Larinda McRaven
05-13-2008, 09:25 AM
From the Ask the Pros thread (http://www.dance-forums.com/showthread.php?t=24055)
Jean Marc was at my studio coaching so I had a chance to ask him this Question:
Why do some of the world's best walk on the 34 and swing on the 1 gathering ultimately on the 2? (http://www.dance-forums.com/showpost.php?p=535433&postcount=11)
Thanks Easy for submitting the question
Because we have to dance the body in the future the feet in the present and the hips in the past. The body can move maybe 3 or 4 miles per hour, feet can move at 10 miles per hour. So when you negotiate the swing the body it is starting before the feet and then the when the foot catches up with distance we arrive slightly ahead. It is like the past will overlap with the future and the feet stay in the present.
The articulation of the craft of the feet are kind of like our suspension system. There is so much ability of sustining the foot and to lower slowly to let the past and the present move on. So the feet are not like clapping or slapping down on the the floor. And each of the dances will rule the tension on the arch of the foot. The speed of every dance will change the behaviour of the feet. If the rhythm will be "call 911" like in quickstep the tension definitely will have to be more tense, because you have to bounce strongly or you will collapse. In waltz it is a different tension because the speed is different. Foxtrot is right in the middle. In tango it is very harsh because of the staccatto effect. So it is a very natural behavior even if it is difficult.
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Jean-Marc Généreux is a world famous ballroom dance champion. He is married to his partner France Mousseau and they have two children, Jean-Francis and Francesca. Jean Marc and France hold numerous titles including Professional 10-time Undefeated Canadian Latin Champions, 4-time Undefeated North American Champions, 2-time Asian-Pacific Champions, 2-time Winners Challenge of the Continent, Winners Ohio Star Ball Open Latin Championship, 3rd place Overall Title World 10-dance Championships, Winners of the Latin Title World 10-dance Championships. Jean Marc has also starred as a choreographer on the TV show So You Think You can Dance, as well as playing "Smarrmy Old Man" in the movie Dance With Me. Jena Marc and France also co-organize a competition in Springfield Massachusetts called Dancing A La Carte.
Jean Marc was at my studio coaching so I had a chance to ask him this Question:
Why do some of the world's best walk on the 34 and swing on the 1 gathering ultimately on the 2? (http://www.dance-forums.com/showpost.php?p=535433&postcount=11)
Thanks Easy for submitting the question
Because we have to dance the body in the future the feet in the present and the hips in the past. The body can move maybe 3 or 4 miles per hour, feet can move at 10 miles per hour. So when you negotiate the swing the body it is starting before the feet and then the when the foot catches up with distance we arrive slightly ahead. It is like the past will overlap with the future and the feet stay in the present.
The articulation of the craft of the feet are kind of like our suspension system. There is so much ability of sustining the foot and to lower slowly to let the past and the present move on. So the feet are not like clapping or slapping down on the the floor. And each of the dances will rule the tension on the arch of the foot. The speed of every dance will change the behaviour of the feet. If the rhythm will be "call 911" like in quickstep the tension definitely will have to be more tense, because you have to bounce strongly or you will collapse. In waltz it is a different tension because the speed is different. Foxtrot is right in the middle. In tango it is very harsh because of the staccatto effect. So it is a very natural behavior even if it is difficult.
***************
Jean-Marc Généreux is a world famous ballroom dance champion. He is married to his partner France Mousseau and they have two children, Jean-Francis and Francesca. Jean Marc and France hold numerous titles including Professional 10-time Undefeated Canadian Latin Champions, 4-time Undefeated North American Champions, 2-time Asian-Pacific Champions, 2-time Winners Challenge of the Continent, Winners Ohio Star Ball Open Latin Championship, 3rd place Overall Title World 10-dance Championships, Winners of the Latin Title World 10-dance Championships. Jean Marc has also starred as a choreographer on the TV show So You Think You can Dance, as well as playing "Smarrmy Old Man" in the movie Dance With Me. Jena Marc and France also co-organize a competition in Springfield Massachusetts called Dancing A La Carte.