Page 2 of 7 FirstFirst 123456 ... LastLast
Results 21 to 40 of 123

Thread: Dancing out of beat

  1. #21
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Norf Lundin
    Posts
    17,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by Double Trouble View Post
    I force them to lead in time by taking over.
    That must be some novel use of the term "lead" then.

    Quote Originally Posted by Double Trouble View Post
    This might be the wrong way
    It definitely is.

    Quote Originally Posted by Double Trouble View Post
    , but it looks awful when you see some poor follower trying desperately hard to make some kind of sense of a rhythmless numpty.
    That's life. It's a lead-and-follow dance; the leader defines the overall terms and parameters of the dance.

    If he defines it poorly, that's unfortunate, but it's not a wrestling match. If you're not prepared to subordinate control that much, then you should learn to lead - which, effectively, is what you're doing in that instance already.

  2. #22
    Registered User Lynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Belfast
    Posts
    8,925
    Rep Power
    15

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Follow the lead. He's not deliberately dancing off beat, he's probably a relative beginner and is struggling enough as it is.

    I would try to 'nudge' him back on the beat, in case he's just lost it because he's been so focused on a move, but if he really goes off it again I wouldn't keep doing that and I wouldn't force him back on beat - that would only make it harder for him.

    Totally different if its someone I know and dance with regularly (or am likely to dance with regularly) and I know they are a relative beginner, I'd probably say 'we're a bit off the beat' and back lead an arm jive to get him back on the beat. I'd make sure I said 'we' so he wouldn't feel as bad. (But then as I'm 'crew' at our local venues I can do that.)

    If a stranger at a freestyle I'd follow his timing. Much as its hard to dance against the music, its only one track and its not going to do me any harm, but spending the whole dance 'fighting' with the lead isn't pleasant for either of us, at least if I'm following him he is probably enjoying the dance even if I'm not!

  3. #23
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Worcester, UK
    Posts
    4,157
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    I guess the question is, when dancing with folks who lack basic skills such as being on-beat, would I prefer to look like a bad dancer, or be a bad dancer?

  4. #24
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    bedford
    Posts
    4,899
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by MartinHarper View Post
    I guess the question is, when dancing with folks who lack basic skills such as being on-beat, would I prefer to look like a bad dancer, or be a bad dancer?
    Can you be a bad dancer and not look like a bad dancer?
    If you cannot your choiced are to bea bad dancer, and look like one, or be a good dancer that is looking like a bad dancer.

    A good follow follows.

  5. #25
    Registered User NZ Monkey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Auckland, NZ
    Posts
    1,109
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by bigdjiver View Post
    Can you be a bad dancer and not look like a bad dancer?
    I can think of at least one person who looks fantastic when she dances, but who makes you feel like you're wrestling an angry gorilla when you dance with her. She looks great but doesn't really follow. Is she a bad dancer?

  6. #26
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    6,312
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by bigdjiver View Post
    Can you be a bad dancer and not look like a bad dancer?
    .
    Yes!

    there are one or 2 who can give the impression to most that they are half decent... but they are in fact fairly poor.

  7. #27
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Posts
    6,312
    Rep Power
    14

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    well that 2 of us that think so..

    At this time of night you are out-numbered BigDJiver

  8. #28
    Registered User
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Posts
    130
    Rep Power
    0

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    I can think of at least one person who looks fantastic when she dances, but who makes you feel like you're wrestling an angry gorilla when you dance with her. She looks great but doesn't really follow. Is she a bad dancer?
    It would depend if you are actually leading her, perhaps she may think you are a bad lead and it may feel like wrestling a gorilla because she is not being controlled with any direction. However, there are some follows who are terrible at following due to lack of experience mainly. This is where a follow could seek a private lesson rather than ask others in rotation at class.
    I have been watching youtube ceroc and mj dancers and one thing in the social dance scene that is rampant.............most of the male leads hold their lead hand at chest height! So it is little wonder that any follow can follow, yet the leads complain about a lack of a good follow (often on the forum), when it is actually them that is the problem....................

  9. #29
    Registered User NZ Monkey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Auckland, NZ
    Posts
    1,109
    Rep Power
    9

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by Thetruth View Post
    It would depend if you are actually leading her, perhaps she may think you are a bad lead and it may feel like wrestling a gorilla because she is not being controlled with any direction. However, there are some follows who are terrible at following due to lack of experience mainly. This is where a follow could seek a private lesson rather than ask others in rotation at class.
    I have been watching youtube ceroc and mj dancers and one thing in the social dance scene that is rampant.............most of the male leads hold their lead hand at chest height! So it is little wonder that any follow can follow, yet the leads complain about a lack of a good follow (often on the forum), when it is actually them that is the problem....................
    I'll just have to let the forum ladies who know me jump to my defence there if any can be bothered and thinks I'm worthy enough. If no-one does then I'll just have to sit back and cry into my milk.

    Of course, the fact that it takes literally twice the amount of force to move her than anyone I've ever danced with is no way an indication that I may have a point......

  10. #30
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Norf Lundin
    Posts
    17,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    I can think of at least one person who looks fantastic when she dances, but who makes you feel like you're wrestling an angry gorilla when you dance with her.

    Hmmm, I wonder if it's the same person...?

  11. #31
    Formerly known as DavidJames David Bailey's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Norf Lundin
    Posts
    17,001
    Blog Entries
    1
    Rep Power
    18

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by Thetruth View Post
    It would depend if you are actually leading her, perhaps she may think you are a bad lead and it may feel like wrestling a gorilla because she is not being controlled with any direction.
    I've not danced with NZ Monkey, but he certainly looks like a good dancer - and from what others tell me, he also feels like one too.

    Quote Originally Posted by Thetruth View Post
    However, there are some follows who are terrible at following due to lack of experience mainly.
    The follower I'm thinking of is higly-experienced - a competition-winner, in fact - but still literally a nightmare to dance with.

    Quote Originally Posted by Thetruth View Post
    I have been watching youtube ceroc and mj dancers and one thing in the social dance scene that is rampant.............most of the male leads hold their lead hand at chest height!
    I often hold my lead hand at around chest height - for example, in close hold - what's wrong with that?

  12. #32
    Registered User Lynn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Belfast
    Posts
    8,925
    Rep Power
    15

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Yep - have had the 'he looks good' about a lead to discover 'but isn't comfortable to dance with' a few times. And yes sometimes ones who are perceived to be 'very good' - but maybe they are only good when dancing with their regular partners. (Maybe why some 'good' dancers like to dance in their little 'cliques' because they can't actually dance as well with less familiar or less experienced partners?)

    The other way round - some leads don't look good at all, but feel lovely to follow.

  13. #33
    Registered User Zuhal's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    South London
    Posts
    198
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    In my humble experience women are better at finding and keeping the beat than the men. At risk of being controversial they also have slightly less to do.

    I have been dancing a few years in various styles but at least once per night I have a problem finding the beat.

    Up to this point ;
    I have selected a partner making sure to include people who have sat out for ages.
    Been rejected by her and her friend
    Been accepted by no 3 and negotiated our way to a space through the drink fetchers and gossiping couples. (some potential for listening to the music here but ...)
    now this unfamiliar tune has me moving but I know its wrong. so I say
    "Can you just help me with the beat" If I do not know this partner the bubble comes out of their head thinking "I've got three mins of teeth gritting coming up"
    If I do know the partner they just help and we have a nice dance.

    The Ladies are better at it than us so ask for help.

    Zuhal

  14. #34
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Worcester, UK
    Posts
    4,157
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by bigdjiver View Post
    Can you be a bad dancer and not look like a bad dancer?
    I probably should have said, "dance badly vs look bad". For example, if I'm leading a novice follower I can try to look good by overleading her, so she "gets" the moves and we look ok, even though overleading is a bad habit. Alternatively, I can lead her correctly, and allow her to make mistakes, even though that probably doesn't make us look so good.
    Back on topic, the same choice applies to backleading a novice lead vs going with it. Mind you, the true dance gods look fabulous regardless of who they're dancing with. Very jealousy-invoking.

  15. #35
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    bedford
    Posts
    4,899
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    I can think of at least one person who looks fantastic when she dances, but who makes you feel like you're wrestling an angry gorilla when you dance with her. She looks great but doesn't really follow. Is she a bad dancer?
    Quote Originally Posted by under par View Post
    Yes!

    there are one or 2 who can give the impression to most that they are half decent... but they are in fact fairly poor.
    Quote Originally Posted by MartinHarper View Post
    I probably should have said, "dance badly vs look bad". For example, if I'm leading a novice follower I can try to look good by overleading her, so she "gets" the moves and we look ok, even though overleading is a bad habit. Alternatively, I can lead her correctly, and allow her to make mistakes, even though that probably doesn't make us look so good.
    Back on topic, the same choice applies to backleading a novice lead vs going with it. Mind you, the true dance gods look fabulous regardless of who they're dancing with. Very jealousy-invoking.
    There is a difference between good dancer and good partner dancer, and a difference between good dancer and good lead or good follow.
    There is the "man the frame, the woman the picture" style, and the man can look suitably wooden, but nobody looks at him. Alternately the man can be "all flash" and the woman can be little more than the nearest spectator. You can see this in some "dance with a stranger" comps, and I can believe that that is the best dance possible in that situation. If the partnership cannot agree where the beat is those styles may be the best dance possible too.
    One reaction to an impossible lead is to practise triple spins and shines, be in no hurry to take the guys hand.

  16. #36
    Registered User Ghost's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2005
    Location
    Astral
    Posts
    3,209
    Rep Power
    10

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    I'll just have to let the forum ladies who know me jump to my defence there if any can be bothered and thinks I'm worthy enough. If no-one does then I'll just have to sit back and cry into my milk.

    Of course, the fact that it takes literally twice the amount of force to move her than anyone I've ever danced with is no way an indication that I may have a point......
    The simian one has a gentle but clear lead (Good enough to be able to continue to lead me even when I was blinded by certain women with flash cameras )

  17. #37
    Commercial Operator
    Join Date
    Nov 2002
    Location
    London
    Posts
    410
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by Connie View Post

    What do you guys do when your dance partner is not dancing to the tune/rhytm of the music being played?
    This is like answering 'what do you do when someone is talking to you and you are totally bored?' There is no one answer since every situation is different.

    If it is a close friend it might be fine to say 'ok, bored now, lets talk about this..'
    If it is someone you will never meet again, and they are leaving in a couple of minutes, you might just wait it out.
    If it is someone you just met but will talk with for a long time you may try to change the subject without them noticing.
    If it is someone you speak with often, and they always bore you by talking about cars, then one day you might probaby say something like 'I love you and want to keep talking with you, but I hate talking about cars. Can we just avoid it? I've had a difficult experience with a particular car.'

    It depends on the person, the ego and the situation, but I would try and get people to dance on beat when possible. Yes you should be following, but when you agreed to follow you probably assumed you would be following a dance to the music. Dancing to the beat in your partners head is not what you signed up for.

    Unless he says 'Hi. I don't like this music. I have a great track playing in my head though, would you like to dance to it?' Then it is your call.

  18. #38
    Registered User Twirly's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    SE London
    Posts
    4,204
    Rep Power
    11

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by NZ Monkey View Post
    I'll just have to let the forum ladies who know me jump to my defence there if any can be bothered and thinks I'm worthy enough. If no-one does then I'll just have to sit back and cry into my milk.

    Of course, the fact that it takes literally twice the amount of force to move her than anyone I've ever danced with is no way an indication that I may have a point......
    I'll vouch for NZ's fabulous leading skills, even though he did dessert us Smooth, clear and inventive

    now I just have to hope it wasn't me he was talking about...

  19. #39
    The Oracle
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Posts
    2,263
    Rep Power
    13

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    The first thing you should do is make sure it is not you that is on the wrong beat. No matter how good you think you are, or how bad you think your partner is, it is still a 50% chance that you are wrong.

  20. #40
    Basically lazy robd's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Nr Cambridge
    Posts
    3,696
    Rep Power
    12

    Re: Dancing out of beat

    Quote Originally Posted by DavidB View Post
    The first thing you should do is make sure it is not you that is on the wrong beat.


    I've had a few dances with people who are accomplished and experienced dancers and it's as though we are listening to different records. Of course this may not equate necessarily to being on the wrong beat but it does make me realise I shouldn't always assume it's the other person that's wrong.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Talking & Dancing
    By Minnie M in forum Chit Chat
    Replies: 29
    Last Post: 11th-September-2007, 04:20 PM
  2. How can you improve your dancing...on your own?
    By Terpsichorea in forum Let's talk about dance
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 3rd-September-2007, 11:34 AM
  3. Down beat and Upbeat
    By kiwichook in forum The Land of a 1000 dances
    Replies: 126
    Last Post: 27th-August-2007, 03:57 AM
  4. Healing with Dancing
    By Pussy Galore in forum Chit Chat
    Replies: 152
    Last Post: 13th-February-2007, 02:21 AM
  5. Should the ladies step on every beat?
    By Andy McGregor in forum Intermediate Corner
    Replies: 90
    Last Post: 26th-January-2007, 11:10 AM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •