On another tack entirely, one extremely useful exercise we did this week at Joseph & Trish's workshop (another gorgeous couple to watch dance) was, only being allowed to use one move (the first move, return) to a track - in this case "Big Spender". Loads of attitude, breaks, light and shade etc. What a fantastic exercise - so much you can do with one move. Use as many beats as you like, head turns, wiggles, crouch down, use your whole body. Try it sometime.
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Sounds like a really useful exercise! - the nearest I have seen to that is from Lindy Hop teachers like Simon and Taina at Herrang, but I expect it's been employed in many modern jive style workshops...and I have been to Lindy classes where you have to dance with only a llimited repertoire of moves - for the same reason.
And yes, this thread has a lot of interesting comment already - it's good to hear Mary's views on following Nigel. What always amazes me is that so much of what he dances seems improvised but his partners always find it easy to follow....
Yogi
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