precision in latin dancing across a variety of floors

E

euchoreo

Member
Whenever I watch the champ level latin dancers dance or practice, one thing that always gets me is the absolute precision with which they start and stop each step. At times, I it seems like they're using some Jedi force to break the laws of physics to make this happen.

I've been trying to achieve this through a combination of understanding center, balance through core, controlling my directions and timing.

This could be just me since I social dance, but how do people deal with the variety of floors out there? Suppose you want to do a single, fast 360 degree spin with a sharp stop. I know part of it has to do with using your center to stop, but what happens if you spend some of your time practicing on a rough floor and some of it practicing on a really slippery floor?

How do you deal with that? On spins that are not as fast, it's not so important, but when I really let one fly, I have to start stopping myself early. It seems that how early I have to stop myself really depends on how slippery the floor is. I'd hate to get used to one sticky floor and then go to a slippery floor and miss all the time.

What do you guys do to deal with this problem?
 
I don't know what other people do, but I cheat - I have trimmed down skid pads on the bottoms of my shoes! This was something I did after growing very very tired of not being able to stop out of a spin, or slipping because I was working my feet and not dancing flat footed.

I have two identical pair of Latin shoes - one has just plain sueded bottoms, the other I've added severely trimmed down skid guards to. I keep the rubber away from the edges of the shoes - just have them under the balls of my feet. This way I can do footwork without my feet catching on the floor, and when I spin and want to stop, I stop! The last set I did though, I didn't trim enough rubber off, and it was very annoying - my feet kept catching on the floor and it was very bothersome, especially since we were competing. So you have to be careful and be very sure you've trimmed it so that it does not interfere with anything else.

I do always bring with me a pair that is identical that is just plain suede, but I almost never wear them unless I'm on a Marley floor.
 
not sure if this will help, but here goes... I was told to enjoy each step and to be aware of every movement... You will achieve speed by waiting, waiting until the last moment to do turns or what ever it is you need speed.... As for a free spin, ours is done with a 3 step turn then prepare for the spin. You need to make sure that you pull you non wieght baring leg in, then spot , turn then spot again. To stop you settle your hip... Don't settle before or during the turn or it will mess you up..
 
liz said:
not sure if this will help, but here goes... I was told to enjoy each step and to be aware of every movement... You will achieve speed by waiting, waiting until the last moment to do turns or what ever it is you need speed.... As for a free spin, ours is done with a 3 step turn then prepare for the spin. You need to make sure that you pull you non wieght baring leg in, then spot , turn then spot again. To stop you settle your hip... Don't settle before or during the turn or it will mess you up..
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Have heard same...don't throw yourself into a spin...it's a release of energy...be on the foot then spin...must have good posture...otherwise there's a good chance there will be balance issues.
 
As a newbie, keep your dance shoes clean and pretty and dry. For slippery floors, get your shoe brush and rought them up real good. Don't worry about special tricks, you don't need them unless you're doing a lot of competing/performing. Once you have a collection of shoes, you can start "ruining" them with castor oil and such.:)
 
Masaya said:
Castor oil helps greatly on slippery floors...
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Thats my favorite. Before every comp I brush my shoes, rub in some oil, and if I can, blow dry them before dancing. Then you just brush lightly everytime they start getting slippery and you're good to go.

About the spins, you have to just calculate the amount of energy you have to put in it to stop in time and also only your feet will actually stop, everything else should keep moving just a tiny little bit more so that you can keep your balance.
 
Truth of the matter is...
Well. Can you keep a secret?
It IS a Jedi trick. They're all descendants of the Skywalker line. Leia and Han Solo, to be exact - which explains the crazy hairstyles and "too sexy for my shirt" facial expressions.

T_E
 
mamboqueen said:
LMAO! I was waiting for one of you standard peeps to express your feelings on the subject. I just assumed you guys got your flight and swing from the oil residue on the floor!
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I actually use it for standard shows as well. You just have to rub it in the middle of the shoes so you have grip when you need it and still can slide on the inside or outside.
 
mamboqueen said:
LMAO! I was waiting for one of you standard peeps to express your feelings on the subject. I just assumed you guys got your flight and swing from the oil residue on the floor!
Click to expand...
:uplaugh::uplaugh:

liz said:
maybe a silly question, why use oil?
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To mess up the floor for Standard and Smooth??

I'll give you some examples so you know what to watch out for (and special note . . . I'm sure Nik :Dand many others do this in a manner which does not mess up the floors - it sounds like you take care with your preparation, and you did not advocate pouring water on the surrounding carpets!).

However, the serious problems occur with the no-manners and thinking-only-of-themselves examples such as these (and please don't ask the names of these people here!):
  • Amateur Youth (then) Latin competitor pouring an entire cup of water on the floor in the on-deck line-up, in order to step into it to wet his soles (USA Dance comp)
  • Amateur Youth Latin competitors' parents doing the same for their kids at various places on the floor (NDCA comp)
  • Adult Amateur Standard (yes, Standard) competitor pouring a cup of water onto the carpet right in front of the water table and stepping into it to wet her soles (IDSF comp)
  • Pro Latin competitor pouring a cup of water on the hotel carpet in the warm-up area at OSB
Gary McDonald stopped an Emerald Ball event one time, made announcements, and there was a major floor-drying-out exercise because the floor had been made difficult/impossible to dance upon by this type of activity.

To me its a manner of manners, consideration, sportsmanship, respect, (and parents - grrrr).
 
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