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Old 18-10-2014, 10:26
kaycee
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Thanks Spin turn - think I get that... Learned one thing today! Doesn't it make you rather dizzy though, always travelling anti-clockwise?

And Henry, thanks for those videos you posted on the thread about camera work, they are gorgeous.
Travelling anti-clockwise doesn't mean that every step is turning anti-clockwise, it just means that anti-clockwise is the direction the dance goes around a room. Included in that may be steps that travel from the "wall" towards the centre of the room, and back, sort of a zig-zag pattern. But they should never (though it happens) travel back on themselves or in a clockwise direction or you risk crashing into the couple following you along the room.
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Old 18-10-2014, 10:27
kaycee
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I would add that not everyone takes medal tests. It is a good way to start dancing, starting off by learning good technique etc of course,, but its not mandatory as I know many dancers that have never taken any.
Some dancers then progress to the Open Circuit, where they can aim for championship level etc.
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Old 18-10-2014, 13:13
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Re the head position, of course you have to guided by your teacher but I have been told by more ladies, than not, to leave head to left in fallaway, especially as the head weight there will aid the man. KB ( UK Pro Champion), amongst others, told me that she will leave her head left for as much as possible in dances to keep the look of volume between the heads.
Interesting. It would make life easier for me and if It is good enough for Kristi Boyce.......


Changing the subject, I thought it might be interesting to compile a list of popular and unpopular Strictly steps.
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Old 18-10-2014, 13:19
Jennifer_F
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Some dancers then progress to the Open Circuit, where they can aim for championship level etc.
I went straight to Open Circuit, would highly recommend.
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Old 18-10-2014, 13:24
Jennifer_F
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Interesting. It would make life easier for me and if It is good enough for Kristi Boyce.......


Changing the subject, I thought it might be interesting to compile a list of popular and unpopular Strictly steps.
I'll start with a couple of mine that I don't like...not steps as such...knee slides, backside in face ( yes Ola),
Anything with more movement seems to get the audience going, standing spins and pivots in particular. QS in general seems to go down well.
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Old 18-10-2014, 13:43
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Yes, I agree. Audience seem to like rotation and bouncy steps in ballroom. I prefer the opposite, i.e. smooth sweeping steps which cover a lot of floor although I quite like Oversways (of various types) which are not surprisingly popular in Strictly.

With respect to the text book steps, I have to confess I don't like New Yorks in the Cha Cha , (even less so in the Rumba) but they are used a lot on Strictly, but quite like Cuban Breaks which are also used quite a bit.
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Old 18-10-2014, 14:05
kaycee
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I'll start with a couple of mine that I don't like...not steps as such...knee slides, backside in face ( yes Ola),
Anything with more movement seems to get the audience going, standing spins and pivots in particular. QS in general seems to go down well.
Outside Strictly, knee slides should only be used in cabaret/demonstration dances, as for backside (or any other part of one's lower anatomy!) being shoved in someone's face - big tasteless no no!

Agree about the fast dances impressing the Strictly audience; speed can cover a multitude of errors, such as poor footwork, where waltz and foxtrot will show them up.
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Old 18-10-2014, 14:06
kaycee
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My pet hate which I always avoided dancing, and try to avoid teaching, is Chicken Walks in jive. Only very very few couples manage to make then look anything but ridiculous!
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Old 18-10-2014, 14:10
kaycee
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I went straight to Open Circuit, would highly recommend.
You are right, some dancers do, which is great providing they have a teacher who will give a good grounding in the basics (as I'm sure your teacher does). Unfortunately, some teachers (and I emphasise some) don't which means some dancers end up just learning routines as on Strictly, which can lead to problems later on.
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Old 18-10-2014, 14:45
Jennifer_F
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You are right, some dancers do, which is great providing they have a teacher who will give a good grounding in the basics (as I'm sure your teacher does). Unfortunately, some teachers (and I emphasise some) don't which means some dancers end up just learning routines as on Strictly, which can lead to problems later on.
I'm fortunate to be able to go to some of the best, house-hold names, to those in the dance world.
But local dance schools are such good way to learn - and not so expensive- working your way through medals gaining a thorough grounding in technique.
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Old 18-10-2014, 14:48
Jennifer_F
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Outside Strictly, knee slides should only be used in cabaret/demonstration dances, as for backside (or any other part of one's lower anatomy!) being shoved in someone's face - big tasteless no no!

Agree about the fast dances impressing the Strictly audience; speed can cover a multitude of errors, such as poor footwork, where waltz and foxtrot will show them up.
Yes thankfully, the dreaded knee slides etc only appear in SCD, I have never witnessed them anywhere else. I agree with you about speed...you very rarely, if at all, see slows danced in Fox, always on the quicks as the celeb does not have the skill to cope with the slows.
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Old 18-10-2014, 15:35
bendymixer
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I'm fortunate to be able to go to some of the best, house-hold names, to those in the dance world.
But local dance schools are such good way to learn - and not so expensive- working your way through medals gaining a thorough grounding in technique.
One famous competitive ballroom teacher once told me I ice the cakes that have been baked for me - and years later got what he meant when I watch ex pupils in comps or in shows knowing that their grounding in dance started with us
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Old 18-10-2014, 15:35
Spin turn
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My pet hate which I always avoided dancing, and try to avoid teaching, is Chicken Walks in jive. Only very very few couples manage to make then look anything but ridiculous!

I quite like chicken walks but have a bit of a trust issue leaning back too much and also find the leg straightening a bit difficult to do/remember.

i'm in London, Jennifer and so a couple of schools I go to have big names (ex World champs or finalists) there, but I've never had a lesson with them as they only seem to do serious competitive couples.
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Old 18-10-2014, 16:07
Jennifer_F
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One famous competitive ballroom teacher once told me I ice the cakes that have been baked for me - and years later got what he meant when I watch ex pupils in comps or in shows knowing that their grounding in dance started with us
Exactly right Bendy, very well put. It doesn't matter who you go to, or how much you pay, if the basic skills are not there, the dancing will always look awful.
Like building a house, you need good foundations.
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Old 18-10-2014, 16:11
Jennifer_F
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I quite like chicken walks but have a bit of a trust issue leaning back too much and also find the leg straightening a bit difficult to do/remember.

i'm in London, Jennifer and so a couple of schools I go to have big names (ex World champs or finalists) there, but I've never had a lesson with them as they only seem to do serious competitive couples.
Yes I daresay they may do, and charge accordingly. However some of the teachers/coaches at Cheam do teach singles rather than couples if you wanted to try. I'm sure from what you say though, that your current teacher sounds very good.
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Old 18-10-2014, 21:46
Jennifer_F
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Anyone wanting to discuss any of tonight's performances ?
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Old 18-10-2014, 22:15
henrywilliams58
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I thought it was nose over toes.

I knew of this phrase but for me it may encourage men to pitch their weight forward in the wrong way, which we don't want as they will not be in balance. But the BOTB phrase was told to my partner many years ago and I never forgot it - will encourage the weight to come forward over the centre of the foot, in the correct way. Flexing through the knees and bringing the hips forward ( with lovely straight back of course). Keeping those knees soft, you're ready to take hold, and totally in balance ready to move powerfully from standing leg.
Thanks for this. Makes sense.
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Old 18-10-2014, 22:19
missfrankiecat
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Anyone wanting to discuss any of tonight's performances ?
I wondered what trained eyes made of Caroline's QS. It seemed very highly praised by the judges when to me it looked mistimed for large sections. I could see there was a lot of content but it looked very rough around the edges for such high marks.
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Old 18-10-2014, 22:26
Jennifer_F
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I wondered what trained eyes made of Caroline's QS. It seemed very highly praised by the judges when to me it looked mistimed for large sections. I could see there was a lot of content but it looked very rough around the edges for such high marks.
No, I agree with you. It was not nearly as good as they made out. Timing issues, gapping, poor footwork, should have been lighter too. Promenade position too open. For me there were a few other couples I would have placed higher. Back weighted in pivots, scatter chasses not precise enough.
That's from memory..
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Old 18-10-2014, 22:28
Caramel Crunch
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What did you think of Pixie's rumba Jennifer?
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Old 18-10-2014, 22:29
henrywilliams58
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Travelling anti-clockwise doesn't mean that every step is turning anti-clockwise, it just means that anti-clockwise is the direction the dance goes around a room. Included in that may be steps that travel from the "wall" towards the centre of the room, and back, sort of a zig-zag pattern. But they should never (though it happens) travel back on themselves or in a clockwise direction or you risk crashing into the couple following you along the room.
Surely one step back is OK? The following couple should never get that close.
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Old 18-10-2014, 22:33
Jennifer_F
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Surely one step back is OK? The following couple should never get that close.
Yes, one step would be fine, what the judges wouldn't want to see is them travelling backwards, yards/metres through the "traffic"going the wrong way. Some of the variations used in Ballroom can really travel, far more than you see on SCD, so that could cause problems for them and other couples
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Old 18-10-2014, 22:36
Jennifer_F
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What did you think of Pixie's rumba Jennifer?
Probably someone like Kaycee would be more qualified to comment on Latin, but in my view, bearing in mind she is a beginner, I thought it was lovely. I thought the choreography was fitting to the song and she danced it well. Lovely lines and beautiful arms. For improvement, she needs to relax into the floor more, more foot pressure needed.
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Old 18-10-2014, 22:41
henrywilliams58
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I shave in the evening before dancing particularly my right cheek.

Are women indifferent to a bit of 7 O'Clock rough? Do they prefer a "manly" rough cheek?

Should I bother shaving?

I wouldn't want to waste my time.
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Old 18-10-2014, 22:44
Jennifer_F
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I shave in the evening before dancing particularly my right cheek.

Are women indifferent to a bit of 7 O'Clock rough? Do they prefer a "manly" rough cheek?

Should I bother shaving?

I wouldn't want to waste my time.
I would say, always shave. You would need to shave for Ballroom absolutely, but especially for AT...just my opinion though.
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