I'd Like to Get You on a big empty floor with a nice slow foxtrot playing

[Chris Stratton]

Anyone ever get annoyed with the weekly practice/lesson/whatever routine not quite managing to include an opportunity to really dance for the art - or let's admit it, ultimately the enjoyment - of it?

Overcrowded studios, limiting schedules... real, important progress still gets made, but under usual conditions it ends up to be about learning what you should do when you get a chance, with few chances (except to a limited degree competitions) to actually do it.

Did you figure out anything to do about it?

[Laura]

Yeah, skip work and go when the studio is empty! (Or don't have a regular job :) .)

[samina]

Anyone ever get annoyed with the weekly practice/lesson/whatever routine not quite managing to include an opportunity to really dance for the art - or let's admit it, ultimately the enjoyment - of it?

Overcrowded studios, limiting schedules... real, important progress still gets made, but under usual conditions it ends up to be about learning what you should do when you get a chance, with few chances (except to a limited degree competitions) to actually do it.

Did you figure out anything to do about it?

come to hillsborough, chris. :)

every sunday afternoon.

[jwlinson]

Late-night, when we can have it all to ourselves.

[Chris Stratton]

Late night works well if your partner can make it - doesn't work so well for dancing with teachers as they are either wanting to go home, or finally dancing with their partners.

[danceronice]

Uh....to tell the truth, no, not really. I'm only really having fun if I'm on lesson. Practice is a chore, though I do it, social dancing is a torture, and I wouldn't know what to do with myself alone. If I had a partner I'd want to be practicing or creating a new routine.

[reb]

I agree with the suggestions above . . . basically anytime except from 6pm - 10pm weekdays - give or take an hour depending on local conditions!

[elisedance]

First thing, with the morning sun streaming in through the studio curtains, a slow foxtrot playing, two cups of coffee on the table and us just letting loose. Does it get any better, I really mean it, thats about as close to heaven as I think I can get.

Anyone remember that scene in the movie White Nights where Baryshnykov and Hines dance a duet alone in the morning in a studio in Moscow? I was so taken with that - I saw it before I took up dancing and wonder sometimes if it was actually instrumental...

Nice thread Chris. We can babble about competitions and lessons and socials and all - but, as least for me, it really only comes down to letting go and dancing. Now if I could only pull that off during a comp.... :)

[Joe]

What happened to the slow boat to China?

[fascination]

actually I have been known to schedule a periodic play date...usually my birthday where pro has to just be quiet and dance ;)

[Peaches]

Last song of any lesson is just dancing...heaven. (Well, for me, at least. Not sure how my teacher feels about it, but that's not my problem.)

And for me, the social dancing is the point. Nothing like a semi-crowded floor, with all the energy coming from the othe couples on the floor, the perfect song, and a magical connection.

[Peaches]

actually I have been known to schedule a periodic play date...usually my birthday where pro has to just be quiet and dance ;)I've done that as well. It was supposed to be a lesson--but given that I was just barely not dissolving into tears at the time, I asked him just to put the music on and make me not think about anything other than dancing for an hour and a half. It worked.

[fascination]

usually doesn't work too well for us b/c I know him so well that I can hear him think now

[Peaches]

Yeah, I'm gettin' to that point. But I dance with him socially, as well. (Yeah, I know he's working, but it's social dancing for me.) I've got no problem turning off the student part of my brain and letting go and enjoying a great dance from a leader I really trust and connect with.

Besides, even if I had been thinking in student mode, it would have gotten my mind off what I had been thinking about...which would have been an improvement. Basically, I just desperately needed to get out of my own head for a while, and it worked.

[fascination]

I think I could turn of student if he could turn off teacher...but I don't think that is even remotely possible

[fascination]

except on a crowded social floor where it is absolutely clear that I cannot do most of the things he would expect...and I enjoy that tremendously...in spite of fretting about it

[Peaches]

Oh...that's a shame. (IMO. I guess it works for him.)

[fascination]

meh...I have a low standard for happiness....I'll take the grueling lesson and love it...

[Peaches]

Oh...er...I meant that post about his not being able to turn off teacher mode.

I love the grueling lessons as well. Also very good for getting myself out of my head. But only AT. At the time, the lesson would have been standard, and that's just incredibly destructive. So...a "lesson" of just dancing AT.

[elisedance]

What happened to the slow boat to China?

Last time I saw it, we had lashed all the dance-jerks to the mast...

[Sagitta]

First thing, with the morning sun streaming in through the studio curtains, a slow foxtrot playing, two cups of coffee on the table and us just letting loose. Does it get any better, I really mean it, thats about as close to heaven as I think I can get.




Me too though I would want it to be at home. ;-) And maybe not the coffee for me...but something like that...

[etp777]

I always went for the lunchtime lessons to get the floor and music to ourselves.

Probalby my favorite time dancing with pro though was one of msot crowded floors, no control over music at all (live band), and one of my worst dances. We were dancing salsa at Chicago Summer Dance, and just danced to dance. Was tons of fun. I think a big part of it was taht SHE was obviously just dancing for the art/joy of it. Helped me let loose and do the same thing, so was great. I think that helps a lot of people, as even at your social events at studio, you're still AT the studio. Course, very often you won't get chance to dance outside of studio if you're pro/am. am's have that advantage.

[elisedance]

P and Fasc: does one of you want to start a thread on social dancing with your coach/teacher/pro-am partner? I think it would be very interesting. The search I did failed to turn one up - but its one of those where there are so many ways of saying it - besides, I think it could be revisited...

[etp777]

It has been done before (I started one myself, and then in the course of it got pointed to previous threads), but certainly worth discussing again. One of those unending topics in partner dancing.

[nucat78]

Since I have no partner :(, it's lessons or social dance or nothing. I have dropped into the studio before a group lesson to practice alone. I have danced with a partner a couple times when a follow happened to be there early.

We were dancing salsa at Chicago Summer Dance, and just danced to dance. Was tons of fun.

I did that last summer - La Boriqua was the instructor for the freebie lesson. I'm not sure I'd do it again though. Very crowded, people flying all over and no floorcraft. Perhaps that's the norm for salsa? The ballroom dances at SD have been a little less chaotic.

[standardgirl]

actually I have been known to schedule a periodic play date...usually my birthday where pro has to just be quiet and dance ;)

have done this as well, not an entire lesson thogh, but I have asked for 5 minute, one waltz where we could just dance. I kind of need that once in a while ;)

[etp777]

Some nights were definitely better than others, nucat78. Best night was actually one of the nights we went as a studio. It was raining earlier in the day, and stopped about an hour before th eclass. Still looked rainy though, so not near as many people came out.

Friebnd and I act5ually left most nights early. And since I'm a coward, I rarely asked anyone I didn't know to dance(mostly just watched). Except for when someone else aske dme.

[White Chacha]

I'd Like to Get You on a big empty floor with a nice slow foxtrot playing

You know, the right lady giving me that line could have me :-)

[and123]

:lol: I'll have to remember that!

[chachachacat]

I love the title of this thread! Now Slow Boat to China has been in my head all day. But it's a fun song.

And, yes, I would love to hear that line spoken to me.

[fascination]

lol...the right guy saying that to me would have me... whether he wanted me or not

[Nik]

How bout a nice rumba at 11pm with no one in the studio and the lights dimmed....

[latingal]

How bout a nice rumba at 11pm with no one in the studio and the lights dimmed....

Now we're talkin'!

[amiko]

Yes, I feel that being so competitive and focusing too much on stopping to see how my head looks, or how technically correct we are...sometimes that feeling part of it can get take away.

This may be a little off topic, speaking of getting away from crowded dance floors full of private lessons and competitive couples, here's a gem of a place that few people know about...called Mayflower Ballroom.

Has been open for 50 years, but due to rent increases, and low publicity, this place is facing shutting down. I found it one of a kind, so before it goes...go visit.

I was sad to see other live band locations close: Lindy-Hop Swing event close in the Veterans Building Culver City that used to be once a month, and now the only place to dance to live band may be at Disneyland!!


Here's the low-down:
1. Live Band (playing a good upbeat mix of fox trots, quickstep, swing, salsa, etc.) :D
2. HUGE DANCE FLOOR (equivalent to the biggest comp floor I've seen) :D
3. Underated - For $9 bucks,this place is not found on the internet or linked to any dance sites that I know of
4. Not Crowded - There are usually about 10-15 couples on a huge floor :D
5. Friendly People - lots more older folks here, but they are all so sweet ;)

The Mayflower Ballroom
Come by if you are in Los Angeles (Westsiiiiide!!)
234 Hindry Ave. Inglewood (near LAX), CA 90301
7pm to 11pm
Every Wednesday Night
Admission is only $9.00
The Tanner Brothers Orchestra
Seven of the most talented musicians you've ever heard
and DJ Mark Sinaguglia

[amiko]

I'd Like to Get You on a big empty floor with a nice slow foxtrot playingFirst...you must ask the other person "let's feel your feather". Put enough hip swing into it, and we'll keep going. hahaha.

[elisedance]

This may be a little off topic, speaking of getting away from crowded dance floors full of private lessons and competitive couples, here's a gem of a place that few people know about...called Mayflower Ballroom.

Has been open for 50 years, but due to rent increases, and low publicity, this place is facing shutting down. I found it one of a kind, so before it goes...go visit.
3. Underated - For $9 bucks,this place is not found on the internet or linked to any dance sites that I know of
[COLOR=black]

#3 may be the key to saving. Why not get studios to do 'field trips' there? Often studio floors are too small to do the whole fandango and getting out on a big floor with a real band could be an amazing studio event. it would also get it on the internet since each studio would show off its social events. However, the place needs its own web page.

Wish I lived near it - twould be a project worth the effort.

[Purr]

How bout a nice rumba at 11pm with no one in the studio and the lights dimmed....

Sounds great!

[nucat78]

#3 may be the key to saving. Why not get studios to do 'field trips' there? Often studio floors are too small to do the whole fandango and getting out on a big floor with a real band could be an amazing studio event. it would also get it on the internet since each studio would show off its social events.

My studio goes to Willowbrook Ballroom about once a quarter for the Sunday afternoon live band ballroom dance. I think WB is doing ok financially since it also hosts salsa, C&W, singles dances, and wedding receptions.

Some people call Sunday ballroom "The Senior Prom" because the majority of dancers are in their 70s and up. Amazing though how people who come in using canes or walkers (!) can dance up a storm once they hit the hardwood.

[DennisBeach]

My studio goes to Willowbrook Ballroom about once a quarter for the Sunday afternoon live band ballroom dance. I think WB is doing ok financially since it also hosts salsa, C&W, singles dances, and wedding receptions.

Some people call Sunday ballroom "The Senior Prom" because the majority of dancers are in their 70s and up. Amazing though how people who come in using canes or walkers (!) can dance up a storm once they hit the hardwood.

We have been wondering about that dance and whether it would be worth going to, when we are in Waukegan to visit our daughter and her family. What is the floor like? Do they play a good mix of ballroom or is it mostly foxtrot/swing?

We go to an old Ballroom, with a not so good but very large floor, when a particular band plays, because they play really good ballroom music. Being 60, we are the youngster at the dance. But most of them move pretty good on the floor.

On our last cruise a couple in their late 80's were teaching and they could still move it pretty good.

[Joe]

My studio goes to Willowbrook Ballroom about once a quarter for the Sunday afternoon live band ballroom dance. I think WB is doing ok financially since it also hosts salsa, C&W, singles dances, and wedding receptions.

Some people call Sunday ballroom "The Senior Prom" because the majority of dancers are in their 70s and up. Amazing though how people who come in using canes or walkers (!) can dance up a storm once they hit the hardwood.
My old dance partner was living in Chi-town a few years ago and I went to visit for a weekend. We hit the Sunday tea dance at the Willowbrook before I had to fly home. Maybe it was just getting to dance with her again after a couple of years, but it was a ton of fun. The ballroom was a great space and the big band was pretty cool.