That 'safety and etiquette on the dancefloor' issue...

[spindr]

Well Gus quoted me at the start of the thread

The point I was making was that it was nice to have the safety aspects brought out in the very first class!

Obviously, the points are reinforced over time -- but at least dancers start off in the right frame of mind, etc.

(Maybe, this is due to tango developing in a culture with a large number of men (say 20?) per available woman. The guys definitely had to impress to get dances -- just as well I can go back to MJ.)

SpinDr.

[Daisy]

Originally posted by sars
Hey mr.punkfish we dont really wanna no wot u get upto in ur spare time!!! is that wot u really do u normally blame it on sweaty hands!!

Do you do a lot of texting by any chance?

[ElaineB]

Jayne,

Re 'yankers'! I too have employed that technique! I get fed up with being pulled about or put into 'back breaker drops' and will now tell politely point out the problem. If they don't listen - their problem, as I will either let go or go absolutely rigid so that I cannot be put into a drop! The expression on one guys face was a peach as he struggled vainly to force me into the drop, but I would not do it!!



Elaine

[Daisy]

My pet hate is when a man clamps his thumb on to the back of my hand with a vice-like grip

It's amazing how such a small action can make you feel sooooo consticted. My usual response is to firmly peel his thumb off whilst saying.... "don't worry, I'm not going to run away"!

Before anyone says it, I do realise that some moves do require the thumb to be place on the back of the womans hand.

Chose a new avator....to reflect my new hair cut.

[ChrisA]

Originally posted by Daisy
....to reflect my new hair cut.

Is that "new" as in the one you unleashed on an unsuspecting world at Minnie's party (well, I hadn't seen it before then, anyway), or yet another one???

Not sure I can keep up...

Chris

[thewacko]

Originally posted by ChrisA
Not sure I can keep up...

Chris

Try the viagra link in 'take it upstairs'

[Zebra Woman]

Originally posted by Daisy
My pet hate is when a man clamps his thumb on to the back of my hand with a vice-like grip

Me too. I have lost count of how many times the man then asks me if there's something wrong with my hands???? They look at me sometimes as though I shouldn't be out dancing with injured hands. THEY'RE NOT INJURED YET!

I have had shoulder problems for 6 years, caused by a man squeezing my fingers and forcing a move, probably off the beat too. He injured 5 women in a month and was banned from Leroc until he'd had private lessons to correct the problem, he later turned up at Ceroc, slightly improved, but too scary for me. I would avoid the class incase I got him.

Even now ( infact it's worse now I'm older ) my shoulder flares up and aches for 3/4 days if I have a dance with a yanker. Sadly I've become fussy. Some nights I have looked around the room and can't see more than 5 people I can have a safe dance with. Very occasionally there will be a beginner I can trust.

It seems to me that many venues are concentrating on teaching moves. Lead, follow, and respect are not getting their fair share of the attention. I was really impressed with David and Lily's Modern Jive Class at RB this April. I learned things there, and felt smoother afterwards. Joseph and Trisha were also hitting the nail on the head. If only all beginners went there first.

[ChrisA]

Originally posted by Zebra Woman
Even now ( infact it's worse now I'm older ) my shoulder flares up and aches for 3/4 days if I have a dance with a yanker. Sadly I've become fussy. Some nights I have looked around the room and can't see more than 5 people I can have a safe dance with. Very occasionally there will be a beginner I can trust.

It upsets me greatly when I hear accounts like this - sadly they're all too common.

Personally I believe the emphasis is too much on letting people just get on with it, and not enough on tackling things that are really a problem...

... I'd rather MJ was more fun for people that enjoy dancing considerately, and less fun for the yankers.

Are you still planning to head for Hammersmith on tomorrow night ZW? If so, will you be looking stripey, or should I look for someone running away if I have shoulders on display?

Chris

[Jooles]

How awful that there are so few dancers that you trust not to yank you around the dance floor. I find so few that do that. The thing that puts me off a partner is when they take no notice whatsoever of people dancing near you and merrily spin you into anybody and everybody.

You can tell quickly which guys are looking for a space for you to safely spin into and which guys just don't bother. I hadn't really noticed it until I had an operation in the summer and even after all this time I have a little part of me that is really tender to the touch and so am always concerned about being whacked there by a stray hand or elbow.

It's a long time since I was a beginner so this is something that may be mentioned at beginners workshops, but I rarely hear teachers mentioning it at beginners classes.

They probably think it's common sense. Sadly we are not all blessed with enough of that !!!!

[TheTramp]

Originally posted by Zebra Woman
I was really impressed with David and Lily's Modern Jive Class at RB this April. I learned things there, and felt smoother afterwards. Joseph and Trisha were also hitting the nail on the head. If only all beginners went there first.

You were there?? Did we dance?? (I'm the bald, fat, ugly one who's dancingly challenged).

Trampy

[Zebra Woman]

Originally posted by TheTramp
You were there?? Did we dance?? (I'm the bald, fat, ugly one who's dancingly challenged).

Trampy

Goodness knows! I only had a couple of tricky dances all weekend and those men weren't bald. So if we did dance it was definitely good. If we didn't dance, then I'm sure we will next time.

[TheTramp]

Ummm. This is me.

I'm the one on the left

(If anyone can edit out the double chin, I'd be grateful)

Trampy

[Gadget]

Originally posted by TheTramp
(If anyone can edit out the double chin, I'd be grateful)

I edited it out... and look what was beneith...
{had a couple of mins before had to go back to work ... you should see what I could do if I had the time }

[Zebra Woman]

Originally posted by TheTramp
Ummm. This is me.

Trampy

Oh Yes! We had loads of dances, you were great, very musical..... I felt unworthy. I'm not putting my picture in here tho.

We had a conversation with David Barker and I asked you both what your favourite tracks were.

Curly hair, flying skirts I think that should be enough....

[TheTramp]

Originally posted by Gadget
I edited it out... and look what was beneith...
{had a couple of mins before had to go back to work ... you should see what I could do if I had the time }

Umm. Thanks Gadget. Remind me about this when I see you tonight please, and I'll show you my appreciation

I think I remember you Z-Woman. I sent you a PM

Trampy

[Gadget]

sorry, that was a bit cruel - here's a better one:

{Got plasterboard and timber to move indoors tonight before the thunder comes - don't know if I can make it... }

[TheTramp]

Originally posted by Gadget
sorry, that was a bit cruel - here's a better one:

{Got plasterboard and timber to move indoors tonight before the thunder comes - don't know if I can make it... }

Way hey!! And I get to be on a desert island with Hayley. What more could a man want??? Now, if you can just arrange both of those in real life..

Be a shame if you can't make it tonight. I'd earmarked to play all your favourite tunes

Trampy

[Sheepman]

Originally posted by Gadget
- here's a better one:

So many laughs today, I'm not sure I can take any more.

That man reminds me of someone, now who could that be . . .
Oh yes, how could I forget, he hit on me last time I was in Kemptown

Greg

[Gadget]

Originally posted by TheTramp
Be a shame if you can't make it tonight. I'd earmarked to play all your favourite tunes

Just play lots of Doors, Blues Brothers, and other tracks that seem to last forever.... and a few really fast tracks as well.
(hopefully that’ll get it out of your system so you can play some decent stuff )

[TheTramp]

Originally posted by Gadget
Just play lots of Doors, Blues Brothers, and other tracks that seem to last forever.... and a few really fast tracks as well.
(hopefully that’ll get it out of your system so you can play some decent stuff )

I don't think that I've got any Doors or Blues Brothers. And I can get away with playing some fast tracks tonight. Bill is away!!

Trampy