Training in other dance styles

[Cobra Jazz Dance R]

So what other dance styles have people here studied (hip hop, jazz, ballet, tap, flamenco, contemporary, belly dance, etc.)? Are you still training in those other styles? What facets from other dance styles have helped your ballroom dancing, or might create difficulties?:)

[pygmalion]

Great topic, Cobra Jazz Dance. :D

[Joe]

Crosstraining in other things may help your ballroom, but IMHO if you spent that time working on your ballroom you'd be better off, ballroom-wise. You wouldn't be as well-rounded, but your ballroom would be further along.

[RhumbaWaltz]

I studied ballet, tap, jazz and "Broadway" dance from kindergarten through college. Advantages: Overall body awareness, ballet is great for posture, flexibility and strength, your feet are always pointed. Disadvantages: The ballet turnout is really tough to overcome in ballroom.

I will continue to take ballet classes along with ballroom.
RW

[tanya_the_dancer]

Crosstraining in other things may help your ballroom, but IMHO if you spent that time working on your ballroom you'd be better off, ballroom-wise. You wouldn't be as well-rounded, but your ballroom would be further along.

I take ballet class in addition to all work I do with ballroom. It has helped a lot with things like posture and coordination. It is like a light work-out for me.

[standardgirl]

I did a year of ballet when I was little, and I have gone back to taking ballet classes since I started ballroom dancing. It's quite different, but there are still things that apply to both styles. In fact, one of my ballroom coach suggested my former partner and I to take ballet classes.

[chandra]

So here is a question,

If I have the money to spend on Ballroom privates, to improve my dancing (Im thinking swing here) or to spend on ballet classes, Which would be better?

(ballroom obviously being more enjoyable will probably win in my case!)

[bobbobbob]

Belly dance and Jazz.

[alemana]

that *is* the million dollar question, isn't it?

i asked for dance lessons for xmas, and got them, intending to spend the money on ballet. but then i was thinking - i could just have MORe private lessons. then my brain started to hurt.

[Twilight_Elena]

that *is* the million dollar question, isn't it?

i asked for dance lessons for xmas, and got them, intending to spend the money on ballet. but then i was thinking - i could just have MORe private lessons. then my brain started to hurt.

Depends on the mood you're in, how you feel about your dancing right now. Sometimes you feel that you need to clear your head by doing some other dance style. Sometimes you might feel that you want more well-rounded dance knowledge. Some others you're at the peak of your technique spree and just want to do lots of privates to work on that.
Both are good to be done at some point or other. What do you feel like doing right now?

Twilight Elena

[Cobra Jazz Dance R]

How about Showdance or Cabaret, or whatever you might call it in your area- I haven't done it, but it seems to me that ballet, or even contemporary, might be highly beneficial in doing lifts. And both ballet and jazz for incorporating turns that are not "strictly ballroom."

I've also found that contemporary (mostly Limon in my case) and belly dance have really helped me get centered and grounded, much more connected with the solar plexus, hips and pelvis, what exercise science calls the "core" muscle groups. Good for Latin and smooth?

[redhead]

I've also found that contemporary (mostly Limon in my case) and belly dance have really helped me get centered and grounded, much more connected with the solar plexus, hips and pelvis, what exercise science calls the "core" muscle groups. Good for Latin and smooth?
I dunno about bellydance helpin with latin. The only two bellydancers I know who also dance other style chose to dance salsa, and even though they've been doing it for at least a couple of years, they just don't look right. Too jelly-fishy in the hips and not connected = hard to lead. My coach said it has something to do with how the upper body moves in two styles... basically you get your hips to move either way, but the look is not the same
hope that makes sense...

[dave_aw]

Totally depends on your teachers, I think.

Ballroom/Latin coaches tend to be less good at teaching posture, balance and muscular control - they just hope these things will come by tinkering with the rest. That's why some people find ballet etc. can help them achieve in these areas.

Ballet has a long-standing tradition of drilling students in standard exercises that emphasise these aspects. Endless repetition of these under supervision will no doubt help.

Ballroom/Latin has traditionally never gone down the road of repetition of standard exercises. However if you've got a really switched on ballroom/latin coach then you'd do better to ask them to work on those aspects as well during private lessons, if they're not already doing so.

[redhead]

Totally depends on your teachers, I think.

Ballroom/Latin coaches tend to be less good at teaching posture, balance and muscular control - they just hope these things will come by tinkering with the rest.
really? find a new coach

[caityrosey]

I used to dance hula/tahitian--in those disciplines you really isolate the hips, which confued me (and occasionally continues to confuse me) when I learned rhythm/latin.

[Boynextdoor]

I bought a little impulse buy mini kit thing from Barnes and Noble for belly dancing... Yeah. I said it. And I'm taking tap this semester.

I'd love to take broadway styled class. I LOVE that genre! I loved it when they did it on so you think you can dance.

[Fedya]

I think that any style of dance that makes you more aware of your body, adds flexibility , or challenges you to go out of your comfort zone a beneficial use of time to help ballroom.

[alemana]

agree. my personal mantra is, all dancing helps my dancing.

[tanya_the_dancer]

I think that any style of dance that makes you more aware of your body, adds flexibility , or challenges you to go out of your comfort zone a beneficial use of time to help ballroom.

I think it all depends on how much time/effort you need to spend on the other style to see the benefits in ballroom. Ballroom is the only type of dance I am really serious about. So, I don't bother with country-western classes or street-style latin classes or line dancing or belly dancing classes (I think it pretty much covers all that's being offered locally in addition to ballroom). I don't see how spending an hour a week in any of those would help me with ballroom, there are only so many hours I can spend on dancing per week. I take ballet class (1 hour per week) because it really helps with posture, balance and stretching.

[danceinsand]

ballet definetely! its great for posture and balance. and ballerinas have a certain grace about them that would look great.

[Joe]

But it's crap for teaching you to follow. ;)

[Medira]

But it's crap for teaching you to follow. ;)
Oh man, I completely agree. I still struggle with it sometimes...

My dance resume is as follows:

Ballet
1983 - 2003
Competitive from 1987 - 2003
Taught from 1993 - 2003

Tap
1985 - 2003
Competitive from 1987 - 2003
Taught from 1993 - 2003

Jazz
1986 - 2003
Competitive from 1988 - 2003
Taught from 1993 - 2003

Musical Theatre
1989 - 2003
Competitive from 1990 - 2003
Taught from 1993 - 2003

Lyrical
1995 - 2003
Competitive from 1997 - 2003

Acro
1996 - 2003
Competitive from 1998 - 2003

Irish Step (a little bit of set dancing too, but nothing of real note)
1998 - 2003

Hula
2000 - 2003

Belly Dancing
2002 - 2003

Ballroom/Latin
February 2005 - Present

[caityrosey]

Medira--why did it all suddenly stop in 2003? I'm just curious.

[Medira]

Medira--why did it all suddenly stop in 2003? I'm just curious.
I was in a car accident and broke my back. I got the all-clear to start exercising again mid-February 2005 and decided to try ballroom since it was less impact than the other styles I had trained in before.

[caityrosey]

oh dear, well glad you came back to dancing? How has your experience with ballroom compared to your extensive experience in other disciplines?

[Medira]

oh dear, well glad you came back to dancing? How has your experience with ballroom compared to your extensive experience in other disciplines?
Picking up footwork hasn't been a problem so far, but giving up control and learning how to follow has been difficult. I'm so used to having to do everything on my own that if I'm tired or frustrated, I sometimes slip back into the habit of trying to do everything by myself. As for technique and the "finer" details, some parts are more difficult to grasp than others, but gettng it right is the part that I enjoy the most, so I love it.

[dancesportgirl21]

I danced tap, jazz, ballet, and modern for about 11 years. It definitely helped me to learn footwork, patterns, and timing. Now I am only focusing on ballroom and latin and have finally broken all of my bad habits from the other styles. I think training in other areas depends on the person. I think ballet could help those who are looking for more flexibility in their turnout for latin and their posture, but if you are doing standard turnout is not something you would want to work on! Still, it can help with posture. If anyone is interested in taking a class in other styles, they need to be concious and aware of what will and won't help them with their ballroom dancing.