Freestyle???

[Welshy]

Hi all,

I have been dancing for 6 weeks now and am attending a beginner's workshop on Sunday. I thought it would be best to wait until I have completed the workshop and maybe even started doing intermediate stuff before I attend a freestyle event but I have been encouraged by one of the crew to go to one this Saturday (Wilton). I do ask people to dance but am still a littly bit shy about it and I think I might be worse when it's purely freestyle.

What are people's opinions? Am I going to be sat there like a lemon because nobody wants to dance with a beginner on freestyle night or should I go for it?

Thanks :)

[whitetiger1518]

Welcome Welshy!
It is entirely up to you how long you take to get to a freestyle. It took me 3 months to get the confidence for mine, but after that there was no stopping me.

If you feel that you will be more comfortable after the Workshop, then don't be pressurised - it is your dance experience - go with what feels good for you..

Whenever you get to the Freestyle scene, Smile and Enjoy yourself. - The smile does 70% of the work.. If you are enjoying yourself you will find your dance card filling nicely.

Cheers Whitetiger

[CJ]

Hi, Welshy.

Firstly, welcome to the Madhouse!!!:lol:

U haven't said if U lead or follow.

As U travel on your dance journey, U will come to many firsts... some scary, some really scary... most fun... and almost all in the right direction.

It is a truism that follows have more to change with regard to learning to ask, that not only is it OK for women to ask men, but that it's an integral part of the culture... and it works.:D

As WT says, a smile does much...

I won't lie... the first freestyle is a scary prospect. But everyone in that venue U join will once have been at their first freestyle. My favourite things about the MJ scene, all around the country, is that almost everyone has an awareness they were once a beginner and have great enthusiasm for sharing this love we have...

I would encourage U to attend. Sooner or later it will happen. When it does, I am sure U'll wonder whatever stopped U from going in the first place...

We were all beginners... we ahve all been where U are.. and hence, U should recieve a warm welcome... so, yes... go for it.:D

Let us know how it goes....

[Welshy]

Thanks for both of your replies. I follow (I meant to put that in the first post!). It is at my usual class venue which is the only reason I'm considering it as I am guessing there will be some familiar faces. I would absolutely love to go but I'm scared!!!

I went to a different venue this week and felt like I was back to square one in terms of freestyle because I didn't know anyone. It knocked my confidence a bit if I'm honest.

Another question: Do they have taxi dancers at freestyle nights?
I have another 3 days to flip between going and not going

[Phil_dB]

I think you should go as I really do think you'll have a great time, - both from dancing and socialising... - And I think you'll learn loads :)

I remember being pretty nervous going to my first freestyle, - I had this perception that ONLY really good dancers go to freestyles, but that's certainly not true :)

They've never had taxis at the freestyles i've been to, but there has certainly been beginners.

[Stuart M]

Thanks for both of your replies. I follow (I meant to put that in the first post!). It is at my usual class venue which is the only reason I'm considering it as I am guessing there will be some familiar faces. I would absolutely love to go but I'm scared!!!

I went to a different venue this week and felt like I was back to square one in terms of freestyle because I didn't know anyone. It knocked my confidence a bit if I'm honest.
One bit of advice is to buddy up with a familiar face, if you can. They'll be able to point out the best folk to have a dance with, or conversely point you out to people as someone to ask up as a newbie. As to the fear factor - just remember, when looking at even the best dancers on the floor, they were scared once too!

Another question: Do they have taxi dancers at freestyle nights?
I have another 3 days to flip between going and not going
You'll usually find taxi dancers at freestyle nights, but they're not "on duty" (unless things have changed since I was one which was a couple of years back!) It might be a good idea to go early, as there might be a quick class at the start to get things going (again, don't know if that's the pattern lcoally, but it certainly was/is up here).

[Tiger Pants]

.........have a word with your local taxis before hand, its not the first time I've arranged to meet up with some freestyle newbies before going along to the freestyle. You never know there maybe a few others in the review session feeling just like you and you can all go together.

Whatever you decide, have fun.

[HelenB]

It might be a good idea to go early, as there might be a quick class at the start to get things going (again, don't know if that's the pattern lcoally, but it certainly was/is up here).

:yeah:I always finds this helps me whether at a class night or freestyle I haven't been to before - gives you a chance to get to know people who are there and mark up some dances for later on :D

Go when you feel ready but don't leave it for ages like I did. I didn't go to a freestyle for several years :eek: and once I had, and caught the bug, there was no going back...

Enjoy! :flower:

[Welshy]

Thank you all :)

I will be going to my usual class tomorrow so will do as you suggested Tiger Pants and speak to the taxi dancers about it.

[Ascot Lady]

Hi all,

I do ask people to dance but am still a littly bit shy about it and I think I might be worse when it's purely freestyle.

What are people's opinions? Am I going to be sat there like a lemon because nobody wants to dance with a beginner on freestyle night or should I go for it?

Thanks :)

Well done for even asking the questions! My 1st freestyle was intimidating & exciting. I sat at a table thinking "I can't do this" but knew I had to be there!
It definitely helps if there is a warm up lesson, but you know what....if you smile & ENJOY yourself so will your partners. I've been dancing at least 5 yrs & I still forget to smile sometimes...it has lost me lots of dances.
Do go & ask away. Never be afraid of saying you are a newcomer, if it seems to put anyone off, use that smile!!!

[Welshy]

Thank you so much for all the replies. Just to update you, I did end up going and stayed all night. I had a fantastic time and had plenty of dances. I'm really glad I went as by the end of the night I was so much more confident.
I have a beginners workshop today so am hoping my feet will last for another 4 hours!!!!

[Tiger Pants]

........ and so the journey continues. Glad you enjoyed that first freestyle. Now when will we see you at your first weekender?

[Welshy]

:grin: That's next on my list, hoping to do one in 2010. Yes, my name is Welshy and I'm addicted :lol:

[todd]

Well done Welshy..!

Thanks for this thread - it has reminded my of my first freestyle, which was also at Wilton...

At the time, I had been to about 4 or maybe 5 lessons and thought I could go and "just sit in the corner and watch"... Hmmm, not quite...! But sooo glad I went. Danced more than I intended and once I got over my fear of "I don't know what I'm doing" I was actually surprised how much from the lessons I could remember (badly, but that's not exactly the point!). I look bad on that night fondly - I think it was that night I was irreversably bitten by the Jive Bug!

How did the workshop go? What was covered?

So, weekenders next year..! Cool - see you there!

[fandangle]

Welshy, let me also add my congratulations for taking that big step of attending your first freestyle. It can be a bit overawing with all that wild energy whizzing about but it's my contention that, as a follower, you can learn more in one freestyle than months of lessons. You mentioned Wilton which is in my area, can you say what freestyle you attended? There's one in Romsey tonight that I'm going to. I would be happy to dance with you. :nice:

[fandangle]

Sorry, I meant to add that there is a Calendar of Freestyles in your area at http://www.southernjive.co.uk

I use it a lot.

[Welshy]

Todd - The workshop was good, gave me chance to slow everything down and think about what I was doing. It covered general beginner moves, spinning, general etiquette (making eye contact and such like) and how to freestyle.

Fandangle - Definitely agree about learning lots at a freestyle, it was fantastic! It was the Ceroc live freestyle at Wilton that I went to. Thanks for the calendar, it will come in useful :) Would have loved to go to the Romsey one tonight as it's not too far for me but I am off to Cardiff for the week. I'll hold you to that dance if I manage to track you down at another freestyle though (Haha! You might regret it!) :lol: