To Dip or Not to Dip?

[DancingMommy]

I've been pondering.....

[Dancegal]

Just a comment for teachers out there:

PLEASE be careful who you teach dips to - don't teach it to raw dance beginners please - I attended a class to help out with beginner swing dancers and they tried to teach a small dip. Well, the leads led bigger dips and yours truly fell to the floor for the first time after years of "dipping" (oh, and he fell too :oops: ). Neither one of us got injured (to his credit he kept me from hitting my head) - we just got some big laughs. Yeah, I can hold my own but only so far down :?

[Sagitta]

Interesting topic. I compeletly agree with dancegal. Dips are cool but should only be introduced when appropriate!! :)

[SDsalsaguy]

I'd have to say "none of the above," but that's not an option . . . :?

While I do not do it often, I will dip anyone, of any ability, but only *IF* the connection feel's right. To me that connection that will make any such attempt successful is what is key, not an overly reductionistic assessment of my partners "skill" level as a beginner or intermediate, etc.

As far as the when to introduce dips element, I couldn't agree more! Several years ago Josie Neglia was in town teaching an advanced dips and tricks workshop I went to. Well, long story short, there were people in the class who had *no* business being there! :shock: :x One such woman actually ended up teaching me a lesson. I got to her in the rotation and knew better, but didn't want to be rude so tried executing the move with her . . . well, she made a total hash of it, I made sure not to let her slam into the floor, and managed to wreck my back for the next 2+ months. As mean as it may sound, she had absolutely no business being there and I should have let her fall -- costing myself two months of walking and sitting without pain (and obviously not being able to dance at all) just wasn't worth it!

[salsachinita]

While I do not do it often, I will dip anyone, of any ability, but only *IF* the connection feel's right. To me that connection that will make any such attempt successful is what is key, not an overly reductionistic assessment of my partners "skill" level as a beginner or intermediate, etc.

Well said, SD. I love to dip but only when it feels right witht the lead AND the music.

*you guys are lucky to have a chance to attend workshops by Josie Neglia etc.... so few of them EVER come this way and if they do, the 'elite' dancers go to the workshops so I generally don't :roll: !*

[Sagitta]

. I love to dip but only when it feels right witht the lead AND the music.

*you guys are lucky to have a chance to attend workshops by Josie Neglia etc.... so few of them EVER come this way and if they do, the 'elite' dancers go to the workshops so I generally don't :roll: !*

How do the elite dancers stop you!! If it's a question of intimidation don't let the difference between dancing abilities stop you from furthering your dance. Tonight I had the devil of a time convincing a young lady out onto the dance floor!! :twisted: :) [I always make a point of doing this as I know it is really hard when you are just starting out.] She had no idea of salsa, and also hadn't done that much dance, either. She claimed I was a good dancer and she had no idea what to do. I managed to get her out for a salsa, then a while later a merengue, and then a couple other people started asking her and she looked like she was having a better time!! :) Perhaps another addition to the salsa universe!?!! I'm optimistic. :D

[etchuck]

Excellent... that's just what one needs to be encouraged to continue dancing. :banana:

[Christina75]

I have dip phobia :(
I'm convinced that I'm going to be dropped. I've been known to say, as a song is ending, "please don't dip me!" Unfortunately this is sometimes taken as a challenge, especially if I'm dancing with someone who doesn't know me. They try to dip me anyway as if to prove something, I freak out, and the whole thing looks stiff and rediculous.

<sigh> Maybe one day I'll get over it. :?

Christina

[cocodrilo]

I'm very limber and am able to "dip myself" so that all my partner has to do is outstretch an arm (or leg) and I'll dip over it without hardly touching it. This started when I became paranoid about being dropped so I just practiced on being able to hold my own weight when halfway bent over. Although it takes them by surpise at the end of a song if I do a dip, the beginner guys love it!

[Flat Shoes]

I agree with SD, 'none of the above'. I dip when it feels right and I have a good connection with my partner.

That doesn't mean my partner knows what's coming, and it doesn't mean I always dip either. I only dip when it feels right.

But since I never anounce a dip, I chose the 'always' option.

I love sending parners spinning, catching them into a low dip. Nobody has expressed anger with me yet for doing this even though quite a few has looked a bit shocked. :shock: But as I said in the beginning here, I only dip when I have a good connection with my partner. And in that state the girls are very forgiving :twisted:

[DancePoet]

Christina: If some one were to tell me not to dip, I wouldn't do it. Anyone who does after having a request not to dip is being disrespectful, and you might consider not accepting their next request to dance and explain why.

I am newer to dance and therefore only dip in Tango after a cortez and the end of a song, and if the woman knows it will happen. It was taught as part of a formation performance, and I have actually had women who have seen the performance ask me to include it with our dance. I'll wait till I learn much more dance before using dips in other situations.

[Sagitta]

A good policy always DancePoet! :) One that I follow in spirit...

[SDsalsaguy]

I love sending parners spinning, catching them into a low dip. Nobody has expressed anger with me yet for doing this even though quite a few has looked a bit shocked. :shock: But as I said in the beginning here, I only dip when I have a good connection with my partner.
Yup, I love that "how the heck did I get here and how is it that i'm parallel to and facing the ceiling???" effect! :lol: But, again, I'll only lead dips with someone who I feel I have the right connection with to do so!



[As an aside, taking it as a challenge to be able to dip anyone/everyone is just stupid! (So, can you all tell thet I'm over-tired and my "filters" are only half "on" at the moment? :oops:)]

[Sagitta]

[As an aside, taking it as a challenge to be able to dip anyone/everyone is just stupid! (So, can you all tell thet I'm over-tired and my "filters" are only half "on" at the moment? :oops:)]

I'm in wholehearted agreement. Unless you are that monster of a man in some of those horror stories going around on df, who can just place you where he wants taking 100% of his partner's weight. He can do dips with everyone, but he is stupid to do so when his partners are not ready to be dipped.

[Sabor]

just like any dance move.. it will feel and look good if/when done to the music, done with connection and well executed..

doing it alot tho is another matter.. again like any dance move.. if its repeated notoriously it will loose its purpose

personally.. when dipping, i prefer small neat dips.. and usually not more than once during any given dance..

[swinginstyle]

Socially, I now do small dips unless it's someone I know. Even then I now do them rarely. Perhaps it's just the dance circles I currently move in. I rarely ever see dips in the West Coast scene. I wonder why?

I've also been guilty of teaching dips. However, I always teach them slowly and tell the guys to base themselves well. If not... well, we can guess what happens.

[Flat Shoes]

But, again, I'll only lead dips with someone who I feel I have the right connection with to do so!

Absolutely, and also only when there is enough space so that noone will accidentaly dance into my partner who's head is lowered towards the floor.

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

Several years ago Josie Neglia was in town teaching an advanced dips and tricks workshop I went to.

I have a Josie Neglia/Roberto Moreno DVD which has advanced dips and tricks (not sure there´re the same dips as she taught in the workshop you went to SD). Anyway, these dips are very complicated and hard to execute. I personally would never do them on a social dance floor unless their was enough room and "trusted" my partner.

On the social dancefloor I currently only do two types of dips:
- a simple dip (you can do on almost anyone without fear of dropping the lady).
- a dip preceded by a CBL (only do this one with seasoned salseras)

Having said this, I rarely do dips. I have some friends who think it´s compulsory to do a dip at the end of the song. :shock:

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

I love sending parners spinning, catching them into a low dip. Nobody has expressed anger with me yet for doing this even though quite a few has looked a bit shocked. :shock:

Oh yeah, I forget about this dip. I don´t do it anymore. The last time I tried it my partner elbowed me in the face. :shock: Boy did that hurt... :( This is a very risky dip because you have to "hold/grab/catch" the lady at a certain time. If you don´t get a good hold on her and stable body position, you can easily drop her. Also, the lady is dipped at fairly high speed which makes it more difficult to execute. Fortunately, I "still" have a clean record. Haven´t dropped anyone yet and hope that day will never come...

[Sabor]

some salseras are sooo gorgeously gorgeous.. i'd luv to dip them in melted chocolate :bandit:

[D-spot]

I start off with sits rather than dips. If the ldy responds well, then I can move onto full dips. I won't do drops of any sort however. Either I don't know the lady well enough or the venue is too crowded. Neck drops, death drops, too little benefit for to much risk.
D-spot
sometimes cautious

[MapleLeaf Salsero]

I start off with sits rather than dips. If the ldy responds well, then I can move onto full dips.

You mean you give a promotion? :shock: :wink:

[SDsalsaguy]

I start off with sits rather than dips. If the ldy responds well, then I can move onto full dips. I won't do drops of any sort however. Either I don't know the lady well enough or the venue is too crowded. Neck drops, death drops, too little benefit for to much risk.
LOL

I don't think I've lead a neck drop or a death drop in at least two years now! It's funny, when I look back on it, I got to a point where I thought that doing all the dips was the sign of a good dancer. In my defense, all the better dancers in town were rather dip crazy at the time! Seriously though, it must have been a phase as I rarely see any of the more experienced dancers using any of the more extremem/fancy dips any more...

And, fortunately, I outgrew my misperceptions as well. Dips, no matter how well executed, aren't dancing. They provide a nice accent, but more than the appropriate dash and you ruin the flavor of the whole dance. (Hmmm, why do I think this could be a crossover post to the cooking thread? :lol:)

[D-spot]

I start off with sits rather than dips. If the ldy responds well, then I can move onto full dips.

You mean you give a promotion? :shock: :wink:

Or a demotion as she's gonna go down. :D
D-spot