Riot and Frolic

Ballroom Dance Etiquette (Or How To Be Awesome in the Studio) : Group Class

First of all, there's no "I" in "group class", but there is in "private lesson".

Did I write this whole post just to use that line?

Yes.

BUT SERIOUSLY...

It is a group.  You are part of a group.  You are one of 3-100 other unique individuals who are comprising a party of participants.

You are in a class.  You are in a class with preplanned material for a particular level of dancer.  The class is an organized educational experience with a teacher who has been hired for their skills and knowledge in communicating a certain thing.

You are there to soak up the instruction, encourage your fellow classmates (by smiling, nodding, and deferring questions to the teacher), follow the directions given, and internalize the patterns and techniques being introduced (or reviewed) by DOING THEM.

Group classes are for skill building.  Have you learned about heel leads before?  Maybe. Are you doing them 100% percent (yes, I meant what I typed) of all the time always when you are supposed to be? I will answer for you: NO.  Do you practice heel leads? Maybe.  Could you practice them while taking [what one hopes to be] a fun, sociable event geared towards other people like you, or people who would like to do what you do? I'll answer again: YES.  Heck, you could even practice your current technique of choice in a class without disturbing the other unique individuals in class!  

Here's some things to keep in mind while attending a group class:

• DO NOT GIVE FEEDBACK TO YOUR CLASSMATES. DO NOT.  No, I know you're going to say, "What about..." STOP IT. Whatever you're going to say doesn't matter.  Do not "teach" while during class.
  Bob Newhart Stop It GIFfrom Bob Newhart GIFs
• Arrive on time and stay for the whole class.  
• Stay off your phone. 
• Switch partners.  Unless you're in a community education class, most studios and teachers have participants rotate partners.  I PROMISE YOU IT IS WORTH IT.
• Let the teacher teach.  This person has a plan, a method, and might have written more blog posts than the number of group classes you have attended [OR A SIMILAR AMOUNT OF EXPERIENCE]. Come along for the ride.  It'll be fun. (And if you hate it, try a different teacher.)

If you have a very particular question, I urge you to re-read the first sentence.

See you in class!

Episode 12 : Dancing Out of Category

What is "dancing out of category"? Should I avoid it? Run head first into it? OR SHOULD I CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL?

This is based on a blog post from March 13, 2020 called "Dancing Out of Category".

My favorite podcast is The Thrilling Adventure Hour.

The ISTD is the unfortunately-acronymed, blue-ribbon standard (STATE FAIR JOKES! DANCE JOKES! ALL IN ONE PHRASE!) for the International styles.

The link that was supposed to be in my original post: https://riotandfrolic.typepad.com/blog/2015/12/dancing-downer.html

Support the show

Stop Taking Private Lessons

This is what is called "click bait" in the internet age.  

Aimed mainly at my dearest dear darling collegiate students and suspiciously self-sufficient amateurs, this one's for you.

Things you can learn the week of a competition

What times do I dance?

What does the floor look like in the ballroom?

Who is judging?

What particular outfit from my competition gear am I choosing?

When am I doing my hair and makeup?

Who is doing my hair and makeup?

Who is videoing my dances?

What restaurants and coffee shops are nearby?

What time does the closest bar close?

Where is the restroom closest to the ballroom?

Where’s the practice room?

Where’s the changing room?

Where should I park?

 

Notice that none of those things started with “HOW”.

I love you, but stop taking lessons the week before your event.  Well, stop taking your only private lessons of the year the week before you compete.

You know when you’re dancing in an event months, or at least weeks, in advance.  TAKE YOUR PRIVATE LESSONS THEN.  

The week before you dance an event, if you haven’t been taking private lessons previously or consistently, you know what I’m going to do? I’m going to tell you some nice performance tips like: stand up straight, look up, smile, etc.  While that CAN be helpful, you’re not really learning anything, just being reminded of things you already know to do.  Which again, CAN be helpful.

BUT.

Are you going to learn any terrific technique that you can apply in less than six days?  Are you going to learn any new figures that you are going to make look nice, well-rehearsed (aka, like you know what you’re doing), and correct in less than six days?

NO.

I’m sure you’re thinking, “But I will practice them and I’m really quick at picking up new what’s-its and this will totally be worth my time and money”.  

IT WILL NOT BE.

It takes about 300 repetitions of something to make it “learned”.  Yes, yes, you might know what you’re supposed to do, but knowing and doing are two very different things, my friends.  And if you can crack on with 300 repetitions of each new thing you’re told within a week of your performance event, you are a better person THAN EVERYONE ON THE PLANET.

Teachers will often ask what kind of information you’re looking for, if you’re taking a lesson with them for the first time: something along the lines of “this weekend” information, “next month” information, or “one year” info.  Roughly, they’re wondering what can they tell you that you can apply immediately (smile when you are in left side position; say “purple hippopotamus” when you bow), what can they tell you that takes a bit of practice but won’t explode your brains (follows do two toe releases on feather finishes; here’s a simple Silver routine), or what is some great information for you to practice for the rest of your dance life (LATIN MOTION or Standard Foxtrot “basics”).

And private lessons are the BOMB when you’ve been taking group classes as your primary form of instruction.  The generalized form of instruction provided in groups is GREAT for learning patterns and broad rules of movement, but are not specific to you, your physiology, your partnership, and your talents.   So, stop taking private lessons right before an event and start improving your dancing… sooner. Like now.  GO NOW.

 

 

The Right Tools for the Job: Ballroom Dance Shoes with Flow Chart

Hey babes,

I'm going to leave this here and then come back later with OPINIONS and FACTS.

Go forth and practice.

"More" Dancing

I've noticed a phenomenon in syllabus levels of ballroom dance competitions where a couple (or a student, in a pro-am situation) will make several cuts in competitive events and as they get closer to the final, their dancing changes. 

Their dancing becomes MOAR.  

MOAR ARMS.

MOAR SMILES.

MOAR HIPS.

MOAR BIG.

MOAR DANCING.

And this is generally unfortunate, because the dancing that they had done up to this point was the dancing that made them make those substantial first cuts.  

The thing is, in the lower syllabus levels, you don't know how to do better dancing.  You don't know where to put the more into your dancing to make it even worthier of marks, awards, and finals.

So, you end up putting energy into your arms (and they get disconnected from your movement), or you put more pep in your step (and you get off time with the music, or you bump into your unsuspecting partner), or you emote so much you frighten the otherwise unflappable judges.

Doing more is not what you think it is.

In other words, you start dancing worse. 

Your dancing is lovely.  It's what got you into the quarterfinal, semifinal, and final.  Stopping doing something different! (Smiling moar is always a good choice, though.)