Where to look?

When dancing in closed (ballroom) position where does everyone look?

I have been told to look over your partners shoulder or into their eyes...but Im REALLY uncomfortable looking into peoples eyes for long periods of time so Im always looking over the shoulder..
Is this rude? or bad ettiquette? Should I occasionally look into their eyes?

I wanted to ask my teachers but seeing as I dont look in their eyes either I felt strange :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Help me guys!

I'm not sure where the lady looks, because...

...I'm never looking at her! :wink:

Seriously, one of the early habits I had to break was looking at my partner, and especially looking at my teacher since I wanted to check with her to see whether I'd done something right. Mostly you keep your head left--there are times where your head closes (for the lead), such as in pivots, but generally in this most romantic of positions you don't look at each other at all!

I find in social dancing, it's good to relax that position and occasionally check in with your partner--though once you're used to keeping your head left, it feels very weird to bring it back. There are reasons in terms of frame and lead/follow for keeping your head in that position.

Cheers,

Genesius

You mean not all instructors put you in a neck brace to break that habit?? I've just heard that, of course...not that I would ever have a bad habit like looking at my partner ALL the time! :doh:

virginiadancegirl said:

You mean not all instructors put you in a neck brace to break that habit?? I've just heard that, of course...not that I would ever have a bad habit like looking at my partner ALL the time! :doh:

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Hee hee! Oh, my first teacher used to smack my head into position--and she would also bite if you didn't learn something fast enough! Which is probably one reason she won't spar with me today in kickboxing; she's a little worried about the payback! :wink:

My partner threatens to use the neck brace...now he just holds my head sideways...I feel like a reluctant horse, with the reins pulling to the side!!!!

LOL! Well the best ones are always more spirited and won't be easily tamed, right?

Thanks for making me laugh--needed it today!

You are quite welcome...

Anytime !!

:lol: :banana:

I've been taught to position your head as if you were looking at your watch (on your left hand) if you're a girl. If you're a guy I was told you're supposed to look over looking the girl's elbow (similar position), unless you're doing tango- then it's important for both of you to look into the eyes.

Some dances like Rumba would be void of passion if you didn't look at your partner some of the time. For example, there should be a smouldering look of passion at the closed part of the New York or Hand to Hand in Rumba or Cha Cha.

There are also parts of others, like the There and Back in Cha Cha Cha, where it would be quite silly not to look at each other. Same for Travelling Bota Fogos in Samba. These are not a closed position of course.

The point is that since dance is an expression of the music, ultimately where you look is directed partly by the music itself as much as by the steps. Some steps and some dances should rarely include looking at your partner while others do. In Standard you avoid looking at each other except for specific moments. In Latin it is much more open to interpretation.

My Latin coach sometimes asks, "who are you dancing with?" when he notices that we go too long without looking at each other. But it's equally bad to look at each other for a long time. It's a balance dictated by a combination of the music and your steps.

Adwiz said:

For example, there should be a smouldering look of passion at the closed part of the New York or Hand to Hand in Rumba or Cha Cha.

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Oh dear!! Smouldering look of passion.. Do you know what you have done to me? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: ...........I have a "thing" for somebody who partners me regularly in both dances , its going to be mighty hard not to have that phrase racing through my mind everytime we dance!
Hehehehehehehe!


Thanks for everyones replies, Im glad that its ok just to look left!

are you competing or social dancing?

if you are competing then the look is VERY important and whether or not you look at your partner...

one peeve of mine is going to a social dance and seeing a couple dance by totally fixed in dance position looking past one another wish such a serious look on their face. they don't look like they're enjoying their dancing at all. instead it looks like they hate one another and are only dancing for the notariety and attention.

enjoy your dancing... if you like to look then look... its social! if you don't like to look then don't look but at least smile.

with that said... you can look but don't let it affect your frame. you still need to follow. thus sometimes its good not to look.