Practicing at parties, but not the dance being played

[tsb]

Here's my guidelines in general for what you do on the dance floor: If
(1) you're having fun, and
(2) your partner is having fun, and
(3) the people around you are still having fun,
then it shouldn't matter whether you're dancing the same dance or not.

i would reword 3) as "what you are doing does not force others to accommodate what you are doing in order to have fun"

they could be choosing to have fun *despite* what you're doing.

 

[snapdancer]

mmm.... don't see that what I said is substantially different from what you said. Just fewer words. That's the way I'll continue to say it, economically.

 

[open_mind]

My former partner and I used to practice at parties all the time because we had no other choice. The studio hosts parties 4 nights a week with many group classes happening at the same time, so in order to practice, we had to share the floor with social dancers. We tried not to be on other couples way, but even when dancing, let's say, competitive foxtrot with the rest of the social crowd, we used to get those "looks" for moving too fast comparing to an average couple. Yes, I see how it could be irritating or inconvenient to those attending the party, but if the studio wants to attract competitive dancers, they probably need to provide them appropriate time and space for practicing.

 

[cornutt]

The studio hosts parties 4 nights a week with many group classes happening at the same time, so in order to practice, we had to share the floor with social dancers. We tried not to be on other couples way, but even when dancing, let's say, competitive foxtrot with the rest of the social crowd, we used to get those "looks" for moving too fast comparing to an average couple.

Yeah, I agree that nobody else should care as long as you aren't creating a problem on the floor. I think some of that comes from: We've all seen that couple, the ones who are incapable of varying from their routines the least little bit. They show up for a social and proceed to plow through the social dancers, who have to run for their lives. Don't be that couple.

 

[Bailamosdance]

'average couple' is relative. And, competitive foxtrot is still foxtrot....

 

[llamasarefuzzy]

If you're getting "looks" (esp from more than one couple), you're probably not staying as much out of the way as you think. Just because you don't collide with someone does not mean you aren't adversely affecting their dance. Kind of like when cars get right up on your bumper just before zooming around you and cutting you off - they didn't actually hit you, but they got into your personal space and scared the daylights out of you for a moment. Invasion of personal space and collisions are not as acceptable on a social floor as on a competition floor, especially if they could have easily been avoided by respecting the flow of traffic.

Actually I saw a nice metaphor on here once... Advanced dancers are like truck drivers.. They move fast and close to other traffic but when it is all said and done, they are the most experienced and probably the safest out there on the road/floor

 

[Dupont]

Just because you don't collide with someone does not mean you aren't adversely affecting their dance.

Very true. Same is true for children running, people walking on the floor.

Any practice of substantial length and effort at a party is bad - it changes the mood.

 

[Loki]

And that one couple that dances AT to every song.

I dance Argentine to am/std tango at socials now then, mainly because there's little "AT" music played. But I do stay out of the LOD.

 

[Gorme]

If you're getting "looks" (esp from more than one couple), you're probably not staying as much out of the way as you think. Just because you don't collide with someone does not mean you aren't adversely affecting their dance. Kind of like when cars get right up on your bumper just before zooming around you and cutting you off - they didn't actually hit you, but they got into your personal space and scared the daylights out of you for a moment. Invasion of personal space and collisions are not as acceptable on a social floor as on a competition floor, especially if they could have easily been avoided by respecting the flow of traffic.

Studio managers have asked if I could possibly give newbies a larger margin. They suggested 5 feet, which is a little extreme. But I do try to be more courteous and stay away or not come up to them too fast because they get scared. Their field of vision is very limited and they can only focus on where they're going - not on anyone else.

 

[DanceMentor]

Studio managers have asked if I could possibly give newbies a larger margin. They suggested 5 feet, which is a little extreme. But I do try to be more courteous and stay away or not come up to them too fast because they get scared. Their field of vision is very limited and they can only focus on where they're going - not on anyone else.

I had a studio tell me once that I could only practice if there are no other couples on the floor. I had never even touched anyone. It was a case of other instructors complaining we were scaring their students. We started practicing somewhere else, and stayed on good terms with the studio owner, though didn't like it at the time.

 

[Dancing Irishman]

Actually I saw a nice metaphor on here once... Advanced dancers are like truck drivers.. They move fast and close to other traffic but when it is all said and done, they are the most experienced and probably the safest out there on the road/floor

I like the analogy! It also seems to fit with the advanced dancers taking up more space on the floor relative to their size than less dancers (think newbie frame vs. open couple frame in standard...even more pronounced in smooth for apart work).

 

[Dancing Irishman]

My former partner and I used to practice at parties all the time because we had no other choice. The studio hosts parties 4 nights a week with many group classes happening at the same time, so in order to practice, we had to share the floor with social dancers. We tried not to be on other couples way, but even when dancing, let's say, competitive foxtrot with the rest of the social crowd, we used to get those "looks" for moving too fast comparing to an average couple. Yes, I see how it could be irritating or inconvenient to those attending the party, but if the studio wants to attract competitive dancers, they probably need to provide them appropriate time and space for practicing.

Maybe the studio really wasn't trying to attract competitive dancers? The structure certainly sounds amazing for social dancers, not so amazing for competitive types. Just food for thought.

 

[middy]

This is why having open practice sessions geared towards competitive dancers (separate from social dances) is super awesome, then everyone is happy. Though perhaps not sustainable business practice for many studios or areas.

 

[Standarddancer]

I haven't heard of any studios have to adopt such strict rule; however I totally understand if majority of studio customers at evening party are newbies or party-oriented people, they have no choice but to refrain open couples to only practice in practice room or side room, not to scare the newbies to keep business coming.

As competitor myself, I totally sympathize the competitors who really in need of space but due to restriction, can't dance out fully. Probably the best way is to work out with other serious competitors in your area to arrange certain time for standard rounds, to set aside a timeframe with local studio owners, organize a few couples and each couple pay a floor fee at the designated time; so that at designated standard round time, no social/party dancing permitted, etc. If the studio owners see they can collect sufficient floor fee for the time set aside for rounds, more likely the competitive couples can keep using the space at a specific time on a weekly basis.

 

[opendoor]

..had a studio tell me once that I could only practice if there are no other couples on the floor....

I like the owner of that studio. The problem still is, that most instructors and trainers favor competitive dancing secretly and regard social dancing only as an meaningless entertainment.