Standard dancers - what's happening here?
- Thread starter s2k
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raindance
Forum Master
Some of the current head shaking seems so extreme to me compared to what I've seen danced in the recent past. As in, it's unpleasant to watch, and it looks like there may be risks of neck injuries and/or micro-concussions, particularly with repeated practice, and particularly with newer dancers. And it just looks violent. (I realize these followers are agreeing/wanting to dance like this, and aren't being forced into it, but that doesn't really make it look less violent to a spectator. People who have had whiplash from car accidents, or other neck injuries, flinch when they see others repeatedly make sharp head movements like some of these.)
Larinda, does the current trend with some dancers, as seen in this video example, seem extreme compared to how ballroom tango has been danced over the years? It seems extreme to me, but I don't have a good perspective on trends over time. Have we seen it like this before? Is this something that comes and goes? Five to ten years from now, will more people be back to doing more subtle head movements?
Larinda, does the current trend with some dancers, as seen in this video example, seem extreme compared to how ballroom tango has been danced over the years? It seems extreme to me, but I don't have a good perspective on trends over time. Have we seen it like this before? Is this something that comes and goes? Five to ten years from now, will more people be back to doing more subtle head movements?
Yes....
It came into vogue in the very late 50s early 60s, with Irvine's
interpretation. Scrivener's partner, Nelly Duggen ( my ex teachers ) had used the head "snap ", but never in such an aggressive manner .
Bills Tango, was openly criticised for his approach to Tango( Too aggressive )
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FancyFeet
Forum Master
I may have had a discussion with pro about this just before the holidays... he wanted me to watch their tango from a specific recent comp to see how she expresses the music. My response "okay, but I'm not doing that thing she's been doing with her head lately, because I hate it." Once as an accent is fine, and they're amazing, but I hate fussy... so I'm not going there.
Most of her mentioned head movements were not connected with accents in the music ... so it looks like 1 or 2 accents she did hit are just a coincidence in relation of her choreography and particular piece of music ... as usual when dancing a pre-prepaired choreography to random music on a competition
hereKittyKitty
Administrator
So do I. What I find interesting is how everyone is talking about the girls head movements. But if you watch the guy, there is plenty going on there too...Next thing you know, we'll be talking about her hair and her dress
newbie
Well-Known Member
Yeah. This head shake is so ugly. So detrimental to ballroom. It's like she's trying to enter the Youtube epic fails compilations.
Let's hope they got a warning from the jury, and will be disqualified next time she tries it.
Partner Dancer
Well-Known Member
Since the excess head movements are totally disconnected from the main
body, what's to say side-side rattles are more "interesting/superior/appropriate"
than half a dozen or more other head flicker possibilities? Lets try:
- Head nodding
- Head wobble
- Head bobble
- Head bobs
- Head tilts
- Horizontal goose peck
- Head slides
()
While we are at it, why don't we add funny faces:
- Stick tongue out (extra points if able to dart tongue in and out like frog)
- Wink alternating eyes (extra points if able to do Marty Feldman eyes)
- Wiggle ears
Just Google "funny faces" to find countless possibilities.
body, what's to say side-side rattles are more "interesting/superior/appropriate"
than half a dozen or more other head flicker possibilities? Lets try:
- Head nodding
- Head wobble
- Head bobble
- Head bobs
- Head tilts
- Horizontal goose peck
- Head slides
()
While we are at it, why don't we add funny faces:
- Stick tongue out (extra points if able to dart tongue in and out like frog)
- Wink alternating eyes (extra points if able to do Marty Feldman eyes)
- Wiggle ears
Just Google "funny faces" to find countless possibilities.
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hereKittyKitty
Administrator
Please refrain from being insulting here. I danced standard for many years and what I would like to point out is...
People don't realize how uncomfortable being on the inside of the hold and always to the left can be (not to mention boring). Especially after a few minutes and several rounds.
I eventually gave it up because of severe neck pain. I would dance rounds and often turn my head to the right because keeping it always to the left (except when I was led to turn it right) became too painful. So I fully appreciate the head flicks.
People don't realize how uncomfortable being on the inside of the hold and always to the left can be (not to mention boring). Especially after a few minutes and several rounds.
I eventually gave it up because of severe neck pain. I would dance rounds and often turn my head to the right because keeping it always to the left (except when I was led to turn it right) became too painful. So I fully appreciate the head flicks.
Partner Dancer
Well-Known Member
Whether something is taken as an insult, a joke, a sarcastic commentary,
or whatever, is a very subjective thing, much more dependent on the
background/mood of the reader than the author. A "classically" trained
Ballroom dancer may very well take the side-side shaking as an "insult" to
good technique.
Although the alternate head movement suggestions were mostly tongue-in-
cheek, there's actually substance in the idea. If a dancer practices/experiments
with various head movements as one dances, one should/will come to the
conclusion that the head position is very much integral with what the body
does. The orientation of the head primarily relates to the shifting of weight
from one axis to the other, under that head.
Unfortunately, many dancers are taught to hold ridiculous upper body positions
as they dance, contributing to pains and injuries. Good dance technique
coincides with comfortable, and actually delightful, holds and frames rather
than rigid, unbearable, ones. Even when the topline seems very still, the
body beneath it is constantly adjusting, in minute degrees (to help balance,
partnering, etc.), so the feel should be one of pleasure, not pain or boredom.
danceronice
Forum Master
The head flicks would hurt my neck/head more than just staying there or one quick turn.
Annette is just using some 'free time' to put in something 'extra'.
It attracts attention because you do not expect it. It's not led by Simone.
For the trained eye it's therefore sort of funny, almost as if meant as a small joke were she not repeating it several times.
I consider it more of an 'abstraction' making a bit of fun of the sudden head movements in Tango.
They can allow that, as the routine is otherwise close to flawless from technical point of view.
[I wonder if they are out of phrase a bit halfway the routine. The first check (start) they do is landing on a drum roll, the second is not (after avoiding collision in the left upper corner). In the first part they mirror all drum rolls perfectly with movements in their routine, in the middle part they seem one beat off, last part is perfect again. I wonder if that makes these flicks appear also a bit odd at 1.20]
Of course Simone is aware what Annette is doing, as it's a trained part in their routine, which is also otherwise thought through in the greatest detail. They have an extremely clean/clear performance; very clear what they mean to show.
Annette can decide to do these head flicks on various occasions without disturbing Simones lead.
If you like it, hmmm... a matter of taste.
I am not always sure. Simone and Annette bring quite a few new idea's to the floor, which is a prerogative of world class dancers. Some ideas will stick, some will fade. Remember Konovaltsjev "jumping hurdles" in the quickstep...? Don't see it so much anymore.
It makes dancesport interesting to follow also, new developments&techniques.
I like Simone and Annette a lot, so clean and very creative. They catch my eye and are interesting to watch.
It attracts attention because you do not expect it. It's not led by Simone.
For the trained eye it's therefore sort of funny, almost as if meant as a small joke were she not repeating it several times.
I consider it more of an 'abstraction' making a bit of fun of the sudden head movements in Tango.
They can allow that, as the routine is otherwise close to flawless from technical point of view.
[I wonder if they are out of phrase a bit halfway the routine. The first check (start) they do is landing on a drum roll, the second is not (after avoiding collision in the left upper corner). In the first part they mirror all drum rolls perfectly with movements in their routine, in the middle part they seem one beat off, last part is perfect again. I wonder if that makes these flicks appear also a bit odd at 1.20]
Of course Simone is aware what Annette is doing, as it's a trained part in their routine, which is also otherwise thought through in the greatest detail. They have an extremely clean/clear performance; very clear what they mean to show.
Annette can decide to do these head flicks on various occasions without disturbing Simones lead.
If you like it, hmmm... a matter of taste.
I am not always sure. Simone and Annette bring quite a few new idea's to the floor, which is a prerogative of world class dancers. Some ideas will stick, some will fade. Remember Konovaltsjev "jumping hurdles" in the quickstep...? Don't see it so much anymore.
It makes dancesport interesting to follow also, new developments&techniques.
I like Simone and Annette a lot, so clean and very creative. They catch my eye and are interesting to watch.
Warren J. Dew
Forum Master
How can she feel it if he does not lead it?
1:20 looks intentionally led to me; also uncomfortable. 1:51 appears to be part of their routine where he is trying to lead it and she follows what he is supposed to do. It is a faster repetition of what happens a couple steps earlier, which is quite clearly intentionally led.