Following in Smooth Dances

Following in Smooth Dances

In close position, always look over you partners right shoulder. Your right pelvic bone should be inside your partner’s right pelvic bone. This lines up your shoulders parallel to your partner’s, the best position for moving backward and forward. Many ladies have a tendency to keep their right shoulder farther away than their left shoulder. Similarly, men have a tendency to push their partner away with their left hand or pull them too close with their right, with a similar effect. This makes it much harder to move and to lead .

Keep your left arm firm, don’t let it flex. This provides you with a tactile feedback of your partner’s movements. Whether he moves forward or backward, you’ll always keep the same distance from him (see body movement above).

Your right arm should not pull, push or otherwise exert force on you partner’s left hand. Except in certain circumstances, your left arm is used as a decoration. It is not functional.
After a promenade movement, quickly return to a close position and look over his shoulder again. This lines you up again for the next move.

Stay close to your partner and maintain body contact. You’ll feel the direction of his body movements and will be able to react more easily. Relax, don’t be pro-active, don’t try to anticipate the next lead. Don’t be too brittle or strident in your movements, become more languid, letting the man guide you along (don’t fall asleep, though). Try occasionally closing your eyes and concentrate mentally on your partners body movement and his hand, shoulder and head leads.

If your looking for some competitive ballroom dance shoes, then you’ve come to the right place or at least you’ve started in the right place! Check out our website for a wide selection of competitive dance shoes, including ladies, mens, kids, sneakers and boots!
The Dance Shoe Depot.com




Happy Dancing!

via dance tips.

The Frustrated Follower

The Frustrated Follower

DON'T be so involved with yourself that you forget that you're actually dancing with a human being.

This can take two forms. The leader gets so caught up in his footwork, his styling, his cool moves that he forgets about what his partner is experiencing. Dance for your partner, not for yourself.
Another version of this is when the leader is more concerned with whos walking in the door, whos giving him the eye from across the room, who hed like to dance with next … that he ignores the partner he is currently dancing with.

Try to strike a balance by devoting some attention to your partners needs as well as your own. You should both look good TOGETHER on the dance floor as a single unit thats moving in harmony.

DON'T assume that its the followers fault if the dance step youre leading doesnt turn out as you planned.

A leader tends to place the blame on the follower when something goes wrong with a dance pattern because he has a very clear idea in his mind of what he wants to accomplish. What he doesnt realize is that he may not be sharing his vision with his partner by providing her with clear directions for the dance pattern.

If something doesnt work out, ask the follower why she didnt feel the lead for the particular step. She may be able to give you a valuable insight that will improve your leading ability.
Better yet, learn the followers footwork for each pattern. Youll be able to lead much better if you know first hand what youre actually asking the follower to do.

DON'T leave bruises or your thumbprints anywhere on you partners body as a permanent reminder of your dance together.

Don't laugh, Ive actually had someones thumbs imprinted on the tops of both hands for an entire day! This is usually a beginners trademark. They tend to really squeeze their partners hands while they’re struggling to remember new dance steps. Lighten up, guys! If you relax you’ll think and move better.

DO pick up a pair of comfortable ballroom dance shoes from The Dance Shoe Depot.com to help with your training and to save your feet from agony after a long night on the dance floor.




Happy Dancing!

via dance tips.

Leading in Smooth Dance Cont2...

A right hand pull also guides your partner forward into an angled position on your right or left side such as a tango fan. This gentle pull, combined with a slight rotation of your shoulders should be enough to indicate your intention.

A firm and slightly downward pull will accomplish a tango corte, particularly if combined with a slight bending of the left knee.

If you want your partner to angle backward, use a slight shoulder movement. Push forward firmly with you right shoulder to make her angle backward to your left, and vice versa. Waltz twinkles are a good example of this technique.

Start thinking about which foot your partners weight is on. Trying to lead her into a move when her weight is on the wrong foot will result in some awkward stumbling.

Finally, a word about navigation, i.e. moving around a crowded dance floor without collisions and potential injuries. In each dance, keep a repertoire of evasive steps, movements that let you quickly, and in mid-step, change your direction, halt your progression, or retreat. Look over your shoulder before moving backward. Like driving a car, try to anticipate what another couple will do next. Use a quick-moving step to bypass traffic jams and squeeze through small openings. If youre a student, ask your teacher about these maneuvers, he can show you some very effective moves.
If youre hopelessly out-of-step with your partner, or off the beat, stop and start again. Its much better than to stumble along.

These are some of the basic lead techniques. Most importantly however, dont push and pull your partner, guide her. Gentle persuasion yields far better results and more enjoyment for your partner than brute force.

For even better results try picking up a new pair of mens or ladies ballroom dance shoes from The Dance Shoe Depot.com, guaranteed to improve your dancing!




Happy Dancing!

via dance tips.

Leading in Smooth Dance Cont...

A strong lead does not mean applying a lot of force. It is a matter of firm, continuous and steady control.

Your two hands should form a cradle, as if you were holding a baby, with your left hand under its head and the right hand under its behind. No matter were and how you move, make sure the baby always stays in the same position. Dont squeeze its head, and dont crush it against you with your right.
That means dont squeeze your partners hand with your left, dont pull her toward you with your right. The only exception might be to counteract the centrifugal force of a fast pivot, where it might help to pull your partner into you a little more firmly with your right hand.

There are many ways to signal your partner what to do next. It all depends on the dance variation youre trying to execute. The following are just a few examples. Your right hand gently turns your partner into a promenade position. Turning your head and body toward your left gives further emphasis to the move see the second picture above. To execute a chasse, push a little harder as if to say “we have to hustle a bit here”, and at the same time pretend to lift your partner unto her toes (gently does it).

Check out our great selection of smooth ballroom dance shoes to help with learning your smooth dances. Our selection is one of the best on the net, so come check us out at www.thedanceshoedepot.com and let the fun of shopping begin!


 

Happy Dancing!


via dance tips.

Leading in Smooth Dances

Leading in Smooth Dances

First, let me emphasize again. Leading has to be done in the spirit of wanting to help your partner do the pattern you wish to execute. You dont push or shove her around. Be gentle at all times. See what works best. Concentrate on your partner. Make an effort to become a good leader.The most important part of leading is probably body language. If your partner is attuned to you, if she listens to your body language, she can detect very slight changes in motion and direction and can react in ample time.
You can consciously emphasize your body language when needed, such as when you lift your shoulder before you prepare to sway.Leading is not something you turn on and off. When you drive a car on a straight road, you still keep your hands on the steering wheel and make small corrections when required. The same applies to the control the leader has to assume when dancing. It is always present but only used when needed.

First, get into the proper position. Look over your partners right shoulder see the first picture above and try to have your partner look over your right shoulder. Your right pelvic bone should be inside your partners right pelvic bone. This lines up your shoulders parallel to your partners, which is the best position to move forward and backward. Dont pop the clutch by starting with a sudden abrupt motion. Telegraph your intention by tilting the pole see body movement above. Remember, unless the lady is your steady partner, she may dance with a lot of different fellows, each with his own variations and peculiarities and his own way of leading. Get a feeling for the way your partner moves and her level of accomplishment. Adjust the length of your step to hers. Dont try complicated variations without first testing some simple and then progressively more advanced ones. On the dance floor, she is at your mercy. Be considerate.

For those of you starting out or even the long time dancer looking to be able to dance the night away in comfort…we suggest having a look at our great selection of mens and ladies dance shoes at The Dance Shoe Depot.com. If comfort and style are your top two choices when looking for new dance shoes, then we have you covered!




Happy Dancing!


via dance tips.

Pivots and Turns

Pivots and Turns

When turning, such as in the Waltz, or when executing a pivot imagine a horizontal wheel. One partner is always at the hub of the wheel, while the other partner is at the rim. The partner at the rim provides the force and momentum, the partner at the hub provides the stability.
In a Waltz left turn, the partner who takes the left forward step on the one count is at the rim. He/she is responsible to provide the rotation and must take a long forceful step forward. The partner at the hub only takes a small step backward, letting the rim partner move around her/him. Thus, each partner takes his/her turn at the rim or the hub, depending which one moves forward on the left foot on the one count.

In a right pivot, the same principle applies. The partner who steps forward on his/her right foot is at the rim and is responsible for the rotation, while the partner at the hub stays almost immobile, letting the rim partner move around him/her. Again, both partners alternate between hub and rim. Right pivots are difficult. But if you have been doing pivots and it does not feel quite right, or if you cannot stay on a straight line, try the following two techniques:

First, make sure that, while turning, the ladies right knee is firmly locked to your right knee. The lady has to take a good sized step forward, into you, when you take your first left foot step in front an around her. Stay upright but keep your weight slightly on your heels and suggest the lady do the same. As you put weight on your left foot, stay back on your heel and rotate the lady around you so that when you put your weight on the right foot again, you face your line of progression. In other words, you execute a full 360 degree turn with each two steps.I find that if I have a partner who follows the above technique, I can easily pivot many times and keep progressing on a line in the same direction.

Help improve your pivots with a new pair of dance shoes from The Dance Shoe Depot.com. If your looking for comfort and style in both mens and ladies dance shoes then you’ll love our great selection, click on the link above and see for yourself.




Happy Dancing!

via dance tips.

Body Contact

Body Contact

In smooth dances, whenever possible, maintain a light pelvic contact with your partner. An arched back helps to achieve this while maintaining a comfortable distance between upper bodies. Try it in closed position, angled position and promenade position. If you want to feel the difference between dancing, and dancing together, this will be an eye opener.

Men, when doing a parallel step, or a promenade, try keeping your shoulders facing your partner rather than facing the direction of your feet. Its a bit like downhill skiing, where the feet point across the slope while the upper body faces straight down the slope. Many ladies pull away from their partner without being aware of it. Others feel they may give the wrong impression by being close to their partner. Once you try it, however, you will be elated by the feeling of really moving in unison.

Dont confuse this with the international or standard style of dancing which requires that body contact be maintained at all times and where underarm turns, parallel or side-by-side positions are prohibited.

Every good dancer must start with a pair of good, comfortable dance shoes. At The Dance Shoe Depot.com we got you covered with ballroom dance shoes for men, women and kids. We even carry dance sneakers, practice shoes and the ever popular dance boot. Visit us the perfect shoe for you!






Happy Dancing!
via dance tips.