Feelingpink
10th-January-2006, 08:26 PM
Here's the thing. I go to a freestyle on Saturday night and I want to describe it to an MJ friend but it's really difficult without points of reference. There are the dancers - their ability to play, a spread of abilities, perhaps the friendliness, floorcraft? Then there's the music and the venue as well as possible crowds/number limits.
Could we come up with a system which has a number of continuums to help describe events or venues? Perhaps one could be music playaroundability, ranging from disco to off-the wall (sure the DJs could come up with better terms) ... and floorcraft could be ranked from very safe & thoughtful to "wear shinpads & helmet"?
One of the things that struck me at the event I danced at was the value that "most" of the dancers appeared to place on moves, rather than musical interpretation. Don't get me wrong - I had probably half a dozen dreamy dances with guys who were into "play" as much as anyone I've ever danced with. But there were dancers all night on the edges of the floor who were trying out, experimenting or demonstrating moves. I was led into moves that I haven't done in years and the most "popular" leaders (being hugely subjective here) appeared to be those with showy moves. Perhaps I've just become a niche dancer in the past year by only really going to Jango/Funky Lush or Greenwich events, where I don't remember that happening.
Anyway, does anyone else think it would be helpful if we had some way of explaining the ethos of a night or event, which would help others to decide if that event's values were similar to their own. Perhaps it could be in a similar format to a MyersBriggs profile where there is no "best" - just "different"?
Oh, and I got to meet the forum's Donna, who is just fab!
Could we come up with a system which has a number of continuums to help describe events or venues? Perhaps one could be music playaroundability, ranging from disco to off-the wall (sure the DJs could come up with better terms) ... and floorcraft could be ranked from very safe & thoughtful to "wear shinpads & helmet"?
One of the things that struck me at the event I danced at was the value that "most" of the dancers appeared to place on moves, rather than musical interpretation. Don't get me wrong - I had probably half a dozen dreamy dances with guys who were into "play" as much as anyone I've ever danced with. But there were dancers all night on the edges of the floor who were trying out, experimenting or demonstrating moves. I was led into moves that I haven't done in years and the most "popular" leaders (being hugely subjective here) appeared to be those with showy moves. Perhaps I've just become a niche dancer in the past year by only really going to Jango/Funky Lush or Greenwich events, where I don't remember that happening.
Anyway, does anyone else think it would be helpful if we had some way of explaining the ethos of a night or event, which would help others to decide if that event's values were similar to their own. Perhaps it could be in a similar format to a MyersBriggs profile where there is no "best" - just "different"?
Oh, and I got to meet the forum's Donna, who is just fab!