Bronze to Silver: New Steps vs. Better Form?

[tangoking]

With the goal of moving from bronze to silver, and limited floor time, where should I invest myself? Is it better to focus on learning new steps, patterns, and routines, or work on fundamentals with the basic steps, or some other focus?

 

[latingal]

I guess it depends what your short and long term goals are for dancing. Are you a competitive and/or social dancer? What style(s) are you focusing on?

 

[Flyingkamakiri]

I want to compete in higher levels, but only when my coach admits that my technique matches the level. Especially, since i represent my teachers way of teaching and the studio, I want to make sure that I'm at my technical best.

I would go for technique rather then patterns.

 

[Terpsichorean Clod]

One doesn't have to dance silver material in a silver competitive event. I can think of at least one local couple that has been winning or placing in silver and gold events with only bronze material. They keep it simple and maintain a nice frame, while many of their competitors are breaking frame to get into wing. On the other hand, silver opens up some good options. For example, silver quickstep figures like V6 and Quick Open Reverse allow you to use the center of the floor, unlike the bronze figures which pretty much keep you hugging the sides of the floor. Silver waltz allows you to use the Progressive Chasse to Right/Outside Change combination and Weave from Promenade, both of which flow better than the bronze Basic Weave, and especially Natural/Reverse turns and Closed Changes.

I think you should almost always be working on fundamentals. But sometimes, it can be worth it to divert attention to new figures. I think it would depend on:
-How much you already have of the fundamentals needed to support the new figure
-How much time/effort you would need to invest in the new figure
-How much the new figure could show you to better advantage

 

[fascination]

one the other hand...if your fundamentals are truly good and you understand them quite well then incorporation of those principles into new steps should be no big deal...nothing compared to learning your bronze steps when you very likely had very little technical understanding...

 

[biggestbox]

myself 5 years ago would answer technique, but nowadays i say steps first. your body needs practice with the steps, so you need to learn them quickly. Or course you will place better in competition dancing bronze steps with higher level technique. But winning comps shouldn't be your goal. you will improve faster pushing yourself with harder and harder steps WHILE working on the basics.

 

[samina]

more steps can be more fun and more ways to work on technique, and can reveal more about the flow of dancing and what it feels like, but it all boils down to how well you can do the basics, regardless of the steps you're doing.

so my 2 cents...mix it up a bit to keep it fresh & interesting, but never forget that the dance always rests on certain principles, and it's those principles that should always be the cornerstone of your focus.

 

[danceronice]

Like TC said, it's not always about the figures. My pros have said (and with some students demonstrated) that you can win a Silver event dancing closed Bronze figures if the technique is good enough. Conversely Chris can and sometimes has lead me in Silver or higher steps (on purpose or otherwise) and I've followed just fine, but if we competed Silver I'd get my butt kicked because my technique is not quite there. Like fasc says, it's good to add new steps, if you've got the fundamentals, but if you don't have the fundamentals the steps aren't going to be very good.

 

[etp777]

Now, does the question change if you're talking american smooth? I know in rhythm I'll often see silver dancers stick to bronze steps, just performing them with much better technique than I have. But I would think that wouldn't be an option in waltz/FT. Do you HAVE to change to continuity?

 

[Chris Stratton]

Now, does the question change if you're talking american smooth? I know in rhythm I'll often see silver dancers stick to bronze steps, just performing them with much better technique than I have. But I would think that wouldn't be an option in waltz/FT. Do you HAVE to change to continuity?

Depends on the judges, if those dancing continuity have found a sense of pacing, and if your bronze is exemplary or just okay.

 

[fascination]

agree...if after a fair amout of dedication for 7 years, one hasn't made those corrections, it isn't going to be about what level of steps they are doing...it is an ongoing process...

 

[Chris Stratton]

It would seem that something needs to change - could be going forward and crashing around the floor ahead of the music in continuity (BTDT) until realization of the nature of the underlying problem dawns, or it could be backing up to just quarter turn basics in american foxtrot and drilling that to gradually bring out a sense of balance and paced progress of body weight with "up" poise rather than "down". Or maybe both.

If the "but it doesn't go anywhere" objection is coming up quickstep might be a good alternative - in some ways it makes the keys skills most accessible, because it has real swings but at a tempo that doesn't require as much foot strength and precision of pacing.

 

[Piggles]

Interesting stuff posted here; I'm getting into the same discussion with my teacher.

I switched to standard nearly a year ago after 4 years of smooth and feel confident with the bronze patterns and techniques. Not perfect, but competent. My teacher candidly told me earlier this week that he's not certified to teach silver and isn't sure that he can effectively teach me the silver syllabus.

I was hoping to compete pro-am intermediate silver at a competition in February. I've done a few competitions and tend to win my contested heats and place very well in the 3-dances.

I like my teacher and he pushes me hard with all the right things. Do I stay bronze and continue to perfect my existing routines, or do I beg him introduce silver patterns into my routines?

 

[Chris Stratton]

It sounds like perhaps its time for a new teacher as source of guidance. Not because this guy can't teach you the silver syllabus, but because he doesn't have the perspective of that knowledge (and much more) enriching understanding of what is ultimately important in the basic elements.

Perhaps you can continue dancing with him and getting instruction together from someone else as it does sound like he is a good partner for you. That's actually not uncommon, but can be awkward to sort out financially - this is kind of where the issue of money starts to interfere with dancing, rather than enabling it.

 

[Spartacus]

I think Larinda made an excellent point.

For me, often it was moving on to a new figure that held me find a pattern in what I was doing and what I was supposed to do that helped me fill in technique on my more basic steps.

To me, it is a matter of sticking with it while you are in that frustrated/confused stage, but if you feel you have become unsure of what exactly you are trying to improve upon it may be time to move on to something new and stay challenged.