-ist. You have my sympathy, honey.

[bigdjiver]

Originally Posted by robd

... I am not sure what the point of the post is other than it taught me that the ability to do lots of complex moves at a very high speed is not necessarily the ultimate to aim for...

MJ is not in the least one dimensional. One of the reasons I love it is because sometimes I can dance with feeling, sometimes dance for effect, and sometimes just let rip. Doing lots of complex moves at high speed is one of the things I enjoy once or twice a night, with a partner who enjoys that too. If in any doubt I offer early on to slow it down, or change the style.

[David Franklin]

Originally Posted by robd

One of the more experienced dancers at the venue is a man my partner does not enjoy dancing with. Indeed she says the experience can be quite scary. His partner for that dance - who is a very skilled dancer - looked rather nervous as she was sent here and there at tremendous speed. I am not sure what the point of the post is other than it taught me that the ability to do lots of complex moves at a very high speed is not necessarily the ultimate to aim for. It's not necessarily what the ladies aim for either.

Not that I'm a huge fan of that style myself, but I don't think it's really fair to rush to judgement here. Some people like slow slinky dances filled with emotion, some prefer an aerobic workout. It's not the "pack in lots of complex moves" style that is the problem, it's when it's done badly, or when the follow doesn't like that style of dance and the lead does not or cannot adapt to their partner's preferences.

Is this kind of aptitude what I have seen described elsewhere as a move monster? Or is that a term applied to somebody who is over-reaching themselves and pulling out lots of moves that they simply cannot do correctly (which was not the case here).

The way I understand the term is someone who is preoccupied with moves at the expense of musicality - it doesn't matter if there's a break coming, or the end of the song or even another couple in the way - they must finish their 27 count triple hatchback secret move columbiun headchopper hanger frozen marguerita with a slice of lemon and an olive combo.

[Trish]

Originally Posted by robd

Not sure the title really sums it up but I noticed an interesting (to me) thing last night. One of the more experienced dancers at the venue is a man my partner does not enjoy dancing with. Indeed she says the experience can be quite scary. I had chance whilst sitting out last night to watch him in action and it was strange that though he was technically very very good (to my eyes anyway) - lots of complex variations - he seemed to view it more as an intellectual exercise than a partner dance. His partner for that dance - who is a very skilled dancer - looked rather nervous as she was sent here and there at tremendous speed. I am not sure what the point of the post is other than it taught me that the ability to do lots of complex moves at a very high speed is not necessarily the ultimate to aim for. It's not necessarily what the ladies aim for either. Is this kind of aptitude what I have seen described elsewhere as a move monster? Or is that a term applied to somebody who is over-reaching themselves and pulling out lots of moves that they simply cannot do correctly (which was not the case here). Do you have someone like this at your venue?

And I'd bet money on it that he had an aloof look on his face, and didn't give her any eye contact at all!

I don't like dancing with people like this, there's no connection either with your partner or with the music, which to me is the joy of dancing.

Bigd - although you do sometimes do complex moves very fast, the difference is it's in context with the music (which is also often very fast when you do this) and you do give the lady eye contact and smile!

[Rebecca]

Originally Posted by David Franklin

- they must finish their 27 count triple hatchback secret move columbiun headchopper hanger frozen marguerita with a slice of lemon and an olive combo.

- Laughed from my stomach!! Nice one DF,

Be careful giving feedback to these guys though, an ego like this is often very delicate. . .

[Minnie M]

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Franklin
- they must finish their 27 count triple hatchback secret move columbiun headchopper hanger frozen marguerita with a slice of lemon and an olive combo.

,

Originally Posted by Rebecca

....Be careful giving feedback to these guys though, an ego like this is often very delicate. . .

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by David Franklin

they must finish their 27 count triple hatchback secret move columbiun headchopper hanger frozen marguerita with a slice of lemon and an olive combo.

That sounds like a Real Move to me

[JoC]

Originally Posted by robd

His partner *SNIP* looked rather nervous as she was sent here and there at tremendous speed.

She might have still been enjoying herself...

Daresay I look somewhat anxious at times when dancing fast stuff with more experienced dancers, especially when I've no idea what might happen next, but I'm usually still having fun and hopefully manage to smile in between those slightly anxious expressions.

[Jazz_Shoes (Ash)]

Originally Posted by Gadget

How can you spin with no shoes on? Last time I tried that I almost burnt the ball of my foot - defentely removed some skin. Now if he were just wearing socks... now that I can understand.

Yes, he was wearing socks But he wasn't spinning anyway, so what difference would it make?

Thankyou PS I think he looked like he had been dancing a while...just very badly

Another point, not really related...but there you go I finished the Intermediate class last night, then asked the guy I was dancing with to freestyle, he said that he had NEVER freestyled before Was just wondering, when all you guys started learning Ceroc, did you wait 'till you could freestyle to progress to Intermediate...or not bother? Would be interested to know now.

Ashx

[bigdjiver]

Originally Posted by Jazz_Shoes (Ash)

... I finished the Intermediate class last night, then asked the guy I was dancing with to freestyle, he said that he had NEVER freestyled before Was just wondering, when all you guys started learning Ceroc, did you wait 'till you could freestyle to progress to Intermediate...or not bother? Would be interested to know now.

Ashx

One swallow does not make a summer, but it is an instance of my point about the beginners class not emphasising that the man is expected to lead, and a bit of back-leading not being too bad a thing for the beginner male. This guy obviously did not feel confident enough to lead yet. Kudos for dragging him into it.

( I came from a self-taught trad jive background, and was freestyling before my first MJ lesson. "Bounce - you call that bounce ...")

[LMC]

Originally Posted by JoC

Daresay I look somewhat anxious at times when dancing fast stuff with more experienced dancers, especially when I've no idea what might happen next, but I'm usually still having fun and hopefully manage to smile in between those slightly anxious expressions.

I love that in the last 2-3 weeks I've noticed that guys are trying out what feel like more complex moves on me with more turns (even the occasional lean/seducer ) - if they've danced with me before, then they are obviously noticing improvement, if they haven't then they've either seen me coping or feel from my 'follow' that I will be able to. If you are one of those guys then thanks, and the only reason I ain't smiling is 'cos I'm concentrating and don't want to let you down

[robd]

I did a fair amount of freestyle before I tackled my first intermediate class though it was almost always via being pressganged into it i.e I did not do the asking. I did benefit from having an experienced partner with whom I could practice, away from classes and I think this has been something that has helped to accelerate my learning.

I accept that everyone needs to start at some time but it irks me to see people with 'First Mover' stickers on doing the intermediate class, particularly if the routine is a more challenging one as, for me, at my stage of learning, it adds another level of difficulty on top of
* remembering the order of unfamiliar moves
* actually carrying them out

Robert

[Magic Hans]

Originally Posted by David Franklin

...their 27 count triple hatchback secret move columbiun headchopper hanger frozen marguerita with a slice of lemon and an olive combo.

hmmm .... which foot does that start on?

[David Franklin]

Originally Posted by David Franklin

...their 27 count triple hatchback secret move columbiun headchopper hanger frozen marguerita with a slice of lemon and an olive combo.

Originally Posted by Magic Hans

hmmm .... which foot does that start on?

Depends... Did you want the syncopated version? [In this context a syncopation being an uneven foot movement from bar to bar (hic!)].

Meanwhile a LeRoc'er has PM'd me to explain they would never use lemon, only lime, and that the olive should be replaced by a juniper berry...