We've all seen them. The guys and girls out taking dance lessons because they have to get ready for a social event. The only problem is that they have NO sense of rhythm. And they struggle. And struggle. Question to you -- how important do you think that innate sense of rhythm is, when you're learning to dance? Can you become a dancer, or even a good dancer, without it? Can you develop it, or is it something you have to be born with? Comments, anyone?
How important is a sense of rhythm?
- Thread starter pygmalion
- Start date
Sagitta
Well-Known Member
I don't mean to discourage anyone who is out there. Really!! Dancing does not come easy to everyone, and it didn't to me!! But I believe that each person out there has this sense of natural movement of their bodies that is stifled. What makes it come out can be different for each person, and for some it amy be in dance, or others some of those body awareness movements...the one that come to my mind are pilates and somatics...I know that there are quite a few others, though.
JonD
New Member
I was convinced that I had no sense of rhythm and that people who could dance were born with some kind of special ability. Then, when I was 41 years old, I was dared to go to a dance class by the kids of some friends. I was truly hopeless and shook with terror in the first class but walked home that night giggling because I'd had such a great time. The next morning I was telling my business partner where I'd been and complaining that I had "no natural sense of rhythm" and so would never be able to dance. Ann replied that rhythm hadn't come naturally to her but that she'd learnt to let her body move to it - she's ex Ballet Rambert! That gave me the confidence to try and learn and so I started playing the "steering wheel bongos" whenever I was driving and trying to move to music in the privacy of my own home. I kept going to weekly dance classes and it was about 3 months before I started hitting the beat on anything other than an accidental basis. The encouragement and kindness of fellow dancers kept me going.
Now, when I'm coaching beginners I try to convince them that what Sagitta says is true. We can all move naturally in rhythm if we let ourselves. Often, particularly with men, it is about confidence so a completely non-judgemental environment is important. Fortunately it seems that most dance classes are just that - non-judgemental.
Can someone without a natural sense of rhythm become a good dancer? I'm not brilliant but in 3 1/2 years I've got to a reasonable standard. While I suspect Ann was lying about her sense of rhythm, she made it to Rambert main company before an injury stopped her career and is pretty amazing on the social dance floor!
Now, when I'm coaching beginners I try to convince them that what Sagitta says is true. We can all move naturally in rhythm if we let ourselves. Often, particularly with men, it is about confidence so a completely non-judgemental environment is important. Fortunately it seems that most dance classes are just that - non-judgemental.
Can someone without a natural sense of rhythm become a good dancer? I'm not brilliant but in 3 1/2 years I've got to a reasonable standard. While I suspect Ann was lying about her sense of rhythm, she made it to Rambert main company before an injury stopped her career and is pretty amazing on the social dance floor!
peachexploration
New Member
Well, I'm a stickler for this one. To me, it is the "most important" aspect of dance. One of my pet peeves is watching a television show or movie where they shoot a scene and edit in the music later. When you watch, it is extremely obvious that no one is on the beat and no music was being played at the time of shooting. That drives me nuts! :evil: Now, if we were to dance with no music, then rhythm wouldn't be a problem or dancing would be more "in your head" type movement. Moving to your own beat so to speak. But since music is connected to dancing, there has to be a since of rhythm to be considered a "dancer". I mentioned in another thread that I have a niece who is deaf and you would think that she would be the one who would dance "in her head" but she doesn't. How does she dance and keep the rhythm? She goes over to the speaker and "feels" the music. So yes, rhythm can be learned and yes, you can become a good dancer once you get over the rhythm hurdle. But "getting" the rhythm is the foundation for becoming a good dancer.
dancin_feet
New Member
It is critical to gain a sense of rhythm. Otherwise you are not dancing to music. You are just counting your steps. Some people are born with it, and some are not, but if you are going to get anywhere in dancing, you need to gain a sense of rhythm. Otherwise what is the point of putting music on to dance to?
JonD
New Member
I don't think that anyone would seriously dispute the need for rhythm in dancing. If you aren't moving to the music then you aren't dancing!
I tend to think of it more as a need to "unlock" a sense of rhythm rather than "gain" one. There are a lot of people who think they can't dance because they lack this magical ingredient but they do other things which demand rhythmical movement. Having said that, I do know some people who seem a lost cause!
I tend to think of it more as a need to "unlock" a sense of rhythm rather than "gain" one. There are a lot of people who think they can't dance because they lack this magical ingredient but they do other things which demand rhythmical movement. Having said that, I do know some people who seem a lost cause!
dancin_feet
New Member
Yes I do believe that someone can gain a sense of rhythm where there wasn't one before.
Anyone remember the movie, Footloose, and "Let's here it for the boy" sequence? I know it's only a movie, but I am the eternal optimist that you can teach anyone anything, if they are willing to learn.
Anyone remember the movie, Footloose, and "Let's here it for the boy" sequence? I know it's only a movie, but I am the eternal optimist that you can teach anyone anything, if they are willing to learn.
I think that people have widely varying natural ability in all aspects of dancing, including rhythm. But, I also think that everyone has some natural ability to hear the beat and move to it. To support my assertion, have you ever heard anyone sing "Happy Birthday" off time? E.g., you're singing "happy" while they're singing "birthday?" I've heard thousands of people sing "Happy Birthday," and I've never heard anyone sing off time. If you can move your mouth and diaphragm on time to the music, you can move your feet on time.
Further, I've noticed that many people start on time, but then drift off time. This is probably from lack of concentration and too high of a workload for their current ability. They're so consumed by following, leading, or moving their feet that they lose focus on the beat. With some more practice, often they can improve. Also, many people get off time, e.g., in swing or cha cha, because they take too big of a step on the rock step and put all their weight back on their heel; this takes too much time and when they finally rock foward, they're off time. Once their teacher points this out, they can improve dramatically.
From my own experience, when I started dancing, I had trouble hearing the beat in mambo/salsa music because this music has so much going on rhythmically that the beats are not very distinct from one another. But, with practice hearing the music, I improved dramatically.
Further, I've noticed that many people start on time, but then drift off time. This is probably from lack of concentration and too high of a workload for their current ability. They're so consumed by following, leading, or moving their feet that they lose focus on the beat. With some more practice, often they can improve. Also, many people get off time, e.g., in swing or cha cha, because they take too big of a step on the rock step and put all their weight back on their heel; this takes too much time and when they finally rock foward, they're off time. Once their teacher points this out, they can improve dramatically.
From my own experience, when I started dancing, I had trouble hearing the beat in mambo/salsa music because this music has so much going on rhythmically that the beats are not very distinct from one another. But, with practice hearing the music, I improved dramatically.
Swing Kitten
New Member
indeed
Ah ha! I had a feeling. :wink: 
I also have experience with this. Even though I wasn't rhythmically challenged, per se, I started out at a level -- mediocre, let's say. But, because I was a music major, I was forced to take years of rhythmic dictation, which is where random and increasingly complex rhythms are played, and you have to hear them, decode them and write them down. I was pretty hopeless at first, but after several years of doing that five days a week, even the most weird syncopations start to feel simple to you. I don't know if you can gain a sense of rhythm, but you sure can take whatever you started with and make it much, much better.
I also have experience with this. Even though I wasn't rhythmically challenged, per se, I started out at a level -- mediocre, let's say. But, because I was a music major, I was forced to take years of rhythmic dictation, which is where random and increasingly complex rhythms are played, and you have to hear them, decode them and write them down. I was pretty hopeless at first, but after several years of doing that five days a week, even the most weird syncopations start to feel simple to you. I don't know if you can gain a sense of rhythm, but you sure can take whatever you started with and make it much, much better.