Ever disliked a Dance?

[ShyDancer]

Have you ever disliked a dance so much you dreaded going to your class/club/a party if you knew they were going to dance it there?
Is there a dance you wont do unless forced?

I never imagined myself disliking any dance, but that merengue............


What did you do?
Did you do anything that helped you enjoy it?

[danceguy]

HUSTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall: :headwall:

I simply cannot stand this dance...and if its a feature dance of the night I will avoid it all costs!!! Pygmalion and I talked about this a few times in the past...we both tried it several times and just couldn't get the feel of it. :doh:

I don't know what it is...but the movements just feel counter to the way my body moves...but this dance makes me want to run screaming for the hills... :shock:

I do however (loathe as I am to admit) know how to do a Hustle line dance that I learned some months back...and while I found it to be semi-tolerable, its just another aspect of my previous dance life that I'd prefer to forget about. :oops: :oops: :oops:

SG

[cocodrilo]

Yeah, SG, that IS a pretty stupid dance. When disco was just starting to catch on, when I was in junior high school, they were teaching us the HUSTLE in P.E. class! :evil: My friend & I always managed to slip out the back door to escape the idiocy! :lol:

[Sabor]

I never imagined myself disliking any dance, but that merengue............

:shock: :shock: u dont like merengue!!.. as in the dance only or the music as well?.. do u have any dominicans or peurtoricans in your dance scene? or latinos in general? .. if not, then maybe thats a reason.. a few people dance merengue as it should/could be danced is the impression i tend to get in most scenes around the globe.. and there are quite a number of reasons for it which is not the time to go into now.. but, i'm hoping that .. in the case that u dont have a particular problem with the music and that its just a matter of dancing w/ people who just go 1,2 1,2 1,2 etc.. till they bore your socks off.. then try it w/ a dominicano or a boriqua.. ahem.. errr or moi :mrgreen: first.. and then we can see about that :D

[MadamSamba]

Shydancer, what madness has gripped you? Not like a dance, pfffff...

[cocodrilo]

Merengue is a blast! The music is FUN and if you have a decent lead, you can REALLY roll!

[Kate]

How can anyone dislike a Dance?
Its dance for crying out loud! :P

Buy hey, your opinion. ;)

[SDsalsaguy]

OK, first a caveat... ANY dance is better than NO dance!!! ALWAYS!!!

That being said, there are several dances I do/have dislike(d)...

Foxtrot... I used to *hate* this one. There are very few Foxtrot songs that I don't despise so this is probably a major factor here. They all just seem way too cheesy and/or sappy to me. Now this is actually a dance I'd like to work on some more, although I'm still not a big fan of most of the music.

ECS... just way too cheesy a dance/music for my tastes. I like my rhythm dances to feel slinkier than the vibe I get/feel from ECS.

As some others have already noted, hustle... yuck! The music, again, is typically waaaaaaaaay cheesy, and the dance just doesn't feel like it has "soul" or substance to me. I will say, however, that I danced one hustle a couple of months ago (Vince -- with Heidi, in Reno) that just felt fantastic. For some reason that one time the dance just seemed to flow...

And add me to the merengue list as well... most of the music I hear played has no depth or complexity to it. In the past there've only been 3 people I enjoyed dancing a merengue with, although tonight seems to have been a good merengue night as well... :shock:

[Sagitta]

No dance that I dislike. For every dance I can find some good songs and some good partners to dance these with. What more does one need? For instance, take merengue with the techno crap they tend to put on. A few good ones slip through and they do play them. Then I know who really dances merengue, and is willing to flirt through the song... :)

[MacMoto]

I used to dislike bachata, but after hearing some good songs and seeing some amazing demonstrations, it's growing on me and I want to learn it properly. Not many leaders know it beyond the basic step though.

[Sabor]

I used to dislike bachata

please forgive thee her, for she doth not knoweth what she sayeth!

:lol: :lol:

[Sagitta]

I used to dislike bachata, but after hearing some good songs and seeing some amazing demonstrations, it's growing on me and I want to learn it properly. Not many leaders know it beyond the basic step though.

I do. Come dance with me. :wink: :)

[cl5814]

ok, this will most probably stir some heated conversation, but i dislike salsa. I like merengue and hustle, just fun dances. :D :D :D Luckily i said this on the general dance discussion board and not the salsa board. I can just imagine what replies i would have gotten then.

[pygmalion]

Swing, until I got a decent teacher. Hustle to this day.

I think a lot has to do with the appeal of the music or lack thereof and the quality of the instruction I'm receiving.

[danceguy]

Dislike Salsa and Bachata? Back, you demonic children! Back I say! :shock: :lol:

Pygmalion made a good point about instruction...a bad teacher can leave a bad taste in one's mouth for any dance. Many times I wanted to quit Salsa because of some bad experiences. If we truly love the dance, we have to roll with the punches and continue to look for teachers that inspire us and dance venues with lots of good people to dance with. So for me, its not the dance that I dislike at times, but the energy of some folks who are involved with it.

Another factor is bad DJ's, which tend to be the rule rather than the exception. I never realized just how bad most of the Salsa music I heard at dances was until I started listening to the classics...this too can be very discouraging if you love the dance, but all you hear are lousy tunes with no heart and soul...:?

I am starting to like Merengue...but I heavily dislike the loud, bang bang boomy tunes that are typically played...but every now and then a good one comes on and it can be enjoyable. Bachata is a lot of fun to me...but I do want to become a lot better at it...but with right person doing the basic is all you need to do.

I've given Hustle several attempts...but for now I've just let it be. I tried WCS only once and liked the dance, but the people who were teaching it I didn't, but I didn't discount the dance because of it. Perhaps someday I'll give it another go...;) :P

SG

[Spitfire]

Foxtrot - Just never cared much for it.

Hustle - I'm with the rest of you on this one.

Until recently I would not touch WCS, but decided to give it another shot four months ago and now it's about to surpass ECS and Cha-Cha as my faves; that's quite a 360 for me. While I still enjoy ECS, WCS has downgraded it somewhat.

[Laura]

I hate to say it here but...salsa. I'm not very fond of any of the Latin dances, but salsa just really puts me out. Part of the reason why is that I just don't like salsa music very much. When I lived in New Jersey some of my neighbors were really into salsa music and would blast it day and night from a pair of blown speakers outside in the street by my house. I got really really really tired of it and ten years of rest haven't gotten me over it yet.

[spatten]

Anyone else have a tendency to dislike going to any social which limits itself to any one dance? I can enjoy Salsa, but in small doses. I used to really enjoy Argentine Tango - but I don't want to do it all night long. Lindy Hop is another good example.

I also tend to dislike dances which don't encourage good posture - Salsa and Lindy Hop again are good examples. I have seen some people who will never look good doing a Foxtrot because years of Lindy literally ruined their posture.

[dr daffy]

the only dance i've ever disliked really is ballet. since i'm on company at school, i have to do everything... including ballet. i never really liked the slowness and gracefullness of it. i like moving quickly... but the more i did it, the more i liked it. so now i don't really dislike any kind of dancing :D

[pygmalion]

Yes. Different types of dances usually grow on me, too. 8) :D

[delamusica]

Every dance that I thought I disliked has grown on me as I learned it. I like hustle a lot (we do it mostly to techno, not disco!), wcs, merengue and salsa outside of the usual international 10-dance stuff that I usually do (and love!). I guess the only dance I know and don't love is International Tango - but I still enjoy dancing it every now and again. Perhaps I'll enjoy it more when I get better at it. :)

[pygmalion]

I agree. I think it's a lot easier to enjoy a dance that I understand and am somewhat good at.

[Genesius Redux]

Two-step. It just feels cheesy to me.

[dancin_feet]

There is no dance that I overall dislike enough to want to stay away from. Some dances have their time in my "don't like it" space, but they are never there for long. Last one was waltz, but it seems to be when I'm just not getting something is when I don't like it. Contrary to popular belief though, when I don't like a dance, I will work harder on it! :shock:

I think Cha is going to be my next one. My instructor showed me the proper advanced timing for all the preparation steps a couple of weeks ago (helps to define the cuban motion more) and I just can't seem to get it! :? Oh well, it will just make me work harder to get it working so that I can like it again. :lol:

[dancin_feet]

Just to add, there are quite a few students at our studio who refuse to do Lambada. A combination of reasons from it's to personal to not being able to get the hips right. Despite the fact that other dances like Salsa and Mambo have similar hips but no-one refuses to do them!

I, on the other hand, have no problem with Lambada at all - I love it!

[Genesius Redux]

Oh, man, I'd love to learn the lambada! Such an exhibitionist dance! 8)

[DancePoet]

I'm not sure there is a dance I dislike to the point where I wouldn't dance it, yet there are dances I prefer not to do. Merengue is probably my least favorite. I don't really enjoy the motion nor very much of the music.

Mambo and salsa aren't big with me, but I haven't really focused on these, and I suspect if I learn more, I'll dance them more then I do currently. Although, I like the look of Samba, I know little of it, I'm not thrilled by the music, and tend to avoid it cause it tires me out with it's many beats per minute.

When I started dancing, I put my focus on Tango (still my favorite), Cha-Cha, Foxtrot, Rumba, Waltz, Hustle, and ECS. Unfortunately, ECS just doesn't do it for me. Occasionally it seems to really catch me, but it has disappointed me many times, too. I look forward to Bolero, Quickstep, Viennese Waltz, and WCS.

And for all those naysayers on Hustle, there was a lot of this style of music being played while I was in Jr. High, H.S, and college. I was actually taught the very basics in a Jr. High Phys. Ed. class. I have found it to be very useful at reunions and other events when this style of music is played. Most women from this era and younger seem to like the music and find it easy to learn the basics. Although told otherwise, it has been more useful to me then ECS.

[MacMoto]

Not many leaders know it beyond the basic step though.

I do. Come dance with me. :wink: :)
Note to self: I've got to visit New York one day...

[cocodrilo]

Just to add, there are quite a few students at our studio who refuse to do Lambada. A combination of reasons from it's to personal to not being able to get the hips right. Despite the fact that other dances like Salsa and Mambo have similar hips but no-one refuses to do them!

I, on the other hand, have no problem with Lambada at all - I love it!

Ditto! Lambada's a blast and it's a cinch! You DO have to know how to move those hips, though!!!

[Sabor]

aaaah Lambadaaa!.. the forbidden dance 8)

next time i cross the brazilian jungle i'll make sure to get some forbidden moves going :mrgreen:

[Angelo]

Merengue,Merengue,Merengue!!!!!!!!!Bachata too!

[ShyDancer]

Shydancer, what madness has gripped you? Not like a dance, pfffff...

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:


Yep, I cant stand Merengue, its not the music..I actually dont mind listening to it, its just the constant step-step and feel that drives me insane. Its such a stupid dance, now I know why I keep hearing "If you can walk you can merengue" . It bores me, the only time I find it remotely amusing is when Im spinning or turning continuously.
Last night I gritted my teeth and smiled through one dance but by #2 I was begging to stop. My teacher was sitting in the corner watching in amusement, because he knows how much I dislike it.

[salsachinita]

I used to dislike merengue too, due to the reason you've mentioned, as well as the sleaze factor this music can sometimes attract.

But lately, as I'm starting to be confident enough to 'play' with the music (different timing, syncopation, body isolation of sorts) I am starting to enjoy it.....even if to just 'play' with it by myself (which is a shock coming from me......coz I'm a true partner dancer).

You can really tell how well you connect with your partner during a merengue. You can also 'test drive' some complex moves before using them for salsa :wink: .

Having said that, some songs are just waaaaaaay too cheesy. Same reason why I dislike Bachata (nothing wrong with the dance, but the musiiiic :roll: )..........

[salsachinita]

Oh, man, I'd love to learn the lambada! Such an exhibitionist dance! 8)

It's not hard to learn but not easy to get that particular flava. Different from salsa & everything else.......and a lot of the oringinal sparks from lambada has been lost over the years IMHO. Zouk comes kinda close to it but still different........

It's the raw energy I missed........everything these days seems too 'polished' or 'overly sweet' :roll: .........

[Dancegal]

Merengue at my local social dance studio. The dancing sucks. I don't live in NYC or where DF folks live so don't get to experience the better dancers.

Bachata & Cumbia - I detest the music

Hustle - seems cheesy compared to WCS - if I do hustle long enough, all the hard work that went into making WCS basics second nature may be forever ruined. Just an opinion, not meant to slam hustle fans :)

[etchuck]

For whatever reason, a bunch of people I know dislike polka. I can never understand why. ;)

[youngsta]

I HATEHATEHATEHATE Cumbia!!! Soon as I hear the music my will to dance is sapped!

[pygmalion]

Hmm. You can always take that time to work the crowd, take a break, and line up your partner for the next salsa! 8) :D

[swinginstyle]

Viennese Waltz frightens me

[Purr]

East Coast Swing. Bad. :(

West Coast Swing. Good. :)

Hustle. The Best. :wink:

[Phil Owl]

I think each family of ballroom dances has just one that I absolutely cannot stand:

STANDARD: Quickstep, man, this one defines the word "corny" for me in a huge way, brings back bad memories of being made to watch Lawrence Welk as a youngin'! The other thing too is that music, ARRRRRGH, sounds too much like all those corny Broadway musicals I detest so violently (with that stridently corny 2/2 cut-time feel) :headwall: :evil:

SWING: I know I'll probably rile a few folks here but the Shag/Balboa thing has the same effect on me as Quickstep. :P


LATIN: Meringue is usually enough to send me to the farthest corners of a room in hopes that I won't be dragged out on the floor for one. Definitely echo ShyDancer's sentiments and reasons! :roll:

[d nice]

Hustle.

I won't do it,under any circumstances ever, Period.

People ask I try not to laugh and just say no thank you.

How anybody can do a dance that doesn't know how to keep time, glorifies prancing and uses "the arms of death" is beyond me. I swear someone is going to get decapitated by someone on th edance floor one of these days... I'll be there laughing and pointing saying, "I told you so."

[tj]

How anybody can do a dance that doesn't know how to keep time, glorifies prancing and uses "the arms of death" is beyond me. I swear someone is going to get decapitated by someone on th edance floor one of these days... I'll be there laughing and pointing saying, "I told you so."

What are "arms of death"?

[Purr]

How anybody can do a dance that doesn't know how to keep time, glorifies prancing and uses "the arms of death" is beyond me. I swear someone is going to get decapitated by someone on th edance floor one of these days... I'll be there laughing and pointing saying, "I told you so."

What are "arms of death"?

I was wondering that, too.

[tj]

What are "arms of death"?

I was wondering that, too.

Is it similar to the "Whirling Elbow of Doom"? Or the "Neutering Knee of Despair"?

Or perhaps the "Clumsy Kick to the Ankle"... 8)

[Sagitta]

I have to clarify what I said earlier. I don't know some dances, that is haven't done them at all so my comments were only for the dances I've done...


Yep, I cant stand Merengue, its not the music..I actually dont mind listening to it, its just the constant step-step and feel that drives me insane. Its such a stupid dance, now I know why I keep hearing "If you can walk you can merengue" . It bores me, the only time I find it remotely amusing is when Im spinning or turning continuously.


I can spin you as many times as you like, all different sorts of ways. :wink: And while it is step step, it's not if you know what I mean. I only step step when I am dancing with a beginner who is getting intimidated by me. :)

[Phil Owl]

How anybody can do a dance that doesn't know how to keep time, glorifies prancing and uses "the arms of death" is beyond me. I swear someone is going to get decapitated by someone on th edance floor one of these days... I'll be there laughing and pointing saying, "I told you so."

What are "arms of death"?

I was wondering that, too.

You might be referring to "windmills", I've seen it in C&W sometimes too, mostly wth women will do these dramatic windmill type things with their arms, works fine on an uncrowded floor, but when the floor is full of dancers, usually not advisable (I've gotten hit a couple times myself).

[danceguy]

More info on the death grip and other such dance moves can be found here: (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=3099&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45)

Funny, the other night I saw a lady hit someone other than her partner with a flying hair lash. After a quick spin her long ponytail sailed around with a whoosh, hitting a guy walking behind her in the face! She apologized and he appeared unharmed but man...what a Ninja weapon! 8)

SG

[cocodrilo]

Yeah, I got one of those(turns into a "cat o' nine tails" when in ponytail form). :o

[pygmalion]

Well, you know what they say. Hell hath no fury like an angry dancing woman with a pony tail. :shock: :lol:

Okay. Well, maybe they don't say that. But they should. :lol: :lol:

[LindyKeya]

For whatever reason, a bunch of people I know dislike polka. I can never understand why. ;)

Not sure if you were kidding here, but I know why I dislike Polka- Because at one of the "Swing" venues here, the one I try to avoid, they generally play at least a couple polkas during the night. This causes anyone with an ounce of brains to flee the room. Why? Because you get 100 or so people who think they can dance polka together, and madness ensues. Before half the song is over, half those people are at least mildly injured.

So, I used to like dancing it, but the above situation has killed that desire.

[ShyDancer]

I can spin you as many times as you like, all different sorts of ways. :wink: And while it is step step, it's not if you know what I mean. I only step step when I am dancing with a beginner who is getting intimidated by me. :)


:banana: If I can spin and turn Im happy!
I know what you mean about the step step not being step step. Using proper technique often helps that ...I just have no desire to use it most times..rather conserve my hips for salsa or mambo! :lol:






Well, you know what they say. Hell hath no fury like an angry dancing woman with a pony tail.

Okay. Well, maybe they don't say that. But they should. :lol: :lol:



:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Thats funny!

[ShyDancer]

How anybody can do a dance that doesn't know how to keep time, glorifies prancing and uses "the arms of death" is beyond me. I swear someone is going to get decapitated by someone on th edance floor one of these days... I'll be there laughing and pointing saying, "I told you so."

What are "arms of death"?

I was wondering that, too.

You might be referring to "windmills", I've seen it in C&W sometimes too, mostly wth women will do these dramatic windmill type things with their arms, works fine on an uncrowded floor, but when the floor is full of dancers, usually not advisable (I've gotten hit a couple times myself).

There is a move I was taught in a swing class called Windmill....its a closed hold though with both partners moving in and out toward each other, arms outstretched for the inward moving up and down,and opening for outward.
Quite a dangerous thing to pull off if anyone is close by!

[cl5814]

This causes anyone with an ounce of brains to flee the room. Why? Because you get 100 or so people who think they can dance polka together, and madness ensues. Before half the song is over, half those people are at least mildly injured.

So, I used to like dancing it, but the above situation has killed that desire.

You gave me a good chuckle with this one, ok, more than a chuckle, a good laugh ! :D :D :D

[cocodrilo]

This causes anyone with an ounce of brains to flee the room. Why? Because you get 100 or so people who think they can dance polka together, and madness ensues. Before half the song is over, half those people are at least mildly injured.

So, I used to like dancing it, but the above situation has killed that desire.

You gave me a good chuckle with this one, ok, more than a chuckle, a good laugh ! :D :D :D

That's one I'D like to witness! Sounds hilarious!!! :lol:

[Kitty]

Viennese Waltz frightens me

he he he

It is especially dangerous if I'm on the floor:-)))))

[Chris Stratton]

There is a move I was taught in a swing class called Windmill....its a closed hold though with both partners moving in and out toward each other, arms outstretched for the inward moving up and down,and opening for outward.
Quite a dangerous thing to pull off if anyone is close by!

Speaking of dangerous swing figures, I've on several occasions punched myself in the face while attempting the eggbeater in class. That was the last class I ever took in swing.

[ShyDancer]

Speaking of dangerous swing figures, I've on several occasions punched myself in the face while attempting the eggbeater in class. That was the last class I ever took in swing.


Im so sorry, but that visual just made me laugh out loud :lol: :lol: :lol:
Swing is lots of fun..maybe you should just not try that move again!

[cocodrilo]

I've POKED myself in the face on many occasions being careless trying some new salsa styling techniques, but have never punched myself in the face! (Careful there, boy, you can put an eye out by doin' that!) :lol:

[MacMoto]

I've POKED myself in the face on many occasions being careless trying some new salsa styling techniques,
Hmm, how do you do that? When my styling goes wrong, it's usually the leader who suffers... :oops:

[cocodrilo]

I've POKED myself in the face on many occasions being careless trying some new salsa styling techniques,
Hmm, how do you do that? When my styling goes wrong, it's usually the leader who suffers... :oops:

No, no, I am practicing alone, in front of the mirror at the studio!
Arms get flailing and *YOWCH*!!!!!! Haven't whacked a guy with flailing arms for a LOOOOOONG time. Happened quite a bit when I was first learning, though... :?

[d nice]

"The arms of death" are the straight attitude arms that followers and sometimes leaders use to emphasize the stops and chenages of direction. I've seen this in ballroom style salsa also executed by both leader and follower.

It looks like someone is gfoing to get their head lopped off at some point.

[Genesius Redux]

My teacher hates merengue, which she admits is because most of the merengue she's seen is cheesy ballroom merengue.

Lately, though, the teachers at the studio have been going with some of their students to the local salsa venue. I showed up the other night after one of my shows and my teacher was there, but I was just too tired to dance. Then a merengue comes on, and I say to her, "Oh, here's a merengue, you wanna dance?"

She looks at me and laughs, and goes, "I'll give you like 45 seconds."

So of course I just flat out refused, and ever since then I've been riding her mercilessly about it--especially since frequently I come in to the studio and see her dancing with new student dude, who brought in one of the cheesiest merengue videos I've ever seen, and she's dancing the merengue with him the whole time, while he flat out refuses to even try to develop basic Latin motion (he just wants to do steps).

So my latest conversation with her about it:

Me: (Deadpan) Okay, so I'm over my hurt feelings.
Her: (Genuinely concerned and surprised) Hurt feelings?
Me: Yeah, you know that you just refuse to do any merengue with me socially, but that you'll dance it with dude over there who pays you.
Her: (Laughs)
Me: I mean, I've only been your student for a year, come in every week for a private lesson. I remember you at Christmas, remember your birthday. You get comps to all my shows.
Her: (Laughs) Hold on....
Me: I write you long encouraging emails when you're in the midst of philosophical crises. You count on me like clockwork, I'm in financial straights, I choose not to eat so I can still dance with you, when my car breaks down, I hitchhike to the studio....
Her: I picked you up and drove you to lessons twice....
Me: And then, we're out socially, and yeah, I know you're not working, but I ask you one dance of merengue, and you're like, "Merengue? I don't do merengue--I'm the Ballroom Diva from Fessler's Lane."
Her: (Laughs)
Me: Then dude comes by with his cheesy merengue video, he's been with you maybe two months if that and you're all over him. (Charo accent) "Oh, jess, I weel dahnce merengue wit joo, beeg macho guy. I looooohhhhve dahncing wit joo, it makes me wanna shake my leetle @$$, joo wanna take more dahncing lassons?" (By the way, she is sooo Anglo Irish white girl)
Her: (Laughs) You are so full of....
Me: And here I am going, "Why don't you just stab me in the heart?" I mean, I know that I'm just a paycheck to you.
Her: (Laughs)
Me: Oh, by the way, I forgot my checkbook today....

So that's me. Relentless. But talking to her today, she admitted that what she really hated was cheesy stylized ballroom merengue and now says she'd be happy to dance club merengue next time we're out.... :wink:

[chachagirlie]

scorpionguy wrote:
Funny, the other night I saw a lady hit someone other than her partner with a flying hair lash. After a quick spin her long ponytail sailed around with a whoosh, hitting a guy walking behind her in the face! She apologized and he appeared unharmed but man...what a Ninja weapon!

Whoa! ...What was she thinking???

I used to wear a long braid in competition and always saftey pinned it to my costume, to prevent whacking anyone...especially my partner!

[Sagitta]

scorpionguy wrote:
Funny, the other night I saw a lady hit someone other than her partner with a flying hair lash. After a quick spin her long ponytail sailed around with a whoosh, hitting a guy walking behind her in the face! She apologized and he appeared unharmed but man...what a Ninja weapon!

Whoa! ...What was she thinking???

I used to wear a long braid in competition and always saftey pinned it to my costume, to prevent whacking anyone...especially my partner!

I just got this tonight with my jump swing partner. Every time I turned her while pretty close, lash. I just took my beating like a man. :wink:

Actually, I did say something to her after the practice. What's the point of saying something while practicing if you can see she cannot do anything about her hair?

[pygmalion]

It's good that you said something, Sagitta. Without the feedback, she'd probably continue to go around lashing people with her hair. :(

[dragon3085]

Foxtrot, ugh makes me want to find a quite place to take a nap. Cumbia's and polkas don't really inspire me to dance. Much rather wait for a WC or Hustle if I'm in the sorta place that has those dances.

[pygmalion]

Foxtrot gets better. I swear! :roll: :lol: I used to hate it too.

[dragon3085]

Yeah I guess. At least its not the chicken dance. :-)

[cocodrilo]

When I was in college, there was a dance called "The Worm", where one would lie on the floor and thrash around violently. Didn't much go for that one.

[pygmalion]

Must've been really disgusting on beer-encrusted nightclub floors. :shock: :evil:

[ShyDancer]

When I was in college, there was a dance called "The Worm", where one would lie on the floor and thrash around violently. Didn't much go for that one.

EW! I dont blame you for not liking it :lol:


Back on topic .. I spent a while ths morning reading the Merengue chapter in the Complete Idiots Guide to Ballroom Dancing ...I was not suprised to read "Eight Beats, Eight Steps, and you're dancin' " ugh!
They also cal it the cruiseship dance :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[DancePoet]

If they decided not to play another merengue at the social dances provided by the studio where I take lessons, then when would I be able to rest? See, maybe there is a good side to merengue afterall! ;)

[livewire1414]

ITs happeneed to me. Prolly cuz the fact that I let it get into my head that I was guna mess up and be embarrased for the whole place to see. I relized u just gota have fun

[pygmalion]

Yup. That's the deal. Just have fun. Anybody's who's out there dancing probably doesn't have time to watch you "mess up," not that you would, anyway. So just enjoy yourself. 8)

[dragon3085]

I love it. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who screws with their instructor's head. :-) Out of curiosity which video did this guy bring in? Did it have the words Cal Pozo anywhere on it? :-)

My teacher hates merengue, which she admits is because most of the merengue she's seen is cheesy ballroom merengue.

Lately, though, the teachers at the studio have been going with some of their students to the local salsa venue. I showed up the other night after one of my shows and my teacher was there, but I was just too tired to dance. Then a merengue comes on, and I say to her, "Oh, here's a merengue, you wanna dance?"

She looks at me and laughs, and goes, "I'll give you like 45 seconds."

So of course I just flat out refused, and ever since then I've been riding her mercilessly about it--especially since frequently I come in to the studio and see her dancing with new student dude, who brought in one of the cheesiest merengue videos I've ever seen, and she's dancing the merengue with him the whole time, while he flat out refuses to even try to develop basic Latin motion (he just wants to do steps).

So my latest conversation with her about it:

Me: (Deadpan) Okay, so I'm over my hurt feelings.
Her: (Genuinely concerned and surprised) Hurt feelings?
Me: Yeah, you know that you just refuse to do any merengue with me socially, but that you'll dance it with dude over there who pays you.
Her: (Laughs)
Me: I mean, I've only been your student for a year, come in every week for a private lesson. I remember you at Christmas, remember your birthday. You get comps to all my shows.
Her: (Laughs) Hold on....
Me: I write you long encouraging emails when you're in the midst of philosophical crises. You count on me like clockwork, I'm in financial straights, I choose not to eat so I can still dance with you, when my car breaks down, I hitchhike to the studio....
Her: I picked you up and drove you to lessons twice....
Me: And then, we're out socially, and yeah, I know you're not working, but I ask you one dance of merengue, and you're like, "Merengue? I don't do merengue--I'm the Ballroom Diva from Fessler's Lane."
Her: (Laughs)
Me: Then dude comes by with his cheesy merengue video, he's been with you maybe two months if that and you're all over him. (Charo accent) "Oh, jess, I weel dahnce merengue wit joo, beeg macho guy. I looooohhhhve dahncing wit joo, it makes me wanna shake my leetle @$$, joo wanna take more dahncing lassons?" (By the way, she is sooo Anglo Irish white girl)
Her: (Laughs) You are so full of....
Me: And here I am going, "Why don't you just stab me in the heart?" I mean, I know that I'm just a paycheck to you.
Her: (Laughs)
Me: Oh, by the way, I forgot my checkbook today....

So that's me. Relentless. But talking to her today, she admitted that what she really hated was cheesy stylized ballroom merengue and now says she'd be happy to dance club merengue next time we're out.... :wink:

[DancePoet]

GR:

Yes, yes, yes! Way to go! The crowning moment will be getting to dance with her!

Not only is your attitude dead on during your chat with her, the guilt will have sunk in and she is extremely unlikely to say no in the future after this upcoming merengue plays itself out.

Keep us posted.

[Genesius Redux]

[quote="dragon3085"]I love it. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who screws with their instructor's head. :-) Out of curiosity which video did this guy bring in? Did it have the words Cal Pozo anywhere on it? :-)

:lol: I didn't look at it that closely! The girl on the cover who's doing all the demonstrations looks like she just stepped out of an episode of Father Knows Best. But you're definitely not the only one who messes with your teacher's head--I should add that I am in substantial sympathy with her. She never wanted to teach merengue anyway, since she sees it more as a social dance to mess around with, but she's even been unsuccessful in awakening her new student to the technical aspects of Latin motion (which is convenient to teach through merengue). On top of that, whenever I say hello to her I call her "Merengue Slut" (since she only dances it for money). Poor girl! :lol:

[TemptressToo]

I still hate Tango. However, I get loads of compliments on my tango, from instructors and students alike. I just get so mad that I have to do it...I have the whole facial expression down and the pose/stance. Secretly, it is probably one of my best dances...I don't get compliments like that on everything else (except ECS). Tuesday nights dancing had the female instructor saying I danced Tango beautifully and the facial expression was sooooo good...she couldn't even do it that well. ;)

Also, I just got to see myself dancing on video. Not bad...I was expecting to be horrified. It looked a whole lot smoother than it felt at the moment. In foxtrot, I was doing a sway move that goes immediately into a spin. It feels a bit awkward to me as I am a bit off balance some times...but on tape, it flowed well.

As for the Cal Pozo videos. When I first started dancing swing back in January, I bought his ECS DVD. The people on the cover look like they are having a blast and I expected to actually learn something. Let's just say the actual steps/methods taught put my DOG to sleep. I donated it to the library the next day. ;)

[ShyDancer]

I danced Tango beautifully and the facial expression was sooooo good...she couldn't even do it that well. ;)




I get that expression dancing Merengue :lol: :lol: Unfortunantly it doesnt sit well in that dance!

Tuesday will be my LAST class in merengue for a while..until I finish my gold star medals in the other 3 styles to be precise..then I might go back to it , I figure I can put up with it for the sake of learning more Salsa and Mambo!