Viennese Waltz: The Close Body Contact is Insane

[VronskyWasSoVain]

Apologies in advance for the somewhat "vulgar" post ahead.

I've been working hard on Vienneze Waltz. I love the dance. It reminds me of movies I've watched growing up where you see these European aristocrats attending parties and just gliding gracefully around the dance floor. I've been doing waltz for awhile but it didn't involve the kind of close body contact necessary for Viennese.

I attend a dance school. The female instructors are all very attractive young ladies as you can imagine it to be the case. That's just how it is. I don't have kind of ulterior motives or any kind of designs on them. But I'm somewhat a young man myself and my body is prone to certain situations.

I had no idea the closeness of body contact necessary for Viennese. I get it. You're gliding across the dance floor quickly and so it doesn't work if the follower is distant from the lead. The thing is, it's a very very intimate body contact if you know what I mean.

When I first started doing lessons with it, I couldn't help but get "excited" and it was awfully embarassing. I don't think my instructor noticed. But something about the fact that her leg is right up against it and also, the dance itself is very demanding and it gets my heart rate up which certainly doesn't help the situation "down there."

I have resorted to taking care of business before I go to lessons now in order to prevent a flare up.

Just wondering if this is normal and has anyone else dealt with this.

 

[SwingingAlong]

...I have resorted to taking care of business before I go to lessons now in order to prevent a flare up.

Just wondering if this is normal and has anyone else dealt with this.

From a follower perspective, yes. One of my single men dance partners had this issue, and was also embarrassed. We talked about it, and agreed for him to ask for a break if he needed to. He was much less embarrased once he realised I understood, and if also became less of a problem because of the understanding. He was a nice guy, there wasn't any ill intent meant by his reaction. Dealing with it before hand is a good start. Another option to try is to get a dance belt. I hvae heard it can help, and much more comfortable for the follow too, as we can then step forward without fear of injuring our partner. If you don't know what a dance belt is, look it up. Maybe I'm a bit sensitive to the issue, as I'm quite tall and once "got" my teacher (I never did work out how I actually did it....) I had to help him to a chair I felt REALLY embarrassed. A shorter follow might work too, although that might not be possible given it is your instructors? Hopefully some of the guys might chime in, and best of luck with getting it sorted.

 

[vit]

Compared to some other dances, like kizomba or bachata, hold in viennese waltz and other standard dances isn't really intimate ....

 

[Tangos_with_Tim]

I can see where you're coming from re the thigh contact, and I guess being anxious about it makes things worse! Hopefully once you are more used to it it will be less of a problem.

 

[ajiboyet]

Compared to some other dances, like kizomba or bachata, hold in viennese waltz and other standard dances isn't really intimate ....

There is a difference...

it doesn't work if the follower is distant from the lead.

Therein lies the difference.

There are a thousand different positions a couple goes through while dancing kizomba. Sometimes it's up close. Sometimes it's side by side. Sometimes it's closed position with some space - some of the fancy footwork can't be done up close. However, that VW position where the lady and man compress the standing leg while extending the other leg and then transfer their weight really never happens in kizomba/bachata. And that's where the problem lies, I presume.

Basically, there are A LOT of kizomba positions. There's only 1 VW position.

 

[vit]

Well, I wanted to say that --some-- positions in kizomba or bachata (there are various "styles" as well) are much closer than --usual-- ballroom hold (where we also have slight variations regarding points where bodies touch or there is indeed slight gap)

 

[Dr Dance]

Basically, there are A LOT of kizomba positions. There's only 1 VW position.

This is only true for International style. American Viennese has many dance positions including side by side and shadow positions.

 

[FancyFeet]

Try this for a similar discussion: https://www.danceforums.com/threads...n-where-you-dance-partner-turns-you-on.47057/

Short answer. It happens. We all deal.

Also, the VW position isn't any different than the typical standard hold... not sure why it's bothering you more there than in the other dances. Perhaps there's a set-up or technique issue at work?

 

[RiseNFall]

Also, the VW position isn't any different than the typical standard hold... not sure why it's bothering you more there than in the other dances. Perhaps there's a set-up or technique issue at work?

This is only true for International style. American Viennese has many dance positions including side by side and shadow positions.

I think I can explain these two things. OP has not been dancing all that long. Typical instruction for other smooth dances does not use the close international/standard hold for a while (I'm purposefully being vague because how long is going to depend on the teacher and the student). It's more difficult to do even the basics in VW without a closer hold. The teacher is probably using VW to introduce it. Second, they probably aren't doing much in side-by-side or shadow position at the moment.

OP, has anybody told you to always "dress left" for dancing? That helps some in terms of the contact.

 

[opendoor]

..I had no idea the closeness of body contact necessary for Viennese...

-When Viennese Waltz became a ballroom dance (before 1814) it first actually was a scandal.

-Why are you pressuring yourself to dance VW strictly according to the international style book. If you can manage the turns properly in open hold, why not?

-There is a VW variant in open hold, called officer´s waltz, due to the saber

 

[Xelebes]

Remember, this was one of the reasons why priests castigated waltzers in the 16th century and onward. It continues to be a problem, such that we still make movies where the teacher walks in on dancing students at the prom carrying around a ruler or any other device to try to break up any dirty dancing like a waltz. Or a grind as is wont with current musical fare.

 

[DL]

FWIW, this is a phase, from which it is possible to emerge by becoming accustomed.

 

[Boon281]

I come at the situation kinda the way a nun teacher comes at you with a ruler. I make it very clear that it is inappropriate. I make it very unappealing for the situation to happen again. And then we move on. No questions asked. If it happens again you will be asked to leave.

Sometimes the mere visual of me staring down a sweaty male dancer at a party is enough to rectify his situation. This is not something the women, teachers or students, in a studio should have to be burdened with accomodating.

This seems a little harsh. I haven't looked in to the context of the poster's past threads but there are times when you can't control getting hard. I'd say most of the time you can't control it. Even if you have the most noble intentions, if something is making contact with it, there's going to be a response.

I do agree that teachers and students shouldn't have to be burdened with accommodating it but if it can't be helped, can't there be some understanding?

 

[FancyFeet]

For me the difference is whether it's a one-off or a recurring incident.

A one-off, you apologize and excuse yourself immediately - leave with no explanation, claim a bathroom break, fake an injury, whatever - no worries. Embarrassing, yes, and inappropriate, yes, but I realize it happens... especially for teens. My tolerance is much lower for anyone who has made it through puberty, even if they are new to dance, but I would probably give them one blip.

A recurring incident, or you don't excuse yourself and keep on dancing, we'll likely have an issue. My reaction would range from calling you on it, to reporting it to the studio, to warning all the other follows depending on the incident severity.

 

[Boon281]

For me the difference is whether it's a one-off or a recurring incident.

A one-off, you apologize and excuse yourself immediately - leave with no explanation, claim a bathroom break, fake an injury, whatever - no worries. Embarrassing, yes, and inappropriate, yes, but I realize it happens... especially for teens. My tolerance is much lower for anyone who has made it through puberty, even if they are new to dance, but I would probably give them one blip.

A recurring incident, or you don't excuse yourself and keep on dancing, we'll likely have an issue. My reaction would range from calling you on it, to reporting it to the studio, to warning all the other follows depending on the incident severity.

That seems reasonable. Still hard to control but if it's every time I can see it getting weird. Kind of a conundrum.