Practicing at parties, but not the dance being played

[JudeMorrigan]

I am reminded on one night, at a very well-regarded studio, where I heard a west coast come on. I don't generally dance west coasts, so I went and sat down. While chilling, I heard one of the instructors remark to another in bemusement. She had heard west coast too (this studio doesn't announce their dances), and there were people dancing west coast. And cha-cha. And hustle. And american rumba. And international rumba. And one couple that was dancing foxtrot. It was the durndest thing. I guess it's one thing if they announce the dances, but it's not always completely obvious what each song "is".

 

[ajiboyet]

I am reminded on one night, at a very well-regarded studio, where I heard a west coast come on. I don't generally dance west coasts, so I went and sat down. While chilling, I heard one of the instructors remark to another in bemusement. She had heard west coast too (this studio doesn't announce their dances), and there were people dancing west coast. And cha-cha. And hustle. And american rumba. And international rumba. And one couple that was dancing foxtrot. It was the durndest thing. I guess it's one thing if they announce the dances, but it's not always completely obvious what each song "is".

Ah, yes. The this-song-works-for-more-than-one-dance conundrum.

In this case, that rule means that I MUST do the dance that was announced, if any was, even though my musical sensibilities dictate otherwise.

This party isn't a lot of fun.

Teeheehee...

 

[Mr 4 styles]

She had heard west coast too (this studio doesn't announce their dances), and there were people dancing west coast. And cha-cha. And hustle. And american rumba. And international rumba.

pfft they forgot rhythm two step!!!

 

[Gorme]

And that one couple that dances AT to every song.

 

[Hedwaite]

Do you guys find a lot of people being lost if it weren't for the dances being identified by announcement? We have a lot of people in the area who sit them out until they see someone else doing something to it, then they go dance that dance.

 

[Gorme]

Do you guys find a lot of people being lost if it weren't for the dances being identified by announcement? We have a lot of people in the area who sit them out until they see someone else doing something to it, then they go dance that dance.

We have a large monitor on the wall that shows what is the current dance being played and what are the upcoming dances (next 6). If the music being played does not quite fit for what's listed, people would question why I would want to do something different than what is displayed on the monitor.

 

[SwayWithMe]

Don't do stationary dances in the LOD of travelling dances. At the same time, don't do traveling dances that weaves in and out of people doing stationary dances.

In some crowds NC2S is a stationary dance. My main instructor and I dance it as a traveling dance, but I'd like to think we're considerate of others on the floor. The rock-triples NC2S we recently danced as a Viennese Waltz might have been pushing it a bit... It sure was fun!!

 

[opendoor]

...a studio I go to instituted a policy that said you must dance the dance of the song being played, or you could be warned...

I would second that rule: practicing actually got not place at a party. It´s simply bad style.

Even poor dancing could be difficult. Therefore usually the center of the dance floor is reserved for beginners.

 

[opendoor]

Do you guys find a lot of people being lost if it weren't for the dances being identified by announcement?

Very often I found that announcements were wrong or the labels in a projected playlist were single-edged. It´s our job as experienced social dancers to interpret the music and to choose the best style. Of course in consideration of the majority of dancers and of the social rules at a certain event.

 

[anntennis]

If people dancing are advanced social dancers and can use the same music as combination of the different dances, then there is nothing wrong in using the music as they like for their dance enjoyment.
Not being rude by practicing, lessons, and interfering on the floor so it would hold the traffic though.
One good example of foxtrot and rumba beautiful combination: Andrea Bocelli –“ Besame Mucho”

 

[Mengu]

Do you guys find a lot of people being lost if it weren't for the dances being identified by announcement? We have a lot of people in the area who sit them out until they see someone else doing something to it, then they go dance that dance.

Yes, there are always beginners. It can be somewhat comical when they accidentally announce a chacha and start playing a mambo, "Why is this chacha so fast?" "Our instructor always plays the slow ones dear." Or announce a waltz and start playing a bolero, "Come on honey, why do you keep getting off beat?" *man sweats profusely trying to concentrate*.

One good example of foxtrot and rumba beautiful combination: Andrea Bocelli –“ Besame Mucho”

Or bolero

 

[leee]

Then it's rude if you're in the way of others who are doing the dance being played. If you're not in the way, you're just odd.

I was odd way before I started doing the tango during foxtrot songs.

 

[Gorme]

I've had a lady ask me to do a waltz while a nightclub 2-step was playing. Without thinking about it, I just started doing some waltz with her. After 30 seconds, I started to listen to the music wondering why it sounded so weird. Then I told her it's not a waltz. She cocks her head to listen to the song and proclaims that it is a waltz!

 

[Warren J. Dew]

I've had a lady ask me to do a waltz while a nightclub 2-step was playing. Without thinking about it, I just started doing some waltz with her. After 30 seconds, I started to listen to the music wondering why it sounded so weird. Then I told her it's not a waltz. She cocks her head to listen to the song and proclaims that it is a waltz!

There are blues songs written in 12/8 that can be heard either as viennese waltz or as night club style, or perhaps as slow waltz at half the viennese waltz tempo. Perhaps this was one of them.

 

[opendoor]

There are blues songs written in 12/8 that can be heard either as viennese waltz or as night club style, or perhaps as slow waltz at half the viennese waltz tempo..

I´m not sure if I can agree. By definition blues music got an even rhythm. I have heard (and played) some delta blues exceptions form the 40s which actually got an uneven rhythm, but I think these pieces are ralely played at social (ballroom) dancing events. What Gorme reported rather may be due to the fact that the mentioned night-club piece was that slow that the lady expanded every isolated beat of the (even) measure to an entire uneven bar with additional three beats. I would recommend to asign not only by rhythm and speed but also by characteristical instruments, arrangements, or the musicians´ origins.