23 y/o & never danced.. please help!

L

lil_kiki

New Member
ok i'm in a bit of a situation, maybe you guys can help....

i've read over the "i have no idea how to dance post" & others, but was wondering if there's any more specific insights anybody could offer.


Okay. I'm 23 y/o female, and I'm going to a nightclub next week with a new friend. Problem is, I have never danced before.
I've told him this, but he doesn't believe it. He thinks I'm joking, because I guess I don't look like "the type"? who wouldn't know how to dance.

Anyway... I have until Thursday night to learn something...ANYthing to help me not make a fool out of myself out on the dancefloor.
There are 3 factors I'm especially concerned about though:

1.) he is a skilled and experienced dancer..
2.) there is a 12 inch height difference between the two of us. I have heels, but that still leaves 8-9 inches of height difference.
3.) On top of all this.... it's going to be our first time meeeting face to face. I'm afraid to make a real bad impression because I'll be so nervous.


I'm willing to practice my butt off until Thursday...I've got the extra time.
I have full length mirrors, stereos, etc...
the music at the club is going to be hip-hop and rap. I'm more than familiar with the music, I just dont know how to move.
can anybody reccommend to me some techniques or practice moves?
I'm really nervous..

thanks to anyone who takes the time to help me out!
 
You've told him you don't know how to dance. If he doesn't believe it... well, his problem. ;)
Rent "Save the last dance". You'll feel better. Try to do some basic steps on the music, whatever you can think of. Hip hop is very much an improvisation dance, so practice in front of the mirror and see what looks good. YOu can also employ some dancing friends of yours to help you.
Can't think of anything else for you to do at such a short notice. Good luck, and I'll post again if I come up with anything.

T_E
 
Adding to T_E's excellent advice, learn the basics first. If you ask your dancing friends to teach you or you watch film clips of dancers, the temptation is to go straight to the "real cool" moves (or whatever they're called these days). But those are the moves that require you to have already developed a lot of dancing skill that only comes from a lot of experience dancing. Those are not the moves you want to try first off, because you will not be able to pull them off. Besides, after your big, really cool move, what are you going to do the the remaining few minutes of the song? Or for the next songs that night?

So get them to show you a few basic moves, a few basic steps, that you can use to make it through a song, to survive on the dance floor (as I used to view my goal). You could try to pull off a move you see somebody else use, but then fall back immediately to the basic moves -- as one of my West Coast Swing (WCS) teachers tells us when teaching us some extra styling for one of the moves, if you can't pull off the fancy styling, then simply fall back to doing the basic move and you'll stay in time with the music and with your partner.

Plus you should have the advantage of being able to ask him to teach you a few steps. But you should still at least have a few basic steps to base that on.
 
thanks, Elena. funny you should mention that movie, (i love it!), and i feel like that's exactly what's going on in my life right now lol.
i'm trained in a different school of dance, and since i've met him, i've become interested in hiphop dance... but im finding it so hard to do.
i hope my story has a happy ending like the movie.
thanks for your advice!!
 
DWise1 said:
Adding to T_E's excellent advice, learn the basics first. If you ask your dancing friends to teach you or you watch film clips of dancers, the temptation is to go straight to the "real cool" moves (or whatever they're called these days). But those are the moves that require you to have already developed a lot of dancing skill that only comes from a lot of experience dancing. Those are not the moves you want to try first off, because you will not be able to pull them off. Besides, after your big, really cool move, what are you going to do the the remaining few minutes of the song? Or for the next songs that night?

So get them to show you a few basic moves, a few basic steps, that you can use to make it through a song, to survive on the dance floor (as I used to view my goal). You could try to pull off a move you see somebody else use, but then fall back immediately to the basic moves -- as one of my West Coast Swing (WCS) teachers tells us when teaching us some extra styling for one of the moves, if you can't pull off the fancy styling, then simply fall back to doing the basic move and you'll stay in time with the music and with your partner.

Plus you should have the advantage of being able to ask him to teach you a few steps. But you should still at least have a few basic steps to base that on.
Click to expand...
thanks dwise for the advice. You're exactly right, I've learned not to watch videos and try to do what i see.... its just discouraging.
I think Ive got a couple basics down and I'm going to try and survive off those.
I've talked to the guy, and he says this club is always at capacity, and there's very little room for dancing anyway... mostly just close and grind type stuff (Oh great!! now ive got that to worry about...lol)

thanks for your input i appreciate it!
 
just go for it

It's always hard when you are first starting out in dance, but if you are even remotely coordinated you should be able to pull off some even "cool" moves without giving away the fact that you are a new dancer. I have come to see in dancers I have worked with that there are no "new" dancers. Just people unfamiliar with particular types of training. Luckily for you, hip hop type dance doesnt particularly need training, but more of a loss of inhibition. The funnest moves come at the moments when you're not thinking and you just throw your entire self into it and go for it. As for the height difference, if you are going to be doing mostly hip hop it should not really be a problem. I have a good friend who is 5'2 and she once danced with a guy (for a cha cha routine) that was 6'2. Big difference. Did they let us know it? not a chance!
Best advice....have fun! just go for it....:p
 
lil_kiki said:
ok i'm in a bit of a situation, maybe you guys can help....

i've read over the "i have no idea how to dance post" & others, but was wondering if there's any more specific insights anybody could offer.


Okay. I'm 23 y/o female, and I'm going to a nightclub next week with a new friend. Problem is, I have never danced before.
I've told him this, but he doesn't believe it. He thinks I'm joking, because I guess I don't look like "the type"? who wouldn't know how to dance.

Anyway... I have until Thursday night to learn something...ANYthing to help me not make a fool out of myself out on the dancefloor.
There are 3 factors I'm especially concerned about though:

1.) he is a skilled and experienced dancer..
2.) there is a 12 inch height difference between the two of us. I have heels, but that still leaves 8-9 inches of height difference.
3.) On top of all this.... it's going to be our first time meeeting face to face. I'm afraid to make a real bad impression because I'll be so nervous.

I'm willing to practice my butt off until Thursday...I've got the extra time.
I have full length mirrors, stereos, etc...
the music at the club is going to be hip-hop and rap. I'm more than familiar with the music, I just dont know how to move.
can anybody reccommend to me some techniques or practice moves?
I'm really nervous..

thanks to anyone who takes the time to help me out!
Click to expand...
If he is skilled, ask him if he is willing to show you some moves.

The height can be worked around for hip-hop and rap.

If you have never met this guy before, perhaps go with a friend?

I wouldn't worry about not knowing how to dance. Be honest with your friend regarding this being your first time for dancing at a club, and make sure you take some time when you first get there to observe what's going on.

Good luck!

And welcome to DanceForums! :D
 
Just do it :). I think nervousness and doubt are the enemies of good dancing. It should be about having fun. If you are smiling sincerely while you dance, the body movements don't even matter.

emomac
 
Most of the folks in clubs like the one you are going to are not trained dancers and many have had enough alcohol to have a serious effect on their co-ordination.

The style of dance (in the UK at least) is more shuffling your feet and moving your body in time with the music (well, some are in time with the music)

Some use the derogatory term 'Rent-A Tile' to describe this form of dancing because 'dancers' often only occupy a space on the dance-floor approximately the size of a floor tile.

Just feel the music and move with it - watch what the other folks are doing and emulate if you like.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Dance Ads

Advertise on Dance Forums Reach dancers, teachers, studios, event organizers, and dance-friendly brands. View ad options
Back
Top