Some thoughs about why to dance and compete?

[Chris Stratton]

It's important to differentiate between what is proper technique, and all the other things that we habitually include when dancing with a competition partner.

It's vital to know what is the key, required action to a step, vs. what optional parts change when you want to make it bigger or may even almost totally vanish when it is smaller.

Body contact was mentioned, but this is not actually a technique at all - it's an occasional result of both partners near perfectly applying a laundry list of advanced techniques. Simply trying to create body contact directly is bad technique, and should not be attempted with a partner of any level.

 

[tacad]

It's important to differentiate between what is proper technique, and all the other things that we habitually include when dancing with a competition partner.

It's vital to know what is the key, required action to a step, vs. what optional parts change when you want to make it bigger or may even almost totally vanish when it is smaller.

So I'm thinking of syncopation in cha cha. I've been taught to transfer my weight from one foot to the next foot on the 'and' of 2 and the 'and' of 3. One time I danced a cha cha with someone less advanced who said she had a difficult time following my lead. I cut out the syncopated weight change and all was good. I still had my feet turned out and had a good frame though and wasn't doing screwy stuff or anything. Is this what you are talking about Chris? Paring down the amount of technique you use when necessary or desirable?

 

[Chris Stratton]

Is that emphasized timing technique, or is it styling that becomes possible when both partners have sufficient technique for very precise and coordinated action?

 

[dancin_feet]

Things that I know of as technique may be different to competition technique. Sorry if what I have defined as technique is considered "normal dancing" for you.

Let me just say that my dancing benefits from social dancing as well as lessons, comps, performances. Just in different ways. I don't dance at one level all the time.

 

[tacad]

So I'm thinking of syncopation in cha cha. I've been taught to transfer my weight from one foot to the next foot on the 'and' of 2 and the 'and' of 3.

Is that emphasized timing technique, or is it styling that becomes possible when both partners have sufficient technique for very precise and coordinated action?

:lol: I haven't got the time right now to give that question its proper due.

But off the top of my head technique should be the foundation of a dance and style is laid on top of the technique. But somehow doing cha cha without that syncopation doesn't feel as stable to me. The syncopation seems to allow my weight to fully rest over my standing? leg, while without the syncopation I feel like I am rocking back and forth. So I will say that it is emphasized timing technique.

Am I right?

 

[Chris Stratton]

I'm not sure I have the answer, but in my mind, technique is a collection of methods, while style, figures, dances, etc are goals.

Looking specifically at what you say though, I'm not sure I understand it, but if you mean that you place your foot and then weight it, my reaction would be that this sounds more like rumba technique than cha-cha.

Hmm, did I just say technique?

Well, rumba can afford at its slower timing to make a distinction between placing a foot, and lowering the weight onto it by settling the hip. Wheras cha-cha at its tempo is more of an arrive where you want to be kind of deal. So I'd consider the hip settling to be a rumba technique, compared to a walking technique that arrives directly to a settled position. Both would be seperate from the stylistic idea of delaying actions to the last instant, maximizing static lines in cha-cha, and the contrast between fluid and sharp components of rumba.

Or at least, that's how it works in the mind of this standard-only dancer...

 

[dancin_feet]

tacad - from what you have said, that particular timing for cha cha is a more advanced level than simple stepping technique. Where I am learning, that is required for silver / gold level.

So from my point of view, it's a technique, and not styling, but others may see it differently.

 

[tacad]

I'm learning American Smooth. I definitely learned that placing my foot, then weighting it for rhumba. Now I'm concerned that I assumed it would be the same for cha cha. I write everything down the instructor says and try not to add stuff but who knows? I'll see if I can find that one piece of paper.

I get what you are saying, Chris, about delaying action. Like holding the 1 count for emphasis. I haven't done too much else like what you are saying for style though. But it may be too early for me to do that.

dancin_feet, you are saying where you study they do the placing the foot, then shifting the weight on cha cha? I don't know how much this matters but is it smooth or international?

EDIT:

Or at least, that's how it works in the mind of this standard-only dancer...

I keep forgetting. Standard = Smooth, Latin = Rhythm.

 

[dancin_feet]

dancin_feet, you are saying where you study they do the placing the foot, then shifting the weight on cha cha? I don't know how much this matters but is it smooth or international?

Yep, they call it something like guapacha timing, where you place the foot then weight change on the count. Even on the syncopations, though it is less noticable because of the speed of the step. It is supposed to make your technique look sharper. My instructor gave me an introduction to it halfway through my bronze telling me that it is required for silver / gold levels.

Not sure of particular style though, but our studio is based on a US setup, so I guess it would be American style?? Not sure.

 

[Chris Stratton]

My understanding of guapacha timing is that it is when you delay the entire step usually taken on 2 to the & before 3. It's a rhythmic accent, often used on seperated time steps, for example. I don't believe you pre-place the foot when doing this, rather you delay the entire stepping action for a different feel.

But then as before, latin is not my area of specific knowledge.

(My exposure to the term was in the context of latin, though it could apply to american rhythm as well. Wait - perhaps the concept of delayed weight transfer was a commnet on bent-knee rhythm technique, vs. latin technique?)

 

[dTas]

My understanding of guapacha timing is that it is when you delay the entire step usually taken on 2 to the & before 3. It's a rhythmic accent, often used on seperated time steps, for example. I don't believe you pre-place the foot when doing this, rather you delay the entire stepping action for a different feel.

i concur, that's my understanding of guapacha as well.

with the rhythm/latin dances i find that doing my individual techique is easier than with smooth/standard. mainly due to the lack of connection when in an open position.

but i still have to reduce my technique when social dancing. there are somethings you just can not do well without the partner there to reciprocate. but that doesn't mean that i don't learn and conentrate on other aspects of my dancing.

 

[pygmalion]

Yep. That's how I understand guapacha as well. And I agree about toning down the individuality with social dance, especially with inexperienced partners. If they start looking at your feet, you're dead.