biggest current dance struggle....

[fascination]

so many to choose from...but let's go with keeping my feet on the floor in cha for today

[Izzy20]

smooth... just GAHH!!!!

[Gorme]

Hip Flexors Flexed!

[GGinrhinestones]

Today, turns. As in not falling out of them. And then not getting dizzy when I keep trying to practice not falling out of them. Argh!

[Nvm]

My greatest struggle is putting lessons as a priority. With the current economy and "state of our union", one tends to be a bit more selective with how we spend our cash.

[Andreth]

Extending and holding my frame properly without arching my lower back or popping my right shoulder out of alignment.

[jump'n'jive]

coming up with cheorography for my students :(

[sambanada]

coming up with cheorography for my students :(

This can also be a lot of fun.

[dancingirldancing]

Harmony and patience with DP .... we just seem to constantly argue ....

[jump'n'jive]

This can also be a lot of fun.
yeah but when moving from sylibus to open is proving to be challenging for me to get the choero just right

[ash_sk8s]

Not letting my frame go to complete crap on the harder stuff in our routine...

[DancinDrea19]

"lazy feet" in cha cha....can never seem to fix this....worked on a drill i did wayy back when i first started...embarrasing.

concentration...a late night day before lesson is BAD.

[Josh]

Flat back. Nuff said.

[latingal]

balance and posture

[Joyful Dancer]

balance and posture

Currenty it is my achilles heel as well. :(

[davedove]

Extending and holding my frame properly without arching my lower back or popping my right shoulder out of alignment.

I have this exact same problem. If I'm concentrating on that, I can do it fine. But, as soon as I start thinking about some other aspect of the dancing, that right shoulder tends to creep back.

[danceronice]

Over the foot FASTER. Also, NP's routine for LATIN cha is NOT the same as Rhythm Pro's routine for RHYTHM cha. (Stupid muscle memory.)

[chica latina]

consistency!

[Ithink]

Trying to finish and learn our new choreography for four dances!

[jump'n'jive]

consistency!
agreed! :cheers:

[Piggles]

Creating sharp movements in latin while keeping my upper body relaxed.

[kckc]

Keeping my shoulders down and back. And, my super-sensitive feet :(
Rapidly disappearing fat pads and already-there neuromas, plus the fact that I'm on my feet all day at work, make for very painful feet at times. I'm just too stubborn to admit defeat (defeet?), so dance I will continue to do.

[Ray Sison]

Currently no struggles. I am happy after every coaching session with what we are able to achieve. I'm just having fun, and it's been a while since I've enjoyed dancing this much as my renaissance in dance continues... :)

[Yana]

Current struggle? Lack of flexibility, movements are not sharp enough, feet position in smooth is not correct, not getting dizzy while turning in Latin, need more patience, the list continues, but I think I'll stop here for now.

[jjs914]

Patience...patience...patience...

[Kits]

posture in Latin, its sooo awkward for a beginner like me.

[TallTenDancer]

Finding a decent place to practice - and a high-caliber competitive coach that's close by...

Oh, actual dancing? Latin hip action =\

[Me]

Current struggle... my partner is always travelling, so we don't dance anymore. :( I keep waiting for things to change...

Am currently drowning my sorrows in Zumba, however!

[Foreveradvanced]

Finding a girl my age actually interested in learning ballroom.

Slight correction to that. Finding a single, attractive, girl around my age that wants to take classes. lol.

[latingal]

lol....picky, picky, picky.... <grin>

[fascination]

why is it that I find myself fresh out of sympathy :)?

[gracie]

Tracking the foot in Samba. Getting used to keeping the thighs closed and legs close together in all Latin dances. Core, core, core. Keeping shoulders down, using triceps and Lats for resistance in closed hold.

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Hate hate hate curved feathers :headwall:

[fascination]

trade you...three-step for curved feather :)

[fascination]

Tracking the foot in Samba. Getting used to keeping the thighs closed and legs close together in all Latin dances. Core, core, core. Keeping shoulders down, using triceps and Lats for resistance in closed hold.
all things samba are evil...that goes without saying...evident to all thinking persons...and I love the music...don't get me wrong

[DancinDrea19]

all things samba are evil...that goes without saying...evident to all thinking persons...and I love the music...don't get me wrong

hahahah i agree...i HATE samba with a burning passion..but yes the music isn't bad.

[Foreveradvanced]

What, no sympathy for a young guy who wants to learn Ballroom but can't find a girl to partner with? ... you know, overlooking those other criteria. lol.

[DancinDrea19]

What, no sympathy for a young guy who wants to learn Ballroom but can't find a girl to partner with? ... you know, overlooking those other criteria. lol.

mmm it's usually the other way around....us ladies looking for a guy to dance with!

[LaWa]

...i HATE samba with a burning passion..

That's been my battle for the last couple of years. But I've finally got to the stage where I no longer cringe at the mere word. So I am progressing, although agonisingly slowly. It's all in the head, mine at any rate :doh:

[Chris Stratton]

mmm it's usually the other way around....us ladies looking for a guy to dance with!

There is of course a difference in interests rates especially early on... but that a guy can have the problem too suggests the organization of ballroom is broken with respect to forming even the partnerships that the dancer population would support. Group classes run by the most senior (instead of least) teachers, and informal practice opportunities not charged by the hour seem to be useful for this, but tend not to be the norm in most locations.

[danceronice]

There is of course a difference in interests rates especially early on... but that a guy can have the problem too suggests the organization of ballroom is broken with respect to forming even the partnerships that the dancer population would support. Group classes run by the most senior (instead of least) teachers, and informal practice opportunities not charged by the hour seem to be useful for this, but tend not to be the norm in most locations.

Could also be he's going about it the wrong way, or that the people he's talking to aren't intersted in the same sort of dance. It would be hard for me to find a practice partner at my new studio because most of the male students just don't do Latin (in fact none I've met so far!), and I don't dance American there. The nearest other studios are impractical drives away if I even had the time or inclination to go look. Unless you're crammed in an urban area (it would be a minium two hours to Chicago for me, more like four to Indianapolis, three to Ann Arbor/Detroit) the pickings can be slim, and having all-day practice hours is economically unfeasable when a lot of your students are driving 30+ minutes to get to you.

Obviously, another current struggle for me--getting to the studio!

[Terpsichorean Clod]

trade you...three-step for curved feather :)
Done! Three-step is my favorite step! I'm actually not particularly fond of feathers, curved or otherwise. I need a new avatar. :razz:

[fascination]

lolz.....I loathe the 3-step...LOATHE

[Foreveradvanced]

Am I going about it the wrong way? No. Its just circumstances really. The class I take is through the local community college, and just happens to be mainly taken by older couples. As was mentioned above, I don't have the time or the inclination to drive more then 30minutes to a different location for a class (I live out on the coast at least 45 minutes from the city). I'm pretty happy with my teacher and the other dancers in the class. However, at 21, I'm the youngest in the class by about 15+ years.

I've asked every girl, thats a friend, I know, some of whom are already dancers in other genres, and they've all said no for pretty much the same reason, which, is that the class is on a friday night.

Also going against me, is unlike most classes which seem to have a problem attracting males, mine has more male dancers then females. Its a good thing both our instructors are female lol.

Anyways, thats the deal. I'll keep looking for someone or hope that randomly someone my age takes the class lol. Until then, oh well, I'll just learn my steps and maybe use them in the future. Still in the end, its my greatest frustration with dance.

[Chris Stratton]

Done! Three-step is my favorite step! I'm actually not particularly fond of feathers, curved or otherwise. I need a new avatar. :razz:

Check out the curved three step

[dancelvr]

I'd rather do three-step for an hour than anything 'tango' for 10 minutes. Most of that dance just feels......not right. *sigh* And yet....must do it...

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Done! Three-step is my favorite step! I'm actually not particularly fond of feathers, curved or otherwise. I need a new avatar. :razz:
Check out the curved three step
Hmmm...not quite sure how that would come out as an avatar. ;)

[DancinProf]

Finding a decent place to practice - and a high-caliber competitive coach that's close by...

Oh, actual dancing? Latin hip action =\

Count me in on all 3 of these!

[NURDRMS]

Staying at home long enough for a consistent series of lessons.

[tanya_the_dancer]

using my back while keeping a straight spine.

[Arrion]

Right turns in Viennese Waltz. I keep rising on them causing all sorts of issues, and my head doesn't stay in place. What's funny is my left turns are pretty solid, and they're supposed to be harder. :headwall:

[treble2160]

I'm flatfooted so my point is terrible. I've been doing ankle exercises but it's not getting a whole lot better. I can't even dance in 2.5" heels because my heel still hits the floor when I point. My balance also sucks :(

[latingal]

Welcome to DF treble2130!

Part of the problem is genetic, the structure of our feet affects our point and look of the feet. Work on strengthening and improving the flexibility of your arches. I am not expert, but you can do some research online and find an experienced ballet instructor to help.

And there is hope! I have very flat feet, but flexible arches, which allow me to point my feet fairly well. I'll never have "beautiful feet" at rest, but I can still make them look and function fairly well in the dancing.

just my two cents!

[OleCoot]

remembering the steps, trying to learn more, trying to be less stiff, finding a reliable dance partner who knows how to dance..