I've read a lot of the posts where people have expressed really opposite views on whether or not previous dance experience helps slebs to learn routines on Strictly. Some people think that it helps only if people have had 'formal training' i.e. in a proper dance school full time for a number of years. Others think it only helps if you have done ballroom or latin.

This is the class that I go to once or twice a week. Would this sort of thing help if I wanted to learn ballroom or latin? Or would I be as 'good' as Anne Widdecombe?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=um_bkYqmg10

The first thing with dance is - You have to do what you find most enjoyable. That jazz class looks amazing.

In many ways, yes, it will definitely be an advantage because it teaches poise and balance; it will help develop core strength and the ability to move to music and the ability to learn.

But the technique and footwork for both ballroom and Latin is totally different. For example, try doing heel leads or dragging the heal back for a foxtrot! Sounds easy, but it really isn't!! Plus dancing like ballet or contemporary usually train feet turned out - ballroom needs feet turned forward (heels and toes together), which is surprisingly difficult as well.

Would you be as "good" as Anne Widdecombe? If you can do that jazz class, then you can be a good (with no inverted commas!!!!) ballroom & Latin dancer.

Does that answer your question?

Yes and no....

It would mean you have good balance, poise, flexibility. You would know how to initiate spins/turns and be able learn choreography. So lots of positives giving you a really good headstart.

On a show like Strictly, viewers would get a much better first impression of you than an absolute beginner.

For ballroom and latin you would need to learn more about the specifics required for those dances, in order to progress and not look two dimensional. Ie.

What is required in a partner dance. Body contact, coordination of movement etc
The specific posture required of the dances, particularly in ballroom
How movement is intiated for those particular dances. For example movement in latin tends to be initiated through the rib cage. Don't know how it works with jazz?
How the legs and feet and ankles are used in those dances. The reason why footwork matters is that it enables you to move smoothly across the floor and employ the correct swing/sway/lowering/quick or gradual rise etc.

There are a few celebs, with previous, who never get past the two dimensional performance of ballroom and latin. Superficially they look good but a lot of time is spent on flashy choreography rather than good technique.

Ah, see that kaycee has answered whilst I've been writing my response. Agree with her response.

Thanks. I think that being in hold and doing lots and lots of intricate small steps while maintaining a certain posture is completely different to that sort of dance. So I guess ballroom would be a bit of a nightmare?


Also there doesn't seem to be much floor work in ballroom and latin, whereas it is a large component of jazz or contemporary?

In my opinion any consistent dance training in any genre will help in learning ballroom and/or Latin. Any dance training is likely to increase flexibility and teach poise and the ability to listen to and understand musical phrasing. If it involves learning routines, it will make learning and retaining step sequences easier.
I liken it to learning languages - if you learn to speak French, you will still have to learn a completely different vocabulary and grammar when you start to learn Spanish but you will learn the second language much faster than a complete novice. And each language you subsequently learn will be easier because the connections between them are more fundamental than the differences.

I love this comparison.

Excellent analogy.

[quote=Ann_Dancer;79884532]Yes and no....

What is required in a partner dance. Body contact, coordination of movement etc
The specific posture required of the dances, particularly in ballroom
How movement is intiated for those particular dances. For example movement in latin tends to be initiated through the rib cage. Don't know how it works with jazz?
How the legs and feet and ankles are used in those dances. The reason why footwork matters is that it enables you to move smoothly across the floor and employ the correct swing/sway/lowering/quick or gradual rise etc.

QUOTE]

The only rib thing I can think of are the isolation exercises which are an important part of jazz movements? They include rib isolations. http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/...tcm4558687.asp

FIsolation is another important skill that would give you a massive advantage.

Having done something like Pilates is also useful

PS I guess I need to be a bit careful what I say. Not everyone subscribes to the "rib leads" approach.

Are you thinking of learning Latin and Ballroom? Or is this just theoretical?

Re floorwork. I've never done any. A highlight in Paso might be on floor but I think you mean a bit more than that

French and Spanish are latin languages.
You can learn one latin dance and it may help you learn another one better than being a complete beginner.
Try learning ballet and it will be like Chinese

Yes, speaking French would do you little good if you want to learn German or Dutch for instance (while speaking Dutch would give you a headstart at learning German and vice versa).

Yes I am as I am a big strictly fan. Would love to be able to glide around a room like they do.

Also yes, I mean a bit more 'dancing' on the floor than that.