Happy Blogday (like Happy Birthday, but for the birthday of my blog).
11 years ago when Gordon was at Emerald Ball, I decided to start this ol' thing. And just because I haven't posted for a second doesn't mean I have any less thoughts on what happens on the dance floor.
So let's get basic:
What is ballroom dancing?
While the saying goes “it goes without saying,” in my experience as a teacher, business owner, and mom, NOTHING goes without saying. So here we go…
Poetically, it’s two people dancing as one.
Specifically, it’s two people who are performing the complementary prescribed foot placements in a specific rhythm synchronized to music.
- Foot placement is where your foot goes relative to yourself: forward, back, side, together, and any variation of those positions.
- Rhythm is a repeated pattern of sound: ie, SSQQ, 2 3 4&1, etc.
- This definition holds for most people for most of their dance eras.
- At some point in some people’s dance journey, you don’t always do prescribed foot placements, but you will always do some steps with a rhythm, and ALWAYS synchronized to music. This is called ad-libbing… or choreography.
These two people are considered a partnership with complementary jobs: there is a leader in charge of timing and direction (or “when” and “where” as I like to say) and the follow is in charge of connection (or “how much”).
To lead, one MUST MOVE THEIR OWN BODY in those prescribed steps and rhythms AND in a way that facilitates the movement of, but DOES NOT ACT DIRECTLY UPON upon their partner.
How does one not act directly upon their partner when they’re more or less attached to them? With skill, dollface. But no matter what your hilarious-and-untechical (note that doesn’t say “unethical”) beginning group class instructor [it’s me; I say that] might say, leads never “push” or “shove” their partners. They use perfected tone and proper biomechanics to guide their follows to their desired destination.
To follow, one must take the initiation of movement and fulfill its destiny. ITS DESTINY.
To do that, follows need to have knowledge of the prescribed foot placements and rhythms. One does not “just follow”. It is a skill (not an instinct or responsibility of the lead). The more possibilities followers are aware of, the more likely we are to not resist new (or familiar) patterns and figures.
No one is a born leader on the dance floor. This is NOT an instinct. No woman should expect a man to “know how to lead” because it is a skill that needs to be built along with knowledge that needs to be acquired to perform a desirable result, aka a fun and enjoyable dance.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, EVERYONE needs move properly (with good posture and Goldilocks tone [which is malleable according to your partner and circumstance] and correct biomechanics) embracing their role in the partnership.
Mwah. Get it, dance babes.
THAT is ballroom dancing.
