What is Beautiful Dancing ?

[dancingirldancing]

I am not talking about high level competitors.

Do you ever feel moved by a couple or a dancer on the social floor ?

They may not have the best technique ... but they are beautiful and thoroughly enjoyable to watch.

What is it about a dancer that draws your eyes towards them ?

Is it the way they enjoy the dancing thoroughly ? Is it the beautiful lines they created ? Is it the way they just glide on the floor ?

What is it that makes a dancer beautiful ?

I always thought that it was the quality of movement but I think that there is something else ....

[JefeJP]

i was at a competition over the weekend where i had the pleasure to watch Valentin C. dance against Valeriya.
Just watching these two inspired me to dance more.
Sometimes beautiful dancing can be about the lines.. sometimes it can be something as a trick that was done really well.. or even the speed of the dance steps.

[Br0nze]

Beautiful dancing is dancing with the music.

The most unfortunate thing about this statement (like your questions) is that it is very deceptive. It appears simple. In some ways it is simple, and in some ways it isn't. The question you're asking requires us, as those answering it, to provide several definitions, or operate under the same assumptions and definitions of the terms in question: (i) beautiful, and (ii) dancing.

It is said that 'beauty is in the eye of the beholder.' This guarantees you a myriad of answers because every person here has his/her own understanding of beauty and of dance. I'm interested in what people will say, especially because your question isn't talking about professional dancers but rather social dancers. Here, again, a trick emerges: we must all operate under the assumption that social dancing is not any less demanding or in any way unequal to competitive. This is quite unfair as the two serve entirely different purposes in their existences ('competitive' is for a mastery of one's body for the sake of doing something significantly better than others [on the same floor], and 'social' is for socializing and falls into the realm of a hobbies more than anything else). For the sake of argument, let us assume that both are equal, and the dancers in question share a deeper understanding of dance than what John Q. Public (to say John Q Dancer implies a competitive spirit :p) would have.

In any event, in answer to your question, my definition of 'beautiful dancing' is dancing with music. Notice, I say with and not to because there is a difference (to me) between stepping while noise is playing in the background and letting said noise be filtered, turn into music, infiltrate one's spirit and body and be moved by it. As dancers, music is the one thing that must move us; that is a non-negotiable rule. Without music dance would not exist, and so first and foremost it is imperative that the dancers on the floor move with the music. But even here, I must begin to split hairs. When we say 'dancing,' what do we mean? I see dance as something entirely different than let's say fascination sees it, or CANI sees it (I assume I do anyway). Dancing entails in itself a lot of little details. One cannot dance without proper posture, one cannot dance without knowing even the basest of steps, or even the most rudimentary principles of leading or moving in general. To me, dancing encompasses being able to carry out the steps flawlessly, with the proper technique, while maintaining the natural posture designated to the style of dance being performed.

With that defined, we move on to what one considers beautiful. Generally speaking, beautiful means pleasant to look at, enjoyable even. When a step is carried out with the correct technique, while the posture is maintained, and the lines and timing and rhythm are there, then it is correct... for a step (or dance) to be beautiful, all of the aforementioned characteristics (criteria) must be met, and the dancers must -- and this is non-negotiable for me -- put themselves into it, and by that I mean one's emotions. Without a person's emotions put into the steps, into the dance, all one sees is technically sound dancing. And that is not enough for it to be beautiful. It is enough for it to be correct. However, 'correct' and 'beautiful' are two different things, and on this point I doubt anyone would argue.

So, then: beautiful dancing is the carrying out of the designated and allowed steps with the proper posture, technique and styling in time with the music and infused with the personal and unique characterization and understanding of the steps and the dance achieved by the dancers.

And in looking at them, I do not care if they are professional or social dancers. A dancer, of any style, any caliber, should have enough self respect to want his/her dancing to be beautiful, and should understand what makes dancing beautiful (in accordance with his/her own definitions of these terms). Dancing leads to self discovery, and self discovery prompts the questioning of all these things, which in turn influence how one sees the world, the self, and then one's dancing... and all is full circle.

[CANI]

Great post...

for a step (or dance) to be beautiful, all of the aforementioned characteristics (criteria) must be met, and the dancers must -- and this is non-negotiable for me -- put themselves into it, and by that I mean one's emotions. Without a person's emotions put into the steps, into the dance, all one sees is technically sound dancing. And that is not enough for it to be beautiful. It is enough for it to be correct. However, 'correct' and 'beautiful' are two different things, and on this point I doubt anyone would argue.

I particularly like this part -- a person's emotions being put into the dance -- so critical I agree.

So, then: beautiful dancing is the carrying out of the designated and allowed steps with the proper posture, technique and styling in time with the music and infused with the personal and unique characterization and understanding of the steps and the dance achieved by the dancers.

lovely!!

should understand what makes dancing beautiful (in accordance with his/her own definitions of these terms). Dancing leads to self discovery, and self discovery prompts the questioning of all these things, which in turn influence how one sees the world, the self, and then one's dancing... and all is full circle.

You've inspired me to define for myself what beautiful dancing means to me (off to my journal I go!). It is wonderful that you note that everyone can have their own definitions -- and couldn't agree more on the self discovery and how that influences everything else. Wonderful!

[Ray Sison]

For me, it was watching FJ and Catherine Abaya compete professionally at the Emerald Ball in May of 2007 in Los Angeles. When they danced, they looked like they were having fun, like teenagers--and they were so into each other, so connected. And when they did not advance, they frolicked off the ballroom floor.

Not too long later, they came back in their "civilian clothes", and just looked like they were having a good time amidst all the festivities near the ballroom area of the hotel...

You can see them on YouTube; and in short clips, they demonstrate American Rhythm dances on www ballroomdancers com, in "Learn the Dances"...

I think this quality of seeing a couple having fun (pro or amateur) is a big part of what makes their dancing beautiful to me. I can watch the raw dancing of the couples in the Fort Worth and Arlington area country dance clubs, and just admire the pleasure of the joy of dance in their faces...

[Warren J. Dew]

For me, what makes dancing beautiful is simplicity. This was brought home to me again earlier this evening when watching Howson & Bolton's viennese waltz on the 2008 World Superstars DVD. Their viennese waltz is so beautiful because it lacks all the extra motion others put into it.

I rarely see social dancing that's beautiful. Enjoyable to watch, yes; beautiful, not so much. That is of course as it should be, since social dancing isn't done for the benefit of the audience.

[danceronice]

It's like the judge said about pornography. I know it when I see it.

(And note that to me, 'beautiful' is not automatically synonymous with 'moving.' I full acknowledge that Kim Yu-Na's gold-medal winning free skate in Vancouver was beautiful. It also bored me half to death. Likewise I can watch Katusha D. do standard, recognize it's objectively lovely, and still be wondering how long I'm going to be sitting there. Whereas Torvill and Dean's Bolero is beautiful and I can watch it over again any time and still catch little bits of things I didn't see the last time.)

[Angel HI]

Beautiful dancing is whatever it is that makes one think or feel that it is beautiful when they do/see it. It's different for each individual, and it's different each time.

[old dog]

As suggested above, this can be a very subjective and personal thing. In general, I am moved most by dancing that is clearly in touch with the music; appears effortless and smooth; and radiates joyfulness.

Though I can only dream of some day attaining these qualities, they are motivating factors all the same. When we see dancers exhibiting or even approaching these ideals, we are deeply moved and humbled, but not discouraged.

As for the social dance floor (our only personal experience), we rarely see anything even close to these qualities -- except for the 'joy of dancing.' I guess this ought to be the primary goal for most of us.

[emeralddancer]

For me, I am moved by the connection the couple has on the floor.

Watching Olga and Kirill dance smooth is so beautiful. They seem so in tune with one another. Like they give themselves over fully to every move they make. Fully committed. Nothing is contrived or forced.

Polina and Igor are just a dream to watch ... you can almost feel their passion and love for dance and one another.

Another couple I enjoy is George and Sally, they make it fun sometimes, and sensual other times.

Oooo also Sync and his partner. Watching them this weekend was quite moving too. They exuded such confidence and magnetism.

[samina]

beautiful dancing to me is when i see the dancing "doing someone good" while they express ease, grace, balance, energy, connection, and stillness in the movement.

whether it's a pro, social dancer, or anyone in between, it just gets down to the same basics as far as my own appreciation.