I 9/10 start jive from close hold WCS starter step style. Looks alot nice IMO.
This is taken out of context from another beginners thread but I think its an interesting one
Well for a start, there's no right or wrong way
But, there are different ways/styles
In my experience, most beginners start off with some sort of 'arm jive' or 'in and out' for the first few beats and I think this is a good idea, as it gives you both a chance to 'feel the rhythm', get on the same beat and going the same way... and that's a good thing
Also, if I start dancing with a beginner and feel his struggling to find the beat, its easy for me to 'help him' find the beat, of he's doing one of the above.
But as the lead becomes more experienced, they'll start to be able to hear and pickup the beat almost instantly and the dance can almost start, at the point he's makes eye contact with a partner, even if the lady's still in her chair!
Every movement from then on, can be part of the dance.. the way he walks to collect her, the way he leads her to the floor, even dodging other couples can be made part of the dance.
The main thing is, it should be fun! OR very serious and passionate (in the case of Tango )
Lost of the guys I know, have developed their own unique start, some lead me into a travelling return, some start in 'close hold'
Question for the leads - do you have a signature move to start?
And question for the follows, is there any thing you really like or really hate about 'starting' dances?
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I 9/10 start jive from close hold WCS starter step style. Looks alot nice IMO.
As a follower dancing with a male lead, I prefer to start in a close hold, even if it's someone new.
As a beginner female lead, I'm starting with an Arm Jive. I don't want to risk upsetting a lady by close holding them, although I might be brave and start experimenting with my "dance start" with lady dancers that I know.
If you sit and watch for a while you can very quickly see that leaders tend to always start the same way, or at most only vary it 2 or 3 times.
I've been leading for longer and I still find myself starting with an in and out or arm jive...usually I lead in a class and therefore I'm dancing with beginners/unknown partners; by using an in and out i can gauge their tension and whether they're going to follow or try and do their own thing.
If I'm leading at a freestyle night, it's usually with a friend for a bit of fun, so we're usually chit chatting away - I couldn't tell you for definite which move i'd start with, but I'd imagine probably an in and out type more, or a travelling return.
As a follower it wouldn't bother me what the start move was, as long as the leader has found enough space on the floor and let me stand upright before throwing me into some complicated flashy move. I reckon, start simple and get a good connection between you, then you're ready to work out where to go from there.
Yes I agree, with Lory, however I would also like to add, that the Arm Jive is also a very safe start for everyone (which I think is good) as if you are dancing with someone you have not danced with before, you can very quickly feel from their grip, appreciation of the beat etc, how experienced they are, and tailor your dance to suit your partner.
Therefore, If I feel the lady is not that experienced I would stick to safe (not too complicated moves) so the lady enjoys her dance and does not finish the dance feeling she has just been through a washing machine, or her feeling she has not danced well.
No matter what level you are, you should always consider your partner and their current level of dance.
The important thing is, that you should both enjoy your dance together and the lady should not feel like a spare part as the man "poses" in front of the other dancers..
Do I have a signature starting move?...
... perhaps a travelling return and follow them on the step back into a first move/mambo type thingie... but that's kind of my normal linking move instead of the step back that most MJ teaches.
from hereOriginally Posted by me
Last edited by Gadget; 25th-March-2010 at 02:52 PM.
always, always start in the "crane kick" position from the Karate Kid film. It shows you mean business.
Brilliant advice. Made me chuckle out loud and spill my tea!
If someone gives me the nod for a dance and the music has started I tend to sort-of-dance towards them because it feels strange/wrong to me just to walk over cold and only start dancing once we join hands.
Me too!
In fact, I'd go as far as to say, I can almost tell what sort of dance I'm going to have but the way to lead walks me onto the floor!
Have you ever had one of those guys who frog-marches you to a given spot, stops abruptly, turns to face you, no smile, grabs both hands and then proceeds to count you in....
MODERATOR AT YOUR SERVICE
"If you're going to do something tonight, that you know you'll be sorry for in the morning, plan a lie in." Lorraine
How to start a dance?
Walk onto the floor -- while the tune is playing!
Then you can start to "get the beat" while walking -- even before you start dancing Ideally, your partner will automatically follow the tempo of your stride -- so she'll also be in sync with the music.
SpinDr
As the hopeless beginner struggling with this issue, I'm now kicking myself that I'd never even considered the walk onto the floor the time to start the rhythm.
In terms of which move, I'm experimenting with a few still to see what works best. However, the issue isn't so much "what do I do?" it's "when do I do it?"
I can't seem to find the beat, then lead my partner into any move in time to the beat. I need to get 3-4 beats into the move (or for quicker moves, into the second move) before I'm moving properly in time to the music, then a lot of partners take a little longer to find the timing I'm using and use it to follow. So we're nearly halfway through a song before we're really dancing.
Some of the better dancers out there will realise I'm struggling and wriggle to a beat that I can then pick up on and adjust to myself. That's probably the wrong way round but better than me just ignoring the music
Pity the next lady that dares freestyle with me, I quite fancy leading her by the hand onto the floor then drawing her into a travelling return to get started. This could go fantastically wrong
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