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This kind of stuff always confuses me. Are patterns _distinct_ patterns or variations of patterns? The Arthur Murray student does Open Twinkles. The Fred Astaire student does Closed Twinkles. The Standard student does Whisks (or Back Whisk, etc.). They are all transitions from closed...

Sorry. I gave it my shot. That's why I cling desperately to my day job... which is not comedy.

A lot of random stuff one comes across in social dancing simply can't be taught. Because instructors (have to) believe "it's my way or the highway," the variations one encounters just taking lessons (or dancing with a few people) is even more diminished. That's not to say instruction is not...

You obviously haven't come across great coaching. A great coach would have informed you that people teach dance for the love of dance, not for becoming independently wealthy or retiring early (except perhaps for a handful of studio owners). A great coach would have directed you to enter...

Wouldn't you expect that, given the amount of practice with your competition partner/pro? You would be much better at driving your own (familiar) car than someone else's car, able to handle much more treacherous situations because you know how it behaves. Even skilled social dancers tend to...

Competition, showcase, and social dancing have overlapping as well as complementary skills. Unfortunately, dancing in general is taught or handed down as patterns, separate from the underlying dynamics that really make them work. The ability to dance competitively or in showcases (even at...

Not sure what dance(s), but certainly something can be choregraphed...

Enrique's got tons of duets, for example... Like the video: or

The latest Best Songs entry reminds me of a special type of songs... Duets, which when orchestrated well are so alluring, with the singers working off each other, just as in dancing. My starting entries... And RIP Natalie:

Reminds me of a much better song, certainly a danceable oldie...

You Don't Own Me Grace ft. G-Eazy

This is a very good assessment. Skilled dancers (or participant/ practitioner in any other endeavor) have also practiced and understand/appreciate the fundamentals of the activity, to the degree that it's all instinctive. The conscious control is ingrained in the mind/body, the skill factor...

Specifically, social dancing because of the random split-second decision-making involved. Quoted... In social dancing, the Follow role automatically gains a benefit, by making hundreds of split-second decisions as to what to do next, sometimes unconsciously so. As I mentioned on this page...

In looking at your original post, this is exactly what you are trying to do (better). Which brings to my gripe about coaching lessons. Way back when, I would have coaching lessons with the same person (at same time as regular instructor) periodically every few months. While the first couple...

So, I was wondering why there would be so much controversy about such a basic/"straight forward" thing (the exit from 5th position break). I tried the "reverse slip povot" lead and realize that it works, but it's really not an exit from 5th postion break any more. In order to do the "slip...

What does the (particular) ending of a figure have to do with the figure itself? It's like saying the prep into a Natural Turn is the Natural Turn. The (simple) definition of a break is pretty much universal (in partner dancing). Salsa on 1 means Salsa with break step on count 1 of the music...