Shadow position in American Viennese Waltz
- Thread starter tuxedosam
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fascination
Site Moderator
we are 360 after two halves
Alright. I think I got the answer. So I guess it is 180 degrees for half of the turn. Many of us (followers) were confused and started curving so ended up turning 90 degrees only. We have trouble keeping up with our leaders cos we were not turning enough. Shadow position is so hard!
reb
Active Member
We'll find other ways to confuse you more when we have traffic on the floor.
fascination
Site Moderator
CBM...ffb and bbf...forget "side" it no longer exists...all I'm gonna say imo
fascination
Site Moderator
difficult, but yummy
Others have already answered about the 180 degrees. I have something more to add.
In essence it's the same as you'll find in the book for the VW in standard. One of the nice things about this shadow position movement is that the man's and women's steps are basically the same in standard.
However, there's a reason I wrote "in essence." We must still remember that, when turning, someone's on the inside and someone's on the outside. If you were to set up two dancers to do the figure on their own (say, with a video) and overlay them (in the video) so they start in shadow position, you would see them trade positions (leader/follower) every bar. That's what happens when we ignore inside vs. outside entirely. So, besides the step not being the simplest one, if you're having trouble getting around, double-check to make sure the inside person is moving less and the outside person more.
Hope that helps some,
Christopher
In essence it's the same as you'll find in the book for the VW in standard. One of the nice things about this shadow position movement is that the man's and women's steps are basically the same in standard.
However, there's a reason I wrote "in essence." We must still remember that, when turning, someone's on the inside and someone's on the outside. If you were to set up two dancers to do the figure on their own (say, with a video) and overlay them (in the video) so they start in shadow position, you would see them trade positions (leader/follower) every bar. That's what happens when we ignore inside vs. outside entirely. So, besides the step not being the simplest one, if you're having trouble getting around, double-check to make sure the inside person is moving less and the outside person more.
Hope that helps some,
Christopher
I hate shadow position. I've been dancing long enough that I am *so* much more comfortable moving backwards than forwards. And even going backwards in shadow, I still miss the security of the other body in front of me.
What, dance moving forward, without anyone in my way, and able to see everything that's in front of me? Hideous!
What, dance moving forward, without anyone in my way, and able to see everything that's in front of me? Hideous!
fascination
Site Moderator
we do
and123
Well-Known Member
not dangerous per se as long as you're aware of your surroundings, but if you're not comfortable with the move yet, don't do it (or try it in normal speed American Waltz first). American VWaltz *can* be a bit of a battlezone, especially with Bronzers dancing up in it for perhaps the first time like they're allowing at BU. Traffic jams are to be expected. Maybe save it for a later round when the less-adept have been culled.
Oh, my instructor gave me this advice for shadow VWaltz steps: concentrate on maintaining contact with your partner rather than worrying too much about getting around him (assuming of course that he is doing it correctly). Try putting some velcro on your left hip and buttcheek
It might help you feel where you need to stay while dancing. I have a tendency to peel off and lose contact after a few revolutions.
reb
Active Member
We dance competitively at the Open Smooth level and make use of shadow in Smooth VW - those are the times when we can really make some progress and use it to get past traffic jams often - a favorite of mine.
Open Standard colleagues of ours were watching at the Holiday Classic in Vegas when the organizers placed a much more mature age group with us to save time and our colleagues remarked how we were able to weave among the couples dotting the landscape in shadow position.
I agree with and123 - hips hips hips.
Open Standard colleagues of ours were watching at the Holiday Classic in Vegas when the organizers placed a much more mature age group with us to save time and our colleagues remarked how we were able to weave among the couples dotting the landscape in shadow position.
I agree with and123 - hips hips hips.
Another Elizabeth
Active Member
My favorite exercise for "getting" shadow position - try taking hold in mirror position - lady's left hand in gentleman's right, lady's head poised to the right, offset to the left (you will probably need a mirror to be sure you've got everything in position). Once you've got that, have the lady stay still, while the gentleman drops hold, walks around behind the lady, and puts his body in a more-or-less normal dance position. You will have the hip contact and the body counterbalance at this point, and should be able to feel yourselves swinging past one another just like closed position.