Black Sheep
05-04-2003, 11:17 PM
Teachers,
Last Thursday I went dancing at Lance's 'Lindy Groove" one of the hot spots for Swing dancers in Old Pasadena, Ca.. I was standing with my back to the band stand when a lithe young lady's dancing caught my eye. Now I could discern that she was doing WCS, and seem to be following her partners with acumen, but what impressed me most was her agility and her danceability. I watched here dance two complete numbers with different partners before I decided to ask her for a dance. I have no trouble leading WCS dancers, as long as they have the capability of following. However, my expectations of having an exciting dance experience with this lithe agile natural dancer were shattered after the first few moves.
The lady's resistance was completely lacking, and she kept on walking in on the Rock Step despite my attempt to maneuver to make the necessary corrections. This natural dancer who moved like a professional danced, seemed to be programmed in a robotic manner, almost independent of my physical leads. I managed to ask her where she learned to dance. She named a teacher from Orange County whose name I was well aware of.
What's my point? Teaching a lady a few fancy moves is fine, I always do that myself.
BUT if the lady has not learned the very simple techniques of following, her dancing will always be limited.
I FELT THAT THIS TEACHER FROM ORANGE COUNTY, TOOK, WHAT I OBSERVED TO BE AN UNUSUALLY NATURAL DANCER AND ROBOTISIZED HER, ROBBING HER OF FULFILLING HER POTENTIAL AS A POSSIBLY GREAT DANCER...ONLY BECAUSE HE NEVER TAIGHT HER THE LADY'S MOST IMPORTANT, PRIMARY BALLROOM TECHNIQUES OF ALL...THE TECHNIQUES OF FOLLOWING!
Black Sheep www.lindybylanza.com
Last Thursday I went dancing at Lance's 'Lindy Groove" one of the hot spots for Swing dancers in Old Pasadena, Ca.. I was standing with my back to the band stand when a lithe young lady's dancing caught my eye. Now I could discern that she was doing WCS, and seem to be following her partners with acumen, but what impressed me most was her agility and her danceability. I watched here dance two complete numbers with different partners before I decided to ask her for a dance. I have no trouble leading WCS dancers, as long as they have the capability of following. However, my expectations of having an exciting dance experience with this lithe agile natural dancer were shattered after the first few moves.
The lady's resistance was completely lacking, and she kept on walking in on the Rock Step despite my attempt to maneuver to make the necessary corrections. This natural dancer who moved like a professional danced, seemed to be programmed in a robotic manner, almost independent of my physical leads. I managed to ask her where she learned to dance. She named a teacher from Orange County whose name I was well aware of.
What's my point? Teaching a lady a few fancy moves is fine, I always do that myself.
BUT if the lady has not learned the very simple techniques of following, her dancing will always be limited.
I FELT THAT THIS TEACHER FROM ORANGE COUNTY, TOOK, WHAT I OBSERVED TO BE AN UNUSUALLY NATURAL DANCER AND ROBOTISIZED HER, ROBBING HER OF FULFILLING HER POTENTIAL AS A POSSIBLY GREAT DANCER...ONLY BECAUSE HE NEVER TAIGHT HER THE LADY'S MOST IMPORTANT, PRIMARY BALLROOM TECHNIQUES OF ALL...THE TECHNIQUES OF FOLLOWING!
Black Sheep www.lindybylanza.com