All about the "Social" part of Dancing
There are several bad habits or shortcomings on the dance floor. Some – like poor hygiene – you can’t really do anything about at the moment of dance. Sometimes, the primary concern is keeping yourself safe with a dangerous partner. However, we have put together a list of some of the most common dance floor complaints, and ways that you can help make these dances fun for yourself. 1. Off time. There goes the ‘1’ again.
“I dance because dancing is life” – ‘T’ – New York, NY – USA Why do we dance? I dance because there is nothing else that engages me the same way physically, emotionally and socially all at once. It is a journey of perpetual growth alongside people I adore and cherish. But, I’m not the only dancer out there. In a quest to find what drives us dancers in our crazy, colorful, passionate pursuit of dance, I decided to reach out to the community. From solo artists to stage performers and social dancers, some themes seemed consistent across genre and…
Back pain. It sucks. I’ve met a lot of dancers over the years who need to take a day between dance events because their back is so sore. I’ve met people who sleep on floors, get massages, and pop pills to try to prevent the pain. I’ve also met people who have quit dancing because of the level of pain they feel after dancing.
I went to the Dominican with pretty low dance-pectations. I was travelling with my mother (a non-dancer), and I didn’t know anyone in the area. I tried in advance to connect with dance groups, but to no avail. Several friends had warned me that the island was ‘dangerous’, and I probably would not be OK venturing out into the night to find some dancing.
Lead and Follow: two opposite sides of the same coin that are necessary for the perfect partner dance. Historically, these roles were called the “male” and “female” role, but luckily in the modern dance world the two roles hold greater fluidity. So, in lieu of describing the roles with a masculine and feminine narrative, how do we define them?
I have two main dance loves: Brazilian Zouk and West Coast Swing. There are certainly other styles that I adore, but none that quite captured my heart as deeply as these two. Zouk, with its flowing, deeply connected sensuality, creativity and exquisite sense of musicality… West Coast Swing, with its smooth flow unique connection, creativity, and vibrant sense of musicality…
Rhythm and Musicality: the cornerstones of almost every dance style in existence. We put so much emphasis on being ‘On Time’, of ‘Hitting the Break’, ‘Feeling the Music’ and of ‘Expressing the Song’.
When I was three years old, I was in my first play. I was a Christmas Gift. My costume was literally a box with holes for my head, arms, and feet. The idea of having the young kids play Christmas Gifts is that they could hide *in* the boxes if they got stage fright.
I’d estimate most great dancers are, at a max, 1/10th natural talent. The ones who are generation-defining probably max out at about 1/4th natural talent. Of course, that’s just my opinion, but I’m guessing many would agree with me.
Taking classes is the first step in really mastering a dance. However, there are several things that you can do to really improve your retention, understanding, and application of what is being taught. Identify Your Learning Style
I have met very few dancers who feel they dance “Well Enough”. Most of the people who do feel that way are individuals who either: Think they know it all (if you’re this person, go read about DES); or, Really don’t love with a burning passion this thing we call dance, and see it more as a casual pastime.
A couple is embracing on the dance floor. The follow’s hips are swaying side to side as the lead signals just how to move. The music is deep and strong, pulsing through the dancers’ interpretations of rhythm, lyrics, and melody. The partners are in their own world; oblivious to the many other dancers around them in the dimly-lit and steamy room. Is their dance Sensual, Sexual, or Sexy? Your answer likely has a close tie to your dance background, culture, and comfort level on the dance floor. For example, a Kizomba dancer will have a very different interpretation of these…
There are countless reasons why dancing (in any form) is something you should have in your life. But there is something special about Zouk – something that captivates the soul. So, here are 6 reasons you should dance Zouk: 1. The Music. It can be everything from hypnotic to hip-hop, trance to lyrical. No matter what your flavour, you can connect to the music. I will never forget the first time that I walked into a Zouk social – it was a whole different world from the Salsa/Bachata flavours I had experienced before. There is something primal in the Zouk rhythm; something that…
Generally speaking: the stronger a dancer gets, the larger their ego becomes. Very often, the speed of ego expansion surpasses their actual dance growth. As the ego grows, it’s also a potential side-effect that the speed of dance growth will slow, and that they will become a toxic dance presence. Who is at Risk? All dancers are at risk of developing Dance Ego Syndrome, but you may be at an elevated risk if you fall into one of the following categories: Have been dancing more than 1 year Are no longer taking dance classes Are popular with dancers of the…
My dance heart is something very precious to me, and only a select few partners every get to keep a part of it. Those dancers I remember forever; the moments danced with them are permanently blazed in my memory. So, how did they do it?