is it just just me or do higher level dancers dance a lot "quicker"

F

famfam

Member
like I'm watching arunas/katusha from their Harvard Tango:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmrGNp40Qzg

and it doesnt look like they do any slows...everything seems like quick quick, or quick + quick for all the steps they are doing. It's also something that's obvious in other dances.

Is it just my selective memory or do couples just dance more steps / quicker as they go up? I feel like this takes place in all styles
 
I've noticed the same thing, especially in ballroom Tango. In the video you post, it looks like almost all of the traveling is done on either quarter notes or eighth notes. Quarter note = Quick. There are some longer pauses that extend over at least a half note and sometimes longer. But if they move, they move quickly, at least in this video.

My hunch is that it has more than a little to do with the perception of "difficulty factor" in competition.
 
Recognizing the quality of the dancing is a factor

May be you can find the answer from the 'Interview with Mirko and Edita'

Link: dancesportinfo dot net Articles 7027.aspx

Mirko answered the question 'What is it that makes a competition special for you as a dancer':
" ..
I remember 2 years ago I did basic quickstep and at the end of the dance everybody stood up to clap for me. I was very surprised because the people at the German Open expect something very exciting, something very special. I had bad thoughts about these people that they did not recognise the quality of the dancing but then when they stood up and clapped for basic dancing then maybe they do know the quality of the dancing and I was very surprised.
.."
 
1. There are more "quick" (and quicker) steps in open choreography.
2. Usually even "slow" steps involve some delay in the action, which makes you perceive it as a faster step.
 
Many people do equate fast with "exciting" and "difficult" so maybe in a show situation you think about show value vs the really difficult accomplishment of executing slow, controlled movement.

Might it also be the case that in Tango, without rise and fall like swing dances, you need the quicks to achieve the flight necessary to cover distance? Just guesses.

Look at recent show videos with Luca and Loraine if you want to see slow and controlled!
 
Joe said:
1. There are more "quick" (and quicker) steps in open choreography.
2. Usually even "slow" steps involve some delay in the action, which makes you perceive it as a faster step.
Click to expand...

Yep, #2, if you want to look "quick" you have to really work on the slows.
 
Foot speed definitely increases across the board... this is a requirement in all styles for creating action and musical contrast. Actual number of quick steps.... depends on the dancer. I certainly wouldn't say that's more difficult than taking slow steps... certainly my slow steps are the ones where I am more likely to mess up.
 
Joe said:
2. Usually even "slow" steps involve some delay in the action, which makes you perceive it as a faster step.
Click to expand...
While true in general, I don't think this is what's happening in the video linked to.

White Chacha said:
Might it also be the case that in Tango, without rise and fall like swing dances, you need the quicks to achieve the flight necessary to cover distance? Just guesses.
Click to expand...
True only with poor technique. Without good technique, basics don't move a lot, but one can still use quick rhythms to get across the floor using body flight - which tango isn't supposed to have.

With proper technique, one can get plenty of distance in tango with basic steps - which I suspect Arunas and Katusha could do if they wanted to.
 
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