How many 'Intermediate' dancers still show up for the Beginner's bit?

[Terpsichorea]

I'm curious as to how many dancers, once they reach a certain level of proficiency, decide (for whatever reason) that they don't want to attend the Beginner's class at the beginning of the evening?

In my case, I find the Beginner's class a bit boring from a dance point of view, but fun socially - it's nice to have a chat with people as they're moving around, and to dance with unfamiliar partners. I suppose I still attend it out of habit, and also with the recognition that if I dropped out of attending, there'd be one less bloke to go round.

[Bravetart]

I still attend the beginners class as it means that I can dance better with the beginners during freestyle and try to (subtly) point them in the right direction as I know what moves they were taught that night.

I also don't find the beginners class particularly challenging, but it means I get to dance longer in the evening. Any dancing is better than none at all.

[Terpsichorea]

I still attend the beginners class as it means that I can dance better with the beginners during freestyle and try to (subtly) point them in the right direction as I know what moves they were taught that night.

I also don't find the beginners class particularly challenging, but it means I get to dance longer in the evening also. Any dancing is better than none at all.

Aye, I have the mentality that the more dancing I can wring out of the evening the better...plus dancing with beginners really makes you focus on your lead. It's also nice to think that if you give them a good dance, they're likely to come back to the venue.

[StokeBloke]

I stopped doing all classes a short while back - not because I felt like I knew it all, but because I was on new move overload. I had stopped doing beginner classes before that though as it leaves us more time to get stuff sorted before we have to head out.

In the 'mad scrabble' verses 'amount I learn' contest, I'm afraid an easier life sort of wins out.




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This is not a tragedy. A tragedy is three men trapped in a mine, or police dogs used in Birmingham.

[Terpsichorea]

I stopped doing all classes a short while back - not because I felt like I knew it all, but because I was on new move overload. I had stopped doing beginner classes before that though as it leaves us more time to get stuff sorted before we have to head out.

In the 'mad scrabble' verses 'amount I learn' contest, I'm afraid an easier life sort of wins out.
__________________
This is not a tragedy. A tragedy is three men trapped in a mine, or police dogs used in Birmingham.

I hear you...I think there comes a point where you realise you are doing loads of moves for the wrong reasons, ie to prove to yourself that you can do them, or because you want to impress an experienced follower. I'm weaning myself off that now, and my dancing (so I'm told) has improved because of it.

[Gojive]

I stopped going to beginners class a few years ago, simply because at the time I was getting in late from work, meaning it was too much of a rush.

Once I'd got out of the habit of going early, I never really got my arse in gear to resume when I did have time :blush:.

However, I've started going to my local venue (a venue within walking distance :waycool: :waycool: - Staines) for the last two class nights, and have made the effort to go to the beginners class. In fact I've also skipped the intermediates class, and gone to help with the repeat class too...I have to say, I'm finding it both a challenge and rewarding so far.

The hardest part for me, is to try and 'keep up' with the slow walk-throughs, and have to really try hard to stop myself going to far ahead.

Another minor problem I've discovered, is that I have never been to a Ceroc beginners class before (having learnt with other MJ organisations), so one or two of the teaching methods took a little adjusting too.

:)

[Terpsichorea]

I stopped going to beginners class a few years ago, simply because at the time I was getting in late from work, meaning it was too much of a rush.

Once I'd got out of the habit of going early, I never really got my arse in gear to resume when I did have time :blush:.

However, I've started going to my local venue (a venue within walking distance :waycool: :waycool: - Staines) for the last two class nights, and have made the effort to go to the beginners class. In fact I've also skipped the intermediates class, and gone to help with the repeat class too...I have to say, I'm finding it both a challenge and rewarding so far.

The hardest part for me, is to try and 'keep up' with the slow walk-throughs, and have to really try hard to stop myself going to far ahead.

Another minor problem I've discovered, is that I have never been to a Ceroc beginners class before (having learnt with other MJ organisations), so one or two of the teaching methods took a little adjusting too.

:)

I learned my beginner moves in Ceroc Classes, so it feels strange sometimes, at MJ classes, to go through them slowly, but with minor variations. In fact, slowly anything down which has become second nature often feels weird.

[StokeBloke]

I learned my beginner moves in Ceroc Classes, so it feels strange sometimes, at MJ classes, to go through them slowly, but with minor variations. In fact, slowly anything down which has become second nature often feels weird.
Standing with your arm in the air waiting to step back in the basket is freakily hard to do :eek:

[Terpsichorea]

Standing with your arm in the air waiting to step back in the basket is freakily hard to do :eek:

As is doing the Octopus in slo-mo...:sick:

[Twirly]

I usually try and make part of the beginners class (so long as there aren't huge numbers of women over - I'll sit out if there are). I do this to warm up, and also I suspect it's useful for some of the complete beginner leads to have a follow sometimes who knows what she's doing (or at least who should do :blush: ). I dance better later if I've done part of the beginners - but I'm afraid that I can't bear to do all of it anymore, as if you think it's boring for leads, just think what it's like for followers! :sick:

I know from previous threads on here that there tends to be a strong opinion that attending beginners classes is also good for working on style and technique. And interestingly, many of the more experienced leads at my local venue still go to the beginners class every week. They also tend to be the better dancers.

And yes, the social aspect is good too. I get to say hello to people and catch up if I've not seen them recently. Which is good for the "dancing relationships" - I think (hope) that it's more likely that I'll get asked to dance later on because of the social connection.

[Gojive]

I learned my beginner moves in Ceroc Classes, so it feels strange sometimes, at MJ classes, to go through them slowly, but with minor variations. In fact, slowly anything down which has become second nature often feels weird.

Very true! Even moves that are taught exactly the same across the board, seem to feel wrong at certain points when broken down into 1/4 beat hand positions - even when you know it's what you probably do anyway :blush:

Btw, I noticed you've started a few pure Ceroc/MJ dance discussion threads just lately - it's a refreshing change to see such threads IMO :clap: Rep on it's way :)

[Gojive]

As is doing the Octopus in slo-mo...:sick:

That was one of the minor problem moves we did the other night - not only is it hard slo-mo, but it was taught differently to what I'm used to. With probably 100s/1000s of repetitions in my muscle memory, I really struggled to execute it 'teach's way.

[Terpsichorea]

I usually try and make part of the beginners class (so long as there aren't huge numbers of women over - I'll sit out if there are). I do this to warm up, and also I suspect it's useful for some of the complete beginner leads to have a follow sometimes who knows what she's doing (or at least who should do :blush: ). I dance better later if I've done part of the beginners - but I'm afraid that I can't bear to do all of it anymore, as if you think it's boring for leads, just think what it's like for followers! :sick:

I know from previous threads on here that there tends to be a strong opinion that attending beginners classes is also good for working on style and technique. And interestingly, many of the more experienced leads at my local venue still go to the beginners class every week. They also tend to be the better dancers.

And yes, the social aspect is good too. I get to say hello to people and catch up if I've not seen them recently. Which is good for the "dancing relationships" - I think (hope) that it's more likely that I'll get asked to dance later on because of the social connection.

attending beginners classes is also good for working on style and technique...totally. I like being able to think 'right, I'm really going to work on communicating my lead here', and seeing if it gets picked up on by my follower.

[Terpsichorea]

That was one of the minor problem moves we did the other night - not only is it hard slo-mo, but it was taught differently to what I'm used to. With probably 100s/1000s of repetitions in my muscle memory, I really struggled to execute it 'teach's way.

Shoulder drops are a bit like that - taught differently (in my experience) in MJ and Ceroc. Just minor differences, but it makes a difference.

[Jhutch]

Haven't been to one for weeks now:blush: I used to try and go to as many as possible - the idea being that it didn't cost me any more to go and it could help to work on bits of technique. Also, as my beginner moves tend to be ones where i am thinking about what to do next/the music/floorcraft, etc, it is probably quite easy to get into bad habits. Can help as well having someone there who knows which way the rotation is going (can end up being something of a traffic policeman at first). Why have i stopped going? Just felt like i needed a bit of a break - also sometimes it can get a bit busy and i think that it is easier for beginners if they have a bit more space

[Astro]

Terpsichorea, you have a new avator. I have been trying to work out, is it a tree or a surf board?

I stopped going to beginner's and intermediate classes, due to having a leg injury. My leg is still not 100 per cent. I don't think I will go back to classes though if it ever is 100 per cent. I don't miss being jerked about.

I do have a beginner under my wing, but I can dance with him in the freesyle.

[Terpsichorea]

Terpsichorea, you have a new avator. I have been trying to work out, is it a tree or a surf board?

I stopped going to beginner's and intermediate classes, due to having a leg injury. My leg is still not 100 per cent. I don't think I will go back to classes though if it ever is 100 per cent. I don't miss being jerked about.

I do have a beginner under my wing, but I can dance with him in the freesyle.

It's a surfboard :D

[Wuzzle]

I still turn up for the beginners bit.

If there isn't enough guys I'll do the beginner bit cause i feel its a shame that followers feel hampered with "x amount of ladies round" especially when they are just starting down the ceroc road.

Though i have been known to turn up and just veg :what: depends on how much running about i've done during the day.

Sometimes i take redbull then take part but the downside is that i don't switch off at night. :confused: Especially hard to switch off after a decent night of ceroc but with redbull its damn near impossible :tears:

[StokeBloke]

I see the classes as teaching a basic (or intermediate) set of moves for you to adopt into your dancing style. During my microscopically long career as a taxi dancer I found it really hard to shrug off the style I was putting into my dancing and go back to basic, by-the-book moves. 'The moves' are like 'the laws' in France, merely a suggestion of how you may like to behave :wink:

What is the fascination with being able to dance moves in a clinical by-the-book fashion? Please don't take this as me knocking or mocking beginner classes, it's just once you have your milk teeth why would you want to go back to the teat?

Using the beginner class to work on your lead may give you a false sense of security. In as much as the follow knows what's coming next, so your lead is far less needed than it is in freestyle.

Just a couple of thoughts......
__________________
God wouldn't have given you maracas if he didn't want you to shake 'em.

[MartinHarper]

I'm curious as to how many dancers, once they reach a certain level of proficiency, decide (for whatever reason) that they don't want to attend the Beginner's class at the beginning of the evening?

Most non-beginners still attend beginner classes, in my experience. Personally, I feel that beginners would actually learn faster if their view of the stage wasn't obstructed by all the non-beginners. That said, MJ classes aren't solely about learning.

[Terpsichorea]

I still turn up for the beginners bit.

If there isn't enough guys I'll do the beginner bit cause i feel its a shame that followers feel hampered with "x amount of ladies round" especially when they are just starting down the ceroc road.

Though i have been known to turn up and just veg :what: depends on how much running about i've done during the day.

Sometimes i take redbull then take part but the downside is that i don't switch off at night. :confused: Especially hard to switch off after a decent night of ceroc but with redbull its damn near impossible :tears:

I can never sleep properly after a good night's dancing, my head is (usually) just too buzzing. :sick:

[FoxyFunkster]

I`ve just started doing beginners classes as a follower which are very enjoyable.......i`ve also gained some new things from it to help me improve my leading which is very welcome, the last point and most important one is that i can remember how helpful it was having good dancers in the beginners class when i started out, so i sort of feel obliged to do the same....i know how nerve racking it can be so anything any of us can do to ease those nerves is a good thing......

[Jhutch]

Using the beginner class to work on your lead may give you a false sense of security. In as much as the follow knows what's coming next, so your lead is far less needed than it is in freestyle.



I don't know - when dancing with a complete beginner they can do all sorts of strange things - especially when putting the moves together! Besides i think most people will have realised by the time they start intermediate classes that doing something in the class is not the same as doing it in freestyle? Therefore they will know to take account of this when doing whatever they are doing in the class:)

[Twirly]

Using the beginner class to work on your lead may give you a false sense of security. In as much as the follow knows what's coming next, so your lead is far less needed than it is in freestyle.

This is actually quite a good test for follows though. I often find the more experienced leads tune out and do something other than what is being taught. Fortunately, these days I just tend to follow it - and then tease the lead about going into freestyle early :wink:

[Spiky Steve]

I have been lazy regarding learning in weekly classes lately. I don't even turn up for the intermediate part. I like lots of freestyle and learning other stuff as I go and I have been needing to concentrate on practice.

Should change soon though as comp is now over.

Steve

[Jamie]

I join in beginners classes if I make them in time, you can never know the beginners moves too well :nice:

And even if you do know them too well, you can pass on knowledge to those who are struggling :grin:

[Caz]

I can never sleep properly after a good night's dancing, my head is (usually) just too buzzing. :sick:

:yeah:

still do beginners classes if there and if someone good is teaching :flower: unless i get distracted of course :whistle:

IMHO if i get there earlier i get more dancing seen as most classes finish before 11 pm..how rubbish.... :grin:

[killingtime]

Most non-beginners still attend beginner classes, in my experience. Personally, I feel that beginners would actually learn faster if their view of the stage wasn't obstructed by all the non-beginners. That said, MJ classes aren't solely about learning.

I don't agree with this statement at all (then the class layout might well be better than the ones you attend). Surely having proficient dancers there far outweighs the disadvantage of extra numbers?

Anyway currently I'm attending a class every fortnight (and an extra freestyle each week) and I try my hardest to be there for the beginners class. I'm not sure why. I guess I just like the warm up and "helping out" while practising on new stuff myself.

[Twirlie Bird]

I do this to warm up, and also I suspect it's useful for some of the complete beginner leads to have a follow sometimes who knows what she's doing (or at least who should do :blush: ).



I dance better later if I've done part of the beginners - but I'm afraid that I can't bear to do all of it anymore, as if you think it's boring for leads, just think what it's like for followers! :sick: .

I used to think this. I used to feel that I was doing the beginner leads a favour by knowing where I was meant to be and how to do the move. However I now feel that this doesn't actually help them at all. :sick: It gives them a false impression that they have mastered the move when that's not necessarily true. It also doesn't help me at all with my following. When I was taxi dancing this was highlighted. My following was awful. I kept anticipating and back leading. Not good. :devil:

So no I don't do the beginner classes anymore. They are boring beyond belief. :sick: I also only do the intermediate classes with a fixed partner. I have had enough of rotating and being yanked about and really learning nothing. :mad: When I do the class with my fixed partner it is so much more beneficial for both of us.

I know this may not be pc so sorry. :flower: It is true for me though.

[Lynn]

Hmm, beginner class is on at the mo and I'm not there so I guess I don't go!

After a year and a bit of taxi-ing, and always leading in the beginner class, I have to admit it got to be a bit of a 'chore' and dancing as lead I didn't get to meet and dance with the beginner men either. So on the weeks I wasn't on duty I started not rushing about madly after work to get there on time and as I don't like jumping into the middle of the class, if I'm not ready to be there at the start I tend to aim for arriving towards the end of the class, allowing time for a few warm up stretches (in the ladies!) and to be there for the beginners freestyle.

At the moment, with so many other nights of the week busy with things that I can't arrive later for, that little bit of extra time I get from arriving later is useful and the fact I can go a little later sometimes makes the difference between thinking 'I'll pop along later after I get this done' and 'I'm not going to be able to go tonight as I've too much else to do' and having to miss completely.

But quite a lot of our intermediates do go along to the beginner class, the ones that arrive later tend to do so for other reasons, like not getting home from work on time.

Now better go and finish what I have to do so I can go out tonight!

[jivecat]

These days I don't even show up for the entire evening, let alone the beginner's class.:rolleyes:

IF I was to get off the sofa in time to get to the start of the beginner's class I would do it as a lead, IF I was feeling psychologically equal to the task. Note the IF, though.

If I turned up halfway through the beginner's class I would join the ladies' line as long as nobody got talking to me before I reached it.

There's always something to practise whilst doing "easy" moves - balance and styling for example, and who knows, I might even be helpful to someone, God forbid.

If I was to deliberately skip a class it would probably be the intermediates as that's when the really dangerous stuff happens like being dropped and man-handled or having to do cheesy, embarrassing UCP moves with total strangers who can't lead them yet.

But if I'm in the room and there's a class on I figure I should do the class. Might as well get me money's worth.:grin:

[Gadget]

The only time I sit out a beginner's class is when there are men over... or I'm eating ;)

Several reasons and I don't really think that there's an order to them (and will probably think on a few more...)-

* beginner followers can do with leads that show them how it should feel when it's led well.

* I can practice how to lead well and how to compensate for various following 'difficulties'

* it's a good warmup to stretch physically and get my head into the right mentality to dance

* I meet all the new people and can look them out for a dance later

* I can try various subtle things with the same move (timeing, body position, direction of force, point of lead,...) that shouldn't effect the follower too much.

* I pick up on all the inuendo faux-pa's (?) that the teachers innocently make {"ladies don't go down on your man before he's ready...":whistle:}

* I can sometimes see were other leads are going wrong and make sure that I am not doing the same thing... And sometimes see where they are going right and try to emulate.

* I can watch the teacher and demo for what they are doing rather than what they are saying they are doing - especially in areas of my own dancing I think need a bit of work to improve. (Might ignore it, but at least I know how they do it)

* I get to say hi to all the followers and book up my dance card :flower:

[DavidY]

Reasons why I sometimes do the Beginners' class: When I'm taxiing Gets my brain into "dance mode" - it's sometimes hard to go into freestyle "cold" after a hard day) Especially at an unfamiliar venue, you get to meet people (and also find a few people to dance with later:wink: ) Sometimes I find people to avoid later too :blush: eg. the lady a few weeks ago who insisted on back-leading me through the routine half a beat ahead of the music Helps even up numbers if there are too many ladies
Reasons why I sometimes don't do the Beginners' class: Ceroc teachers seem to have a set script and (especially if it's a new teacher and they don't depart from it) I have heard it a hundred times before If I'm late If I'm using the time to catch up with friends instead If there are men over

[Beowulf]

I "try" to attend the beginners class. Occaisionally I'm late.

it's a good warm up, if gives you an idea of who you'd like to dance with, and it's more fun than sitting out at the side, shouting over the music to have a conevrsation !