Common bad habits

[MartinHarper]

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?

[Lynn]

Marking the beat with hand bouncing (though I also heard someone 'warn' against doing that in a Lindy class so maybe not exclusively in MJ.)

[Asif]

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?
...thinking that they CAN dance! :whistle:

[Minnie M]

...thinking that they CAN dance! :whistle:
:yeah: so true

I went to Andy McGregor's class tonight, and there must have been 75% beginners, so they didn't know I was experienced :whistle: Wot a larf :rofl:

I got a "well done" and a "that's good" and "what moves do you want me to do"

Bless :flower:

Timing - well, that is natural as they are so wrapped up in getting the moves right, they are not listening to the music.

Backleading - really bad habit new ladies/followers have

Ladies turning - beginners always seem to do a travelling return

Only one really bad habit I found, was them gripping to tight and jerking my arm a lot (it really aches now)

However, we were all there one time and they are very keen, so can't really moan. I got a really lovely dance with Simon R :worthy: and a great dance with Andy so I was happy :clap:

[Gojive]

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?

Two nuns giving it some welly on the dance floor?.... :wink:

Sorry, couldn't resist. To be serious then - I know my worst habit is the time marking hand bounce. With some tracks, such as "Summer Wind", I've managed to stop completely (and even stop my partner at the time, from dancing with a musical five knuckle shuffle). On the other bouncing hand though, I can't seem to rid myself of it, to more lively tracks.

I've also had trouble in the past, with stooping - a problem I only discovered when watching a video of myself once.

[under par]

I've also had trouble in the past, with stooping - a problem I only discovered when watching a video of myself once.


I have had stooping problems identified by a video ...quite scarey too when you see how bad it looks. :whistle:

Working hard to improve it now.. :flower:

[Gojive]

I have had stooping problems identified by a video ...quite scarey too when you see how bad it looks. :whistle:

Working hard to improve it now.. :flower:

I went to one one Amir's body styling classes, where he covered posture very well. I've been practising his advice at every opportunity ever since, and hopefully, I think I've managed to get rid of the stoop for the most part.

Overstretching on the back step is now my next target.

Oh, just thougght of another!....again, by watching a video, I discovered I was dancing with my mouth open alll the time. Now I'm not good looking at the best of times, but I was making it ten times worse. The solution, was to chew gum (discretely, not the "look how hard I am" way) - this seem to force me to keep my gob shut.....and that's quite a feat! :D

[El Salsero Gringo]

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?The one I've noticed most commonly is actually the habit of complaining to all and sundry about how bad other people's dancing is - especially "beginners."

[Sparkles]

Backleading - really bad habit new ladies/followers have
:yeah: :blush:
I know this is one of my own very bad habits :blush:

[SilverFox]

The one I've noticed most commonly is actually the habit of complaining to all and sundry about how bad other people's dancing is - especially "beginners."Thinks *Beginners who are always complaining? Hmmmm.....I wonder who he's referring to........*

[Northants Girly]

Thinks *Beginners who are always complaining? Hmmmm.....I wonder who he's referring to........*People who refuse dances . . . . . :whistle:

[El Salsero Gringo]

Thinks *Beginners who are always complaining? Hmmmm.....I wonder who he's referring to........*I meant to say, people who complain about beginners' (and others') poor standards of dancing, not just beginners who complain.

(It was a lighthearted dig at everyone posting in this thread, but it got lost somewhere.)

[ducasi]

Thinks *Beginners who are always complaining? Hmmmm.....I wonder who he's referring to........* Was he referring to beginners complaining about bad dancing, or dancers complaining about bad beginners? (EDIT: ESG just clarified what he meant...)

I'd suggest that beginners have a greater right to complain about poor dancing as they won't have the necessary skills and experience to overcome problems, and are more likely to pick up bad habits...

I got some flack for complaining about bad dancers when I was just starting, but my opinions haven't changed greatly... I think I'm now just better able to cope with the problems presented to me when dancing with some folks.

(I am still under no illusions that I'm that good a dancer either. I think I do OK, but I'm sure I've got bad habits too. Just not sure what they are... :o)

[Graham W]

..v rare that women have bad habits - rigid arms occass in beginners, thu I have encountered sabotage to try and make me look bad on occassions..., (as if I need help on that :-)) ...& when people say they have had a terrific dance & then slate u to someone else, but maybe thats just where I come from? cliques rool?

G

[Daisy Chain]

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?

My bad habit is leading an obvious break if it looks like my man isn't going to bother.

Daisy

(A Motionless Little Flower)

[doc martin]

I have had stooping problems identified by a video

I notice that I do this, especially with shorter followers. I have trouble avoiding stooping doing moves where I need to bring my hands down to waist level. When I do moves where I am passing my hands over my head when my back is turned, I can bend my knees when the follower is shorter, but when I am facing them bending the knees would look as bad as stooping.

I am not that tall (5'11") so I guess a lot of leaders have the same problem. I am not sure what the solution is except to make all followers wear very high heels :)

Another bad habit is when I suddenly remember a move in the middle of a dance and I am so pleased with myself that I put it in immediately, irrespective of whether it fits into the flow of the dance or suits the music :o . Again not sure how to cure this as, if I didn't put it in straight away, I would probably have forgotten it ten seconds later. In fact, maybe I do do that sometimes, but forget those occassions when I do :rofl:

[ElaineB]

..v rare that women have bad habits - rigid arms occass in beginners, thu I have encountered sabotage to try and make me look bad on occassions..., (as if I need help on that :-)) ...& when people say they have had a terrific dance & then slate u to someone else, but maybe thats just where I come from? cliques rool?

G

Come on - you're kidding me - I have never, ever had a bad dance with you and can't say that I have seen you dance badly with anyone else! Never heard anyone say anything less than nice comments about your dance ability either!

Anyway, to my bad dance habits - I sometimes get a little bit carried away, just an incy, weensy, ickle bit and find myself dominating my partner - naughty! :whistle:

Elaine

[TiggsTours]

Marking the beat with hand bouncing (though I also heard someone 'warn' against doing that in a Lindy class so maybe not exclusively in MJ.)
No, I'd say it is a MJ thing, it gets complained about in Lindy, yes, but the culprits are usually MJers who've moved across to Lindy, taking their bad habits with them!

Backleading - really bad habit new ladies/followers have
I'd think that Backleading and leading oneself are 2 different things, and the last one is inexcusably bad! I think of backleading as the lady taking the opportunity to add some of her own style to a dance, or steal the lead, and can be great fun! Leading oneself is pre-empting moves and not waiting for the lead, or not being able to recognise when the man wants the lead back when you've been backleading, or being able to relinquish it.


The one I'd add would have to be lack of spacial awareness, and those around you (surprised nobody else has mentioned it!) Last Friday I was having a very lovely WCS with Rythmn King, and he lead me into a lean, I didn't even move my feet, and when he brought me back to standing, there was someone in the space my left foot had momentarily raised 2 inches from!

[Lou]

.thu I have encountered sabotage to try and make me look bad on occassions..., :rofl: As if! You always cope with sabotage with style & aplomb, Graham!


Anyway, to my bad dance habits - I sometimes get a little bit carried away, just an incy, weensy, ickle bit and find myself dominating my partner - naughty! Trouble is, it can get very interesting when you have 2 potential dominatrixes dancing together.... :whistle:

[New_to_London]

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?
1. Bouncing to the beat, either with arms or the whole body: This is probably my number one peeve. It looks really silly, especially if I am dancing smoothly and she is bouncing up and down. I’ve even seen instructors / demonstrators doing this.

2. Back-leading (is that the right terminology) moves, or anticipating / pre-empting moves. I’ve become a bit more tolerant of this, as I just maintain firm movements in my lead, to counteract the back-leading.

3. Poor hand gripping, flat palms, loose fingers, dropping the hand grip at critical moments. This tends to create bad habits of my own, where I start using my thumb at times in order to ensure the hand doesn’t slip away.

4. Constantly moving around in a CW circle. This is ok for a while, but gets tiresome, as I’m constantly having to reposition myself or interject additional moves, in order to be able to make the transition between two moves that would normally fit together. It also makes “double trouble” dancing more challenging. :-)

5. Being unable to spin or at least turn on the spot. Some women seem to travel great distances when turning.

[David Franklin]

1. Bouncing to the beat, either with arms or the whole body: This is probably my number one peeve. It looks really silly, especially if I am dancing smoothly and she is bouncing up and down. I’ve even seen instructors / demonstrators doing this.

2. Back-leading (is that the right terminology) moves, or anticipating / pre-empting moves. I’ve become a bit more tolerant of this, as I just maintain firm movements in my lead, to counteract the back-leading.

3. Poor hand gripping, flat palms, loose fingers, dropping the hand grip at critical moments. This tends to create bad habits of my own, where I start using my thumb at times in order to ensure the hand doesn’t slip away.

4. Constantly moving around in a CW circle. This is ok for a while, but gets tiresome, as I’m constantly having to reposition myself or interject additional moves, in order to be able to make the transition between two moves that would normally fit together. It also makes “double trouble” dancing more challenging. :-)

5. Being unable to spin or at least turn on the spot. Some women seem to travel great distances when turning.
Wow, all these faults with the followers, and none with the leaders... :whistle:

[MartinHarper]

Wow, all these faults with the followers, and none with the leaders... :whistle:

#1 applies to both leaders and followers. Arguably 3-5 too.

I wasn't really looking for a bitchfest - more wondering about what common pitfalls there are that random intermediate MJers often fall into. I guess it's mostly the same thing.

[TiggsTours]

Wow, all these faults with the followers, and none with the leaders... :whistle:
Reminds me of an old saying about stones and glass houses! :whistle:

[Saxylady]

A bad habit I was getting was feet doing their own thing - I don't mean knowingly interpreting the music with interesting steps that fit the move, or are led, but habitual shuffles and skips that (I was made to realise) could make it difficult for my partner to lead me properly.

Think I'm regaining control now.

[stewart38]

I can be totally in a dance with one person and totally out of a dance with the next .

ie focus my attention on one dancer but with the next dancer my attention is on someone who has just come into the room 300 yards away or 274.5m

I did dance with a very bouncy women at Southport, i did give up after a while and just bounced with. However she looked happy and that was the main thing.

[stewart38]

4. Constantly moving around in a CW circle. This is ok for a while, but gets tiresome, as I’m constantly having to reposition myself or interject additional moves, in order to be able to make the transition between two moves that would normally fit together. It also makes “double trouble” dancing more challenging. :-)



There is one lady i know that does this and makes more circles then there are crop circles

Its harder to stop then you think, you can stop it but it requires a lot of effort or knee capping.

I still dont mind dancing with her though

[SilverFox]

People who refuse dances . . . . . :whistle:Oh get over yourself ***! :angry: :angry:

I am not public property Linda. I'm just a bloke who hands over some of his hard earned for the purpose of recreation. That means I pay to enjoy myself.

Why did I refuse you? Because I had just that second arrived in the venue looking like "The missing member of the Village People" (CliveLong :worthy: ) and was in need of some Dutch Courage. I was holding 2 bottles of lovely cold beer that I had every intention of drinking before they were 26 degrees centigrade. I subsequently - and always have - danced with you, so what's your problem?

On a weekender I have no intention of dancing to every track and like to pace myself. If I don't like a tune, I'm not gonna dance to it. What's the point? It's not enjoyable, it's just going through the motions. If I'm sitting at a table as far away from the dance floors as poosible with my feet up on a chair, there's a good chance that I'm taking a breather. :really: If it's not good etiquette to refuse a dance, then it's certainly not good etiquette to drag someone off their ar$e who's taking some R&R enjoying watching some fab dancers. (Dave Hancock, I salute you sir. :worthy: )

Unlike you and other sundry whingers, I stayed up dancing to 5.30, 6.00 and 7.02 (Candy Dulfer at 6.50am :drool: - lovin' your work DD :waycool: ) over the 3 nights giving you plenty of time to fit some dances in.

Sorry to chuck my toys out of my pram, but over the course of over 24 hours of dancing I refused only 8 dances max., all due to the above reasons. But as a result you and a few others have made one too many posts about these refusals, with me looking like some sort of hotshot. :eek: :eek: (I wish :whistle: )

Stop being so damn needy, it's very unattractive. :mad:

[Zebra Woman]

Oh get over yourself ***! :angry: :angry:

I am not public property Linda. I'm just a bloke who hands over some of his hard earned for the purpose of recreation. That means I pay to enjoy myself.

Why did I refuse you? Because I had just that second arrived in the venue looking like "The missing member of the Village People" (CliveLong :worthy: ) and was in need of some Dutch Courage. I was holding 2 bottles of lovely cold beer that I had every intention of drinking before they were 26 degrees centigrade. I subsequently - and always have - danced with you, so what's your problem?

On a weekender I have no intention of dancing to every track and like to pace myself. If I don't like a tune, I'm not gonna dance to it. What's the point? It's not enjoyable, it's just going through the motions. If I'm sitting at a table as far away from the dance floors as poosible with my feet up on a chair, there's a good chance that I'm taking a breather. :really: If it's not good etiquette to refuse a dance, then it's certainly not good etiquette to drag someone off their ar$e who's taking some R&R enjoying watching some fab dancers. (Dave Hancock, I salute you sir. :worthy: )

Unlike you and other sundry whingers, I stayed up dancing to 5.30, 6.00 and 7.02 (Candy Dulfer at 6.50am :drool: - lovin' your work DD :waycool: ) over the 3 nights giving you plenty of time to fit some dances in.

Sorry to chuck my toys out of my pram, but over the course of over 24 hours of dancing I refused only 8 dances max., all due to the above reasons. But as a result you and a few others have made one too many posts about these refusals, with me looking like some sort of hotshot. :eek: :eek: (I wish :whistle: )

Stop being so damn needy, it's very unattractive. :mad:

:yeah:

He isn't a Gigolo you know ! :rolleyes:

Well not yet anyway. :devil:

He was still dancing/standing to close to the bitter end AFIK (he outdanced me each night)...and that is the bit that really counts :worthy: . Just think how many women would be left unsatisfied if The Fox was all burned out by 4AM???? :really: :whistle:

IMO Turning someone down and finding them to dance later is absolutley fine. SF has done it to me many times (turned me down :wink: ) and I have no complaints at all. I would hate for someone to be dancing with me out of duty/obligation/or if they hated the music.

Likewise I too will turn people down if I really don't like the song (usually cos it's too fast) or I'm too tired. A song I don't like will make my legs feel like lead, and I would be faking any smile. I'd just rather not bother.

We all get rejected from time to time, that's life. But one thing's for sure, I don't come on here to read about it. :angry:

ZW :flower:

[stewart38]

Sorry to chuck my toys out of my pram, but over the course of over 24 hours of dancing I refused only 8 dances max., all due to the above reasons. But as a result you and a few others have made one too many posts about these refusals, with me looking like some sort of hotshot. :eek: :eek: (I wish :whistle: )

Stop being so damn needy, it's very unattractive. :mad:

I didnt refuse any dances :whistle: Always happy to keep the peace

[Lynn]

No, I'd say it is a MJ thing, it gets complained about in Lindy, yes, but the culprits are usually MJers who've moved across to Lindy, taking their bad habits with them!I've only had a couple of 'proper' Lindy lessons and it was mentioned at one of them - but nothing to do with MJ - we don't have much MJ over here (no classes at all) and aside from myself none of the dancers in the class (or the teacher to my knowledge) had ever done any MJ. I think its more of a beginner bad habit which starts off as a way of 'finding the beat' if someone can't automatically hear it and then lapses into a bad habit over time. As a follow, I find it affects the lead which is why I mentioned it.

Likewise, I'm sure all my bad habits affect my following and I'm happy to be corrected or advised if anyone dancing with me notices anything I should amend. (Maybe just one thing at time though! :blush: )

[Zebra Woman]

.../snip/....
I did dance with a very bouncy women at Southport, i did give up after a while and just bounced with. However she looked happy and that was the main thing.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

I have a terrible picture in my head now Stewart!

Thanks for that. :rolleyes:

[Andy McGregor]

Sorry to chuck my toys out of my pram, but over the course of over 24 hours of dancing I refused only 8 dances max., all due to the above reasons. But as a result you and a few others have made one too many posts about these refusals, with me looking like some sort of hotshot. :eek: :eek: (I wish :whistle: )
:
In eight years dancing I've turned down NO offers of a dance. Is it OK to refuse to dance with 8 women in the course of a 24 hours? IMHO it's completely unacceptable to refuse just one dance when a lady asks nicely :angry:

Of course, you can request a postponement due to your circumstances, such as thirst, tiredness, full bladder, open artery, etc - but that's not a 'refusal' if the reasons are clearly stated to the person making the request :flower:

[SilverFox]

Of course, you can request a postponement due to your circumstances, such as thirst, tiredness, full bladder, open artery, etc - but that's not a 'refusal' if the reasons are clearly stated to the person making the request :flower:In which case "over the course of 24 hours I requested a postponement due to my circumstances for 8 dances max."

Thank goodness for that then. I can now go to sleep with a clear conscience.... :wink:

[Cruella]

Well i did turn down two men over the weekender. They weren't postponed. I didn't want to dance with them, as i had danced with them the night before and been uncomfortably yanked around. Does that make me a bad person?

[SilverFox]

Well i did turn down two men over the weekender. They weren't postponed. I didn't want to dance with them, as i had danced with them the night before and been uncomfortably yanked around. Does that make me a bad person?No ....

...but 'other' things do.... :devil: :devil: :blush:

[Cruella]

No ....

...but 'other' things do.... :devil: :devil: :blush:
But not bad enough......... :devil:

[El Salsero Gringo]

In eight years dancing I've turned down NO offers of a dance. Is it OK to refuse to dance with 8 women in the course of a 24 hours? IMHO it's completely unacceptable to refuse just one dance when a lady asks nicely :angry:

Of course, you can request a postponement due to your circumstances, such as thirst, tiredness, full bladder, open artery, etc - but that's not a 'refusal' if the reasons are clearly stated to the person making the request :flower:Woo. Let's big it up for the big McG. Pick up your medal at the front desk, if you please.

Why are we suddenly talking about turning people down for a dance again? We so badly need a yawn smiley. Franck, please sort it out.

[Clive Long]

... We so badly need a yawn smiley. Franck, please sort it out.
Well Azande was able to attach a yawn smiley to one of his posts.

And Lou has the fabulous "whip" smiley.

Can either one of Azande or Lou post the secrets of how to import these little gems?

CRL

[Tessalicious]

How about this:
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNfox000' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_28_120.gif' alt='Boring' border=0></a>

or even 'Blah blah blah'
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNfox000' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_11_16.gif' alt='Blah Blah Blah' border=0></a>

[Clive Long]

How about this:
....
Miss (I'm sorry I have a cold)
Can that inclusion of smilies only be achieved by putting in that "href" link ????

e.g. href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner= ... in this case ??

CRL

[Tessalicious]

Miss (I'm sorry I have a cold)
Can that inclusion of smilies only be achieved by putting in that "href" link ????

e.g. href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner= ... in this case ??

CRLHmm they showed up on my screen, but I guess you have to have the program installed. Sorry. :blush:

[robd]

Hmm they showed up on my screen, but I guess you have to have the program installed. Sorry. :blush:

I'm seeing them OK and I don't think I have the program installed (not that I actually know what the program is :confused: )

Robert

[ducasi]

Well do they work without the HREFs and as vBcode?
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_28_120.gif

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_11_16.gif


Seem to.... :nice:

[ChrisA]

Well i did turn down two men over the weekender. They weren't postponed. I didn't want to dance with them, as i had danced with them the night before and been uncomfortably yanked around. Does that make me a bad person?
Only if you failed to tell them why :devil:

[Cruella]

Only if you failed to tell them why :devil:
So you wanted me to tell them they were yankers? :innocent:

[El Salsero Gringo]

Well do they work without the HREFs and as vBcode?
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_28_120.gif

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_11_16.gif


Seem to.... :nice:

how about this? http://smileys.75thtrombone.com/o/yawn.gif

These are cute too:
http://www.animalpeoplenews.org/gifs/tiger_yawn.gif http://www.horrible.demon.co.uk/images/yawn.gif

[Tiggerbabe]

Now, that tigger is WAY cute :D

[robd]

So you wanted me to tell them they were yankers? :innocent:

Tell them they smell - they may be less offended :grin:

[Ghost]

The one I've noticed most commonly is actually the habit of complaining to all and sundry about how bad other people's dancing is - especially "beginners."

Looking past "beginner" type habits you start with eg death grips, and considering the bad ones you pick up as you go along, or the useful beginners habits which don't always get dropped after they've outlived their usefulness

1)
Marking the beat with hand bouncing :yeah:
I've experienced beginners who didn't do it when they started Ceroc, gradually start doing it after a while because that's how the demostrators demonstrated the moves.

Though to be fair I do know one lady who somehow manages to dance this Tigger style superbly. I couldn't tell you how, and it doesn't work if I actually try and lead a bouncy dance, but provided I dance normally, she bounces and the whole dance flows incredibly smoothly. :clap:

2) Always doing move A followed by Move B (Perfectly reasonably for beginners, but I suspect probably something to grow out of) *

3) Working out lists of moves in your head as you dance. (Again, no problem with beginners doing this - or trying to, mind going blank syndrome - but as you get more proficient you're giving up a lot of your ability to respond and react to the music and your partner, not to mention what do you do if she sabotages the thing half way through) *

(* Ok there's a few reasons for using these habits. You want to practice a routine, you want to learn a new move and you want some safety moves around it etc. What I'm saying is the difference between conciously using them for a specific circumstance rather than a background habit which you're no longer aware of. But hey, if they work for you, it's all good :cool: )

4)

The one I'd add would have to be lack of spacial awareness, and those around you (surprised nobody else has mentioned it!) Last Friday I was having a very lovely WCS with Rythmn King, and he lead me into a lean, I didn't even move my feet, and when he brought me back to standing, there was someone in the space my left foot had momentarily raised 2 inches from!


:yeah: Again not something I have a problem with when it's beginners (I vividly remember thinking "I want to move away from these people who are crowding me - How do I do it? :tears: ) or someone dancing with a beginner (There's some wiggle room, but if you're leading / being led up and down in a slot there's not much you can do if others still try and crash into you. :angry: )

But...
"If you're good enough to dance intermediate / advanced moves, then you should be good enough not to dance them into me" ~ me

Also the strange habit of seemingly following another couple around the room so you can crowd them. :what:

5) Abandonning your own style to dance "Ceroc" style. Does this make sense? There are women who dance identically, always style their hand the exact same way, not because they want to, but because the teacher goes "You can style the move this way" and somehow they hear it as "You must style the move this way". It's strange but it feels like the lady is kind of in a straight jacket from an energy / connection viewpoint as she's dancing the way she's 'supposed' to rather than expressing herself freely.

6) Dancing beyond the ability of your partner because you're "better" than them. I'm not saying that you should only dance beginner moves with beginners. If you can dance advanced moves with a beginner that's fine if they can comfortably dance them with you (in which case :worthy: ).

I really dislike it when this happens instead...



Please, gentlemen. Please. I'm imploring you:

If you ask a lady to dance, please have some regard for her dancing, and don't just throw your favourite intermediate moves at her until she is so dizzy she can't even remember her name.

Please.

I danced with a lovely chap at a venue in the Midlands tonight.

He threw some intermediate moves at me. I fluffed them. (I've only done about 5 intermediate classes).

He then threw some more at me. I fluffed them too.

Then, for a bit of variety he threw a little manspin in, followed by some more intermediate moves I didn't know.

I was very relieved at the end of the dance. I even joked with him 'Can't we do the armjive for three minutes ?'.

Maybe I should have been more vocal in telling him he was confusing me. Maybe I should have said "lead beginner moves only!".

Sadly this dance really knocked my confidence (when you spend nearly a whole track getting it wrong and looking like a one-legged prawn it happens) and I ended up rather more upset than I should be. (I'm VERY insecure about my dancing, and how I don't seem to be able to improve).

Don't let it come to this, gentlemen ! (I'm sure you don't).

Please, try and make your partner feel comfortable. I like dancing with men who throw in the occasional strange move - (maybe one move in 8 - gives me the other 7 to settle) but this was ridiculous.


7) Getting used to dancing with a specific person(s) and then not taking this into account when you dance with someone else.

8) Women leading their own drops and men stepping back to watch as they plummet towards the deck :tears:

9) Always doing the same style/interpretations to a specific song / Always ending a song with a dip

10) Doing moves based on their "flash factor" rather than by how well you can actually do them. Not appreciating "simple" moves. Seriously guys, get a really good lady dancer and just dance a few returns with her and watch how she moves. Then try and remember to when you first started Ceroc (Turn her anticlockwise ?? Which way is anticlockwise ?! :what: ) Ditto the beginners moves - they're a pleasure to watch if the lady is
a) dancing them smooth as silk :worthy:
b) smiling :nice:

Take care
Christopher

[robd]

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?

The 'round and round we go' dancing in a clockwise circle is something that I am becoming more and more aware of and would like to lessen, if not stop completely.

[New_to_London]

The 'round and round we go' dancing in a clockwise circle is something that I am becoming more and more aware of and would like to lessen, if not stop completely.
I was doing this for a while, myself. I picked it up when an instructor told me to do it. I only stopped after a lady pointed out that it was an issue. For a man, I think the best way to stop doing it is by substituting moves that will place you into other locations, such as man-“travelling” versions of moves, man-returns, step-across, etc. This keeps you moving about, without the constant rotation.


6) Dancing beyond the ability of your partner...
I have been guilty of this--I need to watch myself. On a few occasion, the lady has complained of becoming dizzy from all the spinning. And, just after getting back from Southport, and dancing with so many advanced dancers, I danced with a woman who complained that my moves were “freaking her out.” (even though she was able to keep up). Presumably, I was leading too aggressively--she was still somewhat of a beginner.
I find it really helpful if a lady tells me she is a beginner, as then I am much more gentle. Otherwise, I have only 30 seconds to gauge her skill level, and sometimes I am wrong.

[TA Guy]

Stooping = guilty.
Hand beat = guilty.
Rotation = guilty.

God, I must be crap. LOL :)

In my defense, I don't think I've turned down eight ladies asking for a dance in ten years of dancing :) (P.S. I do get asked despite the stoop, rotating and hand-beating!!!).

[SilverFox]

In my defense, I don't think I've turned down eight ladies asking for a dance in ten years of dancing :) We really do need that *yawn* smiley....

[TA Guy]

We really do need that *yawn* smiley....

Naw, what we need is a 'lighten up' smiley.

[Lucy Locket]

How about this:
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNfox000' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/23/23_28_120.gif' alt='Boring' border=0></a>

or even 'Blah blah blah'
<a href='http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb008_ZNfox000' target='_blank'><img src='http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_11_16.gif' alt='Blah Blah Blah' border=0></a>


like them

[Mostlysane]

Eating garlic before going dancing? :tears: :whistle:

[CeeCee]

Eating garlic before going dancing? :tears: :whistle:

Oh my goodness, of course.

I spoke to a guy about this once at my regular venue as he was so guilty, week after week of garlic breath. I got away with it because he actually thanked me and hasn't been guilty since.

[Gadget]

What bad dancing habits are there that are particularly common amongst MJers?
I can only comment on myself, but the current list of habbits I'm trying to break myself of are....

doing the same combination of moves all the time - especially with some "trademark" combo's. {Ie ones that I like to think that I came up with and no-one else does... don't disillusion me - I'm happy :)}


stooping/slouching - generally moving from the shoulders/chest rather than the abdomen and 'center'; shows it's self in leaning too much, having to step lots to maintain ballance and chin down.


taking millions of shuffling steps and movements - much crisper, decisive and generally looks better when steps are placed and moved with the same flow and precission that is used to lead the lady.
{Much though I hate to admit it, and it pains me greatly to do so, footwork is the equivelent of your feet leading your body as your hands lead the lady. It can be done smoothly or with bounce; it dosn't have to be spot on to get the desired results, but when it is done well the difference is noticable.}


dead hand - that off-hand. What to do with it? I've taken a couple of tricks from watching some of the 'masters'; follow the lady's body with it, transfer hands often, use lots of two handed moves, mirror the lady's styling, position it for the next move, place it on your own body... but I still catch myself with a 'dead' hand too often.


Contortions - Just now I'm very guilty of twisting and turning and bending into weird shapes while dancing. I'm sure that if I was more elegant, took more time and had more precission about it, it may look... well... better. But I think that I may look like I'm trying to escape from a straight jacket. Not pretty. Need to slow it down and give it more definition.

Other than these, the most common thing I see in others is people not transferring weight throught moves. eg. the first move; on the step back, actually step back so that your hip is over your foot. On the swizzle; the arm to the side should lead the lady (and man) to transfer weight to that foot.

There's a couple of things about spinning too, but I think that's just practice, balance and experiance.