Do you dance International at social dances?

D

Dr Dance

Forum Master
One nationally famous coach once told me about learning International standard, "If you don't compete, then you are wasting your time."

Truth or blasphemy?
 
Truth or blasphemy?
Click to expand...
My answer is a bit more nuanced than these choices, if you want a single word then "depends".

Responding to the thread title, answer is "no". Certain practitioners of the style who insist on dragging their competition routines onto a crowded social floor annoy me. I think that Standard could be used on a social floor if willing to deviate from the gray book's rigid list of precedes, follows, and alignments.

I do a bit of Standard. But my purpose for trying it is to get some of the technique that can benefit my Smooth. Parts of it are good for other dances, even West Coast. You just need to be able to figure out which parts. One of the most hilarious sights I've had is of a Standard dancer trying to do the West Coast while in Standard frame.

Maybe if I work at it enough to be an open-level Standard dancer I would do it on a social floor. I don't have high expectations of ever being that good.
 
snapdancer said:
My answer is a bit more nuanced than these choices, if you want a single word then "depends".

Certain practitioners of the style who insist on dragging their competition routines onto a crowded social floor annoy me. I think that Standard could be used on a social floor if willing to deviate from the gray book's rigid list of precedes, follows, and alignments.
Click to expand...

Dancers who use social dances as a venue to "dance their routines" would be "okay" as long as they don't disrupt other dancers. This of course becomes next to impossible when the floor gets "crowded." This CAN be very annoying.

I have a dance (female) friend whose competition partner takes her to social dances to dance "their routines." The idea is for him to "improvise" when choreographed moves cannot be done comfortably within a crowded space. Her ability to follow also gets tested in this way. They are a very skilled couple! He NEVER gets in anyone's way! But couples who cannot adjust their routines in social settings would be better off practicing their routines at less crowded occasions.

Snapdancer, you have given a "legit" reason to learn standard without using it directly in competition... to aid and abet your smooth. Thank you for the insightful post!
 
In the social I attend regularly, when a foxtrot is playing, the majority on the floor is dancing Intl Slow Fox. A beautiful sight. We try to glide freely and quickly and are very careful of the newbies doing Am Bronze SS QQ in the middle lane. Of course, to survive a social intl fox trot, usually both dancers have been doing privates for years. We can actually dance with many partners.

At all other socials I occasionally attend , most are doing Smooth. If the crowd is thin, some couples will do intl fox. But almost always with the partner that they came with, or the studio pros on duty.
 
Yours is a unique social dance to have "the majority" dance International when a slow fox is played.

But you make a great point! If you are going to dance International fox trot at a social dance, you'd best be sure that your partner can too! :)
 
I dance whatever the man decides to dance...I have been at studios where it was All American all of the time, where it was 7/30 in favor of American and where it was 90/10 international...shrug...
 
I assume you are asking these questions in the USA, since I would assume that everywhere else in the world this is a moot point.

Dancing international technique is not code for "competitive routines' or 'rude behavior'. Poor dancing or rude dancing is not part of ANY technique taught or learned.
 
Bailamosdance said:
I assume you are asking these questions in the USA, since I would assume that everywhere else in the world this is a moot point.

Dancing international technique is not code for "competitive routines' or 'rude behavior'. Poor dancing or rude dancing is not part of ANY technique taught or learned.
Click to expand...

Not unless you frequent the kamikaze school of bumper car dancing. Beware the dark side, Master Luke!
 
The aforementioned "nationally famous coach" in the OP believes that social dancing International is "a waste of time."

Fasc pointed out that this is merely "one expert's opinion." But his "opinion" polarized me enough to never again take lessons from him! If he thinks that I am "wasting my time," then why would he even be motivated to teach me International standard?
 
If your focus is social dancing, then he may not be a good fit for you. You might be able to learn technique from him and modify that to fit in on the social floor. If he expects you to learn routines, find someone else.
 
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