Improving Technique

[africana]

I'm generally a "if it aint broke don't fix it" kind of dancer but I'm starting to zero in on a few concepts and technique that I think would help improve my versatility as a social dancer

For example, I noticed a hand connection issue I have with certain leads, while executing weird or fast turns and hand changes in between, or while going from a spin straight into certain sequences (and vice versa). It turns out that our hands may get separated when they shouldn't (and sometimes due to sweaty palms ) - anyway I want to minimize this occurence of broken connection

-so far, one common technique I'm learning is maintaing a C cup with primarily the two middle fingers (from the thumb). I did this most of tonight and notice my spins were somewhat tighter and faster. And I could handle more than a couple (with leads of varying height) without anticipation, "over" prepping, or even paddling.
It also seems the leads found this cup easier to grab, and I felt I was more easily lead in any direction, with less energy from either party....

In the past I used this technique for just spins (when I remember and feel the prep coming) but it's seem good in general...so I'll keep at it also to see how it works with a wider varierty of partners.

Any thoughts on this or other technique to improve connection? Or on other partnering technique....?

 

[hopelessly_addicted]

hey I'll try this technique tonight and let you know!

 

[africana]

cool 8)
another thing to observe: are they leading you more with a single finger, or two fingers or still with their whole hands? I find the more advanced leads using a single finger for spins and certain turns if I provide a good connection like with the C cup or a hook

 

[hopelessly_addicted]

Yeah good leads do then to use 1-2 fingers given a good connection from followers I find also...

I have *tried* to use the C cup technique last night. It seemed to have worked when I remembered to use it :? I'd like to know what's good technique for guys to lead girls multiple spins :?: So odd.. I get spun so much but I don't exactly know what they do - only know what feels good and what doesn't..

There's one guy who puts downward pressure like they way Squirrel's partner suggests ( First time at a congress). I'm suspecting that I lose balance with his lead when spinning because I don't push up..

 

[africana]

I have *tried* to use the C cup technique last night. It seemed to have worked when I remembered to use it :?

yeah that's the catch for me too, so maybe using it all the time will make it automatic over time

I'd like to know what's good technique for guys to lead girls multiple spins :?: So odd.. I get spun so much but I don't exactly know what they do - only know what feels good and what doesn't..

yes that's pretty much the same for me...I noticed that from certain positions they feel awkward and from others they feel good. I want them to feel good from any direction and with any style (reasonably good) lead 8)

There's one guy who puts downward pressure like they way Squirrel's partner suggests ( First time at a congress). I'm suspecting that I lose balance with his lead when spinning because I don't push up..

hmm interesting...any guys know more on this?
sometimes spotting does the trick for me, but other times the spins are too fast or too spontaneous that they're over before i remember to spot heeh

I'm thinking of getting some privates (for the 1st time ever :shock: ) to get more details on this stuff...we'll see...I'm thinking from a lady rather than a male instructor, someone used to interacting with different leads

 

[hopelessly_addicted]

I'm thinking of getting some privates (for the 1st time ever :shock: ) to get more details on this stuff...we'll see...I'm thinking from a lady rather than a male instructor, someone used to interacting with different leads

I was thinking doing exactly the same thing (receiving some privates from a female instructor) (she was mentioned in this thread Ballroom Salsa - check out her spins! :shock: ) She asked me to take her group lessons before thinking of taking privates from her so I did that and now she's away for LA congress.. we'll see if I can get some privates when she's back and when my exams are over...

 

[africana]

cool clip http://www.salsamafia.com/index.php?Clip=Salsa_Sharon3.wmv
I never watch the mafia clips for some reason heh will have to change that...

yeah I know at least 5 pro ladies in my scene who can do that many spins in performances and more cleanly, but I don't often see anyone crazy enough to keep that up while social dancing :lol:

 

[meagalita]

africana, i can't think of anybody i like watching more than you for your flavor and rhythm..one thing i notice now that you mention it is that you don't tend to spot in turns or spins. it doesn't seem to be an issue for you but you could try it more..the other thing junior has been emphasizing in his classes is the hand connection; it's actually much more of a bent finger thing than i ever thought. that's exactly what keeps the hands from slipping when sweaty, etc..sounds like you found that out. the other thing i discovered from him is that when the leader opens you up with one arm, you should keep the connection solid with your arm on his, does that make sense? fairly obvious to more advanced people i'm sure..

 

[hopelessly_addicted]

the other thing i discovered from him is that when the leader opens you up with one arm, you should keep the connection solid with your arm on his, does that make sense? fairly obvious to more advanced people i'm sure..

errmm meagalita, could you please elaborate on this for beginners such as myself? when a lead opens u up with one arm as in as a signal to spin? How would you keep the connection?

 

[africana]

yeah for spotting, i try to focus on the lead for regular speed spins, otherwise if it's faster I don't really pick a physical spot, but I don't "look around the world" either so as not to get dizzy

Another thing I noticed from watching is that doing the pause-style spotting makes the dance look so technical, and it has this sharp clean look (which is great for shows/coms). But watching some other girls do their spins, it has a softer, more fluid look that I like better, even though there isn't any obvious spotting involved

It also depends on the lead, surprise-factor, the music tempo, energy levels, etc

..the other thing junior has been emphasizing in his classes is the hand connection; it's actually much more of a bent finger thing than i ever thought. that's exactly what keeps the hands from slipping when sweaty, etc..sounds like you found that out.

cool I was talking to michelle tonight and she uses just her middle finger (instead of my 2), but it works best if the guy provides the cupped/hooked hand. She was also talking about keeping elbows in her eye view at all times, but again in practice it seems to give much more tension than I really want...need more practice

the other thing i discovered from him is that when the leader opens you up with one arm, you should keep the connection solid with your arm on his, does that make sense? fairly obvious to more advanced people i'm sure

not sure i know what ur talking about...I have a couple scenarios in mind...one is before an ejection, if your connection if good you'll get more free spins out of it. another is before a crossbody or the cabbage patch move (without anticipation)

 

[tacad]

Yeah good leads do then to use 1-2 fingers given a good connection from followers I find also...

I have *tried* to use the C cup technique last night. It seemed to have worked when I remembered to use it :? I'd like to know what's good technique for guys to lead girls multiple spins :?: So odd.. I get spun so much but I don't exactly know what they do - only know what feels good and what doesn't..

There's one guy who puts downward pressure like they way Squirrel's partner suggests ( First time at a congress). I'm suspecting that I lose balance with his lead when spinning because I don't push up..

I do use the two middle fingers for spins, generally.

For me, multiple spins depends on timing. I lift her arm, lead a spin, lead another spin, lead another spin. Separate spins, in time, with the rhythm, led at just the right time, not just a continuous spinning. Each spin has a separate lead. To stop her, I put her arm down at the end of the last spin, a definite movement, again at just the right time.

I can't really speak to the pressure question. I do know that sometimes I feel women holding on more, in which case I respond by supporting them more with my raised arm, still leading the spins. There is certainly a reasonable amount of tension or pressure between our hands to accomplish the spinning. But just whatever is necessary to accomplish the communication between us. I don't know if she is directing the pressure up or somewhere else.

 

[Sagitta]

the other thing i discovered from him is that when the leader opens you up with one arm, you should keep the connection solid with your arm on his, does that make sense? fairly obvious to more advanced people i'm sure..

errmm meagalita, could you please elaborate on this for beginners such as myself? when a lead opens u up with one arm as in as a signal to spin? How would you keep the connection?

generally....I'm thinking that if a partnership moves from a two hand to one hand connection the connection/communication through that one hand becomes even more important.

 

[africana]

oh yeah meagalita I also notice that I actually NEED to spot more when I'm tired, strange huh? and also if I know ahead of time that it's more than 3 or 4 spins, otherwise chances of dizziness increase :?

so this stuff about not picking a "physical spot" on the lead doesn't really work all the time, at least not for me yet

yeah for spotting, i try to focus on the lead for regular speed spins, otherwise if it's faster I don't really pick a physical spot, but I don't "look around the world" either so as not to get dizzy

Another thing I noticed from watching is that doing the pause-style spotting makes the dance look so technical, and it has this sharp clean look (which is great for shows/comps). But watching some other girls do their spins, it has a softer, more fluid look that I like better, even though there isn't any obvious spotting involved

I don't like thinking so much about this stuff but I'm sure there's a method to all this madness...

 

[youngsta]

Nice thread, making me more conscious of what kind of technique I use out there. I THINK I hook with two fingers (index and middle) when I'm leading spins but I don't know how consisitant I am with it. Need to work on that.

 

[David]

Cup... definitely cup with hands to maintain connection. Please. If the girl doesn't cup her hand(s) then I'm going to have to actually grip her hands to dance with her. Not good. Makes the dance stiffer and less fluid, more a tug-o-war. Also greatly increases the chances injury for the girl. :cry:

- begin edit -
Oh yeah, please don't grip. I like my fingers. :wink:
- end edit -

Have to say I'm often amazed at how many girls don't cup, I find it hard to fathom how they can follow a lead properly. In most cases though it turns out they can't, they get dragged and think that equals a lead. When they dance with somebody who does _lead_ rather than drag they find them selves constantly losing the connection. Very frustrating and I can think of a few girls who I generally avoid dancing with now because it just got to be too difficult. It's a little amusing in a way too... they'd nearly always blame me, but then watch me dance with a girl who maintained the hand cup, and hence the connection, and wonder why she was so much better. Hah.

As for number of fingers, I vary a little. Some times just the middle finger, more often middle and ring fingers. Some moves will involve other fingers, or even the thumb, too.