Am/am dancers, what is your ratio of solo to partnered practice?

[samina]

A student who is themselves a top 6 dancer is implicitly themselves a dance teacher able to apply a lot of insight into evaluating what they see of themselves in the mirror.

this person was not always a top 6 dancer. it was when that level was a significant distance away that this person was introduced to the concept of doing drills for many months, solo, prior to even taking hold of a partner. and it was that approach which rocketed the pair to their ultimate achievement.

it is possible there is an element you are leaving out of the solo-practice equation....not to say your observations aren't valid.

 

[Mengu]

Practice very specific actions that have been raised in lessons only as long as you can stay true to clearly articulated goals ("I am trying to make sure x happens before y").

This goes with the premise that practice does not make perfect, only perfect practice makes perfect. There is truth in that.

But at the syllabus level, which is all I'm comfortable commenting on, there is a lot we can work on to improve on ourselves, before we even get together with a partner. I feel I can focus on a lot of individual parts when I practice. I may work on the timing of my fall in waltz, I can work on gaining better awareness of working my feet, ankles, knees and hips. Or do a simple walk through to improve my spacial awareness of where my partner needs to be and how I can create space for her. The idea is, if I can get in the habit of doing this without a partner, I will have an easier time with a partner. I also use mirrors a little easier solo, and can check my sway or my head position. I can simply work on stamina. And some of us have individual issues we can work on, like I will occasionally dance a full song only focusing on keeping my face and my eyes neutral (otherwise there are steps where my eyes roll up, or I have to hold my tongue just right to do a step). I feel there is lots I can do solo, that contribute to my dancing in a positive way.

I feel dancing is a sum of many moving parts, and not all those parts require a partner for improvement.

 

[nottomention]

But at the syllabus level, which is all I'm comfortable commenting on, there is a lot we can work on to improve on ourselves, before we even get together with a partner. I feel I can focus on a lot of individual parts when I practice. I may work on the timing of my fall in waltz, I can work on gaining better awareness of working my feet, ankles, knees and hips.

Perfect example: when you lower alone in waltz, do you lower into your standing foot? Or do you lower with your weight already travelling? What is the appropriate balance between the two, and what are the visual criterea for that in the mirror? How many people have you seen diligently practicing a way that doesn't work?

Thank you though, for realizing the relative permanence of what is practiced.

And to be clear, often the change of a specifically identified, ingrained habit has to be made alone, away from a partner. Where the partnership is key is testing if the current habits are workable for two.

 

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Probably better off just sitting on their couches TC. At least they wouldn't be ruining their dancing by practicing alone.

Teacher: So how were your practices this week?
Me: I didn't! :grin:
Teacher: WHY??!!
Me: Casayoto told me not to. Also thanks to his insightful advice, I just picked up this sweet new couch that's going to totally revolutionize my dancing even more than the Dance Frame Teaching Tool!

 

[Terpsichorean Clod]

Practice very specific actions that have been raised in lessons only as long as you can stay true to clearly articulated goals ("I am trying to make sure x happens before y"). But be very cautious where the goals become more numerous and the critera less distinct - in the abscence of ready partner reference, dance whole figures sparingly and entire dances hardly at all.

I think I see what you mean. I've been somewhat cautious having already been bitten at one point by an outside partner position issue. But I could stand to be a bit more wary. And I definitely should avoid practicing simply because I think I ought, that sort of feeling a need to make some quota (or ratio!) on pain of feeling guilty. That's when there's the temptation to start manufacturing additional, but less definable goals.

Do you feel there are figures that are particularly susceptible to developing partner-incompatible habits? Pivots?

Realistically, you do not see succesful dancers dancing themselves around the floor much. Posing problems and experimenting with actions, yes - but not dancing around.

Good point. I hadn't noticed that.

 

[Casayoto]

Yes TC! The Dance Frame Teaching Couch!! I'll make millions!!!!!

:banana:

 

[nucat78]

...individual drills can be paramount to exceptional partner dancing because you have to bring your own solid fundamentals to the floor before you can coordinate your own jobs with that of a partner.

With the proviso that one is practicing the fundamentals correctly, neh?

 

[samina]

With the proviso that one is practicing the fundamentals correctly, neh?

i guess... whatever the object of the drill is. could be different things for different people at different times. neh?