How Are Your Lessons Going? Thread 3

ProgressNotPerfection said:
How is it that waltz and foxtrot are so totally different? (They *can* look the same; I mean, it’s possible to watch a video of a couple dancing, and if you have the sound turned off, you can’t always tell if they’re dancing waltz or foxtrot. But that usually means they’re not doing a good job.) Such different timing, different leg & foot movement, different amounts of rise & fall and swing & sway, snappier head and arm movements - sheesh. No wonder all that great new stuff I’ve been learning in waltz doesn’t automatically carry over. Most of it is still applicable, but it’s executed (or should be executed) very differently. And I get so caught up trying to remember all the differences that I forget to pay attention to the other stuff.
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Interesting. When we told 13 year old's visiting Smooth coach a while back that he was going to show his waltz, tango, and viennese waltz material, but not the foxtrot because it was the same material as the waltz, he said, "that's fine, a lot of people use the same routines for waltz and foxtrot - they're the same dance, in Smooth."

That said, especially for material that is syncopated in waltz, the details of the timing and technique can be different.
 
I've had a handful of lessons with two different pros. I like them both in their own ways. I don't want to choose, I want all the things. In my utopia, I would do rhythm/smooth with the one and Latin/standard with the other. They have very different teaching styles and they are far apart in age, but I could see myself with either/both at comp. I like the amalgamations and techniques we have worked on.

For those following me, that is correct that I am not (or haven't been for almost 5 years, and even then it was only a couple years) an international style dancer. I definitely did not understand or appreciate the highly technical nature of Standard when I was doing it. I think I've grown up a little since those days, because this time it just felt really nice to do that waltz spin turn and I was all about taking corrections to make it better. I just found myself drawn to it in a way I wasn't the first time around. It feels a bit like an identity crisis. I'm sure I will be singing a different tune when we get to foxtrot (blech). We did samba the last lesson - I've done a fair amount of samba over the years, and it was basic bronze choreo, but I really really liked the technical improvements over the course of the lesson and gosh darn it I love samba (and miss it dearly, as a rhythm dancer).

The other pro throws things at me a lot faster, but the theory is that I'm not going to magically master them on the first try. Some great cha cha fixes at the last lesson, as well as some foxtrot (smooth), and I actually like the foxtrot choreo (again, identity crisis). This pro also has a very light touch/lead, his approach is the extreme opposite of muscling, which can be hard for me because it feels like no connection sometimes. (He "muscled" me during a dance early on to make a point and was like "didn't that bother you" and I was like "nope, I social dance a ton, totally used to that").

One thing I greatly appreciate about both of them is that they are actually prepared (i.e. not learning figures from phone videos on the fly during my lessons) and they keep it moving. Oh, there are explanations, but lots of doing, and I find myself quite worn out after the lessons (not in that mentally drained way either, from standing around listening to verbose lectures). And I feel like I have a good rapport with both, I don't feel so on guard. It's nice. Not sure what I'm going to do long-term though, once the reality check arrives (mental and financial resources).
 
IndyLady said:
foxtrot (blech).
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We can't be friends any more. :p

But seriously, International Foxtrot is not only my drug of choice, but Teach uses it as the go-to tool for beating me up giving me new technique. Either he likes it best, or he knows that I like it so much that I won't kick up too much fuss about how harrrrrrd the New Thing is. Whatever that New Thing may be.

In the past three lessons, everything has changed AGAIN. Foxtrot made that relatively painless. Relatively.
 
Lessons back with primary instructor this week. We discussed a path forward and where she wants to see me reach next year. We will be formalizing a plan of possible competitions and studio events in the coming weeks. I GREATLY prefer this level of planning, so I have an idea of what/when we are working toward. It also aids with budgeting better.

We spent the majority of the dancing time on Smooth technique and dancing Foxtrot and Waltz. I was extremely happy with this because I enjoy Smooth more than Rhythm. One thing we did a lot of was counting the rhythm of the music out loud. This is going to be a focus moving forward to keep moving with the music more. My instructor mentioned that I don't really get behind with timing, instead I consistently speed up and get ahead of it. I always have a thought that I am getting behind it and that results in speeding up. The counting is a method to assist with this tendency.

One of the Waltz songs we danced, my instructor said that was the best I had danced Waltz. We actually went the full length of the song, about 4 minutes. Typically we cut them off after a couple laps on the floor (about a minute 30 to 2 minutes). She said she was enjoying the dance too much to just cut it short. It was very fun to just dance and do it effectively. Moments like this help to re-energize the desire to dance more.

We do have another studio event to work towards, but it is several months away. This is supposed to be mostly a show dance event and a portion for newcomers to do some of the core dances. I certainly plan on doing all of the studio events this coming year; I know I will do at least one outside competition. I am considering doing 2. My apprehension for competitions in general is at my age and level there isn't much competition. Paying the sum it takes for a competition to compete against no one isn't exactly logical. There is the benefit of preparing for a competition, but that is also akin to prepping for a test. Prepping for a test isn't the same as learning.
 
Lesson today; worked on walks for cha and rumba. Especially the lock step in cha. Need to keep hip back in lock step + work on the pendulum action on the lock part. Focus on which side of rib cage goes forward while keeping shoulders back. Need to work on keeping hips tucked. Also need more clarity in which direction my steps are taking (no swerving!). Balance is work in progress.
 
My first hour of lessons today was with Pro 2, with me as Standard Lead. He was pleased with the improvement in my movement across the floor, and noted that I’ve got good enough footwork to support even more swing, which will generate yet more movement – so he told me to get on with that. Then we worked on my leg actions in whisks.

The second hour was with Pro 1 with me as Standard Follow. He fixed a head position in my Fallaway and Slip Pivot. And then, we gave free rein to nerdiness and dissected the Natural Telemark and Natural Hover Telemark in Foxtrot. Which reminds me – I’ve got to tape my book back together.
 
There's too much going on in my lessons lately to write about them in as much detail as I wish I could. It's all in silver smooth, mainly W and VW, and I'm getting tiny glimpses of upcoming new layers upon layers upon layers that are overwhelming but motivating. The video clips I uploaded from yesterday's lesson (unlisted, but if you know where to look...) show the level of energy and playfulness typical in my lessons, and also show some of what Pro is focused on right now.

I had NO IDEA that (for example) the wind-up is a thing used All The Time in smooth dances; or that Pro can incorporate "dipping and swaying" in VW in addition to all the other swinging and swaying and shaping he's already doing; or what a difference it makes when I swing my leg alllll the way through my step (it's not even a "step" if I do it right); or how much better our connection is in one-handed open positions when I keep my elbows up & fixed; etc.

Have I mentioned how much I love smooth????
(Rhythm? What's that?)
 
ProgressNotPerfection said:
There's too much going on in my lessons lately to write about them in as much detail as I wish I could. It's all in silver smooth, mainly W and VW, and I'm getting tiny glimpses of upcoming new layers upon layers upon layers that are overwhelming but motivating. The video clips I uploaded from yesterday's lesson (unlisted, but if you know where to look...) show the level of energy and playfulness typical in my lessons, and also show some of what Pro is focused on right now.

I had NO IDEA that (for example) the wind-up is a thing used All The Time in smooth dances; or that Pro can incorporate "dipping and swaying" in VW in addition to all the other swinging and swaying and shaping he's already doing; or what a difference it makes when I swing my leg alllll the way through my step (it's not even a "step" if I do it right); or how much better our connection is in one-handed open positions when I keep my elbows up & fixed; etc.

Have I mentioned how much I love smooth????
(Rhythm? What's that?)
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After watching you, I want to go to the studio and practice. You look beautiful.
 
I’ve been grappling with Swing and Sway for a while now. And a drill from a recent Coach finally pushed me to more understanding. Definitely one of those life-changing coachings.

And so Pro and I have been building on it.

We realized that I do need to strengthen the ability to use my inner thigh to close moving leg to the standing leg, while the standing leg is up on ball of foot.

It’s easier for me to do that holding on to the wall (or Pro), but on my own I definitely wobble.

And of course doing this, while shaping and stretching.

Pro said there’s a lot of things to manage at once and when something is not there it feels off.

On my side, I’m finally feeling that swing in the swing dances. Sometimes it’s too aggressive for my Pro, but at least I’m doing it.
 
Ending the year on a high note with lessons and group classes after an unsteady few months. The lessons this week were definitely the best in months. It doesn't hurt that we just focused on Smooth again; the plan was to do Smooth during the first half and Rhythm on the second, but that fell apart.

We continued to focus on moving in the Smooth dances and with overall timing. We danced a few Waltzes and each was slightly better than the last. Lately, the studio overall, has focused on keeping all movements "elevated" and "stretching" through everything. I can only assume this is something that has been mentioned to all the instructors. We continued with Foxtrot and this choreography that continues to plague me. In Foxtrot we primarily focused on timing.

There was minimal time spent on Tango because my instructor says it is my strongest dance. I enjoy Tango more than I used to, but I don't know that it is my strongest dance. With the minimal time spent on it we got into a conversation about having choreography for rounds vs. doing more of lead/follow with perhaps a set number of patterns to use. My comments were that we have only ever did choreography, so it is difficult to say how anything else is. I did offer comments on my drawbacks of choreography, mostly that if we miss something it tends to throw me off. If something is missed then I often have to calculate do we repeat what I missed or move on to the next portion. As well as, when we go through the choreography we continually start in the same area of the floor and start the choreography with the same patterns. It is predictable and controlled, but that scenario doesn't work when doing it amongst others. She was glad to have gotten my feedback with this and said she will make changes to how she constructs our lessons with practicing rounds.

Then came Viennese Waltz..... and it was basically like trying to ride a bicycle after having only been on a bicycle for 2 months and then not getting back on it for a year. I reiterated that I do enjoy VW, but we do it so little and I can practice it so little with a partner that I am not comfortable with the dance. I do work it in to my alone practice time, but I am sure I practice bad habits. The same goes for Bolero, I do enjoy it, but we rarely do it and neither dance is played often at social dances. Time spent is the only way to become comfortable with a dance style. At the same time we can't spend all of my limited lesson time on those 2 styles. She did comment that she would make sure we did the styles more often.
 
My last (double) lesson of the year consisted of 6 rounds (2 each of Rhythm, Smooth and Latin...1 alone and 1 with Teach). It was tough mentally but I was happy I didn't feel dead physically and made it through. I haven't danced my routines alone since before Ohio and we have changed a lot. Plus I haven't been able to practice on my own much lately and mentally I've been VERY distracted (my dad had a stroke, went on hospice, then died. I helped plan his service and then attended it. All in the middle of my own birthday and Christmas plus lots at work too). Teach said we need to get back into competition mode as I compete in about 3 weeks. I was glad he did.
 
Tracy said:
My last (double) lesson of the year consisted of 6 rounds (2 each of Rhythm, Smooth and Latin...1 alone and 1 with Teach). It was tough mentally but I was happy I didn't feel dead physically and made it through. I haven't danced my routines alone since before Ohio and we have changed a lot. Plus I haven't been able to practice on my own much lately and mentally I've been VERY distracted (my dad had a stroke, went on hospice, then died. I helped plan his service and then attended it. All in the middle of my own birthday and Christmas plus lots at work too). Teach said we need to get back into competition mode as I compete in about 3 weeks. I was glad he did.
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I'm so sorry for your loss, Tracy. And good luck with your upcoming comp!
 
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