Common bad habits

[MartinHarper]

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?

[Lynn]

Marking the beat with hand bouncing (though I also heard someone 'warn' against doing that in a Lindy class so maybe not exclusively in MJ.)

[Asif]

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?

...thinking that they CAN dance!

[Minnie M]

Originally Posted by Asif

...thinking that they CAN dance!

so true

I went to Andy McGregor's class tonight, and there must have been 75% beginners, so they didn't know I was experienced Wot a larf

I got a "well done" and a "that's good" and "what moves do you want me to do"

Bless

Timing - well, that is natural as they are so wrapped up in getting the moves right, they are not listening to the music.

Backleading - really bad habit new ladies/followers have

Ladies turning - beginners always seem to do a travelling return

Only one really bad habit I found, was them gripping to tight and jerking my arm a lot (it really aches now)

However, we were all there one time and they are very keen, so can't really moan. I got a really lovely dance with Simon R and a great dance with Andy so I was happy

[Gojive]

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?

Two nuns giving it some welly on the dance floor?....

Sorry, couldn't resist. To be serious then - I know my worst habit is the time marking hand bounce. With some tracks, such as "Summer Wind", I've managed to stop completely (and even stop my partner at the time, from dancing with a musical five knuckle shuffle). On the other bouncing hand though, I can't seem to rid myself of it, to more lively tracks.

I've also had trouble in the past, with stooping - a problem I only discovered when watching a video of myself once.

[under par]

Originally Posted by Gojive

I've also had trouble in the past, with stooping - a problem I only discovered when watching a video of myself once.

I have had stooping problems identified by a video ...quite scarey too when you see how bad it looks.

Working hard to improve it now..

[Gojive]

Originally Posted by under par

I have had stooping problems identified by a video ...quite scarey too when you see how bad it looks.

Working hard to improve it now..

I went to one one Amir's body styling classes, where he covered posture very well. I've been practising his advice at every opportunity ever since, and hopefully, I think I've managed to get rid of the stoop for the most part.

Overstretching on the back step is now my next target.

Oh, just thougght of another!....again, by watching a video, I discovered I was dancing with my mouth open alll the time. Now I'm not good looking at the best of times, but I was making it ten times worse. The solution, was to chew gum (discretely, not the "look how hard I am" way) - this seem to force me to keep my gob shut.....and that's quite a feat!

[El Salsero Gringo]

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?

The one I've noticed most commonly is actually the habit of complaining to all and sundry about how bad other people's dancing is - especially "beginners."

[Sparkles]

Originally Posted by Minnie M

Backleading - really bad habit new ladies/followers have

I know this is one of my own very bad habits

[SilverFox]

Originally Posted by El Salsero Gringo

The one I've noticed most commonly is actually the habit of complaining to all and sundry about how bad other people's dancing is - especially "beginners."

Thinks *Beginners who are always complaining? Hmmmm.....I wonder who he's referring to........*

[Northants Girly]

Originally Posted by SilverFox

Thinks *Beginners who are always complaining? Hmmmm.....I wonder who he's referring to........*

People who refuse dances . . . . .

[El Salsero Gringo]

Originally Posted by SilverFox

Thinks *Beginners who are always complaining? Hmmmm.....I wonder who he's referring to........*

I meant to say, people who complain about beginners' (and others') poor standards of dancing, not just beginners who complain.

(It was a lighthearted dig at everyone posting in this thread, but it got lost somewhere.)

[ducasi]

Originally Posted by SilverFox

Thinks *Beginners who are always complaining? Hmmmm.....I wonder who he's referring to........*

Was he referring to beginners complaining about bad dancing, or dancers complaining about bad beginners? (EDIT: ESG just clarified what he meant...)

I'd suggest that beginners have a greater right to complain about poor dancing as they won't have the necessary skills and experience to overcome problems, and are more likely to pick up bad habits...

I got some flack for complaining about bad dancers when I was just starting, but my opinions haven't changed greatly... I think I'm now just better able to cope with the problems presented to me when dancing with some folks.

(I am still under no illusions that I'm that good a dancer either. I think I do OK, but I'm sure I've got bad habits too. Just not sure what they are... )

[Graham W]

..v rare that women have bad habits - rigid arms occass in beginners, thu I have encountered sabotage to try and make me look bad on occassions..., (as if I need help on that :-)) ...& when people say they have had a terrific dance & then slate u to someone else, but maybe thats just where I come from? cliques rool?

G

[Daisy Chain]

Originally Posted by MartinHarper

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?

My bad habit is leading an obvious break if it looks like my man isn't going to bother.

Daisy

(A Motionless Little Flower)

[doc martin]

Originally Posted by under par

I have had stooping problems identified by a video

I notice that I do this, especially with shorter followers. I have trouble avoiding stooping doing moves where I need to bring my hands down to waist level. When I do moves where I am passing my hands over my head when my back is turned, I can bend my knees when the follower is shorter, but when I am facing them bending the knees would look as bad as stooping.

I am not that tall (5'11") so I guess a lot of leaders have the same problem. I am not sure what the solution is except to make all followers wear very high heels

Another bad habit is when I suddenly remember a move in the middle of a dance and I am so pleased with myself that I put it in immediately, irrespective of whether it fits into the flow of the dance or suits the music . Again not sure how to cure this as, if I didn't put it in straight away, I would probably have forgotten it ten seconds later. In fact, maybe I do do that sometimes, but forget those occassions when I do

[ElaineB]

Originally Posted by Graham W

..v rare that women have bad habits - rigid arms occass in beginners, thu I have encountered sabotage to try and make me look bad on occassions..., (as if I need help on that :-)) ...& when people say they have had a terrific dance & then slate u to someone else, but maybe thats just where I come from? cliques rool?

G

Come on - you're kidding me - I have never, ever had a bad dance with you and can't say that I have seen you dance badly with anyone else! Never heard anyone say anything less than nice comments about your dance ability either!

Anyway, to my bad dance habits - I sometimes get a little bit carried away, just an incy, weensy, ickle bit and find myself dominating my partner - naughty!

Elaine

[TiggsTours]

Originally Posted by Lynn

Marking the beat with hand bouncing (though I also heard someone 'warn' against doing that in a Lindy class so maybe not exclusively in MJ.)

No, I'd say it is a MJ thing, it gets complained about in Lindy, yes, but the culprits are usually MJers who've moved across to Lindy, taking their bad habits with them!

Originally Posted by Minnie M

Backleading - really bad habit new ladies/followers have

I'd think that Backleading and leading oneself are 2 different things, and the last one is inexcusably bad! I think of backleading as the lady taking the opportunity to add some of her own style to a dance, or steal the lead, and can be great fun! Leading oneself is pre-empting moves and not waiting for the lead, or not being able to recognise when the man wants the lead back when you've been backleading, or being able to relinquish it.


The one I'd add would have to be lack of spacial awareness, and those around you (surprised nobody else has mentioned it!) Last Friday I was having a very lovely WCS with Rythmn King, and he lead me into a lean, I didn't even move my feet, and when he brought me back to standing, there was someone in the space my left foot had momentarily raised 2 inches from!

[Lou]

Originally Posted by Graham W

.thu I have encountered sabotage to try and make me look bad on occassions...,

As if! You always cope with sabotage with style & aplomb, Graham!

Originally Posted by ElaineB

Anyway, to my bad dance habits - I sometimes get a little bit carried away, just an incy, weensy, ickle bit and find myself dominating my partner - naughty!

Trouble is, it can get very interesting when you have 2 potential dominatrixes dancing together....