My teacher's first job out of High School (40+ years ago) was at Arthur Murray's. She thinks WCS is swing and swing is Rhythm and there are no heel leads in Rhythm.
Competing in two different styles
- Thread starter Babydancer
- Start date
Misspendragon
Forum Master
That was an odd statement
. No judgment of course, it just sounded funny.But to address your main question: I have only done one style ever (Latin), and I find even that one style challenging. I'm learning a lot faster now than I did in Bronze or even Silver, and I make much more intuitive and quick connections between seemingly very different ideas than I did in the past. However, I also have a greater understanding of how much I'm still missing and the concepts that I'm receiving are increasingly complex. So, my overall experience is that I can handle the material just fine, but I must stay on my toes.
My point is, I think you should figure out precisely what your goals are. If not now (it seems you have been dancing for a year), then soon. Because you will set your short and midterm goals based on your main goal. If your goal is to have fun and explore dancing in general, then it's probably not a great idea to only do one style. But if you know you want to get really good at one particular style, then it's best to focus on that one style, right Because dancing will not become any easier as you progress.
Your health, fitness level, and age - as well as your own approach to your age and aging - matters as well. Fiesta said, for example, that he is comfortable with things taking time. Therefore, even though I would bet he wants to become really good in each style, he can afford to do many styles.
Me, I figured out early on that Latin is ultimately a young competitor's game and that as it is, I'm most likely will die on the dance floor during one miscalculated whip (I will break my neck or fatally injure my spine. Literally). I'm approaching 50, and while I work out a lot and try to keep myself fit and limber, I know that my years of being able to move any way I like are numbered. I have videos of myself when I briefly danced Latin in my 20s - even my posture went to s***! I used to have a nice posture, darn it. Therefore (because I want to be able to move on the floor any way I want, without being restricted by an aging body), I don't have the luxury of dancing any other style but one, in my case, Latin. Does that make sense? If I was younger and had more time, or if I was more willing to make compromises in my dancing because of increasing number of physical limitations, I could (and would) happily dance Standard along with Latin. What your ultimate goals are, your health and age, and how you approach your own dancing in the context of your age (not to mention your resources, which is a whole separate issue), will all come into play when deciding whether to start on a new style or not.
raindance
Forum Master
Yikes! I certainly hope your prediction is wrong about your future cause of death. Please try not to dance in such a way as to seriously, let alone fatally, injure your spine!
The only people I know of who have died while dancing competitively had cardiac events. I was present at the comp for one of those, and a friend did CPR on the victim. So if you can keep your heart in good shape, hopefully you will not die prematurely on the dance floor.
Misspendragon
Forum Master
My heart is in great shape, but a funny anecdote: after the first singles round at Paragon, I didn't feel too good. So, I checked my sugar level (I'm diabetic) and it was over 220. I NEVER allow my sugar level to go that high from food, not even over 160. As the doc explained later, my sugar level spiked because of cortisol: I was probably performing at a significantly higher level of intensity than what my body was used to in training, which my brain interpreted as acute stress, which raised my cortisol and hence my sugar level. (This isn't an issue for non-diabetics because their insulin production is more stable and reliable). The real issue wasn't so much the high sugar level, by the way; the real issue was that when your sugar level goes that high (normal being between 70 and 90 fasting, and between a 100 and 140 after a meal for truly healthy people), it will also crash, and that is unpredictable and dangerous - not to mention it's impossible to dance in a coma! So, I had to spend the next 2 hours pricking my finger every 15 minutes to know when to eat immediately something sugary and pray that the crash will happen either before or after the multis
.Very sad story about a competitor dying on the dance floor. It can certainly happen, even if sport itself will not give anyone a heart attack. And I guess there are far worse ways to go than while dancing.
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Babydancer
Well-Known Member
@Misspendragon , thanks for your reply. I am older than you. Dance is a hobby for me . I have been taking lessons for almost 5 years and I guess I have been doing standard seriously for one year first comp October 2022 . Total 7 comps to date .
I have learned basics in Latin and very basic routines in jive samba cha cha cha and rumba . And standard now moving into silver as noted above . I do argentine tango as well with some level of competence and milonga bachata and salsa I don’t do too badly when it comes to the social dancing in the latter 4 dances .
Goals : I know many have mentioned that a few times. I guess I want to learn as much as I can . If and when I compete then I would want to continue to work upwards to different levels. Do I have to have a specific goal? I don’t think that far or that way. Basic goals to be able to go to comps and place pretty well. It is not going to become a job for me but more of a serious hobby?? Maybe ?
I want to be able to move my body well and confidently. I am very fit , need to work on my flexibility a bit more though. I love the purposeful movement to music with dancing a routine . So that my movement fits with the music … hope that makes sense .
I have the resources to continue dance for as long as I would like . So no real goals but the learning, a bit of competing and learning more and moving up levels being able to create beautiful visuals in my movement , body awareness and confidence , better posture , meet people with the same interest and get exercise and have fun. Like learning a new language : a transferable skill to use when required .
What goals do others have here that I may not understand? Or are my goals pretty well the same as others ? I will not be a professional or maybe I will as a senior if I keep at it ?? Don’t know .. I am enjoying the ride overall for now. The feeling stuck since February until more recently was hard for me …
I am not hampered by any physical issues and stamina is great . I don’t feel any age and am fortunate I guess with no issues so far … physically. But I don’t know if i had been younger if it would have been easier because I only started as an adult : I have no other reference point . But I get and understand what I am asked to do and so far I think it is working or that is what pro says .
Yes my statement on the dresses is odd isn’t it ? All of the dresses are lovely all styles but I am trying to embrace and feel more comfortable and confident about my body and not feeling I have to cover up all the time . And so the Latin dresses offer that a bit more: the sensual side of me . Not for any other purpose but for ME to feel ok with ME out there and not feeling I need to cover up and hide . I hope that came across the way I wanted .
Thanks again
I have learned basics in Latin and very basic routines in jive samba cha cha cha and rumba . And standard now moving into silver as noted above . I do argentine tango as well with some level of competence and milonga bachata and salsa I don’t do too badly when it comes to the social dancing in the latter 4 dances .
Goals : I know many have mentioned that a few times. I guess I want to learn as much as I can . If and when I compete then I would want to continue to work upwards to different levels. Do I have to have a specific goal? I don’t think that far or that way. Basic goals to be able to go to comps and place pretty well. It is not going to become a job for me but more of a serious hobby?? Maybe ?
I want to be able to move my body well and confidently. I am very fit , need to work on my flexibility a bit more though. I love the purposeful movement to music with dancing a routine . So that my movement fits with the music … hope that makes sense .
I have the resources to continue dance for as long as I would like . So no real goals but the learning, a bit of competing and learning more and moving up levels being able to create beautiful visuals in my movement , body awareness and confidence , better posture , meet people with the same interest and get exercise and have fun. Like learning a new language : a transferable skill to use when required .
What goals do others have here that I may not understand? Or are my goals pretty well the same as others ? I will not be a professional or maybe I will as a senior if I keep at it ?? Don’t know .. I am enjoying the ride overall for now. The feeling stuck since February until more recently was hard for me …
I am not hampered by any physical issues and stamina is great . I don’t feel any age and am fortunate I guess with no issues so far … physically. But I don’t know if i had been younger if it would have been easier because I only started as an adult : I have no other reference point . But I get and understand what I am asked to do and so far I think it is working or that is what pro says .
Yes my statement on the dresses is odd isn’t it ? All of the dresses are lovely all styles but I am trying to embrace and feel more comfortable and confident about my body and not feeling I have to cover up all the time . And so the Latin dresses offer that a bit more: the sensual side of me . Not for any other purpose but for ME to feel ok with ME out there and not feeling I need to cover up and hide . I hope that came across the way I wanted .
Thanks again
Babydancer
Well-Known Member
@Misspendragon are you able to get the libre meter to check your sugars ? It reads the glucose levels every five minutes and there is the libre 2 that will buzz if you are starting to go high or low . It is checking fluid in th e skin so not as accurate as blood/ finger pricks but can at least help…
I hope that was not out of line for me to suggest . My apologies if that was the case .
I hope that was not out of line for me to suggest . My apologies if that was the case .
Misspendragon
Forum Master
Yes, all of that makes perfect sense. Both your goals with dancing and your comments about the dresses. We have another link somewhere about dancing being connected to healing, and I think your comment sort of relates to that: wearing ultra feminine, even sexy dresses on the floor with confidence, owning our bodies with grace and feeling good about it, all of that can be very healing (and fun!)
And I don't think you need a specific goal beyond what you have described. You want to learn and feel good about yourself through dancing, you want to gain both competence and self-confidence and become a beautiful vessel for music when you are on the dance floor, and you want to socialize, feel connected and alive. At least that's what I hear you say, but feel free to correct me if I got it wrong. Those are fantastic goals to have, and based on al that, I see no reason why you should have to narrow your focus and dance only one style.
Misspendragon
Forum Master
No, not out of line at all! And I appreciate the suggestion. Only it would be difficult to do anything with my sugar level while I'm on the floor, and it all happened very fast, it only took one round for my sugar level to spike that high. I've learned from this experience that leading up to the comp I absolutely must make high intensity rounds, and that I should familiarize myself with the ballroom as much as possible in advance to soothe my ANS as much as possible. Also, I cannot eat too much carb right before competing, like it is advised to most people; I should honor my regular carb intake habits to minimize spikes.
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Babydancer
Well-Known Member
Yes yes yes! I started dancing when my gravely ill daughter was recovering from a life threatening illness. It has been HEALING for me in so many ways . I am finding who I was before she was sick and finding a newer more alive me . Thank you for ‘seeing me’ and validating my experience!
raindance
Forum Master
Your goals sound perfect for you and you stated them very well. I think you are on the right path, studying various styles, and you can decide as you go how seriously to work on each one, which ones to compete when, etc. Enjoy your dance journey! Sounds like you are doing that, that is most important of all in my opinion.
But if this isn't in the realm of possibilities, are you really dancing?
I often say I hope to die on a dance floor, I'm half serious and admittedly that is insensitive to those who have had medical situations there. I also realize that would ruin the atmosphere for everyone else. That said, I would prefer that option (a sudden one) to a slow decline involving long-term care and a nursing home, and I'm unapologetically serious about that because I've witnessed both (sudden and drawn out) and the latter is by far a worse situation for all involved.
Did someone say buffet?
I like variety in my food and my dancing. I do Rhythm and Smooth. I want to be well-rounded (side note... I am well round, so mission partially accomplished). Rhythm is my favorite style, I'm more rock star, less so on the elegant/sophisticated axis.
raindance
Forum Master
How about hoping to die suddenly in the parking lot after the dance? Or in your sleep that night? That way you get to enjoy the full evening of dancing (everyone else, too). It was pretty traumatic for everyone at that comp when he collapsed and CPR was started right on the dance floor. He was the am half of a pro/am couple, can you imagine being the pro that was dancing with him?
I am a long term caregiver for elderly parents (first both, now just one) and I agree with you about what is worse, FWIW. One of the harder parts of caregiving is observing what they go through at various stages.
Misspendragon
Forum Master
Fine. I will choose then to win Blackpool, have a celebratory dinner with my kids at the best restaurant in town, stroll along the ocean in the moonlight (with the love of my life if possible, but a handsome stranger will do), return to my Penthouse hotel room and post a long recap of my victory on DF while sitting at the balcony in the gentle breeze, then go to bed and be dead by the morning, without waking up once.
There. I spared the audience's feelings.