If You Could Only Do One Dance

[Spitfire]

If you had to give up every dance that you know and do except one which one would it be? :?:

For me a toss up between ECS and Cha- Cha. :?

[MissAlyssa]

WCS or Merenge.

[SDsalsaguy]

SALSA! (no surprise there I guess...)

[Swing Kitten]

It would definitly be swing! (East Coast & Lindy)

Although I would hate to part with the nonsensical "need a midnight study break" and the "cleaning the apartment"-- not to mention the "I LOVE this song!!"

Those dances, while completely lacking in form and (I'm sure) any real aesthetic style have proven quite benefitial to me and still encapture somthing special (even though they are certainly not ment for the human eyes!!!!) :shock:

[Vince A]

No question . . . it would be a WCSHustleChaWaltz . . . it's new dance that I'm working on . . .

Definitely the WCS!

[pygmalion]

Although I would hate to part with the nonsensical "need a midnight study break" and the "cleaning the apartment"-- not to mention the "I LOVE this song!!"

Those dances, while completely lacking in form and (I'm sure) any real aesthetic style have proven quite benefitial to me and still encapture somthing special (even though they are certainly not ment for the human eyes!!!!) :shock:

Swing Kitten,

I'm with you. My scenario for those nonsensical dances goes this way:
1. Have a bummer of a day 2. Get two, count them, two glasses of red wine 3. Put on music that I love, preferably something that moves
4. Dance like no one's watching, and hope that no one is :)

Oddly enough, around the middle of red wine #2, although my form is not aesthetically pleasing, my body takes over and I start getting some dance ideas that I can incorporate into real dancing later. Syncopations , especially, start popping up all over the place.

[Danish Guy]

Salsa!

[MissAlyssa]

No question . . . it would be a WCSHustleChaWaltz . . . it's new dance that I'm working on . . .

Definitely the WCS!

Hey you know what's funny is the other day I was dancing WCS with another teacher and it turned into cha cha and then into waltz..not sure how, but it sure was fun!! :lol:

[Vince A]

MissAlyssa,
Hey, somebody was peeking through my windows and caught me doing that dance, eh? I'm trying to enter it into the Olympics next year . . .
"wait . . . . . ." I'm back to reality now!!!

I do that all the time - even in competition, and it always seem to be from another dance, usually ECS or Hustle, and I always go into a WCS.

I'm sure my dance "brain," is in-tune to WCS much more than the other dances . . . although I really like to Cha!

Has a lot to do with the music and move, I think???

[DanceMentor]

If I could do one dance, I'd dance with Ginger Rogers in place of Fred Astaire in one of his films like Roberta.

[Vince A]

DanceMentor,
Great answer . . wish I had come up with that one!

[DanceMentor]

DanceMentor,
Great answer . . wish I had come up with that one!

Thanks, Vince!

How about this one?

I'd stand in for John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

[Vince A]

DanceMentor,
Great answer . . wish I had come up with that one!

Thanks, Vince!

How about this one?

I'd stand in for John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.
Now you're reaching . . .

You really can do all those dances, eh?

Careful how you answer that . . . I have a competition in Hotlanta next year . . . I may have to check it out!!!

If you can though, can you tell I'm a bit jealous??? Guess that's why I like the Hustle so much . . . it reminds of dancing in those days . . . (cough, cough), er, from watching the movie so many times!!!

[youngsta]

SALSA no doubt whatsoever!!

[MissAlyssa]

MissAlyssa,
Hey, somebody was peeking through my windows and caught me doing that dance, eh? I'm trying to enter it into the Olympics next year . . .
"wait . . . . . ." I'm back to reality now!!!

I do that all the time - even in competition, and it always seem to be from another dance, usually ECS or Hustle, and I always go into a WCS.

I'm sure my dance "brain," is in-tune to WCS much more than the other dances . . . although I really like to Cha!

Has a lot to do with the music and move, I think???


Did not did not!

It's just that most music you can dance to more than one dance so you forget what you started with and end up somewhere totally different!! :lol:

[Vince A]

MissAlyssa,

You probably have something there . . . we CAN dance many dances with the same music . . and probably, many of our common moves can be repeated in most of those dances . . . it only makes sense.

[Phil Owl]

Hoo Boy!! I'd have to figure out how to combine EC Swing and Hustle, my two favorites! :D

[borikensalsero]

Mambo... Has to do it... from sesuality to wild crazyness...

[dancergal]

I would have to choose WCS at this point in time. If I had to give up dancing country, it would be very hard, but I'm getting more and more into WCS and the more you learn, the more there is to learn. It is always changing and you can incorporate a lot of your own personality into your dance, much more than you can in country 2-step. Plus you have big variety of music to choose from in WCS. Having said that, I can dance WCS everyday of the week, but then I NEED my country fix for balance! :)

[MissAlyssa]

dancergal, that is the most common dance we teach to our "country dancers". the country minded students seem to like it and catch on quickly.

[Swing Kitten]

POLKA!!!!

[pygmalion]

Isn't polka great?

People think I'm crazy. What's a Black woman doing, doing polka? But it's way fun, and really closely related to a fast East coast swing. At least, C&W polka is.


Total fun!!!! :D :D :D

[Swing Kitten]

Oh, I was joking... I've never danced polka... I like swing.

But I'm sure polka is very nice!! I'll have to try it sometime.

[Swing Kitten]

I guess I shouldn't joke about things as serious as dance... I learned my lesson!

[pygmalion]

Hey. Don't take this too seriously. That's one sure way to have no fun. Polka is great fun, but then, so are lots of other dances, depending on your perspective. I think the deal is, find something you like, and just have fun. Have fun!!! :D :D :D

Jenn

[Vince A]

Hey pygmalion,

Wanted to let you know you are not alone with the Polka . . . I do it in competition . . . in C&W, and I believe it's also called the Triple Step???

[brujo]

:shock: :shock: :shock: BACHATA! :shock: :shock: :shock:

I always hated bachata. Whiny, unoriginal music I thought. I always joked that it was Spanish country music, where the man always loses his wife, the dog and the burro ( no pickup trucks ). About two months back, I started taking technique lessons to supplement my salsa and learned more about the center and the lead.

About a month back, I was dancing bachata in a club. The girl I was dancing with told me, 'when I dance bachata with you, I feel that when I close my eyes, I'm back in the Dominican Republic'. With compliments like that, how could I not fall in love with the dance!

[youngsta]

brujo I love getting my bachata on!

[whtraven]

For me it would no doubt be Argentine Tango. The most versatile dance out there, and beautiful, and social, and blah blah blah you get the point.

__________________________
"Because we're only dancing on
this earth for a short time"

[MissAlyssa]

I'm really starting to like AZ two step! I don't like the music, but I like the dance!!

[Vince A]

I'm really starting to like AZ two step! I don't like the music, but I like the dance!!

Is this . . . ct 1 . . . remove foot from bar stool and put it on the floor
ct 2 . . . beer glass down on the bar and the other foot comes off the bar stool and on the floor . . .

I'm kidding . . . Happy Birthday . . . wanted to be the first!!!

[pygmalion]

What is AZ two-step? Anything like Texas two-step? Foxtrot backwards in strict line of dance, circle around the floor, lots of spins for the lady, always finding homebase in the guy's arm, and lots of wraps?

If so, I like it. It is so hard. Especially with multiple spins and/or spins on the quicks. And with boots on after a couple beers. Yikes. :shock:

[Vince A]

That's why I was asking . . . I never heard of it. Of course, I guess we have to be in AZ to learn it???

I see you're as busy as I am???

[dancergal]

We go to Arizona a few times a year to visit relatives and attend the Arizona Swing Convention in July. Sometimes we go out locally and have seen the AZ two-step. We couldn't figure out what they were doing and we tried to copy it. It was very different and we couldn't quite get it. One of these days we'll figure it out, maybe next time we're there.

[pygmalion]

I see you're as busy as I am???

I'm busy. I'm just dedicated. :lol: Just kidding.

Actually, I think I'm sadly addicted to these darn forums. Oh my goodness. I woke up at four AM this morning, and instead of going to the bathroom and back to bed like normal people, I booted up the computer, just to see if anything interesting happened in the forums while I was asleep.

It's getting bad! :lol:

[Vince A]

I see you're as busy as I am???

I'm busy. I'm just dedicated. :lol: Just kidding.

Actually, I think I'm sadly addicted to these darn forums. Oh my goodness. I woke up at four AM this morning, and instead of going to the bathroom and back to bed like normal people, I booted up the computer, just to see if anything interesting happened in the forums while I was asleep.

It's getting bad! :lol:
I hear ya' . . . I'm addicted to them too! I click on probably 4 times an hour . . . but you . . . really have it bad! 4:00 AM, eh???

[pygmalion]

I hear ya' . . . I'm addicted to them too! I click on probably 4 times an hour . . . but you . . . really have it bad! 4:00 AM, eh???

Hey, since I was up anyway, what's the harm in checking in?

I admit it. I'm nuts, but a good kind of nuts. :D

[Vince A]

Yes . . . I love this site . . . it's definitely a good sort of nuts!

Hey . . did you see that d nice wants to marry you???

[MissAlyssa]

LOL vince. my bday is in december..it's a countdown :] yea, the AZ two step is similar to the texas two step. it goes around the dance floor spinning the woman, doing a lot of wraps. the basic steps are side together side together walk walk. man going forward and woman going backwards. very simple!

[pygmalion]

Hey . . did you see that d nice wants to marry you???

I fear I'm never going to live that one down. :lol:

[mellody43]

Well for the last year it's pretty much been ONLY salsa (mostly a casual, street "cumbia" style) and merengue for me, so I'd stick with salsa.

I went through a swing phase first (Lindy was killin' me -- I prefer smoother dances), then zydeco (high energy with great waltzes and slow blues), and now on a salsa kick. It's the longest kick yet, so I think this is true love.

Need a bit more training/polishing even though I am a social dancer. I am a great dancer in my usual club, but I went to a new club last weekend and was blown away by some of the folks there. Felt like a real schlub! Yikes! :roll:

Melissa

[pygmalion]

LOL vince. my bday is in december..it's a countdown :] yea, the AZ two step is similar to the texas two step. it goes around the dance floor spinning the woman, doing a lot of wraps. the basic steps are side together side together walk walk. man going forward and woman going backwards. very simple!

Sounds cool, and like something you could pretty much do, if you already know the Texas version. Right :?:

[Vince A]

LOL vince. my bday is in december..it's a countdown :] yea, the AZ two step is similar to the texas two step. it goes around the dance floor spinning the woman, doing a lot of wraps. the basic steps are side together side together walk walk. man going forward and woman going backwards. very simple!
Two of you have described that dance . . . it does sound somewhat familiar!

[Vince A]

Hey . . did you see that d nice wants to marry you???

I fear I'm never going to live that one down. :lol:
I won't let you . . . d nice either! LOL . . .

[pygmalion]

then zydeco zydeco? Talk to me about this. Any unusual dances or styling? Or is it just the music that's different? Very interesting.

Felt like a real schlub! Yikes! :roll:
I think we can all relate to that schlub feeling from time to time! You're among friends. :D

[Vince A]

LOL vince. my bday is in december..it's a countdown :] yea, the AZ two step is similar to the texas two step. it goes around the dance floor spinning the woman, doing a lot of wraps. the basic steps are side together side together walk walk. man going forward and woman going backwards. very simple!

Sounds cool, and like something you could pretty much do, if you already know the Texas version. Right :?:
The "Texas" version??? That's the one that John Travolta did in 'rban Cowboy?' You know, the man's right hand up on your shoulder, your right hand in his left hand, and you're doing little 'wax-on' circles with these hands as you go round and round the dance floor???

The 2 Step has (Ok d nice, which word do I use here?) evolved, changed, grew up . . . a very classy look nowadays, if you an use that word in the same sentence with C&W dance???

[mellody43]

Pygmalion ...

Well, zydeco is a style of music that originated in Louisiana. Think Cajun (French influence, historically a mostly white demographic) infused by the black & creole / R&B influences. Some great contemporary artists are Rosie Ledet, Keith Frank, and Geno Delafose. Also check out the classics by Clifton Chenier (notably "I'm a Hog for You Baby", and "I'm On the Wonder".)

The musical frameworks are simple -- unlike a lot of Latin music the rhythms and percussion are not complex. However, it is full of energy! Musical trademarks are the accordion (different styles, some "Cajun" style) and the frottoir, or wash-board that is played using metal spoons (see link below).

http://www.scn.org/rec/zydeco/History.htm
http://users.erols.com/ghayman/menu.htm
http://www.whatbayou.com/instruments.html

You dance in closed and open style. There are no real turns like in salsa (that's what I love about salsa -- SPINNING! BRING IT ON!) ... but it is very playful and flirtatious overall. Most folks wear jeans and boots or other sturdy shoes. Prepare to sweat. And imagine that you are in a Louisiana dance hall with no air conditioning. Egads.

:D
Melissa

[pygmalion]

The "Texas" version??? That's the one that John Travolta did in 'rban Cowboy?' You know, the man's right hand up on your shoulder, your right hand in his left hand, and you're doing little 'wax-on' circles with these hands as you go round and round the dance floor???

The 2 Step has (Ok d nice, which word do I use here?) evolved, changed, grew up . . . a very classy look nowadays, if you an use that word in the same sentence with C&W dance???
It does have a cool look. I've done both what you're calling the "Texas" version, and I guess an older-fashioned version where the woman is going backward and the man forward more or less into and out of closed dance position. And, sometimes, a combo of the two, if the lead is good.

Hate to admit I've never seen Urban Cowboy. Gotta add that to my list of movies with dance scenes I need to watch. :)

[pygmalion]

Some great contemporary artists are Rosie Ledet, Keith Frank, and Geno Delafose. Also check out the classics by Clifton Chenier (notably "I'm a Hog for You Baby", and "I'm On the Wonder".)

Melissa

Hey. Thanks for all the info. I'm definitely going to check the links.

I'm really intrigued. I'd heard zydeco music before, and, duh, it never occurred to me that there were zydeco-specific dances. This is cool. The things you learn by hanging out in forums all day! :)

Thanks.

Jenn

[pygmalion]

The "Texas" version??? That's the one that John Travolta did in 'rban Cowboy?' You know, the man's right hand up on your shoulder, your right hand in his left hand, and you're doing little 'wax-on' circles with these hands as you go round and round the dance floor???

And by the way, same thing for C&W waltz. The "dance position" version, the "man's arm draped over the woman's shoulder" version. The woman who taught me this stuff is so great. She even taught me a combination country/ballroom version which included passing twinkles, twinkle and twist, and other cool ballroom stuff in the traditional C&W circular pattern around the floor, and when we were showing off, right through the middle. Big fun! :D

[MissAlyssa]

LOL vince. my bday is in december..it's a countdown :] yea, the AZ two step is similar to the texas two step. it goes around the dance floor spinning the woman, doing a lot of wraps. the basic steps are side together side together walk walk. man going forward and woman going backwards. very simple!

Sounds cool, and like something you could pretty much do, if you already know the Texas version. Right :?:

I have only seen the texas version, never danced it. I am interested to learn the differences..I'm sure it's probably fairly easy to learn one if you know the other. :)

[Vince A]

MissAllyssa,
I'm sure the two versions are quite similar . . . a follower from one style should be able to dance 'OK' with a lead from the other style . . . etc.

The ballroom/country version is very different . . . from the frame . . . to a flat, closed hand that points downward on the followers back . . . to where the feet are placed . . . to focusing and spinning . . . to very smooth and flowing footwork and really nice and graceful arms.

No longer is it a hand on the shoulder, hands circles, and bouncy dancing.

One last thing . . . the counts for the ballroom/country style is the same, but there are very many versions:
- Q, Q, S, S . . . the old way . . .
- then there is the 1, 2, 3, 4
- now there is 1,2,3,-5 . . . that's 1, 2, 3, pause, 5
- when I do count . . . I've learned to count Q, Q, S, "I'm done" (in place of the last slow), which makes me "settle" into that last S- the correct look!

The 2 Step is actually my hardest dance, since I danced the Texas way (which is not wrong) ever since I left Texas! Old habits are hard to break!

[dancersdreamland]

If I had to give up all my dance and only do one, it would have to be belly dance. It's an expression of womanhood, inner spirit, and strength. For me, it's not just a dance...it's a form of freedom, expression, release, and therapy.

[pygmalion]

Wow! Bellydance. Now that's one thing I haven't tried.....yet.

How does it differ from other forms of dance, in your opinion? If one does bellydance, can the dance skills be applied other places. What do you think?

Jenn

[Spitfire]

I'm really starting to like AZ two step! I don't like the music, but I like the dance!!

Are you talking about the forward-forward-side together-together step?

I know that as the Rhythm 2-step and was one of the first dances I was ever taught, but seldom do now.

[AquaDancer]

VIENNESE WALTZ

[pygmalion]

Hey AquaDancer

I can see by the lavendar writing that you're enthusiastic about Viennese Waltz. :D Why? What do you like about it? It's a tough dance, and you've really gotta use the physics to stay connected to your partner, stay upright, and execute the moves. Is that why you like it?

Jenn

[Swing Kitten]

How does it differ from other forms of dance, in your opinion? If one does bellydance, can the dance skills be applied other places. What do you think?

hahaha I took an all day workshop once entitled "Lindy Belly" so I find bits and pieces of it can be found in my dancing. It's fun to practice and one must be in excellent shape to execute it well. A lot of body isolations transitioning smoothly into another body isolation and lets not forget the shimmies!!!

now I'm reminded to practice... but only when I'm sure no one is watching!! :shock:

[pygmalion]

Lindy Belly? You must clarify. What did you do? Bellydance type ab isolations?

I also took quite a few lessons and classes in hip-hop, and I find that stuff turning up all over the place, too, especially in Cha cha and WCS. Fun!

[Swing Kitten]

Lindy Belly? You must clarify. What did you do? Bellydance type ab isolations?

It was a one day workshop so of course it was simplified. The instructor does Lindy and has been a belly dancer for more than two years (I got the impression she attacked it very intensively during that time) We did a little bit of everything. -- Way more than I could hope to retain! Isolations of the abs, hips, shoulders you name it. She gave us a few combinations and some moves... one of my favorites was called a corkscrew... a clockwise chest isolation directly and smoothly followed by a pelvic isolation in the same direction... like a marble rolling down a spiral chute. When i finally got it the feeling just brought laughter! It felt so alien and it tickled my insides!

The swing applications mentioned were, of course, body rolls, and I use a touch of it when hitting a break, doing a slow turn, and a bit sometimes when I'm given room to play from the lead. I find it a fun way to let a little excess momentum 'roll' off when appropriate.

Oddly enough I find I use it most when dancing with girlfriends:!: We crack each other up!! Things I'd never do with any ol' guy! I can't explain it... wait, I can... but I'm too tired right now.

I would imagine the better person to ask would be dancersdreamland. I'm just rambling about my one day of instruction... but it was pretty fun.

[MissAlyssa]

I'm really starting to like AZ two step! I don't like the music, but I like the dance!!

Are you talking about the forward-forward-side together-together step?

I know that as the Rhythm 2-step and was one of the first dances I was ever taught, but seldom do now.

That would be it!

[Spitfire]

I'm really starting to like AZ two step! I don't like the music, but I like the dance!!

Are you talking about the forward-forward-side together-together step?

I know that as the Rhythm 2-step and was one of the first dances I was ever taught, but seldom do now.

That would be it!

At the time I learned the name given it locally was the Maverick after a popular local C&W venue which was a block from where I live until it burned down a year and a half ago. It recently re-opened at another location further away.

[MissAlyssa]

Eh, I dunno. Maybe we just call it the AZ two step because we are in AZ? No clue! :?

[Spitfire]

Eh, I dunno. Maybe we just call it the AZ two step because we are in AZ? No clue! :?

And of course no one here calls it the Maverick anymore; that was some twenty years ago. There's just rhythm or AZ two step and progressive two step.

[AquaDancer]

Viennese Waltz is probably my favorite dance because of the technique. (You must have it.) Which is probably why I don't like swing. Viennese Waltz just seems so royal. It's hard to describe but plain waltz is just boring, speed it up and you have a very sophisticated dance.

Ok I still can't quite explain it totally but just smile and nod I love the dance.

[pygmalion]

I'm definitely nodding. Yes, I think it's beautiful too. To do and to watch. I think it's something to do with the centrifugal force. It feels so great!


I'm with you. Although I'd really find it hard to pick any one dance, this is definitely on the list. :D

[MissAlyssa]

yes, you definetly have to have momentum to do vieneesse waltz. I haven't gotten the hang of it yet... :?

[SwinginBoo]

Lindy Hop is my final answer. It's the closest thing to flying :D

[DanceMentor]

I would dance the Wedding Dance with my wife again. :D

[Swing Kitten]

I would dance the Wedding Dance with my wife again. :D

awwwww!

I love men who love their wives!!

lol talk about a frustrating situation :wink:

[DanceMentor]

We did a tango for our dance, and many people at the reception (who knew verry little about dancing) thought we were mad at each other :!: :x

[Vince A]

LOL :D :D :D :D :D

[SwinginBoo]

HA HA HA :lol: :lol: :lol:

[pygmalion]

We did a tango for our dance, and many people at the reception (who knew verry little about dancing) thought we were mad at each other :!: :x

How in the world could they mistake tango for anything other than what it is? Serious .... oops! I forgot this is a family-oriented site! :lol: :D