How to dance with more energy?

[LDD]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is supposed to be a natural thing, but in my dance class (casual indian fusion line dance / beginner level), I see some people whose movements and steps seems very energetic while mine is more like just moving my body based on the choreography taught to us, like a lifeless soft jelly if you know what I mean.

ie: If you ask people who have never danced before to memorize a set of choreographed moves, you'll know what I mean.
(although I've been going to the session for 3 hours a week for the past 7 months. Outside of that, I don't practice at home though).

Those people with energy seems to have really strong force inside them. Their legs jut out at the right angle, the moves are very daring, their bodies jerk really hard and all their steps are really sharp.

Does this kind of energy come naturally or is it a conscious effort? We're told to smile during the dance but the choreography memorization is already a big toll on my brain cells LOL

Tks!
LDD

 

[Partner Dancer]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is supposed to be a natural thing, but in my dance class (casual indian fusion line dance / beginner level), I see some people whose movements and steps seems very energetic while mine is more like just moving my body based on the choreography taught to us, like a lifeless soft jelly if you know what I mean.

ie: If you ask people who have never danced before to memorize a set of choreographed moves, you'll know what I mean.
(although I've been going to the session for 3 hours a week for the past 7 months. Outside of that, I don't practice at home though).

Those people with energy seems to have really strong force inside them. Their legs jut out at the right angle, the moves are very daring, their bodies jerk really hard and all their steps are really sharp.

Does this kind of energy come naturally or is it a conscious effort? We're told to smile during the dance but the choreography memorization is already a big toll on my brain cells LOL

Tks!
LDD

Take Geritol.

But, seriously, there are different reasons why some people dance more energetically
than others. Some people are just genetically built for certain activities. Some people
have dance or other background that allows them to move better. So, it's back to
the nature and nurture thing.

Most (or all) good dancing involves conscious effort, although the effort comes easier
for some than others. 3 hours per week for 7 months doesn't seem much effort or
time.

 

[Bailamosdance]

I concur. The length of time indicates that while you may be an enthusiastic participant in your class, taking only this class, never practicing, and only doing it for a few months tells me that you are spending very little effort in dance. It is very possible that the other dancers in your one class weekly actually practice, have danced longer, and most importantly remember the science axiom energy in = energy out…

 

[RiseNFall]

1) Practicing some at home will make it so that the choreography won't hurt your head as much and you can work on other things. Even a little practice at home every day will help a lot.

2) The energy that you see is almost certainly partially a matter of experience and practice, but also of technique. For example, there are details about where your balance should be at particular moments and what body parts should initiate the movement to get the sharpness that you are seeing.

Hope this helps!

 

[Steve Pastor]

I've done a LOT of line dancing over the years, and have also taken jazz and African dance classes.
If you don't know the sequence of moves very well, you aren't going to be able to put a lot of energy into them.
I've spent hours practicing line dances that I really want to learn, usually based on a combination of the music and the movement called for. Once you know for sure where your body is going, you can really hit it. If you don't know where you are going, your movements will be tentative.

So, you gotta practice if you want to look good. And it FEELS good, too, which is probably more important in the long run.

 

[dbk]

Practice at home, for two reasons: one, to build muscle memory, and two, so you can test out dancing with as much energy as you want without feeling like you look silly.

Going to the gym may also help, since some things you just can't do (or do well) without the muscle strength and balance.

 

[Partner Dancer]

If you don't know where you are going, your movements will be tentative.

To add to this notion, "knowing where you are going" has two facets, one being
"consciously" clear about the series of movements one should/must make, as in
line/called/routine dancing, and the other being subconsciously reactive with
circumstantial movements, as in partner/floorcraft/musical compensation.
Good/great dancers aren't tentative because they're highly experienced and
"rehearsed" in both the conscious and subconscious aspects, in terms of
physics as well as kinesthetics, so they (their body parts) are where they need
to be. This is best exhibited by clean/crisp weight transfers rather than raw
energy, as there're plenty of mosh pit "dancers" that are energetic but are
all over the place.

 

[LDD]

Hi guys,

Tks for the advice. Yeah, I've started to practice some of the steps at home and in the lift. Not a full-on practice but rehearsing out the steps to try to recall which move comes after which move.

Tks!
LDD

 

[Loki]

Espresso shots. You'll dance...

 

[LDD]

LOL never felt so humiliated in my whole life than tonight.

There's this part which requires us to slowly do the steps and rotate and there comes a section where if you're standing in the last row (me), you'll end up becoming the first row once the rotation starts.

Meaning, no one to copy or reference cos' I'm in the first row, and since I can't remember any of the new steps taught, basically it became an epic mess
Maybe people are right when they say this is one of the reason why there's so few guys (if any) in a lot of line-dance classes cos' it's shameful and really ego-busting to look so bad in front of all the females.

But it's challenging stuff like this that makes you want to try harder to overcome it! So, yeah, next session watch out!

 

[Steve Pastor]

We tell new line dancers to always get in the middle.

 

[LDD]

Argh Steve! If I had met you earlier, I wouldn't have suffered so badly just now! LOL
Hate to say this, but I wanted to cry (yes) and felt so bad just now, though I tried to laugh it off.

 

[leee]

@LDD at least you didn't fart during a run-through like some other people here...

Forgetting the choreography is to be expected, no shame in it at all.

 

[Loki]

@LDD at least you didn't fart during a run-through like some other people here...

And reach, and reach, and reach and <braaaaattt>. Damn.

 

[fascination]

A) there is no room for ego in dance, except in faking it when you compete if you don't have it
B) yes, farting is worse....been there done that, bought the shirt....