Rant: routines

[David Bailey]

Just to show that Clive's not the only miserable git on the forum, can I take this opportunity to whinge about people taking up excessive space practicing routines?

OK, I've heard a rumour that there's some competition coming up.

But, you know, for those of us not really that obsessed with it, we'd kind of like to use the dance floor to dance, and not have to worry about other couples stopping and starting in the middle of the dance floor, who need extra care and attention to avoid, and who take up more space in already-overcrowded venues to showcase their travelling routines. Grrrr..... :mad:

There, I feel much better now

[ChrisA]

can I take this opportunity to whinge about people taking up excessive space practicing routines?

I think most who compete would agree that competition practice on a crowded social dance floor is a complete no-no.

If it's not busy, and the practice can occupy an inconspicuous corner somewhere that gets in no one's way, fair enough.

But not otherwise, I totally agree. :flower:

[Ballroom queen]

didn't someone say that MJ wasn't choreographed??

confused!? :confused: :confused:

[ChrisA]

didn't someone say that MJ wasn't choreographed??

Yeah, I did, and I expect others did too.

Showcases are, obviously. They're choreographed from one end to another, to a particular piece (or edited-together-pieces) of music.

But freestyles aren't, for the most part. There will be a repertoire of, hopefully, eye-catching moves whose execution gets better with practice, but no routines.

Why the confusion?

[David Bailey]

But freestyles aren't, for the most part. There will be a repertoire of, hopefully, eye-catching moves whose execution gets better with practice, but no routines.
Hmmm, but some "freestyles" have a lot of fairly lengthy choreographed moves - it was the practicing of those moves I was whinging about, rather than a whole routine. Obviously, lots of these will take up a lot of space, to get the judges' attention, so they're not ideal in a standard MJ dance situation.

Actually, the worst bit is when they stop dead, and start discussing it in the middle of the floor. For some reason it's much harder to work around a couple who are standing still than a couple who are moving around.

[ChrisA]

Hmmm, but some "freestyles" have a lot of fairly lengthy choreographed moves

More than an eight-count???

If so, hopefully, the judges will spot it and mark it down. :D



- it was the practicing of those moves I was whinging about, rather than a whole routine. Obviously, lots of these will take up a lot of space, to get the judges' attention, so they're not ideal in a standard MJ dance situation.

Agreed, not nice at all.


Actually, the worst bit is when they stop dead, and start discussing it in the middle of the floor. For some reason it's much harder to work around a couple who are standing still than a couple who are moving around.

Yep. On a level with walking randomly across the dance floor, or standing on the dance floor socialising.

You could ask them not to... :whistle:

[Graham]

For some reason it's much harder to work around a couple who are standing still than a couple who are moving around.
Your peripheral vision is much better at detecting moving objects than stationary ones. You're therefore constantly subconsciously monitoring the position and trajectory of fellow dancers, and thus subconsciously avoid them. Where there is a single stationary object in a group of moving ones you don't get this effect and therefore you keep having to consciously avoid them: because this is now taking conscious rather than subconscious brainpower it seems harder.

[MartinHarper]

Also, dancers are aware of those around them, and will move slightly to accommodate them, whereas folks who are standing still chatting are not.

[David Bailey]

Your peripheral vision is much better at detecting moving objects than stationary ones. You're therefore constantly subconsciously monitoring the position and trajectory of fellow dancers, and thus subconsciously avoid them. Where there is a single stationary object in a group of moving ones you don't get this effect and therefore you keep having to consciously avoid them: because this is now taking conscious rather than subconscious brainpower it seems harder.
That makes a spooky amount of sense. I'm learning something every day here... Thanks

[Daisy]

On a level with walking randomly across the dance floor, or standing on the dance floor socialising.

You could ask them not to... :whistle:

Actually had to do this with a couple at a freestyle last night and you should have seen the dirty look I got. :angry:

Apparently, the dancefloor is not just for dancing according to some folk.......but for having a good old chin wag and a flirt. :really:

Must be from the brainless species. :sad:

Of course we were then thrown more dirty looks all evening for having done it. :mad:

Sometimes it's just not worth the hassle. :sick:

[El Salsero Gringo]

Your peripheral vision is much better at detecting moving objects than stationary ones. You're therefore constantly subconsciously monitoring the position and trajectory of fellow dancers, and thus subconsciously avoid them. Where there is a single stationary object in a group of moving ones you don't get this effect and therefore you keep having to consciously avoid them: because this is now taking conscious rather than subconscious brainpower it seems harder.Does this explain why some people drive into bollards and post-boxes when they are quite capable of avoiding other road-users? hehehe...

[David Bailey]

Sometimes it's just not worth the hassle. :sick:
:worthy: for having the guts to do that though - you're right, they're wrong.

Although I'm too much of a wimp to do it...