Where Do You Practice?

[tango]

We all know that practicing is as important as lessons, but where does everyone practice. Our living room is too small so we decided to use the aerobics room at the gym, however, they were the unfriendly type and wouldn't allow anyone to use the room without an aerobics instructor! Anyway we switched gym's but now we have a smaller practice area but it's bettert than the alternative. Where do you practice?

[pygmalion]

The gym is a great idea, tango! I hadn't though of that one. My livingroom doesn't work smooth dances, because it's carpeted. I still use it for more compact dances and exercises that don't require a lot of foot action. I also practice in the kitchen, bathroom, and do drills all over the place -- in stores, in the car, wherever.

If you're looking for a larger floor space, how about showing up early for your lessons or grouop classes and using that time to practice/warm up?

[d nice]

Any where and everywhere.

Literally. Of course I dance all the time. Even when I'm the computer. If I'm awake I'm stepping, stomping, or somehow swinging. Its my O/C in me.

[pygmalion]

Does anybody else have suggestions of good places to practice?

Many years ago, when I was in a mostly empty building, I used to reserve conference rooms at work for lunch time exercise. Also, the local library here offers free rooms for use by the general public. Just a couple suggestions.

Anyone else?

[Vince A]

We mostly practice at a local studio, but we have built a 16 x 20 foot cushioned dance floor in our third car garage. It has music and a sound system and several ceiling fans, but we mainly use it for the dance exercises, some WCS, and some Cha Cha, since of our other dances travel way too much!

Interestingly, I went to work with my wife once on a weekend, and we practiced the Waltz in and out of the 400 servers that she takes care of! A roving guard walked by and stuck his head in the door and asked what we doing. We said, "Having sex," and replied, "Have fun, " and just turned and walked away!

Dancing has always brought smiles to our faces!

[pygmalion]

Yes, Vince, I know quite a few (wealthy :lol: ) people who have converted a large space in their homes into a dance floor. Ironically, these are the party dancers , not the serious ones. *shrug* Who can say why. :?

[Vin]

I have known a few graduate students(not the wealthiest people) who converted the family rooms in their apartments into dance studios. It did not take them much, just about 3-4 hundred dollars worth of wood and about a month's time building it.
To answer the original question, my carpeted family room is smooth enough for my practice sessions.

[pygmalion]

I see what you mean, Vin. The folks I'm talking about are definitely "hire a professional and pay too much" types. I guess it takes all kinds to make a world. *shrug*

[SDsalsaguy]

Depending on what I'm working on, if I'm with a partner, etc., here are some of my options...

Small carpeted living room floor.

Empty activity rooms on campus.

Empty racquetball courts.

Aerobics room at the gym on off hours.

Show up early to salsa clubs -- before music/lesson starts.

[pygmalion]

Depending on what I'm working on, if I'm with a partner, etc., here are some of my options...

Small carpeted living room floor.

Empty activity rooms on campus.

Empty racquetball courts.

Aerobics room at the gym on off hours.

Show up early to salsa clubs -- before music/lesson starts.

It's tough being a student. :D But these are good suggestions. I think I'm going to ask the folks at my gym, since I need a bigger place for smooth. Guess I'd better get those ballroom sneakers, after all. :shock: :lol:

[tango]

I find the gym aerobics room the best for smooth dances, however, running shoe's aren't the greatest to practice in, especially doing spins. But, they do keep me very light on my feet for the basic foot work (waltz). Now if I had a garage I would probably convert that to a small dance floor.

[pygmalion]

Oh my goodness! You should see my garage! :D Maybe I have a motivation to clean it out after all. (There are boxes in there I haven't opened since I moved in a decade ago! :shock: ) It's a small, but usable space. All I'd need would be an air conditioning unit, since my central air isn't piped into the garage. Hmm. The wheels are turning. :idea:

By the way, there are strictly ballroom sneakers that have suede soles. Not all that easy to find, since a lot of the jazz sneakers have rubber soles. But the ballroom ones are out there.

[MissAlyssa]

at my studio

[pygmalion]

Good point, MissAlyssa. And made me think of another suggestion. My instructor, who has his own studio, sometimes rents out the studio to people who need a practice space -- if he's not already using it himself. :D

[tango]

The studio I dance at is growing and they are busy all the time so aside from paid service there's not much room for practice. I like the idea if Ballroom sneakers for the gym though, I'll just have to invest in a pair.

[pygmalion]

Cool, tango! I'll take a look around and see if I can find those websites again. :D

Jenn

[pygmalion]

Hey tango. I found a couple websites for the sneakers (although I can't find the sites I found before, which had "hip hop" style sneaks. I'll have to do some advanced googling later. :lol: )

http://swingdanceshop.com/lindytrainer1.html -- swing style sneaks
http://www.mrtangoshoes.com ballroom/salsa/tango style sneaks

[pygmalion]

Another great article here, for those interested in building an at-home dance floor.

http://www.eijkhout.net/rad/dance_offnet/floor.html

[Sagitta]

I practice wherever I can, by myself and with a partner. Often before and after a dance class. Sometimes I go to the folk dance class and use raised wooden area to practice while the folk dancers are doing there thing. Then on Saturdays the Cornell ballroom club has a dance studio available for practice.

Then I also practice other times/places. In place waiting at the checkout line if there is a long queue. The carpeted floor at a friends place. We put down the sheeting used in carpeted spaces to allow a person sitting a desk to move their chairs around. Then we dance in our socks. Works pretty good. :)

[pygmalion]

Here's another link with info on building a dance floor. A preety good narrative of one dance club's experience.

http://www.kansascityswingdance.org/floor.htm

[Vin]

At the school I attend the theater arts program has a couple of studio rooms. I sneak into those if they are empty.

[jenibelle]

Lol...I practise on my bedroom floor...I figure if I can perform turns in the worst of conditions, it means I can perform in the best of conditions. That's how it works isn't it?

:D
Jeni

[pygmalion]

True, jeni. My kitchen floor for turns, bathroom for arm styling (big mirror there), livingroom for anything big. And you're right. If I can dance it on carpet around furniture, I can dance it almost anywhere else! :lol:

[Pacion]

Interestingly, I went to work with my wife once on a weekend, and we practiced the Waltz in and out of the 400 servers that she takes care of! A roving guard walked by and stuck his head in the door and asked what we doing. We said, "Having sex," and replied, "Have fun, " and just turned and walked away!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: This is cute! You probably made him and some of his colleagues chuckle too! You certainly made me laugh!

I have carpets at home too but have been thinking of getting a decent size piece of wood that I can put down, in front of the television so that I can watch a video and try and copy some of the moves/shines :D In terms of the size of the wood, it should be big enough so that I can do some decent forward & back/sideways travelling, but not to big so that I am forced to control the size of my steps AND that I can hide it behind the sofa, when guests are coming. :lol:

Oh yeah, want to put a mirror on the wall too but to do it in such a way that it is a feature rather than obvious that the screw that was loose, has finally come of :lol:

[ShyDancer]

Mostly I practice at my parents house...they have floating floors throughout! Although they were put in long before I started dancing and I onec hated them... :oops: :oops: :oops: :oops:
Me and my sister (17) push all the furniture against the walls in the lounge and parctice for hours :D :D Lucky the lounge is huge!

My studio offers the floor free for anyone in their classes and people who take private lessons to practice on... I thought this would be the standard everywhere?

I also practice at home, I love doing locks up and down the hall..the kids think its hilarious :lol: But mostly my house is bad for practice...fully carpeted :? well except the kitchen and being tiled it really dangerous to turn on!

[dancing_moogle]

Local studios, sometimes on the streets/driveway at home... actually, the best facility is at this senior community center about 30 min. from my school, and it has a BIG room. I wish a competition was held there. There's so much room that my partner and I did 4 rounds of V. Waltzes on that floor *whew*.

note: if you have read my previous posts, you'd think that V. Waltz is my favorite dance. Well, it is definitely one of my fav's. :)

[delamusica]

Our university has a "group fitness room" that they use for yoga classes and aerobics and things that is PERFECT for dancing - huge wood floor with full mirrors covering three walls. My studio also offers practice times, and the community rec centers have either floors from their dance/aerobics classes or will sometimes let us use the basketball courts when it's not busy (my high school formation team always practiced in the school gym!). Other than that, it's the living-room carpet around the furniture. :)

[pygmalion]

Yeah. Exercise rooms do seem perfect. Hmm. I wonder if my gym will let me use the exercise room? It's not busy at all late in the evenings. Food for thought.

[HothouseSalsero]

For the most part I don't practice any more (unless you count the times I dance around my apartment), partly because I'm not really learning any new material.

In the past I have often practice in an unused aerobics room at the gym I go to (as the first poster mentioned doing). Another reason I don't do that much now is that I am using the weight machines to work my lower body again. I had stopped because those machines all used to trigger lower back pain, but I found that some simple stretches have almost completely eliminated that problem. (I've also confirmed that there's nothing seriously wrong with my lower back.) Anyway, by the time I am finished with the weight machines, I am usually staggering around and not in the mood to go practice dancing.

[danceguy]

This may sound weird, but I practice in my kitchen a lot. I always put on Salsa music while I'm doing the dishes and cooking...so sometimes I have to stop and work on my basics or a few shine steps.

I also practice in my bedroom most of the time...and there isn't much space so I can get a feel like I'm on a very crowded dance floor. :P

SG

[DancePoet]

Ah!

Bedroom, Living Room, Kitchen, Dance Studio where I take lessons, My Office at Work (late at night), Stores when I'm shopping (drives current SO up the wall!), and SO's place (SO is more tolerant there).

And the list will likely grow!

[superbimmer]

By special arrangement with our studio's owner, we dance "after hours", when the studio is totally empty ... 10:00pm or 6:30am. Nothing like having the place to ourselves!!

[alfr dís]

better question: where don't i practice! :lol: the best place i've found though is the music room at my high school. it's a big open space and usually theres only a couple people in there when theres not a class. you get some funny looks when you start doing arabian limbers, front walkovers and such across the floor though :wink:

[tsb]

I know quite a few (wealthy :lol: ) people who have converted a large space in their homes into a dance floor. Ironically, these are the party dancers , not the serious ones. *shrug* Who can say why. :?

i wouldn't describe myself as wealthy or a party dancer. i actually kicked two roommates out, converted one room into a den/TV room and put the remaining extra furniture into the other bedroom and then ripped out the carpet and installed a bamboo floor (hard as oak, and much cooler to bare feet in the summer, and with pads underneath, a very nice feel), mirrored tile on the walls, barre (easier for practicing ochos). my former teachers rent it out to teach privates when they're double booked (and taught me my privates there - i should have gotten a discount!)

for those of you on carpet, i suggest considering some portable dance floor. i bought some to use outside to increase total dancing space for parties (used panels of master dance floor http://www.dance-2000.com/). unfortunately they're kinda expensive and worse, the quality of the new version is (IMO) inferior to the old.


By special arrangement with our studio's owner, we dance "after hours", when the studio is totally empty ... 10:00pm or 6:30am. Nothing like having the place to ourselves!!

i would also suggest as an alterative for those of you who can't find a decent floor/surface elsewhere, finding out if there's a dance studio close enough to where you work to do a lunch time practice. you can generally rent time at a reasonable rate.

[etchuck]

1) As part of a student group, I have access to our practice floor, provided some other group isn't using it.

2) I have a basement floor in my townhome, and I eventually would like to redo the floors and get a wall mirror so I can practice. Can't do much in terms of smooth/standard dances because of the room's size, but I can try to practice my Latin and club dancing there.

[dancin_feet]

My head may be working, but my feet are constantly practising. They are at it right now under the desk!

I practice everywhere. There is always an aspect of dancing that you can practice anywhere, even something as simple as posture. Steps I practice in my living room, kitchen, and it is generally going on in my mind constantly.