What is proper ballroom frame?

[pygmalion]

The topic of ballroom frame keeps coming up over in another forum, so I figured I'd raise it here, just to get some clarification. I won't give any more background, so as not to prejudice the outcome. What is proper ballroom frame? How do you create it, recognize it, or use it?

Anyone?

[Chris Stratton]

I think a couple which could hold true to the two page description near the front of Alex Moore's "Ballroom Dancing" would be off to a very good start. Heavily trained dancers with finer control over body parts could stretch things in some ways beyond the description without problem, but it's a good guide to an inoffensive starting point.

[pygmalion]

I'll dig that up and print some quotes here. Later today, after I get some sleep. 8)

[Spitfire]

The issue with frame and strictness with ballroom dancing as opposed to others has me confused; I've mentioned this previously. Now, most of what I do was learned in group classes and I don't recall a lot of emphasis on strict framework. I'll have to ask about this the next time I go dancing, but perhaps the group classes are teaching a more social or club form of dancing?

You see, as I said in an earlier post anytime I dance anything I don't get a sense of anything being strict and rigid; everything is quite easy.

[Chris Stratton]

From my point of view, strict and rigid technique is actually what allows the dancing to be free and easy. We don't do it that way because some famous old Englishman decided that's how it should be, we do it that way because it works better (and give credit to the guys who figured that out first).

Of course new ways of doing things can feel uncomfortable until you get used to them - and getting used to them requires both a good teacher and a patient student.

On the Alex Moore book, I'm really not sure it's appropriate to quote the entire two pages, or I happily would have typed them in. And in terms of doing less, well, what aspect of the hold would we leave out?

[pygmalion]

I have no intention of typing in two pages, although I probably sounded that way. :oops: :? A paragraph or so might be a good starting place for conversation, though. :wink: :D I also found a few pertinent links to information on the web that I may post later. I really want to keep my two cents worth out of this thread as much as I can. :)

[msc]

From my point of view, strict and rigid technique is actually what allows the dancing to be free and easy. We don't do it that way because some famous old Englishman decided that's how it should be, we do it that way because it works better (and give credit to the guys who figured that out first).

This is my experience as well.

[pygmalion]

I have no intention of typing in two pages, although I probably sounded that way. :oops: :? A paragraph or so might be a good starting place for conversation, though. :wink: :D I also found a few pertinent links to information on the web that I may post later. I really want to keep my two cents worth out of this thread as much as I can. :)

I went back and read through all the introductory material in this book today. Unfortunately, I can't copy it here without "express written permission" of the publisher.

What struck me, as I read through, were a couple things. One, a focus on what feels natural; I kept hearing the phrase ,"the lady will feel more comfortable," or things like it, throughout. Second, wow! Every time I read through, I remember why this book is a classic. 8)

[Chris Stratton]

The 9th edition is selling pretty cheap at that 200lb gorilla of an online bookstore...

The one downside is that the figure listings/descriptions are an earlier revesion than the 'official' ones in the ISTD book (which was also originally written by Alex Moore). Actual differences are probably slight, as long as you use a current ISTD syllabus to determine levels.

[pygmalion]

Yes. I guess the ninth edition is the 2002 one, right? Either way, it's worth a read. Every sentence carries a wealth of meaning. :)

[Chris Stratton]

Actually the 2002 edition is the 10th, and that's copyright by "Mabel Moore" (widow? daughter?). The last copyright to Alex Moore is 1986, and since he was around to write a new preface to the 9th edition, there's probably little benefit to getting the 10th instead. I have the 10th only because it was a present from my brother - who managed to walk into a general book store and pick out the most usefull book on a subject he knew nothing about!

[pygmalion]

Sorta back on topic ... :roll:

http://www.free-definition.com/Connection-dance.html


Thoughts?