What will everyone think?

[19DancerBabyLin]

Not sure my dancing skills are Youtube ready just yet. Maybe next year's showcase??

We're a very supportive crowd And people here aren't expecting professional level performance, everyone's just excited to share in your progress!! I highly recommend videotaping it... besides getting feedback from the generous folks on here, it is my one big confidence booster. I have videos from my very first dance competition till today, and going back and reviewing them when I am frustrated reminds me of how far along I've come. (Although I should say my first few videos are sssooo painful to watch I couldn't study them with an objective view for about a year... lol)

GOOD LUCK!!! You will do GREAT!!!
And if it's any encouragement to you... I'm a size 16 dancer who's won girls half my size at competitions... with about 100 couples to begin with

 

[samina]

welcome wannabee! i've seen some wonderful dancers on the heavy side. joy, delight, freedom of movement (very much an inside-out business), musicality, self-expression... these are all independent of weight.

go for it and bring your best!

 

[Tenehill]

Sometimes, depending on the size and experience of partner, I encounter a small issue with turns in closed position.

What kind of issues? I've not been informed of any issues here, but it could be that we're having them but my pro is either compensating for me or too nice to say anything

Often, with biginner ladies with large bodies, coming close enough in closed position is difficult. For this reason, it is very difficult to correctly accomplish a half-turn, and often event smaller turns, if the lady is not aware that I cannot compensate her underturn. Maybe one reason for that is that I am not small either.

 

[Wannabee]

Often, with biginner ladies with large bodies, coming close enough in closed position is difficult. For this reason, it is very difficult to correctly accomplish a half-turn, and often event smaller turns, if the lady is not aware that I cannot compensate her underturn. Maybe one reason for that is that I am not small either.

I will practice as much as possible and try not to impede our movements while we're dancing in closed position. But I've decided not to focus on the things I can't immediately change (like the size of my body) and instead focus on the things I can change, like squeezing my thighs together to stop my rotation, pressing into the floor, using my head and arm weight to counterbalance my turns, etc. etc. These take practice and with improvements in my technique, I can't help but think that the underarm turn issues will take care of themselves, regardless of my size.

And I can't say enough thanks to everyone on Dance Forums for telling me to just go for it and not let anything (as everyone has some issue to overcome) keep me from enjoying this amazing experience. I appreciate the encouraging words and can honestly say I am looking forward to dancing in my showcase.

 

[danceronice]

But I've decided not to focus on the things I can't immediately change (like the size of my body) and instead focus on the things I can change,

And that in a nutshell is all ANY of us, of ANY size, can do! (I hear you, though, I'm not skinny myself.)

Just go for it, and post a video! We're as a rule quite kind around here, especially to newbies (we want you to stick around.)

 

[Paul NC]

I personally prefer women dancing that have a fuller figure. Overweight does not mean out of shape or unappealing. GO FOR IT

 

[TinyDancer109]

Welcome to DF Paul NC, and thanks for your input!

 

[laylamah]

I will practice as much as possible and try not to impede our movements while we're dancing in closed position. But I've decided not to focus on the things I can't immediately change (like the size of my body) and instead focus on the things I can change, like squeezing my thighs together to stop my rotation, pressing into the floor, using my head and arm weight to counterbalance my turns, etc. etc. These take practice and with improvements in my technique, I can't help but think that the underarm turn issues will take care of themselves, regardless of my size.

And I can't say enough thanks to everyone on Dance Forums for telling me to just go for it and not let anything (as everyone has some issue to overcome) keep me from enjoying this amazing experience. I appreciate the encouraging words and can honestly say I am looking forward to dancing in my showcase.

Yes! Control what you can control, and let the rest go - since thinking about things you can't control (including mistakes from 3 seconds ago) only gets in the way of enjoying your dancing and doing your best! I'm very glad that you're taking this step into performing, I'm sure you'll love it!!!

 

[AMeader]

I will practice as much as possible and try not to impede our movements while we're dancing in closed position. But I've decided not to focus on the things I can't immediately change (like the size of my body) and instead focus on the things I can change, like squeezing my thighs together to stop my rotation, pressing into the floor, using my head and arm weight to counterbalance my turns, etc. etc. These take practice and with improvements in my technique, I can't help but think that the underarm turn issues will take care of themselves, regardless of my size.

Perfect! Show off your technique and let everyone see how far you have come and how much you have learned! My weight's gone up and down, and I honestly feel better when concentrating on what I am able to improve. I am sure that everyone at your studio is excited to see you dance!

 

[jennyisdancing]

I personally prefer women dancing that have a fuller figure. Overweight does not mean out of shape or unappealing. GO FOR IT

:rocker:
Sweet comment.

My studio, which is primarily a salsa studio, has people of all ages, backgrounds, shapes and sizes. A few of the women are quite full-figured, bigger than the ladies in barrefly's videos. They are excellent dancers. What I notice most is they have fantastic control. Their movements are tight and clean and they have a strong center. Those are good goals for any dancer but I think it becomes more of an urgent concern when you're bigger, because sloppy movements tend to be magnified.

Good luck, wannabee! We know you can do it! Have fun!

 

[Wannabee]

I personally prefer women dancing that have a fuller figure. Overweight does not mean out of shape or unappealing. GO FOR IT

Ahhh thanks for saying Paul NC... I'm gonna work really hard and try not to embarrass myself out there. I don't want to let me or my pro down with a horrible performance. Getting a bit nervous...

 

[TangoRocks]

I am brand new to dance forums and brand new to ballroom dancing. I've seen a few threads about this subject before but they haven't quite hit the nail on the head for me. My question is this... To all of you pro-am/am-am/pro-pro competitors, how much of an issue is it when you see someone overweight doing ballroom?

I am significantly overweight (we'll skip the specifics) and I have my very first showcase coming up in Sept. (my pro talked me into it, I feel way too shy and self-concious). Anyway, I'm doing Salsa and I absolutely LOVE dancing during my lessons, at home on my hardwood dining room floor, at our practice parties, etc. but this showcase is kind of freaking me out. Honestly, I'm not terrible at dancing and I took my very first lesson only 2 months ago, so it's not really the dancing part that has me freaking out. It's more the weight/self-concious issues. I have been working on my weight and have lost alot so far, but much more to go. Honestly, I'm a bit too uncomfortable "flirting" with my pro. We enjoy our lessons but that's just dancing, not flirting. Should I just go for it? What if my pro doesn't want me to "flirt" in the Salsa? Maybe that's too gross? Help me??

Hi Wannabee, and a (belated) welcome to DF!

My initial gut feeling when I saw your thread topic was "who the heck cares" and that was before I read the specifics of your situation. I stand by my original response after reading the posting. It took me a long time myself to get over that too--I am not overweight, but I always thought of myself as (at best) "average" when it comes to looks, so I was apprehensive about performing in front of a crowd (as in, who'd want to see me dance, seriously?) Anyways, just dance like you do in your lessons, forget about the audience (granted, it's not easy, but remember what President Kennedy said "we do these things not because they are easy but because they are hard") and you'll have a blast. As long as YOU are having fun and doing YOUR best to perform, that's what counts, not what people think. I've danced many times with ladies who consider themselves overweight, and it always amazes me that the ones who are confident in themselves can dance so much better than the stick figure ladies with performance anxiety. Good luck at your showcase!!!

 

[Wannabee]

Quick update- we've started learning all the choreography for my Salsa.
I feel ok about it, not great yet. It seems I pick up choreography fairly quick, but owning it and not letting my lack of confidence win out in the end is going to be really difficult. There are a couple of steps with shimmy moves, that's hard to own when you're feeling a bit self conscious. I'm hoping once I get the steps learned, the rest of the time I can focus on the right technique and attitude for the dance. We'll see. But everyone has been so nice on here, I'm thinking I'll post a video of our dance. Haven't completely decided yet?

 

[19DancerBabyLin]

There are a couple of steps with shimmy moves, that's hard to own when you're feeling a bit self conscious. I'm hoping once I get the steps learned, the rest of the time I can focus on the right technique and attitude for the dance.

LOL I just had a hilarious conversation with my ex-practice-partner-cum-good-friend about this! One of the things we had in our fun practice routine included me wiggling up next to him from a crouched position. His words: "You're overweight. So you got nice big -mammary glands- (I replaced his term with the more scientific term ). Looks good when you shimmy, you look like you're really working it even though you aren't actually moving that much."
This coming from an open level dancer who's tall, fairly good looking and smart (he's an MD)... and all he sees are my -mammary glands- :roll:

Lol wannabee I don't know if this is actually helping or making things worse. But yeah, actually in a funny way it does help me to think that people are looking at my -mammary glands- instead of my fat rolls. If people are watching stuff jiggle, they might as well watch the good stuff. Of course I rather them be looking at my face or feet or somewhere else... but whatever, right?

 

[Joe]

If he's looking down at you, what else do you expect him to see?