PDA

View Full Version : Wiggling (lack thereof)



Pete
4th-November-2004, 12:08 AM
I've been working on 'promenading' - walking forwards and backwards when doing moves like baskets and sways but I always seem to end up doing them in a kind of lurching march style :sick:

I noticed that the women I danced with tonight seem to do effortlessly stylish wiggling movements when doing these kinds of moves so I tried to let them lead but I still couldn't really get my hips going. Any tips?

Gadget
4th-November-2004, 12:59 AM
Toes. Try doing the walks on your toes as if you were wearing heels. Actually, you only need to raise your heels slightly, but it will give everyone else a laugh :devil: You will also find that tilting your pelvis forward helps.

When ladies 'stalk', they are placing their feet in a line; one foot is placed in line with the next. The leg going infront will roll the hip with it, so that the hip 'walks' with the feet. Since you're male however; do this too much and it's "mincing" and you need to have your arms bent at the elbows with hands hanging limply.

I have no idea where "snake-hips" ends and "mincing" starts... I think that's a lady's call.

Andy McGregor
4th-November-2004, 01:11 AM
When wiggling you need to be wary of cheap imported wiggles which don't meet the Department of Wiggling ISO9001-3. There have been attempts by the agents of S.M.U.R.F. to flood the market with their sub-standard wiggles. Be ever vigilant and leave all reports of suspected non-conforming wiggles in the Hollow Tree for further investigation.

At no time should you attempt to use a wiggle that you suspect may not be suitable for humans.

MartinHarper
4th-November-2004, 01:55 AM
women [...] do effortlessly stylish wiggling movements

Women have different shaped hips, and the bones are in different places. They've also been socialised into walking with a mild wiggle since they started walking. As Gadget explains, guys can learn how to mimic this, with practice, but we're starting at a fairly hefty disadvantage. If it makes you feel any better, woman have equal trouble trying to walk like guys.


a kind of lurching march style

I'd say aim to fix this first, and worry about wiggles later. The standard advice seems to be to bend at the waist and knees, so you're less stiff and upright.

Gojive
4th-November-2004, 02:21 AM
Quote:
a kind of lurching march style





I'd say aim to fix this first, and worry about wiggles later. The standard advice seems to be to bend at the waist and knees, so you're less stiff and upright.

I'd agree with that - plus, make sure you take small steps. It's easier to get something akin to a "manly hip movement" that way ( apparently :blush: )

Pete
4th-November-2004, 11:17 AM
Toes. Try doing the walks on your toes as if you were wearing heels. Actually, you only need to raise your heels slightly, but it will give everyone else a laugh :devil: You will also find that tilting your pelvis forward helps.

When ladies 'stalk', they are placing their feet in a line; one foot is placed in line with the next. The leg going infront will roll the hip with it, so that the hip 'walks' with the feet. Since you're male however; do this too much and it's "mincing" and you need to have your arms bent at the elbows with hands hanging limply.

I have no idea where "snake-hips" ends and "mincing" starts... I think that's a lady's call.

Blimey. It works! :eek: Just been doing it up and down my office :clap: Mincing potential is alarmingly high, though :blush:

Zebra Woman
4th-November-2004, 11:24 AM
If the lady is beside you get your hand on the lady's hip bone and try to mirror it's movements with your hip.

Keep your upper body really calm, feet close together, knees bent. Imagine you're working behind a bar and secretly dancing with the lower half of your body only. :blush:

Practice, practice, practice. You are not alone. Loads of men have spent months working on their wiggle. Next time you're down the pub , checkout the bottom half of the bar man. :eek: :really: :drool:

ZW :flower:

ToeTrampler
4th-November-2004, 11:47 AM
Blimey. It works! :eek: Just been doing it up and down my office :clap: Mincing potential is alarmingly high, though :blush:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Rachel
4th-November-2004, 11:48 AM
I've been working on 'promenading' - walking forwards and backwards when doing moves like baskets and sways but I always seem to end up doing them in a kind of lurching march style :sick:

I noticed that the women I danced with tonight seem to do effortlessly stylish wiggling movements when doing these kinds of moves so I tried to let them lead but I still couldn't really get my hips going. Any tips? Please don't take offence, it's only personal opinion and many would disagree, but men shouldn't wiggle. It just doesn't look right. I'm not saying you should be all stiff and upright ( you know what I mean :blush: ), and salsa type hip movements (where you sink into the leg your weight is on) can look good. But don't try the effeminate wiggles unless you want to look effeminate (and if that is what you want, that's fine by me).

In basket-type walks, etc, let the women add the stylish wiggles and flourishes (not that I can), and just provide her with a good frame to work from. Glide along, slide your feet, be smooth ... My most hated of all moves are the ones where the guys hold you in tight and shove your hips out with their own, from one side to the other - it's forced, unnatural, and looks ridiculous. Though I'm sure you don't do anything like that - and the women probably love dancing with you!
Rachel.

Lory
4th-November-2004, 12:09 PM
I agree with most of what Rachel said, (apart from the basket wrap walks, I love those! :nice: )

But, I don't think men look right if they do a false, over exagerated wiggle, they tend to look very camp! There are a couple of very macho guys, who wiggle divinely but you can tell its very natural.

Maybe, just try making your walk a little softer and lighter, it might feel less like marching :confused:

For what it's worth, I've tried walking without a wiggle and I find THAT impossible! :hug:

Rachel
4th-November-2004, 12:20 PM
I agree with most of what Rachel said, (apart from the basket wrap walks, I love those! :nice: ) Oh I love those too - I just hate it when the guys give you no room to breathe or manoever, and then forceably push out your hips from side to to side.


For what it's worth, I've tried walking without a wiggle and I find THAT impossible! :hug: But you do it so beautifully, why would you ever want to not wiggle?!
R. x

Andy McGregor
4th-November-2004, 12:30 PM
But you do it so beautifully, why would you ever want to not wiggle?!
R. x

Maybe Lory is trying to go incogneto. Lory without a wiggle would be like, err

umm ...

.. Lory without a smile :grin:

foxylady
4th-November-2004, 12:39 PM
But, I don't think men look right if they do a false, over exagerated wiggle, they tend to look very camp! There are a couple of very macho guys, who wiggle divinely but you can tell its very natural.



Men that can wiggle are divine to dance with (and watch :wink: ), but it is a natural thing.... Watch SilverFox's bottom next time you get a chance Lory !

Men that have been taught to wiggle, especially the on-the-toes-almost-'mincers' are really not at all sexy !!

Foxy

bigdjiver
4th-November-2004, 01:24 PM
[QUOTE=Rachel]... My most hated of all moves are the ones where the guys ... shove your hips out with their own, from one side to the other - it's forced, unnatural, and looks ridiculous... [QUOTE] :tears: I do lots of this, intended as a dance joke :sad:

One of the best lady dancers at Bedford is superb at giving lots of verbal feedback - mostly positive - "Yeah" goes a long way. Silence means "could do better", and there is the ocassional "too tight", "slower" etc. Because it is mostly positive I do not get the feeling that I am not up to her standard, though it is obvious that very few can dance at her level. The feedback on at what I am doing wrong helps me to be a better dancer. Ladies - please follow Rachels example and tell us what you like or do not like. You want better partners - help us to be them.

Fortunately I do not tend to repeat the exagerrated wiggle, unless the lady obviously likes it, just as you try not to repeat the same joke.

SilverFox
4th-November-2004, 01:36 PM
Men that can wiggle are divine to dance with (and watch :wink: ), but it is a natural thing.... Watch SilverFox's bottom next time you get a chance Lory ! Foxy
:cheers: :worthy: :worthy: :worthy: :hug:


I noticed that the women I danced with tonight seem to do effortlessly stylish wiggling movements when doing these kinds of moves so I tried to let them lead but I still couldn't really get my hips going. Any tips?
If you try and wiggle your hips Pete, you will either look (a) as camp as a row of tents or (b) like your haemorrhoids are seeking revenge. - "The Grapes of Wrath" :eek:
Forget about the hips for a moment. All you have to do is bend one knee slightly, transferring your weight on to that knee whilst keeping the other leg locked straight and your body straight. Now bend the other knee again transferring your weight on to that knee.

Stand in front of a mirror repeating this sequence and you will be pleasantly surprised to discover that your hips are now doing a gentle figure of 8 wiggle - whilst looking quite manly! :waycool:

Rachel
4th-November-2004, 01:40 PM
:tears: I do lots of this, intended as a dance joke :sad:
... just as you try not to repeat the same joke. Hey, moves that are done as a joke are fine as long, as you say, as they're not done all the time. Anything that can raise a smile or laugh and take the seriousness out of dancing is good in my book!


.. tell us what you like or do not like. You want better partners - help us to be them. Well now you've opened the floodgates!! Can I start with a special plea for guys to NOT do that move where they position themselves in front of you, turn their head to look at you and then ... poke their tongue out or thumb their nose. Ok, done once in a dance is alright, but done all the time is just not funny in the extreme!
Rachel

SilverFox
4th-November-2004, 01:49 PM
Well now you've opened the floodgates!! Can I start with a special plea for guys to NOT do that move where they position themselves in front of you, turn their head to look at you and then ... poke their tongue out or thumb their nose. Ok, done once in a dance is alright, but done all the time is just not funny in the extreme!
Rachel

:yeah: You're spot on there Rachel. The Almost Pretzel (I think!). Though to be fair it's not just a guy thang, there are a lot of girls who poke their tongues out at me .... for all the wrong reasons! :wink: :innocent:

MartinHarper
4th-November-2004, 03:08 PM
Tongue-pokes can be fitted into any move! :)

Personally, I reckon that the worst place for guys to practice wiggles would be in a basket promenade or similar, because when you're close up like that you've got a lot of body-to-body contact, and wiggling is likely to interfere with the lead - at least until it's under control.

I think it would be better to initially practice wiggle walks in a face-to-face position, with no contact outside of the hands. I find it's fairly plausible to lead a simple walk in face-to-face: lead the lady to walk backwards, and walk towards her (or vica versa). You'll also get some fairly direct feedback from the lady's face as to how "manly" you're being...

Lory
4th-November-2004, 05:58 PM
Maybe Lory is trying to go incogneto. Lory without a wiggle would be like, err

umm ...

.. Lory without a smile :grin:

Aww :hug:

I was only trying as an experiment. and I can't do it! Do I care? No way! :wink:

Watch SilverFox's bottom next time you get a chance Lory !

Shhh I'll take a sneaky peek next time! :blush:


Well now you've opened the floodgates!! Can I start with a special plea
My turn! :D Guys, please remember when dancing with me, :) I simply HATE the dragged through the hedge backwards move, the one when we have to reverse our nice clean hair under a sweaty arm pit! :sick: :angry:

But on the other hand, the other night, a certain forumite :waycool: did a very agreeable move, :wink: somehow I ended up with my back to him and got a sudden impromptu neck massage! and Yes, I gave lot's of verbal feedback! (just not sure any of it was comprehensible though :rofl: )

Andy McGregor
4th-November-2004, 06:40 PM
Personally, I reckon that the worst place for guys to practice wiggles would be in a basket promenade or similar,

I can think of quite a few worse places to practice your wiggles - how about a lift full of builders :eek: Or even worse, hairdressers :what:

Minnie M
4th-November-2004, 06:48 PM
I can think of quite a few worse places to practice your wiggles - how about a lift full of builders :eek: Or even worse, hairdressers :what:

Or in a Motorway service station in a cute little 2 piece pink number :rolleyes: :whistle:

Andy McGregor
4th-November-2004, 06:53 PM
Or in a Motorway service station in a cute little 2 piece pink number :rolleyes: :whistle:

I think it was the wiggling in spite of the proximity of a platoon of Paratroopers that might have been my biggest mistake that day - the day before it was shaving my armpit hair with the beard trimmer attachment and then putting on deodorant :tears:

.. but it did make me wiggle :sick:

Unregistered
5th-November-2004, 02:25 PM
In basket-type walks, etc, let the women add the stylish wiggles and flourishes (not that I can), and just provide her with a good frame to work from. Rachel.

I reckon that too. If I guy has learned to use his hips well it always looks better than someone who hasn't. But if they are close together and the woman is wiggling it usuall looks silly if the guy does, because it never looks synchronised, or as good.

Jayne
5th-November-2004, 02:34 PM
There are a couple of very macho guys, who wiggle divinely but you can tell its very natural.

One word.

Viktor.

:drool: :drool: :drool: :picks herself off floor:

J :nice:

Trish
5th-November-2004, 02:46 PM
... My most hated of all moves are the ones where the guys hold you in tight and shove your hips out with their own, from one side to the other - it's forced, unnatural, and looks ridiculous.

I agree, not a nice move, especially when you're quite a small girl (which I am) and he's a really tall bloke. As my ribs are around the same place as some of these guys hips I just don't bend in the places they're trying to shove outwards, so it's also really uncomfortable!

Sparkles
6th-November-2004, 03:04 AM
Men that can wiggle are divine to dance with (and watch :wink: ), but it is a natural thing.... Watch SilverFox's bottom next time you get a chance Lory !

:yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Foxy you've certainly hit the nail on the head there... what a lovely wiggle :drool:
... plus he has eyes 'to die for' too :rolleyes: :D :o

S. x

Lory
6th-November-2004, 11:47 AM
Watch SilverFox's bottom next time you get a chance Lory !

Job done! :wink: My observations revealed that it's very small :rolleyes:.............................but it don't 'alf go! :rofl:



:yeah: :yeah: :yeah:
Foxy you've certainly hit the nail on the head there... what a lovely wiggle :drool:
... plus he has eyes 'to die for' too :rolleyes: :D :o

S. x

CALM DOWN GIRL! :angry: It's unladylike! :rolleyes: :hug:

And just before you get carried away, I'll let you into a secret, he might have laughed at my babywipes but when pushed on the subject, he confessed to carrying a handy sized packet of 'Hackly Moists'! :whistle: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

philsmove
6th-November-2004, 12:56 PM
Have you tried some other dance classes?

MJ teachers seem to concentrate on “how to do the moves” rather than how to dance

The local Tango Argentina and Salsa beginners’ class seem to concentrate on getting the whole body moving

I have found the quite a few style tips transfer to MJ





Zebra Woman
Practice, practice, practice.


With someone who wriggles

baldrick
6th-November-2004, 12:57 PM
Salsa certainly brings on a terrific little wiggle :waycool:

drathzel
6th-November-2004, 01:15 PM
B, if thats what you call it!

MartinHarper
6th-November-2004, 02:31 PM
it is a natural thing.... Watch SilverFox's bottom

Judging from his post... a natural thing acquired by natural practicing in front of a natural mirror? :)

foxylady
6th-November-2004, 04:15 PM
Judging from his post... a natural thing acquired by natural practicing in front of a natural mirror? :)

Fraid to dissapoint you Martin, but men don't have equipment that moves like that from practice - they really do have to have some innate natural talent for it... Mirrors will only help fine tune raw talent :wink:

Pete
7th-November-2004, 01:16 PM
Hmm, so to summarise people's suggestions:

1). I can learn to wiggle if I practise :nice:
2). If I learn to wiggle by practising I will look ridiculous :sad:
3). I should make a close observation of Silver Fox's bottom :sick:

For number (3): Do I simply turn up, or do I need to make an appointment? :blush:

foxylady
7th-November-2004, 01:38 PM
Hmm, so to summarise people's suggestions:

1). I can learn to wiggle if I practise :nice:
2). If I learn to wiggle by practising I will look ridiculous :sad:
3). I should make a close observation of Silver Fox's bottom :sick:

For number (3): Do I simply turn up, or do I need to make an appointment? :blush:

Pete, not been very helpful has it....

I think in essence if wiggling comes naturally do it, if it doesn't then don't force it, but do soften any 'marching' that does come naturally.....

Some of the best dancers eg DavidB never wiggle - infact he makes a point of moving as little as possible, but doing it with such style it looks fab !

Foxy

Pete
7th-November-2004, 01:48 PM
Cheers Foxy - it has been helpful: it's given me some ideas to try out, so I'll play around with the wiggling for a few weeks and see how it goes.... :cheers:

spindr
7th-November-2004, 02:18 PM
I guess you could always fake wiggling -- at least when stood still.
Forget your hips -- keep your legs and knees pressed together with "soft" knees and then move your knees slightly from side to side, or circle slightly. Your hips should start to move of their own accord.

SpinDr.