You can't really be a good partner dancer unless...

[Double Trouble]

surely a wow dance would mean different things to different people

Well, sometimes. When I first started dancing I would have "wow" dances on a regular basis, but it's like that when you're a newbie. Basically, I think it's relative to your own ability and experience.

On the other hand, take Tiger Pants. I don't know anyone who's danced with him who hasn't come away from the experience feeling like they've just had the most orgasmic "wow" dance ever. He's a God! I bet he can throw some shapes on the dance floor at the disco.

[Lory]

On the other hand, take Tiger Pants. "wow" He's a God!

[jive-vee]

Well, sometimes. When I first started dancing I would have "wow" dances on a regular basis, but it's like that when you're a newbie. Basically, I think it's relative to your own ability and experience.

On the other hand, take Tiger Pants. I don't know anyone who's danced with him who hasn't come away from the experience feeling like they've just had the most orgasmic "wow" dance ever. He's a God! I bet he can throw some shapes on the dance floor at the disco.

I love this man!

[Tiger Pants]

.......I'm glad I'm working on my own today, you three have just given me the reddest face I've had since I was ..... much younger.

I used to love dancing and when I was 17 I started going to clubs, or discos as they were known then. Chart music Friday and Saturday and Soul on Sundays. I'm kinda out of the habit of dancing without a partner now but still get a kick out of it.

I don't think you have to be good solo to make a good partner dancer but for me its firstly about the music and if I can get into that then the chances are I, and in turn my partner, will have a good dance.

Of course the assumption is always that you have a decent partner and the combination of that with good music is always gonna be good.

[Minnie M]

Well, sometimes. When I first started dancing I would have "wow" dances on a regular basis, but it's like that when you're a newbie. Basically, I think it's relative to your own ability and experience.

On the other hand, take Tiger Pants. I don't know anyone who's danced with him who hasn't come away from the experience feeling like they've just had the most orgasmic "wow" dance ever. He's a God! I bet he can throw some shapes on the dance floor at the disco.

I love this man!

make space for me in this queue

[Gerry]

.......I'm glad I'm working on my own today, you three have just given me the reddest face I've had since I was ..... much younger.

I used to love dancing and when I was 17 I started going to clubs, or discos as they were known then. Chart music Friday and Saturday and Soul on Sundays. I'm kinda out of the habit of dancing without a partner now but still get a kick out of it.

I don't think you have to be good solo to make a good partner dancer but for me its firstly about the music and if I can get into that then the chances are I, and in turn my partner, will have a good dance.

Of course the assumption is always that you have a decent partner and the combination of that with good music is always gonna be good.

I apologise for the Crap dance on Sunday still learning to follow

[Tiger Pants]

Gerry, I enjoyed our dance - at least I knew where you were all the time, which could not be said for the rest of Sunday when you were leading!

Good to see you again, and by the way I thought it was a fantastic weekend. Well taught workshops and great freestyling too, only problems were a lack of sleep and total confusion in the doubles workshop as I didn't know if I was leading or following at one point.

[Gerry]

Gerry, I enjoyed our dance - at least I knew where you were all the time, which could not be said for the rest of Sunday when you were leading!

Good to see you again, and by the way I thought it was a fantastic weekend. Well taught workshops and great freestyling too, only problems were a lack of sleep and total confusion in the doubles workshop as I didn't know if I was leading or following at one point.

Thanks for the compliment always fun to be led by a real dancer.

The weekend for me was Fab, good company, good food, great golf and more importantly great dancing.

A big thankyou to all my hosts and to Paul Harris on a great double trouble WCS class

At Southport I will do my best not to keep bumping into you or your partner on the dance floor

[Tiger Pants]

At Southport I will do my best not to keep bumping into you or your partner on the dance floor

Even you will manage that Gerry, I won't be there.

[Nessiemonster]

I agree totally with both Rachel and Amir - there is much to be said for technique, but absolutely for feeling comfortable with your own body and how it moves. It's not about 'wow' movements, just about knowing what your body does/doesn't feel comfortable with.

But on the flip side, I've danced solo all my life. I've had no proper training in any style/technique, I've just danced whatever comes out of my heart/soul. I feel completely confident and comfortable with how my body moves, but am not confident dancing solo in front of people unless it's choreographed (and I'm not good at learning choreography, so I'm not that confident even then!) This is because my solo dancing comes from my soul, and as such I feel very vulnerable when solo dancing as my soul is bared, so to speak, and there is much to see for those who can read it.

Does all this make me a better partner dancer? Initially, absolutely not!!! I was so used to moving on my own and having control of my own dance that I REALLY struggled to follow. It took probably 18 months before I grasped the notion of following properly.

Now? I'm probably not the best person to comment on my own dancing. But I know that I enjoy my partner dances. I can follow, and I enjoy the feel of my partner dances. And I am confident to move my body and express myself to the music and my partner. I am confident improvising and interpreting the music within the conversation of the dance.

But I do sometimes get frustrated because there are occasions when I can't dance how I would like to to a piece of music when I'm with a partner. And if I'm dancing to music I've often danced to solo then I would say I'm probably not so good to dance with as I tend to be listening more to what my body wants to do than to the lead. Sorry.

[Neu Wien]

Particularly for guys I don't think it's relevant. I'm of the view that partner dancing is all about making the lady look and feel good. As a solo dancer, it's all about making me look good, which is a whole different thing.

[David Bailey]

Particularly for guys I don't think it's relevant. I'm of the view that partner dancing is all about making the lady look and feel good. As a solo dancer, it's all about making me look good, which is a whole different thing.

I agree in general, but it gets a bit more complex than that after a while.

For me, the first priority in partner dancing is to provide a clear lead, which (without being forceful) makes it 100% obvious where my partner should go, when, and at what tempo. If that fails, everything else fails. Similarly, I think that floorcraft is essential - if that fails, everything else is a problem. "First do no harm", and so on.

But once I've achieved what I think is a reasonable level with the essential areas, there are many many other things to work on. Improving musicality, better posture, and variety of steps, for example.

So "looking good myself" is one of those secondary things that I'm trying to work on now. It's not a bad thing to want to do, but I feel the problem is that people try to work on that area too early, at the expense of the more vital areas.

[Juju]

I have no problems with getting up and dancing solo in front of a room full of people, but can easily go to pieces dancing with a partner. Performance anxiety. Gets me every time.

[Astro]

It's tricky dancing with someone!

Bit like living alone and doing your thang, or living with a partner and having to compromise.

Still, with the right dance or love partner, it's easier.