How are your practices going?

[Pryn]

What's it like working on multiple styles?

This is such a good question and think it's deserving of its own thread.

I've started a new one for those interested in sharing their experiences.

'Multi-Dance Learning vs Single Dance Learning'

(Sorry unable to post the link)

 

[joy]

Good to know! I must say, I can't quite understand multi-dance dancers, especially ballroom dancers, who tend to work on multiple styles at the same time once they've been dancing for a few years (correct me if I'm wrong); I've dabbled in swing and salsa, for example, and even one (one!) ballroom class, but I don't think I'd do more than dabble in another social dance in the next few years. What's it like working on multiple styles?

Looks like someone started a thread to delve deeper into it. I'll respond there.

 

[AnyNameYouWish]

How do you deal with the yips?

I felt like my practice was going great last week and this, then I go to my lesson yesterday and bam! I had a bad case of CRS (can’t remember so what) and couldn’t get moves right, couldn’t blend at all. I’m not intimidated by lessons I actually enjoy going to them. It just seems like once I get to practicing with a person my brain is like hey, yeah you’re not going to remember any of this stuff now, have fun!

 

[joy]

I was itchy to dance these thanksgiving holidays, and a lot of ballroom stuff is closed understandably. My non-label Smooth practice partner is busy.

And I was like.. all these WCS people just practice with each other, so I reached out to someone I've seen dancing Smooth, and we've danced in socials... and asked him if he wanted to meet up and practice, and he said yes!

I'm like... heh. I have more free options then I thought.

 

[fiesta0618]

How do you deal with the yips?

I felt like my practice was going great last week and this, then I go to my lesson yesterday and bam! I had a bad case of CRS (can’t remember so what) and couldn’t get moves right, couldn’t blend at all. I’m not intimidated by lessons I actually enjoy going to them. It just seems like once I get to practicing with a person my brain is like hey, yeah you’re not going to remember any of this stuff now, have fun!

I apologize, because this answer will not be inspiring or encouraging. But the answer is just more drilling, more drilling, and more drilling.

Basically, the point is, you get over the yips by getting to the point where making the movement doesn't require thought anymore. That requires a lot of repetition!

 

[AnyNameYouWish]

I apologize, because this answer will not be inspiring or encouraging. But the answer is just more drilling, more drilling, and more drilling.

Basically, the point is, you get over the yips by getting to the point where making the movement doesn't require thought anymore. That requires a lot of repetition!

I suppose this is the best answer I’ll get I definitely will need to practice at home this long weekend!

I think I’m just hitting the low part of the learning curve. I see the progress but I don’t think it’s enough. Also I rarely see anyone practicing at the studio so it makes me think I’m weird. Most people just do the lessons then practice a lot right before an event or showcase.

Maybe they practice at home? I can’t do that I get distracted to easily. My studio lets me practice there as much as I want so I just go there.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

bad case of CRS

This made me laugh, because of course I immediately read that as “Chacha Rumba Swing” (instead of Can’t Remember Sh*t).

 

[Greybeard]

How do you deal with the yips?

I felt like my practice was going great last week and this, then I go to my lesson yesterday and bam! I had a bad case of CRS (can’t remember so what) and couldn’t get moves right, couldn’t blend at all. I’m not intimidated by lessons I actually enjoy going to them. It just seems like once I get to practicing with a person my brain is like hey, yeah you’re not going to remember any of this stuff now, have fun!

Do I remember you being a guy? If I'm wrong, ignore this.

One of the teachers where I dance says that the closer a guy gets to an attractive lady, the more his brain shuts off.

There's also test taker tension. Yeah, it's not really a test, but ...

You're also adding something you didn't practice -- Frame. That pushes some of the thoughts of what you were practicing to the back of the brain.

 

[bia]

I suppose this is the best answer I’ll get I definitely will need to practice at home this long weekend!

I think I’m just hitting the low part of the learning curve. I see the progress but I don’t think it’s enough. Also I rarely see anyone practicing at the studio so it makes me think I’m weird. Most people just do the lessons then practice a lot right before an event or showcase.

Maybe they practice at home? I can’t do that I get distracted to easily. My studio lets me practice there as much as I want so I just go there.

Either they practice at home, or they practice at a Y or similar closer to home, or they don't practice except right before events, and you'll improve past them any minute (month, year) now.

 

[AnyNameYouWish]

Do I remember you being a guy? If I'm wrong, ignore this.

One of the teachers where I dance says that the closer a guy gets to an attractive lady, the more his brain shuts off.

There's also test taker tension. Yeah, it's not really a test, but ...

You're also adding something you didn't practice -- Frame. That pushes some of the thoughts of what you were practicing to the back of the brain.

Yup I’m a guy. Yes I would say my instructor is attractive but I also know I’m work. We have a good student teacher relationship. But I can get the brain shuts off thing

Yup sometimes it feels like a test because I don’t want to let her down especially with how much time a I spend there. Well it’s not a ton but usually an hour after lessons and one to two hours the other days.

The frame part makes sense because you can only do so much solo and once you get with a person it makes it completely different.

 

[joy]

Also I rarely see anyone practicing at the studio so it makes me think I’m weird. Most people just do the lessons then practice a lot right before an event or showcase.

Maybe they practice at home? I can’t do that I get distracted to easily. My studio lets me practice there as much as I want so I just go there.

Most people don’t practice.

I do.
At the studio, at the comp, in my house.
In practice wear, and in my blouse.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

At the studio, at the comp, in my house.
In practice wear, and in my blouse.

But have you practiced with your spouse?
And would you practice with a mouse?
I cannot practice cha cha locks in purple socks while eating lox.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham —

…oh, hang on…wrong book, sorry.

 

[Quickandslow]

Everyone competitive I see at my studio practices, maybe not the social dancers as much. I practice a lot. It’s the only way to really improve if that’s what you’re going for…

 

[joy]

But have you practiced with your spouse?
And would you practice with a mouse?
I cannot practice cha cha locks in purple socks while eating lox.
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I do not like green eggs and ham —

…oh, hang on…wrong book, sorry.

<3 Thank you. That was where I was going with it!

 

[Cal]

I had a really good practice with University-Student-Follow this afternoon. For 2 hours and 10 minutes we touched all 5 Standard Dances, and, in particular, we targeted Fallaway Slip Pivot in Waltz, Tango, and Foxtrot. One interesting thing she told me is that at Uni, she’s starting to learn the Lead role, but she said she’s still so new at it, that she didn’t want to test it out today. Fair enough.

And, she said that she has another break coming up in January, presumably when the semester ends, and as she will be in the area, she’s hoping that we can schedule a practice then as well. So, I’m feeling encouraged. Utterly exhausted, but encouraged!