Chrystal Lee is amaaazing
Midwest Lindy Fest — Invitational J&J, Peter Strom & Mary Freitag
This irritates me. Regardless of whether either party is a “good” dancer or not, this goes back to something that I firmly believe every dancer to should be familiar with and that is proper dance etiquette.
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Lessons and Social dancing are two entirely different areas, and they should be remain separate.
Social dancing is something that is meant to be fun. It should not be a stressful experience by any means. Providing unsolicited advice/criticism on the dance floor is not only rude, but entirely insensitive.
I don’t know about you guys, but going social dancing feeds my soul, puts a smile on my face, and is some times the only leisurely activity I can make time for during the week in this crazy world. I want to swing out, talk with friends, feel the music, and try to have a good time. If Joe Blow over here decides to tell me he thinks my swivels make me look like a crippled rhinoceros, guess where my good time just went?
Out the freaking window.
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On the other side of that, if you do sincerely want someone’s opinions/critique on your dancing please be considerate and understand that the time they are also there to social dance and have fun; not to give a full breakdown on the “problem” with your triple steps.
I find that mixing the worlds of social dancing and teaching is a toxic combination. It can make you stressed out, constantly critical of your dancing, and can ultimately be very discouraging.
It’s important not to lose sight of the fact that the true essence of lindy hop is fun.
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If you’re unfamiliar with proper social dance etiquette, particularly in the lindy scene, there are numerous resources but here’s one you can start with :)
PREACH. There’s one lead who’s notorious for teaching on the dance floor and nearly all of the veteran follows avoid him like the plague. Some weeks he’ll be fine and won’t say anything. Other weeks he’ll hold me for two or three songs, correcting my frame or my swivels or my elbow. Hey, man. You’re just leading me to do swivels in place for half the song at different speeds. This is not fun. I am tired. No, I am not going to stop stepping with every turn because I have no idea how long you’re going to hold me here but we’re getting to the two-minute mark. Away with you. No, I do not want to go to the wall here and press my hand against it so I know what sort of resistance I should give you. It’s a give and take system, buddy. I do my best; you do your best. We dance.
(To think this maniac in the cowboy boots is actually teaching swing classes downtown kind of terrifies me. He kind of creeps me out too. My eyes are up here, buddy, and that is no place for you to rest your hand.)There are leads that I’m comfortable with asking for advice or leads that will encouragingly suggest something on the dance floor, but that’s more because they can sense how passionate I am about this and would want to learn a new step or a new trick or two. They do it in a way that doesn’t seem reprimanding.
I’ve been dancing for ten months now, and Rob will still suggest what I can do to keep proper frame in closed position or how I should rest my hand. He does this because he knows this isn’t a passing fancy or something I thought I’d try for a few months. This my whole life and he knows I want to keep improving.
Cowboy Swivel just wants to correct people in a way that makes you feel his style is the only way. When Cowboy Swivel is correcting my aunt, who’s been dancing for over ten years, you know something’s not right. There’s a group of us who watch out for new follows that get sucked in his “lessons” in the middle of the floor and try to get them out of there.
I like getting advice from people I trust and know. When a stranger tells me I’m doing something wrong, I get defensive and irritable.
There’s a time and place. Much like anything else, really.
Don’t criticise anyone’s dancing unless they’re physically hurting you. OK? Or unless they specifically ask, or you are 100% certain they appreciate your help - and if you are, you might want to make extra sure. Do they want your feedback tonight?
I actually know two people for whom dance criticism has become some sort of weird passive-aggressive power struggle, and the more experienced dancer is clearly using it to assert their superiority.
I think this sort of thing happens especially quickly for big fishes in a small pond, or if you feel you lack authority in other areas of your life. You’ve been dancing for a year so clearly you know ALL THE SECRETS OF LINDY HOP. And you must, absolutely must, share your wisdom with the newbie follows at every opportunity. Don’t let it happen to you…
Cute short video about Swing Out Sydney (via dogpossum4real)
I did get rather sad when one of them said “well, this scene is very inclusive” - seems we need to try harder to make everyone feel welcome. At the most basic level and not even considering issues of heteronormativity in dance teaching, leading & following etc., I’ve heard quite a few lindy hoppers say some pretty homophobic shit. Cut it out.
Anonymous asked: I love swing dancing, but I have a terrible tendency to back-lead, which kinda hinders my ability to learn and get better. How can I fix this?
I think it’s really hard, and we all do it to some extent, so don’t feel bad! And it can be fun if you use it consciously and in the right amounts (hijacking etc.).
A good thing to try would be to dance with your eyes closed. Preferably somewhere with lots of space, and with a lead you trust not to lead you into something or someone. Obviously there is a lot of visual communication between lead and follow in a regular social dance, too, but it will force you to trust what you are feeling. Try to remember how that feels and apply it to the rest of your dancing.
Another thing you could try would be to pick up a dance that pretty much lacks patterns from the start, like Blues or Argentine Tango. You don’t have to become amazing at it, but picking up the basics and then dancing with experienced leaders will definitely help you become more aware of backleading.
Also, if you go to a big event that has late nights and loads of social dancing, by the end of the weekend or late at night you’ll probably have lost the brain power to anticipate, and you’ll just go with the flow (that’s what happens to me, anyway).
ETA: Also, if you really struggle with following, you could always change your role and learn how to lead instead, if that role plays to your particular strenghts more!
Good luck!
Okay, this is ridiculously fun!
Wow! Breathless after watching this!
(Source: thedailyswingout)
If you weren’t aware, Sarah and Dax are doing a trial-run of their swing90x online programme at the moment, and you can read the participants’ blogs!
What makes this particularly interesting is that you’ve probably danced with some of the participants or seen them around (considering how small our community is), or maybe you’ve taken workshops from some of them or seen them on youtube (Ali & Katja, Dan Newsome). Super interesting to see what their struggles are!
Epic swing geekery ahoy…
BARSWINGONA 2012, SKYE and NAOMI (by MIRAswing)
Skye and Naomi = magic!
