Dancing on a crowded floor

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pygmalion

Well-Known Member
A dance studio I once attended used to give the most hilarious classes, entitled,"dancing on a crowded floor." They taught specific, beginner-level moves one can do to rescue a tight situation, and gave some basic guidelines for how to manage a tiny floor (or a HUGE crowd.) At the end, they'd block off an area about one eighth of the ballroom, and make us dance inside. What a hoot!


Just wondering if we can recreate some of that advice here, for the newbies, and maybe not-so-newbies.

Any pointers for managing a crowded floor (other than sit this one out LOL)? And is managing a crowded floor different depending on what kind of dance you're doing?
 
From a salsa perspective, smaller steps and certainly for the ladies, to ensure that you keep your elbows bet whilst in open position, so that you stay closer to the guy (which you should be doing anyway)
 
Lots of little things. Moving compactly. Keeping limbs close to the body. Adjusting position and direction. Not dancing near dangerously flamboyant people. Being ready to put your body between your follower and the person who's about to run into her. Being willing to stop moving in a dangerous situation. Scanning the environment constantly for new risks. Looking at the place you want to put your follower before putting her there. Being willing to abort a lead. Recognizing when you have a follower who won't understand an aborted lead, and being proportionately more cautious.

Mostly it's just common sense and placing safety above patterns, neither of which are taught in formal classes.
 
One thing I find is that's it's important to be able to communicate a less than maximum movement to your partner - in light crowding you can wait for an opening and then GO, but in heavy crowding hover & swoop leaves you moving one measure in 3, during which you usually collide with someone anyway.
 
Small steps. Small movements. Think you want to stay clsoe to your partner. You want to almost stick together. :)
 
try to take steps as big as possible, use your heels when you step, wave your arms around as much as possible, do as many dips and tricks and acrobatics as you know and even try out some new stuff that you saw at a show a couple of months ago, stand in the middle of the dance floor chatting with friends, holding a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other...


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

PS good advice, right?! :roll: :oops: :wink: :twisted:
 
In such hazardous situations i use the ultimate fool proofy technique.. and that is, simply to get the lady to stick to me so as not one millimeter between us is wasted :roll: .. less space between us.. more space for those around us :wink: .. oh its amazing how much i care for surrounding couples isn't it? 8) .. i constantly amaze myselfy i tellya LOL
 
Sabor said:
In such hazardous situations i use the ultimate fool proofy technique.. and that is, simply to get the lady to stick to me so as not one millimeter between us is wasted :roll:
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm aware of this technique. Whether I think it's a good technique or not depends on who I'm dancing with. :wink: :lol:
 
MacMoto said:
Sabor said:
In such hazardous situations i use the ultimate fool proofy technique.. and that is, simply to get the lady to stick to me so as not one millimeter between us is wasted :roll:
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm aware of this technique. Whether I think it's a good technique or not depends on who I'm dancing with. :wink: :lol:
Click to expand...

would u dance with me in an overthetopcrowded floor MacMoto? :mrgreen:
 
Sabor said:
MacMoto said:
Sabor said:
In such hazardous situations i use the ultimate fool proofy technique.. and that is, simply to get the lady to stick to me so as not one millimeter between us is wasted :roll:
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm aware of this technique. Whether I think it's a good technique or not depends on who I'm dancing with. :wink: :lol:
Click to expand...

would u dance with me in an overthetopcrowded floor MacMoto? :mrgreen:
Click to expand...
Not if you are gonna be as sweaty as your avatar. :lol:
 
MacMoto said:
Sabor said:
MacMoto said:
Sabor said:
In such hazardous situations i use the ultimate fool proofy technique.. and that is, simply to get the lady to stick to me so as not one millimeter between us is wasted :roll:
Click to expand...
Yes, I'm aware of this technique. Whether I think it's a good technique or not depends on who I'm dancing with. :wink: :lol:
Click to expand...

would u dance with me in an overthetopcrowded floor MacMoto? :mrgreen:
Click to expand...
Not if you are gonna be as sweaty as your avatar. :lol:
Click to expand...

its just the t-shirt.. i'm dry.. so, off with the t-shirt then? :lol:
 
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