What's harder?

[mamboqueen]

For those of you that do latin and standard or rythym and smooth, or all four, which discipline do you find more difficult/challenging? Do you think a lot of people move on to standard and smooth as a progression from latin because it's more taxing over a length of time and harder to keep up as you get older?

Just curious to get some opinions. I like them all. I've been doing rythym a little more intensive than smooth because I feel my days of doing rythym are probably shorter.

[Kitty]

I actually find latin and standard equally challenging (I don't do smooth and rhythm seriously at the moment).
Latin requires certain specific muscles which can be developed by practicing alone in front of the mirror, while in standard it is not as easy to practice without a partner.

To compare the physical challenges I can say that while after dancing for 3-4 hours latin certain muscles in my body hurt like hell, after dancing standard I can't usually separate specific muscles that are especially tired (besides feet).
On the other hand, I can dance a 2 minute jive or samba with no problem, but after a minute and a half of Vwaltz I am done:-)

[tasche]

So far as athletics go I would have orginally said latin was more taxing on my body but as I've put more into my standard I find it requires alot in the way of muscle tone etc. In standard a little bit of sloppiness is noted but in latin theres a little more leway

[Laura]

I only do Standard and Smooth, and I think Smooth is actually the most difficult when done competition-style.

[etchuck]

It is difficult to go between Rhythm and Latin. Stupid bent vs. straight leg thing. Gets me every single time.

[twnkltoz]

I find standard the hardest to execute correctly. I can move my feet and body pretty well in latin/rhythm, and even smooth, but standard is more exacting, particularly because you're glued to your partner.

[Chris Stratton]

I only do Standard and Smooth, and I think Smooth is actually the most difficult when done competition-style.

Yes... smooth is easier to do poorly but harder to do well.

[Kitty]

It is difficult to go between Rhythm and Latin. Stupid bent vs. straight leg thing. Gets me every single time.

Do they penalize you for bent legs in rhythm? or does that depend on the level?

[mamboqueen]

Do they penalize you for bent legs in rhythm? or does that depend on the level?

I ask this all the time. My tendency is to (unconsciously) use straight legs more than I should in rythym since I started to do latin. But, as I've been watching comp tapes, it seems like high-level pros do, too.

[tasche]

Kitty

In latin the emphasis is on arriving on a straight leg whereas in Rythmn you should arrive on a bent leg

[Chris Stratton]

I ask this all the time. My tendency is to (unconsciously) use straight legs more than I should in rythym since I started to do latin. But, as I've been watching comp tapes, it seems like high-level pros do, too.

Word is that rhythm is struggling to maintain a strong identity unique from latin, perhaps because the latin leg look seems sharper therefore "stronger".

[etchuck]

Latin technique requires landing on straight leg, and rhythm requires bent legs. That results in two completely different muscle memories for Cuban/hip motion. Also, since salsa generally uses the bent-leg hip-motion style, but I also enjoy Latin... ugh. I get really confused.

[mamboqueen]

Word is that rhythm is struggling to maintain a strong identity unique from latin, perhaps because the latin leg look seems sharper therefore "stronger".


I agree with this to some degree, but having just watched two US Open Pro Championships back to back last week, I actually preferred watching the rythym events. It could be because of the actual competitors themselves (Bob and Julia really MAKE you watch them), but I just liked it overall better. And I actually felt the same way about smooth vs. international, especially when it came to VW, but even in foxtrot...just liked the more expressive aspects of smooth better.

[Laura]

I've noticed that the really good Rhythm competitors make me feel like they're having a party and that they want everyone to join in. Felipe Telona Jr. & Carolina Orlovsky (I think...or maybe it's Telona ow?) are my favorites when it comes to this. On the other hand, I find some of the top Latin dancers to be downright frightening rather than inviting.

[Chris Stratton]

I've noticed that the really good Rhythm competitors make me feel like they're having a party and that they want everyone to join in. Felipe Telona Jr. & Carolina Orlovsky (I think...or maybe it's Telona ow?) are my favorites when it comes to this. On the other hand, I find some of the top Latin dancers to be downright frightening rather than inviting.

Perhaps I should watch more good rhythm... I also find contemporary latin to often be cold, almost "mean" in it's look. There was a post on another board about someone from that dance show who supposedly dumped his partner for the TV anchorwoman he was training - with pictures given of the two women. The anchor was at least human... wheras the former partner was shown in latin warpaint... but that may be more about the pictures selected than the women themselves.

[Kitty]

I've noticed that the really good Rhythm competitors make me feel like they're having a party and that they want everyone to join in. Felipe Telona Jr. & Carolina Orlovsky (I think...or maybe it's Telona ow?) are my favorites when it comes to this. On the other hand, I find some of the top Latin dancers to be downright frightening rather than inviting.

Very good observation.

[tasche]

I think rythmn looks a little bit more earthy and grounded at the top levels this looks good but at the lower levels it gives me the impression that the dancers are "sluggish"

[Kitty]

I think rythmn looks a little bit more earthy and grounded at the top levels this looks good but at the lower levels it gives me the impression that the dancers are "sluggish"

I have a feeling that rhythm is more showy (lots of tricks and dips and other fun stuff like that) and yes, more "inviting", while latin is more "perfect" and "agressive".

[Angelo]

For those of you that do latin and standard or rythym and smooth, or all four, which discipline do you find more difficult/challenging? Do you think a lot of people move on to standard and smooth as a progression from latin because it's more taxing over a length of time and harder to keep up as you get older?

Just curious to get some opinions. I like them all. I've been doing rythym a little more intensive than smooth because I feel my days of doing rythym are probably shorter.

I dance both latin and standard. Each has its own set of challenges and difficulties which may be different for different people. One person may find latin more dificult while another may find standard more difficult ( same goes for the american style dances). To make it even more complicated, a person may have more difficulty with one style at one stage in their dance education while at another stage a different style becomes more challenging