Slow-motion dancing.

[thespina13]

Have you ever tried practicing in mega exaggerated slow-motion? Through the whole thing? Is it helpful? Today I was going through my routine by myself after a nap and I was just going through it like a tai-chi master and it felt really good. i want to try it with my partner so I can see if/where there are any parts that I'm fudging while I'm dancing. My theory is that if I do it with a ton of control and balance (and just as much styling and commitment as if I were performing), and sloooowly speed it up, I'll be more aware of myself and my center and it might improve my feeling of calm and self-awareness and balance during the dance.

[GTO Bruin]

Speed can hide a lot of faults. I've never tried mega slow, but it sounds like a great idea. Most salsa is relatively fast so there's not as much opportunity to do this on the dance floor. When I do West Coast Swing, tempo can vary quite a bit and it's very hard to be smooth and controlled when dancing to a slow tempo song.

[salsamale]

According to this thread, slow-motion dancing is a helpful exercise:
http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=15300

[basicarita]

Salsamale beat me to it. It's also sometimes been helpful, at least for me, to start from the end of a step routine and work backwards -- slowly, not up to tempo, like half-time -- in groups of 4 bars or so. That way, when you get to the beginning, you've practiced the back of the choreography a bunch of times already.

(Of course, if you're practicing for the clubs, it only really works for long combinations.)

The slow-mo thing is also fun for a shine variation. Just stop dead and do something in half time. Good muscle control, chance to catch your breath, also looks kind of cool with a slow smile if you're into giving a little drama on the dance floor. :D

[devane]

One thing to note though is you will be dancing without the momentum of the moves which plays a part in your overall technique and balance. Base your form on zero-momentum and then return to normal speed and you'll be falling all over the place.

Doing a copa wouldn't feel right as you would be going too slow. If you gancho when you do a copa it wouldn't be carrying any weight behind and it would be forced instead of an option based on how much momentum you have.

In my school when they teach "enchufla" (not gonna explain it cos it most probably be different to other cuban styles. No time!) they will try to do it slow motion and even stop on the 4 & 8. Students get the benefit of seeing it slow motion but ignore the momentum/direction of movement and if you practice it with them you can feel them trying to stop on4 and restart on5. It is even carried on by some dancers.

So the disadvantage of slowing things down is there no energy in it.


I do practice moves/sequences at my own pace so I can iron out things that are a bit messy or even to see where you can add a styling element of your own.

When things are slowed down you have time to see how you look when you dance.
How's my posture?
Is my head looking up/down/at my partner?
Am I ducking under his hand when he puts his hand over my head.
Do certain moves compromise my posture? You could write an whole article on this one.

I practiced Kung-fu for years. It is normal to practice moves at different speed to get the feel of it.

Under the translation of "kung fu" I'm still practicing it as "kung fu" translates as "a skill gained over time". The word "effort" is also found in some translations too, which would be no shock to anybody.

[sweavo]

I think really slow would add a lot to your body's knowledge of the moves. If you sped up very gradually to full speed you might find it results in a much more grounded, adaptable follow (theming on Tai Chi here) - since you never over extend you are never irrevocably committed to the move you're in. Nice theory, not sure I'd have the time to do that properly though, you'd need a 'kata' of all the salsa moves you want to get this way, and to practice it daily for about a year and a half!

[SalsaTO]

If you're planning on those 3" stilettos, wear them while doing the slo-mo thing....

Slo-mo is great for seeing where the feet are going, and for fine tuning positions of the arms. It is not so great for working with couple dynamics if the cadence will be fast.

Centre of gravity is a little different as the speed of the partners moving creates its own dynamic for a given speed. It is important to work at full speed to ensure your dynamic as a couple is working properly.

[thespina13]

Not stilettos. Aren't stilettos really slim heels? These ones are pretty sturdy. But yes. I would wear them, obviously. And yeah, things like momentum, tension and center while spinning are things that speed need... but slow stuff would really benefit me I think, especially getting all the styling looking right and being grounded and rooted. Anyhow, thanks for the feedback guys... I'll update tomorrow once I've tried it and know better how it works.

[Josh]

I'm not sure practicing a ROUTINE in mega slow motion would be very useful, except maybe to help memorize it while learning. But doing turns, basic steps, and, oh yeah, the basic step--and did I mention, the basic step? :wink:--is extremely helpful once a dancer has some clue as to how the technique should be done.

[Josh]

Aren't stilettos really slim heels? These ones are pretty sturdy. But yes. I would wear them, obviously.

:raisebro: (sorry, it's been too long since I flirted with you)

[thespina13]

Oh.. my.. god... JOSH?????????????????

::hug::

[devane]

Here's a quote form a a Tai Chi site

In performing Tai Chi slowly you have the opportunity to think about, analyze and feel what is occurring in the exercise. It is also easier to recognize and correct errors in balance, coordination, posture, etc. Moving slowly allows you to focus on relaxation during each movement and to coordinate your breathing correctly with the moves for the purpose of maximizing a strong energy flow for improved health"
Source: http://www.taichischool.com/insights_99aug.html





Nice theory, not sure I'd have the time to do that properly though, you'd need a 'kata' of all the salsa moves you want to get this way, and to practice it daily for about a year and a half!

I would base it on the Wing Chun Kung Fu model.

1st form: Basically a catalogue of the basic moves.

2nd form: Concentrates on Fottwork, connection, body positioning and posture. Elbows and kicks are introduced here. In salsa we would concentrate only how to avoid them.

3rd form: The secret form only taught to the chosen few. Has emergency techniques to get out of sticky situations. All secret stuff that you want to keep for yourself goes here.

I would think practicing a Salsa Form (kata/Pattern) in the park under the trees wouldn't look the same as practicing Tai Chi or Chi Kung. Expect a lot of weird looks.........

[Sabor]

i thinks its a cool thing to slow mo.. i dance in the pool whenever i can..

that she happens to be wearing a bikini is not my fault tho

[starry]

I had an instructor who used to say, "You do not own a move until you can execute it slowly." That has always stuck with me!

[thespina13]

So we did the slow-mo thing yesterday and it DID help... all the intermediate stuff between the spins, really feeling the timing, helping to become more solid with the styling. This will be a tool I'll use from now on! I felt much more solid.

[Sabor]

I felt much more solid.

as opposed to liquid and/or gassy? lol

[thespina13]

LoL... touchee.

[Don Silver]

Have you ever tried practicing in mega exaggerated slow-motion? Through the whole thing? Is it helpful? Today I was going through my routine by myself after a nap and I was just going through it like a tai-chi master and it felt really good. i want to try it with my partner so I can see if/where there are any parts that I'm fudging while I'm dancing. My theory is that if I do it with a ton of control and balance (and just as much styling and commitment as if I were performing), and sloooowly speed it up, I'll be more aware of myself and my center and it might improve my feeling of calm and self-awareness and balance during the dance.

Absolutely YES!!! Practicing slow takes all the momentum out of the moves and gives you different insights. When dancing faster most people are sloppy but the speed covers for them, so you don't know. When doing things slow you have to be sure you are hitting all the lines you want to hit.

I'd also highly recommend practicing the same routine/moves faster than you ever intend to do it... In other words, practice nice and slow, your regular tempo, and then extra fast.

Extra fast has a totally different feel and requires some different skills from extra slow. Plus when you are dancing at normal tempo, you have what seems like "extra time" since you can do the move faster.

I would practice extra slow and regular, and only then work on extra fast. Doing things too fast too early tends to build-in sloppy habits which are not obvious due to the speed.