An Englishman in New Yor.. wait a sec. this is Houston.

[Memory]

[de-lurk]

Hi All,

First of all I have to say that I really enjoy reading this board even though I haven't posted here before. So thank you all for your insights, observations and for sharing your experiences.

Now for my reason for posting:

I'm coming over to the US for a week over Easter (well 11 days - 9th to the 20th of April) and I will be staying in and around the Houston, TX area. I've been dancing Ballroom and Latin in England for some time now (8 years) and I have been told by a number of people that I'm a good lead but obviously dancing in England I have only done International and know absolutely no American Smooth or Rhythm, Salsa or Swing.

Now I'd like to take the opportunity dance socially while I'm over - if only so see some of the differences and get some new experiences. So my questions are two-fold:

1) Can anyone recommend anywhere in the Houston area to dance socially? Or even recommend a studio who wouldn't mind me turning up for one group lesson and then disappearing again. Note: I'd love to attend a Smooth or Rhythm class if only to pick up a few steps but I'm worried that anything I learn in one or two lessons would do me more harm than good if I don't have the opportunity to build on/practice it when I get back.

2) How much of a handicap is it that I can't dance American? I suspect I could quite happily lead very basic (bronze/pre-bronze) International steps to most music but then my partner may not know what she's doing and while some followers are happy to do that if the lead is good enough, others aren't.

Any thoughts, advice or recommendations?

Thanks for your help.

Memory

[latingal]

Welcome to DF Memory!

I hope you have a wonderful trip to Houston. As for your questions themselves, I'm not going to be able to help too much. Hopefully a member will be along that knows the area and can answer your questions. Where I live in the US, you wouldn't have a problem doing international at a drop in class. There are quite of few studios here that have classes in both styles.

[Memory]

Hi Latingal,

Thanks for the welcome.

It's a shame I'm not in your neck of the woods then. :) Hopefully the same will hold true in Houston too.

I'm happy to dance at whatever level my partner is comfortable with but as previously stated I'm not sure how many people at a random social dance in Houston would be comfortable dancing Gold International Foxtrot and I'm just as happy to guide someone through a Pre-Bronze Waltz if that is all they know.

I just thought I'd ask the knowledgeable locals before I arrived.

Memory

[Peaches]

I'm not in Houston, and I don't dance ballroom anymore, but it seems to me that if:

a) you're a guy, and
b) you can lead, and
c) you don't smell bad

you'll be more than welcome at just about any social. Particularly if you're content to lead bronze/pre-bronze steps for American style dancers who couldn't do anything else in the International realm.

[etp777]

Except for one social mentioned in other thread about it not being a pickup joint. :)

[Peaches]

LOL, true.

Perhaps I should add a caveat to my earlier statement stipulating that that's true for most normal ballroom places, lol. (For a given quantity of normal, of course! ;))

[dancepro]

Welcome memory!!

I am not familiar with that area, sorry. Just wanted to help you a little on the dance part.

You will do just fine.

If you dance bronze American Waltz, then just Close Change Steps and Natural Turn and Reverse Turn. Do note most people do better Reverse Turn in the US then Natural Turns. In the Foxtrot, you can pretty much get away with doing Reverse Turn, Natural Turn and Change steps like Waltz and Quarter Turn and Progressive Chasse like Quickstep. In V. Waltz do the same as you normally would except no Back Change Steps. When you turn to Promenade instead of stepping in Promenade with the left foot close the LF to RF and change weight, then step to promenade on the RF. In silver do Quick Open Reverse and Feather Finish, Passing Natural Turn (Open Natural), Open Impetus, Feather from Promenade for both Waltz and Foxtrot. Tango is going to be a little more tricky but I am sure you will work it out.

Hope you have a wonderful time in this wonders land of the US.

Dancepro

[_malakawa_]

hey dancepro, you did a smooth part. i will latin - rhythm.

rumba - similar to waltz. rhythm is qqs. and it is side - close - forward - side - close - backward. (starting with the left foot)

cha cha - the same. basic, open break, natural turn, just without fan and this kind of fancy steps.

swing - it is like jive, just it starts with triple step ( it is triple step - triple step - rock step). just music is little bit slower. and this is est coast swing.

west coast is different, and my suggestion is that you stick with the east coast.

and when it comes to places to go - somebody else will answer on that question.

salsa - well, salsa is popular in europe. check a little bit online.

if you stick with the basic patterns - you'll be awesome. ;)

good luck

btw. when i came here and heard about american rhythm and smooth. my reaction was like - "what in the world is that???"

but you learn it very fast if you don't have problems with international style.

and welcome. :rocker:

[dancepro]

hey dancepro, you did a smooth part. i will latin - rhythm.


Thank you _malakawa_;)

OK memory, you should now be all set to dance both the International and the American styles when you get here.

Now we just need somebody to give you ideas of where to go and dance. I am sure somebody will come around shortly to help on that account.

Dancepro

[_malakawa_]

and we want a feedback after. :D

[tangotime]

rumba - similar to waltz. rhythm is qqs. and it is side - close - forward - side - close - backward. (starting with the left foot)

cha cha - the same. basic, open break, natural turn, just without fan and this kind of fancy steps.

. :rocker:



It depends where you learn Rumba ( Sq ) many teach FWD Slow to commence,Left foot, and Amer. style Cha commences side left, Back Right( no fans, they teach a cross body lead in Amer. )... If you sit and watch for 10 mins, you will see the likeness of some dances .

Houston is very well established in the Intern. style .

[_malakawa_]

It depends where you learn Rumba ( Sq ) many teach FWD Slow to commence,Left foot, and Amer. style Cha commences side left, Back Right( no fans, they teach a cross body lead in Amer. )... If you sit and watch for 10 mins, you will see the likeness of some dances .

Houston is very well established in the Intern. style .

lol. I am a FADS teacher. so we teach rumba LF to the side, RF close, LF forward. (QQS)

cha cha is the same. ;) just you start on 1 with LF to the side, RF back .....

[Some guy]

Welcome to DF Memory!

I live in Houston, and you'll be pleased to know that there are group classes in just about every part of Houston. Drop-ins are more the norm than the exception, so that would work out well for you too.

Feel free to PM me and I can give you details of where to go based on where you'll be staying. On April 10th, Rice University is having a Jazz Soriee which in the past has been a lot of fun. They usually have a whole jazz band, an excellent dance floor, and lots of college kids dancing swing, foxtrot, quickstep, etc. The weekends always have group classes going on somewhere. Social dances are not hard to come by either. Also, when in Houston, forget your diet. :)

[Some guy]

Also, just to put you more at ease, most of the group classes I've seen are international-style. There's however lot of other places (that I'm not too familiar with) that offer American style instruction.

[tangotime]

lol. I am a FADS teacher. so we teach rumba LF to the side, RF close, LF forward. (QQS)

....

.


I know ...I was DD for F/A and A/M .. the difference ?.. A/M had over 600 schools to freds 200, and so the fwd commence reached far more people ( and they still outnumber them ) so, like I said, it depends who taught you .

[Memory]

Hi All,

Thank you to all for the feedback and especially dancepro and _malakawa_ for you tips and 3 minute guide to converting from UK to US. :)

_malakawa_ isn't it also true that U.S. dancers dance both Rumba and Cha Cha on 1 rather than the 2nd beat as International does? Or am I mis-remembering something I read once?

Also in your description of the Rumba steps are you describing Male or female steps? I ask because if I were starting with my left foot side and then close I'd be stepping forward left which would mean I was using my outside foot which sounds odd at least when used in basic. But hey I did say new experiences were good. :D

some_guy: Thank you for the welcome. I'll drop you a PM now. Oh and I'm not on a diet but I have been to the U.S. a few times before (just never danced over there) and yes I agree the food is good and the portions are, shall we say, generous (read: even I can't finish them sometimes). So thanks for the warning. That Jazz event sounds good I might investigate further.

As an aside last time I was in Huston (last year) I ate at Marks. Very, very good. The Texan Kobi beef was to die for.

Thank you all again for all the comments.

Oh and of course I'll provide feedback after the event. Maybe even during if I find myself near a keyboard.

Memory

[tangotime]

Hi All,


_malakawa_ isn't it also true that U.S. dancers dance both Rumba and Cha Cha on 1 rather than the 2nd beat as International does? Or am I mis-remembering something I read once?

Also in your description of the Rumba steps are you describing Male or female steps? I ask because if I were starting with my left foot side and then close I'd be stepping forward left which would mean I was using my outside foot which sounds odd at least when used in basic.







They break on 2 in Amer.style.. they commence in a different direction....

Rumba.. Side left ,close right to left ( QQ...1.2 ) is a F/A method.. A/ M commences Fwd Left on a Slow, (1,2) this is a square Rumba Box taught at social Bronze level

What you may also see is Bolero ( the template for Intern. style Rumba ).

[etp777]

Also remember there's at least two chacha timings taught here. We use 2-3-4-and-1 here at our studio, but I know at least some places (believe I was told it was more common in collegiate, but don't quote me on that ;) ) they shift the timing, I think to 4-1-2-and-3

[tangotime]

Also remember there's at least two chacha timings taught here. We use 2-3-4-and-1 here at our studio, but I know at least some places (believe I was told it was more common in collegiate, but don't quote me on that ;) ) they shift the timing, I think to 4-1-2-and-3



The Cha is usually prepped with the "1" side Left, breaking back right in Amer. style Cha.. and breaks on "2".....Club cha is sometimes taught breaking fwd on "1"( left foot ) .

Intern. style is taught exactly the same .There are some variations that are danced and taught slightly different in Amer. style, and , the " leg " and foot action may be different . In addition, the timing count may have a different accent .

[Memory]

Ah, thanks Tangotime and etp for the clarification.

I see I have much to learn...

but at least the learning will be fun. :)

Memory

[_malakawa_]

Hi All,

Thank you to all for the feedback and especially dancepro and _malakawa_ for you tips and 3 minute guide to converting from UK to US. :)

_malakawa_ isn't it also true that U.S. dancers dance both Rumba and Cha Cha on 1 rather than the 2nd beat as International does? Or am I mis-remembering something I read once?

Also in your description of the Rumba steps are you describing Male or female steps? I ask because if I were starting with my left foot side and then close I'd be stepping forward left which would mean I was using my outside foot which sounds odd at least when used in basic. But hey I did say new experiences were good. :D

Memory

this is a male step.

at FADS studios every male step starts with left foot.

bolero - is a combination of international rumba & waltz. the step is the same as rumba, but you have rise & fall like in waltz.

cha cha starts here on 1. i danced international style competitively for 12 years, and you'll not have problems with the steps.

rumba is different. it is not hard to learn. but Am. rumba is much faster that Intl. rumba.

if you have more questions pm me.

;)

[tangotime]

bolero - is a combination of international rumba & waltz.

, but you have rise & fall like in waltz.


rumba is different. it is not hard to learn. but Am. rumba is much faster that Intl. rumba.

;)


Bol. is a combo. of Rumba and W ?.... Bolero Pre dates Intern. style by many yrs.. so its Intern. Rumba thats a combin. of Bolero.

And Bolero only has body rise... in addition, Rumba comes in varying tempi like its predecessor ( Danzon ) in fact a Son Guaracha , a Sq Rumba, may be very up tempo .

[tangotime]

[de-lurk]


but obviously dancing in England I have only done International and know absolutely no American Smooth or Rhythm, Salsa or Swing.




Memory

In case you are interested, I,m doing a 2hr w/shop in Bristol on May 3rd.. covering basics in.. Bolero,4 styles of Cha and Cuban Salsa

[Memory]

Hi tangotime,

Yes I would be interested but unfortunately I'm attending a friend's wedding on that date (coincidently also in Bristol) so I'm afraid I'll have to decline. But thank you for the invitation, if it had been a different date I may well have attended.

Memory

[tangotime]

Hi tangotime,

Yes I would be interested but unfortunately I'm attending a friend's wedding on that date (coincidently also in Bristol) so I'm afraid I'll have to decline. But thank you for the invitation, if it had been a different date I may well have attended.

Memory

If time permits, its 8 - 10 p.m. plus social afterwards till 1/2 a.m.( at Jesters )

[Joe]

Also remember there's at least two chacha timings taught here. We use 2-3-4-and-1 here at our studio, but I know at least some places (believe I was told it was more common in collegiate, but don't quote me on that ;) ) they shift the timing, I think to 4-1-2-and-3
I have never seen that timing done intentionally.

[etp777]

I make no claims it was right, but I know I've seen at least two pros at two different studios (not chain) teaching it that way, and even counting it that way, so not just getting off. Maybe just happened on two confuseed people. :)

[_malakawa_]

Bol. is a combo. of Rumba and W ?.... Bolero Pre dates Intern. style by many yrs.. so its Intern. Rumba thats a combin. of Bolero.

And Bolero only has body rise... in addition, Rumba comes in varying tempi like its predecessor ( Danzon ) in fact a Son Guaracha , a Sq Rumba, may be very up tempo .

to teach somebody something you connect the words and pictures that he/she is familiar with.

for us, whom are dancing intl. style, it's easier to connect something new with something that we already know (if you can, of course).

;)