Do I really need to learn the Waltz?

[cupojoe2]

Hey,

I have just started to take a few intro social dance classes and I am having a great time and think my instructor is fantastic, but she is really pushing the Waltz and Foxtrot on me. I found both very easy to learn but not a lot of fun.

As far as slow dances go, I enjoy the Rumba much more.

I would much rather spend my lesson time doing dances I enjoy or think I may actually use.

I have conflicting feelings. On the one hand, my instructor obviously knows a lot more about the subject than me… but on the other hand, it is my time and my dimes and I do not have a lot of either.

The whole thing is taking some of the fun out of what is otherwise a great experience.

Any advice on how I should handle this would be wonderful!!!!

[Adwiz]

You're right: it is your dime and you call the shots on what you want to learn. If your interest lies exclusively in the Latin dances then by all means focus entirely on those.

However, If you think you would enjoy any of the Standard dances, then the Waltz is the best place to start because almost all the others (all except Tango) use the same patterns and technique. Learning the Waltz gives you a great basis for all other Smooth-type dances. Still, if you don't like it, don't do it regardless of any pressure you're feeling from an instructor.

[Sagitta]

Glad to have you participating in df cupojoe2!! :D Adwiz couldn't have said it better, and so I've nothing to add. But, I did want to welcome you, and look forward to your perspective on dancing as you progress in rhumba and the other dances that you like. I personally really started dancing in Fall 2003 and now prefer to do Latin. :) For rhumba I prefer International to American style.

[KevinL]

Hey,

I have just started to take a few intro social dance classes and I am having a great time and think my instructor is fantastic, but she is really pushing the Waltz and Foxtrot on me. I found both very easy to learn but not a lot of fun.

As far as slow dances go, I enjoy the Rumba much more.

I would much rather spend my lesson time doing dances I enjoy or think I may actually use.


Are you taking intro social dance classes, or private lessons? (You used both terms.)

If you are taking private lessons, then I agree with what Adwiz wrote. You are paying, and so should decide what you learn. However, since you wrote specifically that you are taking "a few intro social dance classes", I think that you are taking group classes. If you are taking group classes than you are trading the power of making learning decisions for cheaper classes, and are therefor bound by what the teacher thinks is important. If that is the case, practice diligently and eventually you might come to like waltz and foxtrot.

Kevin

[Hank]

One of the nice things about knowing a variety of dances is that you're ready to dance no matter what the music. Knowing only a few dances restricts the type of events you can attend, and if you're ever at an event that plays a variety of music, you'll be sitting down a lot.

Also, I've found that my favorite dances have changed quite a bit over the years, and dances that I didn't enjoy at first are now my favorites. For example, when I first started dancing, I thought east coast swing was the best dance ever, foxtrot was too simplistic and slow, cha cha was too difficult and fast, all salsa songs sounded the same, and west coast swing was a minor variation that wasn't worth considering. Now, foxtrot and cha cha are my favorite dances, followed closely by west coast swing and salsa. As for east coast swing, it's now so boring and simplistic that to amuse myself while dancing it, I think up new patterns, footwork variations, and syncopations and try them on the spot, which just annoys my partners. If I had only focused on the dances I enjoyed when I first started, I don't think I'd still be dancing today.

[Kitty]

You can take only latin classes if you want, but I have to say that you might think that foxtrot and waltz are simplistic just because you don't know much of them. Things that I like the most in foxtrot are not obvious when you are a beginner: connection with your partner (much closer than in latin), making up steps is easy :-), there is a lot of variety of steps, the flowing look of the dance is amazing.

If you just started you may not have seen all these nice things about foxtrot and waltz just yet. However, if you don't think these things ( that I listed) are interesting to you - than just pick classes where they focus on latin.

[cupojoe2]

Hey,

Thanks for the great feedback!!!

Just to clarify, I am taking private lessons, but occasionally do take advantage of the group classes my instructor offers. Also, I have enjoyed it when we do swing so I am not really a Latin-only kind of guy.

I guess my real question is “Are the Waltz and Fox Trot useful dances to learn?”

[dancin_feet]

I must say that I am going through the same thing at the moment. Not all that fussed with the smooth / standard dances, purely because I am struggling with advanced technique. I am in a "hate waltz" frame of mind at the moment because it is my worst, but that doesn't mean I'll give up on it.

Depends on what you want out of your dancing. If you want to specialise, then tell the instructor to stop concentrating on the waltz, etc and focus on the latin. The latin dances are generally considered more "fun" than the others. But if you want to be an allrounder, persist. It does get a LOT harder as you move on and a lot more challenging (and in my opinion a lot more fun).

[pygmalion]

I agree with what's been said. If you're paying, you get to decide.

That said, if I hated smooth dances (waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, tango) but HAD TO learn one, it would be waltz. Why? Because waltz is the only one in 3/4 timing. Every other dance is in 2/4 or 4/4, and you can fake your way through them all with a basic box. Waltz is different. The only dance you can do to waltz music is waltz. So if you don't know a little waltz, you have to sit them out.

Just my thought.

[pygmalion]

Actually, you can fake your way through waltz with a box too, but it's unique from all the others.

[Kitty]

I have enjoyed it when we do swing so I am not really a Latin-only kind of guy.


Actually swing belongs into the latin category too.
(Because of the way you hold your partner. Instead of dancing as one person (standard) or almost as one person (smooth), you dance with each other as two separate people (latin and rhythm).
Latin dances are very different from one another - the only two that are kinda similar are rumba and cha-cha. Other latin dances, such as samba or paso doble or swing look like they have nothing in common, but belong in this category cause of the common way you hold your partner.)

[Sagitta]

An interesting way to describe the various dance styles. I for one think that in any dance one can dance as two people and one can dance as one. It depends on both the skill of follower and leader.

[cupojoe2]

Actually swing belongs into the latin category too.



In that case, I guess I am a latin-only kind of guy... :wink:

[dragon3085]

I enjoy waltz but I don't care for Foxtrot, but know what? When I was a beginner I learned them both and that helped me in all my dances. Waltz and rumba techniques are often similar and Waltz is a very common social dance. Foxtrot is just country 2-step with side steps (or you might argue its the other way around) so that helped me with my 2 step rythmm. When your just starting you really don't know for sure what you will like or dislike so I recomend at least going to some groups if they are offered.

[Kitty]

I for one think that in any dance one can dance as two people and one can dance as one. It depends on both the skill of follower and leader.

Nope. I disagree. As one person - thats standard.

Cha-cha is definitely interaction of two people, a game, rhumba is a seduction dance - two people again. Paso doble - two people. You don't want these dances look like one person, These dances have two distinct characters dancing with each other. (with exception of maybe bolero)

Smooth - is a style that is supposed to be copying standard, but not exactly. It is two people dancing very close to each other, but not as one person.

[Kitty]

[In that case, I guess I am a latin-only kind of guy... :wink:

Standard and smooth (waltz, foxtrot) take a liitle more time before you start enjoying them. Give them a chance.

[pygmalion]

Or even a lot more time, in my case. But I agree you have a point, Kitty. They deserve a chance, I think, even if you learn only enough to navigate the social dance floor. :)

[cupojoe2]

Hey,

I want to thank everyone for the great input... I think I will take the advice of many on this forum and give both dances a little more time before making any judgments.

Thanks again!!!