Breaking the habit

[dancinrina]

I'm back! And with more questions!

So, after a slight ankle injury, I immediately went back to dancing and as I promised a very nice gentleman that I would attempt to become his standard partner, I took a class in foxtrot telemarks (approximately silver syllabus level). First discovery was - I suck at foxtrot and remember absolutely nothing. Second discovery was even more disappointing:

Lucky for me, the class consisted of 3 men and 2 women so I got a lot of personal attention especially since the instructor knows that I want to compete. However, every 5 seconds he'd comment on how "latin" my stance was and that he could tell I've done a lot of latin. Every time I'd try to correct it, it would sneak up on me and once again, I'd be told - you're looking to latin - flex your knees more, shift your weight. (I can totally see where its coming from since I did A LOT more latin when I used to dance and I stopped dancing latin later than I stopped dancing standard)

So, how does one break the habit of the latin stance to fall back into the standard frame?

Edit: So I totally didn't mean "fall back" like shift weight to the back....lol. I meant it in the sense of "default to" or "switch to".

[fascination]

well...one is still very forward in standard...I would be leary of thinking of falling back unless you want the gentleman with who you are dancing to be very unhappy...center over the foot is center over the foot...in all styles

[and123]

I have the opposite problem.... my Standard keeps creeping into my Latin.

The best remedy is repetition and focusing on one style at a time. I used to book private lessons in Standard and Latin on the same day.... um, didn't work too well :shock:. You need time (a few hours, a day, whatever) to clear your mind and reinstall the techniques and body feelings for the different styles.

[cornutt]

It may sound strange, but focus on your footwork, particularly when stepping forwards. If your stance is too far forwards, chances are your heel leads aren't being done properly either. If you work on the footwork, it will almost force your balance to be where it needs to be for standard.

[_malakawa_]

I'm back! And with more questions!

So, after a slight ankle injury, I immediately went back to dancing and as I promised a very nice gentleman that I would attempt to become his standard partner, I took a class in foxtrot telemarks (approximately silver syllabus level). First discovery was - I suck at foxtrot and remember absolutely nothing. Second discovery was even more disappointing:

Lucky for me, the class consisted of 3 men and 2 women so I got a lot of personal attention especially since the instructor knows that I want to compete. However, every 5 seconds he'd comment on how "latin" my stance was and that he could tell I've done a lot of latin. Every time I'd try to correct it, it would sneak up on me and once again, I'd be told - you're looking to latin - flex your knees more, shift your weight. (I can totally see where its coming from since I did A LOT more latin when I used to dance and I stopped dancing latin later than I stopped dancing standard)

So, how does one break the habit of the latin stance to fall back into the standard frame?

Edit: So I totally didn't mean "fall back" like shift weight to the back....lol. I meant it in the sense of "default to" or "switch to".

you'll need some time to get used to new style of dancing. practicing alone can help.

force yourself to step on a heel, that your knees are bent, and keep your center. yes, i know that is seem like it is a lot, but this is just a beginning.

if you practiced standard before, it will come back very soon.

but, when it comes to that instructor. if he took you as a example of bad standard dancer, i'll try to talk to him and tell him that I am (actually you are) not like a bad picute which will be showed in a class how not to draw.

he can do that on a private lesson, but in a group class no.

[dancinrina]

Nah, it wasn't that - it was lliterally me and another woman in the class - out of the women that was all. She was a social dancer who's only ever danced the standard/smooth dances. He wanted to focus on me because I had told him that I intended to compete again at some point and needed to get back into the swing of things

[_malakawa_]

Nah, it wasn't that - it was lliterally me and another woman in the class - out of the women that was all. She was a social dancer who's only ever danced the standard/smooth dances. He wanted to focus on me because I had told him that I intended to compete again at some point and needed to get back into the swing of things


but every 5 sec. to say that you are more latin is really stupid.

i wasn't on that class so i can't tell. to each student you have to have special approach.

but from this what you wrote i can say that he speaks a lot but not showing a lot. :cool:

[Standarddancer]

Congrats you found a standard partner! Hope your ankle feel better. Don't worry foxtrot is the most difficult dance in standard, so don't give up, just keep trying:)!!!

[dancepro]

I'm back! And with more questions!

So, after a slight ankle injury, I immediately went back to dancing and as I promised a very nice gentleman that I would attempt to become his standard partner, I took a class in foxtrot telemarks (approximately silver syllabus level). First discovery was - I suck at foxtrot and remember absolutely nothing. Second discovery was even more disappointing:

Lucky for me, the class consisted of 3 men and 2 women so I got a lot of personal attention especially since the instructor knows that I want to compete. However, every 5 seconds he'd comment on how "latin" my stance was and that he could tell I've done a lot of latin. Every time I'd try to correct it, it would sneak up on me and once again, I'd be told - you're looking to latin - flex your knees more, shift your weight. (I can totally see where its coming from since I did A LOT more latin when I used to dance and I stopped dancing latin later than I stopped dancing standard)

So, how does one break the habit of the latin stance to fall back into the standard frame?

Edit: So I totally didn't mean "fall back" like shift weight to the back....lol. I meant it in the sense of "default to" or "switch to".


Look at PM for some tips.

Dancepro