Do you do the lessons or just the freestyle?

[straycat]

Haven't attended a lesson in MJ in .... years. Hmmm. How does it go again?

[dave the scaffolder]

Haven't attended a lesson in MJ in .... years. Hmmm. How does it go again?

5 6 7 8

[Astro]

although a good teacher should show the class a variation without the drop

Some do and some don't in London.

Last night, for instance, at Greenwich, Russell Saxby taught a drop kick and an alternative - I actually liked the alternative - Lead into a drop kick, but the lady steps back (good drop kick sabotage btw), the man put his hands on the ladies' hips from behind and they both wiggled, then the lead led a ceroc spin.

I sit out more frequently in intermediate classes because of the high percentage of drops etc taught in these lessons of late.

This may be why the better dancers miss the intermediate class. Too many drops/dips, and often no alternative. There should also be a warning for people with dodgy backs.

If it's just full of beginner's it will be much harder for beginnersto learn and for the teacher to teach.

On the other hand beginners love the "Wow" factor of drops.

[Genevieve]

I tend to sit out of the beginners classes now as there is usually a surplus of ladies and it seems unfair to make yet another one stand out of line.....I know how it used to frustrate me when I first started.

On the rare occasion that there are extra guys however, I would jump into the beginners then of course.

I always do the intermediate class and, naturally, the freestyle......badly, lol

[Gav]

I seem to move around a lot and haven't had a regular venue since I left Norfolk, so I always try to do the lessons as it gives me a chance to meet some of the people (which makes it easier to get dances during freestyle) and to gauge their ability as best I can so that during freestyle I don't have to waste half a dance working out if they're a beginner or not.

[Steven666]

I don't have to waste half a dance working out if they're a beginner or not.

Isn't that usually obvious within the first five seconds or so?

[killingtime]

Well since you gave me multiple options then I ticked them. Sometimes I'll do the beginners' class and, if they have lots of followers in the revision class, the revision class as well. I'll rarely get their for the start of the beginners class, in part because it can be tediously slow but mostly because I'm running late. However if I'm planning on attending classes at all then I'll try and make it for the beginners' (reasonably frequently I'll arrive too late for the beginners' and just make the intermediate).

If there are guys over I'll generally sit out or grab a male friend and swap roles in a fixed partner sort of way. We've sometimes fixed partners with women as well and swapped lead and follow but, in all honesty, you might as well just slap hotshot badges on us right there and then.

If I'm dancing twice in a week (or more) chances are one of those nights will be just freestyle though.

I always try to arrive in time to start with the beginners.
It wakes my brain up.

That's very true. I find it much easier to get into it if I'm not coming into freestyle cold. I do like the social aspect too.

What I hate though is the teacher putting drops in the middle of the routine. I don't even do drops in freestyle so am hardly going to be wanting to do them in class.

Well I guess they might do that so the leads have longer to practice getting them right before freestyle and allows them to insure it isn't going to be taught as that rushed move they put in at the end. However I think they should always supply an alternative to a drop (leans and dips they should explain that the follower should be able to take their own weight and the lead shouldn't lead a deep lean unless you are both happy with that).

[Trouble]

I have started doing lessons as a lead. Most frustrating thing in the world being a lead as you tend to revert back to the ones ya know and not do the new ones.

I desp want to become a good lead but am struggling with remembering them.

Laziness really and must make an extra effort to memorise the new leads and do more of it.

Great fun for followers if your bored with beginner lessons and intermediate lessons.

[Aurion]

you might as well just slap hotshot badges on us right there and then.

*slaps hotshot badge on killingtime*



I always try to get there before the end of the beginners, as people have said above, it's a great way to get to know people before the music makes talking hard or impossible.

I also need the warm up both physically and mentally to get into the groove, the times I have jumped straight into freestyle, it's been very noticable that it's several dances before I start feeling the music and some nights it just doesn't seem to happen .
(sorry to all the followers out there for these dances )

However When I do the classes first, the freestyle feels so much better!

[killingtime]

*slaps hotshot badge on killingtime*

Slap one back onto Aurion (not ESG's fine badge though).

[Steven666]

Great fun for followers if your bored with beginner lessons and intermediate lessons.

Yet most followers I speak to who are bored with lessons aren't interested, however much I try to reassure. Also I feel you'll be a better dancer knowing both roles as you'll apppreciate and adapt to what you learn when dancing in reverse. I also find leading as a follow quite fun too!

[NPR]

I have started doing lessons as a lead.

And a great lead you are too!! You taught me a thing or two at Southport (even though you kept trying to get me to grab your t*ts )

[dep]

I also find leading as a follow quite fun too!

is that the same as a strong follow? or is it a hijack?

[Trouble]

And a great lead you are too!! You taught me a thing or two at Southport (even though you kept trying to get me to grab your t*ts )

I would never get you to grab my t*ts Noel

i only give you the 1 second option to do a chest push.... ALL MISS IT AND HAVE THAT SAME OPEN MOUTHED EXPRESSION ON THEIR FACES... i love it.

[dep]

I would never get you to grab my t*ts

i only give you the 1 second option to do a chest push.... ALL MISS IT AND HAVE THAT SAME OPEN MOUTHED EXPRESSION ON THEIR FACES... i love it.

open mouthed or not, I'm coming down to Waltham Abbey.

[Steven666]

is that the same as a strong follow? or is it a hijack?

Niether. A lead AS the follower. Or I'm the leader but I lead myself into following parts of moves. I must say the catapult is tricky...

[Astro]

However I think they should always supply an alternative to a drop (leans and dips they should explain that the follower should be able to take their own weight and the lead shouldn't lead a deep lean unless you are both happy with that).

A fantastic idea is what Russell did.

Teach a drop or dip , but make the alternative move the sabotage move for that specific drop or dip.

Follows who are either not physically able to do drop, or who don't want to do a drop with someone who's possibly learning it for the first time, in a crowded class, can learn something useful - how to protect themselves in future and a new move.

Plus, some leads don't like drops or are not physically able. They could take part in the class if the follow agreed to the alternative sabotage move.

That way more intermediates and advanced dancers would join in, instead of watching the preview, faces drop, slink off to seat, wasted money.