Another newbie....

[lynn]

Hi, everyone, I'm a total newbie at both DF & dancing. I started ballroom dancing about 2 months ago & am still stumbling my way across..... I have run into a couple of problems already and hope someone can give me some pointers :

The first problem I have is with height difference, I'm quite short (5'3, o.k., even with 3" heels, that makes me 5'6) and a lot of the students in my class are super tall (I mean 6 foot + !!!). I find my left arm is usually quite sore by the time I finish class, is there anything I can do to make it easier? My own instructor is quite tall as well but somehow dancing with him seems to be easier (maybe just because he's good??? :?: .....)

Another problem I have is that I'm learning multiple dances at once, I have no trouble remembering the steps but is that a good way to learn? Isn't it better to concentrate on one dance at a time??

I'm also wondering whether or not I be buying dance shoes. Someone I talked to said as beginners we'll be fine with street shoes while others think it's best to start with proper shoes. As of now, I rotate between runners (I find it too sticky and hard for me to turn) and fashion sandals (no stiletto heels, of course!)

P.S. Can someone plz explain to me the concept of cuban motion/weight transfer/hip movement?? Just yesterday we had a guest instructor and she said in merengue the weight is on the bent knee, but I remember in salsa, isn't the weight on the straight knee?? Sorry if the questions sounds kind of stupid but I'm completely clueless.....

Thanks!

 

[pygmalion]

Wow. Lots of stuff in one post. Uhh. I'll be back on the other issues, but I'll weigh in on the height difference for the moment. Yes, height does make a difference if you're doing standard or smooth in body contact. But I bet you're not doing either, yet. I'm guessing that you're dancing with some fellow students who haven't yet learned to lead effectively (i.e. without hurting the follower :wink: :lol: )

Bear with them. They get better. 8)

 

[dancersdreamland]

Welcome to the Forums, lynn!

Here are some opinions and personal experience info on some of the questions you aked...

Another problem I have is that I'm learning multiple dances at once, I have no trouble remembering the steps but is that a good way to learn? Isn't it better to concentrate on one dance at a time??

When I was learning ballroom dance my instructor would work on a different dance each week. We would always revisit the other dances and review.

I personally enjoyed learning in this manner. It was great to learn the basic of each dance and then begin to add attitdue. Sometimes I think by learning the various styles we can better understand each style and by learning various styles we strengthen our dance skill.

I'm also wondering whether or not I be buying dance shoes.

When I started ballroom dance I simply used high heeled, comfortable dress shoes. They were not designed specifically for dance. I think I took ballroom/latin/swing classes for over a year and even participated in a few studio dance events, but I never made the purchase of actual dance shoes. I think it depends on how serious you plan to become with this style of dance.

 

[Sagitta]

Welcome to df. Just use our search function for cuban motion and you shoudl get lots of good stuff... :cheers:

 

[Sagitta]

Actually if you check our salsa forum you will seea stick on just what you are looking for. For your ease the link is provided below...

http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2574

 

[lynn]

Wow, Sagitta. thanks for the link, I'm sure the "hip" topic has been discussed numerous times but just had trouble w/ the search function.

pygmalion, you're right, the guys i've been dancing w/ are all relative beginners. It's a beginners class, so no one really knows what's going on......btw, what's smooth/standard?? Just out of curiosity, I noticed some leaders are better than the others, if a leader doesn't have a strong lead, is there anything the ladies can do to compensate that?? Being a novice follower coupled w/ an inexperienced leader usually leads to quite disastrous result :roll: .

dancersdreamland. thanks for the shoe advice. The reason why I asked is because I feel my high heels are a little slippery & is a little problematic when I try to turn or try to stop, so I'm just wondering whether dance shoes will improve that.

 

[SurfSalsa]

Hi Lynn

It was great to learn the basic of each dance and then begin to add attitdue. Sometimes I think by learning the various styles we can better understand each style and by learning various styles we strengthen our dance skill.

I agree 100% with this! Sure, with less dances you can focus more on each one, but I suggest it is good to get a good wide "base" to start off with. I'm now at silver senior and am only now consolidating - mostly because I started "club" salsa about a year ago and it has become my main focus, so as a result I have dropped cuban rumba, mambo, jazz and salsa at the ballroom studio... but I'm still glad I have done those to start off with. (I'm still carrying on with all the other stuff at the studio).

I'm also wondering whether or not I be buying dance shoes.

If you're serious about dancing - and if you enjoy it (!) - go get those shoes!! They make quite a difference. But, make very very sure they are well-fitting and comfortable; my first ballroom shoes were too small and it was a nightmare.

Think of it this way - does an athlete run in street sneakers? If you take it further - how many trainers does a good athlete have? (OK I'm an adict, I have 4 pairs of dance shoes - 3 latin pairs for ballroom, and 1 jazz pair for salsa; and on top of that, I make sure at least half of my "social shoes" are very danceable... you never know when you're going out and a dance opportunity arises! :lol: )

 

[geoffbjcn]

Hi Lynn,

Welcome to DF. I'm also a beginner and here's my opinion regarding the dance shoes issue.

I would say you should buy a pair of dance shoes right away, if you are serious about learning the dances. A pair of dance shoes make your dance more stylish and thus more enjoyable. I think a suitable pair of dance shoes will not prevent your from dancing comfortably, on the contrary, it helps with some steps, because for example you don't have to lift you heels so much as they are already half way up there if you know what I mean. Then the sole of the dancing shoes is much softer and smoother than the normal shoes, thus helps a lot with turns and spinning and it can make sure that your feet is straightened as much as possible when required.

Yeah sometimes the dancing shoes could be slippery on certain floors. The trick my teacher gave us here is to resole it with a thin layer of leather which has a more coarse surface. I also see others put plaster on their soles here but it looked awkard...

As for how many pair of dancing shoes I have, well, I have been learning international latin for 4 months and I just got my 3rd pair of dancing shoes last night. Guess I can be called addict too? :lol:

Good luck in your learning and hope you stick around!

 

[newbie]

Hi Lynn,
Don't worry, newbies are welcome here.

 

[Ms_Sunlight]

Hello there lynn!

I'm also wondering whether or not I be buying dance shoes. Someone I talked to said as beginners we'll be fine with street shoes while others think it's best to start with proper shoes. As of now, I rotate between runners (I find it too sticky and hard for me to turn) and fashion sandals (no stiletto heels, of course!)

One thing I would say is, it's not only hard to spin in running shoes, it's very bad for you. The traction means you put a lot of pressure on your knee. Don't do it. You don't want damaged ligaments.

Seriously, buy dancing shoes. You can get a pair inexpensively off ebay. I've not regretted it.

 

[mamboqueen]

One thing I would say is, it's not only hard to spin in running shoes, it's very bad for you

Ditto. You really don't want to be messing your knees up. Definitely skip the sneakers and wear either flats or small heels that you can move around in. And like someone else said above, if you think you're in it for a while, invest in the dance shoes. They don't have to be fancy, but the suede soles make all the difference in the world.

You are probably learning American style dances, I would guess. Here's the breakdown:

Smooth - Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz
Rythym - Cha Cha, Rumba, Swing, Bolero, Mambo

The International dances are:

Standard - Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Viennese Waltz & Quickstep
Latin - Cha Cha, Rumba, Paso Doble, Samba, Jive

Sometimes American style teachers will throw in Samba and Quickstep, too.

So, what Pygmalion meant on the "height difference matters" point (and I hope she doesn't mind me taking this liberty) is that it will matter more in the Smooth/Standard dances because of body and frame connection being closer, whereas in the latin/rythym dances, you're not "glued" together. I'm sure someone more experienced than I can phrase it better.

In any event, welcome to the forums. I hope you enjoy yourself!

 

[Sobrero]

Hi there and welcome to the DF!!

I am also a beginner and I completely understand you!!
I think that the other guys have covered the shoes question and so I won’t get into it now!
About the multiple dances I advise you to continue it!! It really helps because different dances put emphasis on different parts of your technique and help you better understand other dances!!

This sounds so confusing
Delete that!!! :wink:
Let me give you an example!
Salsa helps you to learn to relax your hands and not be so stiff. This helps you at both following and leading your partner.
I have danced with some leads that have so stiff hands that when they try to turn me I feel like they are trying to turn a track or something :roll:

Waltz helps you improve your balance and your footing!!! Believe me when you begin the first thing that you have to work on is the way you place your feet and where you put your weight!
Everything else will come with time and practice!
So you see that different dances help you with different things!

I hope that I have helped you see why it is so important to start off with multiple dances :!:
For the record, Waltz is my least favorite dance but it has helped me a lot as far as balance is concerned!!

Welcome to the DF again and good luck with you dancing!! :wink:

Sobrero

 

[Sagitta]

So, what Pygmalion meant on the "height difference matters" point (and I hope she doesn't mind me taking this liberty) is that it will matter more in the Smooth/Standard dances because of body and frame connection being closer, whereas in the latin/rythym dances, you're not "glued" together. I'm sure someone more experienced than I can phrase it better.

In any event, welcome to the forums. I hope you enjoy yourself!

uhem!! I dance pretty close in latin, street latin. I often glue myself to my partner, if you know what I mean... :wink: :lol:

So close our souls get glued together and we become one.

 

[leftfeetnyc]

I'm an advocate of dance shoes, however.....

They can be an investment...just like you're dancing is. If you're learning to to have knowledge and use the dances on occasion, you don't really need to buy a pair of shoes. If you're looking to be active, maybe compete one day, go buy a pair. But they're not for the occasional dancer...

If you're the first person, just dancing to learn and occasionally social dance later on, as stated you don't want to dance in sneakers. Since your heels are a bit slippery, buy a pair of suade pads and take a comfortable pair of heels that you don't mind never wearing in the streets again. A cobbler can put the pads on for you, they run about $8. Or you could ask the cobbler to actually suade the bottom for you, a little more expensive, but much cheaper than buying a pair of dance shoes.

 

[Twilight_Elena]

So, what Pygmalion meant on the "height difference matters" point (and I hope she doesn't mind me taking this liberty) is that it will matter more in the Smooth/Standard dances because of body and frame connection being closer, whereas in the latin/rythym dances, you're not "glued" together. I'm sure someone more experienced than I can phrase it better.

In any event, welcome to the forums. I hope you enjoy yourself!

uhem!! I dance pretty close in latin, street latin. I often glue myself to my partner, if you know what I mean... :wink: :lol:

So close our souls get glued together and we become one.

Ballroom latin, Sagitta, keeps a distance because of all the "shines" and crossovers and so on. Your flirty bachata moves have no place there.

Twilight Elena