Beginning dancer help...revisited

[Travis Moore]

Folks, i posted a topic not long ago asking for help with learning on how to go out dancing with my girlfriend. Since i've posted the original topic i bought a video "you can dance nightclub" and i did try it a few times but i really did not see where it would help with dancing to rap/hiphop type music. I've spoken to several people on the subject including her and the general anwser i get is that i just need to go to the club, have a few (or more) drinks, maybe watch some other people dance, and then just go let it all hang out. I'm not totally comfortable doing that but if thats what it takes i guess i will have to give it a shot. I've been looking into hip-hop dance lessons but i havent came up with much in the area. So is that the final verdict? Just go to the club and give it a shot? Any ideas? Help!

[dTas]

well from the sounds of it you really don't have any other avenues in with to explore. no local dance classes; ballroom or hip hop.

going to the club and seeing what everyone else is doing is a good choice. how do you know what kind of moves you want to do if you haven't seen what everyone else is doing?

you can get break dancing and hip hop tapes but i don't know how useful they will be.

from my experience my latin / rhythm training has helped me a lot in the freestyle arena. body isolations, staying grounded, hip movements, etc etc and ATTITUDE work well.

what kind of solution were you hoping to find here? suggestions of video's? places to go? private lessons?

[Flat Shoes]

Watch music videos. Practise to music at home, in front of the mirror. Relax, keep it simple, learn to feel the music and move to it. Don't go all out with big exagerated moves.

[dTas]

to quote a famous sports clothing manufacturer...

"JUST DO IT!"

get out there and move and move naturally. slowly you will gain confidence and be able to move more (but still naturally)

either that or get totally drunk and move like and idiot! sometimes that works just as well and you get the sympathy vote! :D

[Travis Moore]

Good news: shortly after making this post i got sick of trying to be spoon fed how to dance...so i put on the dance music station on the TV and went for it. Felt weird at first but i gradually began to be able to move to the beat(i think). I'm sure that i looked like a fool but i broke some ice that i havent been able to break in awhile now...getting the courage to try. I think with more practice and a few drinks i wont look any more stupid then some others have in the past. My GF just needs to realize that if and when we go out dancing that its going to kinda be like having sex with a vigrin: Willing and eagar to try, but does not quite have the technique down :D One thing i did notice when i was 'dancing', my feet seemed to be planted in the same spot and when i tried to move them it felt very mechanical....any suggestions?

[pygmalion]

Don't sweat it, dude. No need to move your feet. All the best dancers dance with their bodies, anyway. So it looks like you're ahead of the game. :wink: