Riot and Frolic

a mostly ballroom dance, but also a bunch of other stuff, blog

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I own and rock people’s faces off teaching ballroom dancing at Dancers Studio in St. Paul, MN. My husband and I compete professionally in American style and wrangle eight children in our spare time. I’ve been teaching and competing in ballroom dancing for over 25 years and have lots of opinions on it. I am an expert by any means, but there are quite a few dancers who are better than me and I have a solid knowledge of basic technique, so suck it.

DON’T DANCE [What You See]- Episode V- Body Contact- Part Deux

 Let's pick up where we left off yesterday– in pain and unable to move.  And that was just from watching dance.  [Ba-dum ching!]

Seriously though, men, stop doing this:

bad dance position

Could his left arm BE anymore on her side?

Several things could have happened here:

  • he could have pulled her in with his right hand farther than he could handle with his left
  • she might have stepped in to body contact with him and he didn't know how to do it
  • he has no idea where his left arm is in relation to his own body, let alone his partner's.

Often, it's the third option.  

Men, put your back against a wall and put your arms up at shoulder height, parallel to the floor, touching the wall (you'll look like a "t").  Now bend your elbows into dance position.   Make sure that your left hand isn't very far from the wall.  Your arms during body contact position aren't quite there, but they're pretty close.

Another test: while with a partner, "windshield wiper" your left hand (her right) and forearm back and forth.  If you hit her in the head, your arm is on her side.  

Here's another fun shot at body contact:

too close in body contact

soooo close
Well, they're dancing together alright.  Like, Together.  They are, in fact, so close Together, the poor man can't get a decent size step.
Ladies and gentlemen, the goal of body contact is NOT to smash as much of your bodies Together as you can.  It is to move together around a small common center.
If you can't maintain body contact yet, don't worry!  I'd rather see a couple dance comfortably being a little bit apart than see a couple struggling around the floor showing "contact" position.  
If what you just read sounded like nonsense, you probably shouldn't be dancing in body contact.  *sigh*  But you still will.  
So here's a nice way to practice partnering in closed position: 
     1.  The man invites the lady to dance.
invitation

Hello, please come dance with me.
     2.  The lady accepts his offer.  [Small child wooping it up: optional.]
acceptance

Why, thank you. I'd love to.
     3.  LADY SETS THE DISTANCE SHE IS COMFORTABLE DANCING WITH THIS MAN.  
Ladies, stop where you like.  Whether it be a foot away or six inches or grazing his side, stop where you are happy.  
Men, DO NOT pull her in any closer.  EVER.
distance- set

I feel lovely THIS far away from you.
    4.  Man closes his right hand on lady's back. 
Ladies, DO NOT put your left hand on his shoulder yet.  You'll screw everything up.  

 

Closing the man's hand

My, it's a lovely day to dance with you.

    5.  Lady closes her hand on man's shoulder.  [Closing your eyes: optional.]

All set

Shall we dance?

And awaaaaay we go.

Dancing Fools

Next up: lady's "shaping".  Oh Lord.

Bits and Pieces:

Happy Casimir Pulaski Day.  Of course, the G found this out by looking here.

I just registered for the TC Marathon.  *hyperventilating*  Someone tell me this was a good idea.

 

Paul-wesley-da-man-magazine

Guess what I'm watching?

 

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One response to “DON’T DANCE [What You See]- Episode V- Body Contact- Part Deux”

  1. Linnea Avatar
    Linnea

    Someone is taking this very seriously… 🙂

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