Crammed so much into my brain, it's falling out.
Wow. Yay private lessons with disgustingly good teachers. I once again danced for two hours last night; by the end, my brain and body were so numb I felt like one of those zombie pinup girls shuffling around the floor. But I do feel like I'm learning tons, and quickly, even if I'm not necessarily getting much better. Apparently the deal is, it's like this for three weeks, cramming as much into my head as possible. As Jake said, "You can't dance until one day, you can." I get it now. So I just have to be zombie girl until my brain starts figuring out what my body's doing. And thankfully I don't have many bad techniques to break, because I've done very little formal dancing, other than ballet. Still, this may be the best anti-death distraction I've met in a while.
Oh, and once again, my height betrays me. In a moment of utter tact, Jake says: "Well, you sort of have a smooth dancer's attitude, but you're better at Latin dances. Of course, you don't have the body for either, because you're too short."
Dear Genetics,
Fuck. You.
Love,
Meep
A few ballroom notes:
Five points of contact:
Her shoulderblade, his hand.
His shoulder, her hand
Elbows
Hands
Hips
Notes on frame/handhold position: His hand sits in the crook of her thumb and first finger. STRONGER FRAME. Keep right elbow down. In the two handed frame, your hands are cups facing down with the thumbs tucked in, wrists down.
Smooth dances travel, rhythm dances don't. Smooth dances, feet face forward; rhythm dances, feet are slightly turned out. Two notes on rhythm dances: your toes should never leave the floor. Hips should move forward and backward on their track, not side to side. Merengue: tie yourself in knots, then untie them.
Smooth dances (thus far):
Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango
Rhythm dances (thus far):
Rumba, Merengue, Salsa, Swing
Practice walking forward and backward in straight lines, with feet forward. When walking backward, let your hip determine foot placement, not your knee (gives you a longer stride). Toe release is a good thing.
Turns/moves: pivot, cross-body lead, five steps forward, underarm turn left/right, fifth position turns, promenade, the box step
Oh, and once again, my height betrays me. In a moment of utter tact, Jake says: "Well, you sort of have a smooth dancer's attitude, but you're better at Latin dances. Of course, you don't have the body for either, because you're too short."
Dear Genetics,
Fuck. You.
Love,
Meep
A few ballroom notes:
Five points of contact:
Her shoulderblade, his hand.
His shoulder, her hand
Elbows
Hands
Hips
Notes on frame/handhold position: His hand sits in the crook of her thumb and first finger. STRONGER FRAME. Keep right elbow down. In the two handed frame, your hands are cups facing down with the thumbs tucked in, wrists down.
Smooth dances travel, rhythm dances don't. Smooth dances, feet face forward; rhythm dances, feet are slightly turned out. Two notes on rhythm dances: your toes should never leave the floor. Hips should move forward and backward on their track, not side to side. Merengue: tie yourself in knots, then untie them.
Smooth dances (thus far):
Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango
Rhythm dances (thus far):
Rumba, Merengue, Salsa, Swing
Practice walking forward and backward in straight lines, with feet forward. When walking backward, let your hip determine foot placement, not your knee (gives you a longer stride). Toe release is a good thing.
Turns/moves: pivot, cross-body lead, five steps forward, underarm turn left/right, fifth position turns, promenade, the box step