Top 10 smokescreens

[Stuart]

We've got four easy moves for you tonight.

[bigdjiver]

With a few selected newbies, with the "Sorries" :-

"If anything goes wrong, it is the leaders fault..."

dum-te-dum

dum-te-dum

"until we get to court, of course."

[jivecat]

"It's not etiquette to turn down a dance."

"Come and ask the teacher/demo for a dance, that's what we're here for."

[Clive Long]

Inspired by a recent comment, and just because I like lists*, how about a list of "things they tell you at beginners' classes which you find out aren't really true":

<< snip >> ...

1. Step back on your left (I know it's been debated before)
2. After six lessons you will be able to take part in the intermediate class (maybe the problem is me ...) .
3. "... and in, and turn, and forward and round, and together and out .... " (parody of some instructions in class)

CRL xxxx

[Petal]

.

I guess another one along these lines could be:
- "Anyone can learn to dance"

But, can they keep the beat to the music?

[MartinHarper]

I'd like to nominate "place your hand on the lady's hip". As far as I can tell, the lead point is the bonier bit right on the top of the woman's hip. The hip itself is less suitable, as it's fleshier and closer to the bum.

I'm also not wildly convinced that "shoulder" leads should be applied to the actual shoulder, so that's on my watchlist.

[David Bailey]

I'm also not wildly convinced that "shoulder" leads should be applied to the actual shoulder, so that's on my watchlist.

Hmmm... thinking about it, yes, I agree - I think it could run the risk of injuries if you actually pushed the shoulder bone itself too hard. I usually push on the shoulder-y part of the neck.

[Jazz_Shoes (Ash)]

Obviously wasn't clear and firm enough.

Or maybe it was the wrong choice of move to do with that particular partner. In which case the leader is at fault for having chosen to do it

Of course, the important thing to remember is: Who cares anyway. So, a move messed up. Carry on, and forget about it...

One of the perks of dancing with Steve...it's always his fault...

and yes I Do know that he posted that 2 weeks ago, but I only read the thread today

[Nick M]

Hmmm that's interesting. Do you really believe it's always the leader's fault?

How about "it's always the leader's responsibility". Would that be more accurate?

[MartinHarper]

How about "it's always the leader's responsibility". Would that be more accurate?

It's not the leader's responsibility to follow. That's the follower's responsibility.

[MartinHarper]

Probably not top ten material, but recent:

"Never anticipate". Secretly, leaders rely on a wee bit of anticipation to make the dance work. Secretly, all followers anticipate at least a wee bit. It'd be more accurate to say "Anticipate as little as possible".

"Move your body, and let the movement of your body move your arm, rather than leading with your arm". The best leaders use a little arm movement, and small changes in the pressure they apply with their arm, in order to amplify the movement of their body. It's very difficult to follow a genuinely pure body lead.

[straycat]

How about "there can always be fault found in the lead when a move goes wrong"?

Or, if we want to get rid of the f-word (nasty word that it is) - "There's always something the lead could have done to stop it going wrong."

Non-absolutists can add a 'nearly' in if they like (I'm in a generous mood today)

[straycat]

Probably not top ten material, but recent:

"Never anticipate". Secretly, leaders rely on a wee bit of anticipation to make the dance work. Secretly, all followers anticipate at least a wee bit. It'd be more accurate to say "Anticipate as little as possible".

Interesting. Not sure I agree with that one, but I think I need to give it some thought.

"Move your body, and let the movement of your body move your arm, rather than leading with your arm".

Well - that is a pretty bad way to describe body-leads anyway. A good body lead is simply generated from your core, rather than originating in the arm / shoulder which is where arm leads start. So the arm / shoulder muscles are engaged, and are operating in concert with your body - doesn't mean that your arm isn't moving in relation to your body. A pure body lead (in the context I learned it) is very easy to follow.

[David Bailey]

"Never anticipate". Secretly, leaders rely on a wee bit of anticipation to make the dance work. Secretly, all followers anticipate at least a wee bit. It'd be more accurate to say "Anticipate as little as possible".

There's nothing wrong with knowing (or signalling) a move change in advance - that's continuous leading. So it's quite reasonable to set up a move, before you "lead" that move, and for a follower to react to that setup.

That's not "anticipation" in my book, that's "pre-leading" and "pre-following".

"Anticipation" is when a follower assumes something is coming with no jusitification - if there's jusitification, it's simply good following.

Good thread resurrection, BTW

[JiveLad]

Here's one they (well one taxi) used to say at the beginner's refresher after the main lesson:

"They've been teaching you moves - now we're going to teach you how to dance"

[David Bailey]

Here's one they (well one taxi) used to say at the beginner's refresher after the main lesson:

"They've been teaching you moves - we're going to teach you to dance"

Good grief, that's pretty patronising, isn't it? Not to mention demoralising.

What sort of taxi thinks they're a better teacher than, err, the teacher? And if so, why aren't they teaching?

Yes, I understand the distinction between teaching form and teaching technique - but to say something like that is just weird...

[WittyBird]

"They've been teaching you moves - we're going to teach you to dance"

That used to make me squirm I know exactly where you got it from.

[straycat]

That used to make me squirm

Well - the 'squirm' could be considered dancing... in some venues

[Double Trouble]

Our teacher Gordon at Cheshunt always used to say

"What ever the man offers you...take it with your right hand"

Arf, Arf...!

Was funny the first 20 times.

[MartinHarper]

The arm / shoulder muscles are engaged, and are operating in concert with your body - doesn't mean that your arm isn't moving in relation to your body.

Decoding the double negative, that means that your arm IS moving in relation to your body?
That matches what I've been shown more recently. Previously I'd been told that in a body lead the arm stays static relative to the body (though naturally moves relative to the dance floor).