A dance teacher's hot tips for beginners - 1
Posted by: Gareth on: 18/09/2022 Category: advice-tips
Practice at home as much as possible
As a teacher of rock 'n' roll dance I compiled a list of the most important points which I believed beginners need to learn. At each class I handed newcomers a copy of the list. I strongly suggested they memorise these points and practice them as much as possible.
These bits of advice were based on my own experience and by carefully watching others to determine what works to make their dancing look good. Also, what instead makes dancing look shabby. I offer this information now to anyone who wishes to improve their own dancing.
A lot of these instructions apply not just to rock 'n' roll dancing, but to many other dance styles also. Not all of them will work well for everybody, at least in the short term. By keeping them in mind and experimenting, dancers will be able to gradually incorporate them until they become second nature.
1] Stay close enough to your partner.
This is simple error that some beginners make in the early stages of learning to dance. Getting too far away from your partner makes coordinating and entering moves difficult. It can also disrupt the couple's timing. So, stay as close together as possible without restricting each other's movement.
2] Watch your partner.
It's easy to let your eyes wander around the room and experienced dancers can get away with this to some degree. However, that's because they have developed a sixth sense for knowing exactly where their partner is in relation to themselves. When you are new to rock 'n' roll dancing it's not so easy. Failure of the man to watch the lady intently can lead to him deciding on a next move that she isn't in position for. That produces an awkward moment. If the lady isn't watching her partner, she misses the cues and the dance becomes disjointed. Really great dancing requires a couple to be very well coordinated. Watching each other at all times is one of the keys to that.
3] Follow through moves.
I noticed that some beginners have a tendency to curtail their moves. For example, the lady ending an overhead spin or a push spin too early. This means she has to wait for the music to catch up. Often it prevents her from getting properly into position with her balance on the correct foot. Learn to use the full four beats for each segment of each move and you will find your dancing becomes much smoother.
4] Dance lightly and gracefully.
I told male newcomers that on the dance floor they should be neurosurgeons, not demolition workers. Our lady partners are delicate and we don't want them getting injured. Not only that, but too much strength and power in the dance by either the man or the lady makes it rough. Dance is moving freely and easily in time with the music. The less free and easy the movements, the harder it will be to make it look appealing. It can also be harder to keep in time with the music, especially if the excessive power is coming from just one party. There's also a greater risk of injury to both men and women. You don't need to be ballerinas. Just keep it light and let the dance flow.
5] Try to dance within 1 square metre.
Many rock 'n' roll dance teachers advocate this as it has numerous major benefits. It helps to prevent collisions between couples. However, the overarching benefit is that in order to achieve it, dancers must develop control. They must learn to keep their dancing neat and economical, their weight downwards instead of flinging it outwards. That's much more visually appealing for onlookers and avoids the occasional angry moment when two dancing couples have suffered a collision. I strongly encourage beginners to practice this.