Accidents

[Mikey]

Originally posted by ChrisA
Clearly not. There are lots of contributory factors....





Still others don't give a sh*t - they assume that they're doing fine, and fail to notice that the reason they're not injuring people is because the surrounding dancers spend all their time avoiding them.
I think venue managers and teachers should push dance-floor etiquette harder.

Those that are sensitive enough to take a hint don't need the education... and those that need the education are too damn selfish to notice hints. So I think the volume should be increased.

Chris

Sadly Chris, I think no matter how hard any teacher or manager pushes etiquette, the silly people guilty of inconsiderate dancing will just continue completely oblivious.. they will not realise it's them, they will presume it is someone else.. These people are the same ones who never indicate in thier cars, never look when they pull out and pretend the Mini they are driving is as wide as a ruddy truck.. It can only be dealt with on a small scale by talking to individuals at the time when they are getting carried away...

[Dan]

Originally posted by ChrisA

"Some blokes get carried away. They get caught up in the moment and forget to be considerate of others. "

I know a male dancer who loves to drop his partners within 2 inches of the floor even in a very crowded venue. Whilst he is careful enough to select the girls who agree and are able to perform a drop to almost horizontal level, the risks of another dancer stepping back at the wrong time is constantly there. My feet have been gouged a couple of times by girls wearing pointed heels and a person's head just above floor level is just too risky.

I must admit that I have not done anything to stop it. Come to think of it, what would be the first port of call? the guy himself or the venue manager? You keep wondering whether the girls mind as most of them are experienced dancers and know their way around the floor.

Whilst on this subject. What are the venue managers' opinion on very pointed stillettoes on the dance floor? Many beginners will wear unsuitable footwear including flip flops and it is rare these days for the teachers to comment on the unsuitability of footwear. Flip flips cause no damage, but stillettoes often do to people and no doubt to the dancefloor.

[Daisy]

Originally posted by ChrisA
I do find it hard to understand how his head could have collided with yours without something weird going on.

Elbows maybe, heads, how?

I've danced with you Daisy - I wouldn't put you within a million miles of the "wild and uncoordinated" end of the spectrum.

Chris

Thanks for the comment Chris....I do my best to keep it together on the dance floor.
I'm really not sure how it happened but it is clear that 'we', meaning all of us, need to be more aware of what is going on around us. It's unfortunate if two dancers head, literally, for the same space at speed. Accidents do happen but like everything , they can be avoided with more care.

Maybe dance venue organisers need to take more responsibility for the number of people being allowed to dance at any one time. Overcrowding does seem to be a major contributor.

I can understand why people can be put off after a nasty accident....I feel quite scared dancing in a crowd now, I'm terrified of getting clobbered again.

[Mikey]

Originally posted by Andr
Originally posted by ChrisA

.

Whilst on this subject. What are the venue managers' opinion on very pointed stillettoes on the dance floor? Many beginners will wear unsuitable footwear including flip flops and it is rare these days for the teachers to comment on the unsuitability of footwear. Flip flips cause no damage, but stillettoes often do to people and no doubt to the dancefloor.

To be honest, very few ladies dance in stillettoes in reality.. and the ladies generally talk amongst themselves as to what is suitable and comfortable footwear wise...

If anyone was ever concerned about the danger of moves perfprmed in a crowded venue, my advise is to go and mention it to the teacher or manager and let them deal with it. I have over the years had several chats with people for many different reasons, after something has been brought to my attention. BUT>> i do watch to see first if they are in my opinion guilty of persistantly causing the problem brought to my attention.. these have included dangerous aerials, men with wandering hands and partners who seem unaware of others dancing around them.. and some i dare not mention...

[Chris]

Originally posted by Daisy
Maybe dance venue organisers need to take more responsibility for the number of people being allowed to dance at any one time.

Hear! hear!

And not just on the safety issue - it severely restricts dance styles and enjoyment from the point of view of nice open dramatic stuff - quite simple things like gestures and flourishes which the lady is more restricted on when the floor is crowded. When it's that busy they are making the money - they could invest in a bigger (or *second* room).

Chris (D)

have added a "D" so as to avoid confusion when ChrisA is also in active thread but quotes will still just come up with "Chris"; ChrisA - if you think it's a prob please contact Franck - I've already PM'd him to say am happy to change my name if it will help )

[ChrisA]

Originally posted by Mikey
Sadly Chris, I think no matter how hard any teacher or manager pushes etiquette, the silly people guilty of inconsiderate dancing will just continue completely oblivious..

I think you're probably right... though most of the comments from the stage have been in the "hints and humour" category, rather than the "I'm deadly serious x,y,z are unacceptable" category

How about an explicit ban on aerials and drops at the packed venues (Hipsters Tues and Fulham Thurs come to mind as examples of where complete tw*ts insist on doing them, endangering their partners and those around them)?

Any mileage in that?

[Chris]

I would also be interested to hear organisers opinion on this, especially knowing how expensive dance floors are to re-surface or even maintain.

If there is a real problem then ladies who dance in high heels might be encouraged to wear special ballroom high heels (usually made to measure I'm told by one of my dance partners who always uses them), and which presumably don't damage the floor (once ladies get to this level of buying their own b.shoes they probably have very good control of their feet of course!).

[ChrisA]

Originally posted by Andr
I know a male dancer who loves to drop his partners within 2 inches of the floor even in a very crowded venue.

Do you mean he's a mate of yours, or you just know him and he knows you?

Certainly if the former, you could have a word, surely?

Chris

[Mikey]

Originally posted by Chris
I would also be interested to hear organisers opinion on this, especially knowing how expensive dance floors are to re-surface or even maintain.

If there is a real problem then ladies who dance in high heels might be encouraged to wear special ballroom high heels (usually made to measure I'm told by one of my dance partners who always uses them), and which presumably don't damage the floor (once ladies get to this level of buying their own b.shoes they probably have very good control of their feet of course!).

the problem there Chris is most high heela damage wooden floors, hand made or not.. but whats more important as i am sure your partner knows.. it's the pressure dancing in high heels puts on a womans ankle !!! I was once told that the pressure could be equated to an elephant standing on a grape ( AND NO I AM NOT SAYING ANYTHING ABOUT WEIGHT LADIES) Persoanally i don't know how some women do it.. I was a british freestyle rollerskating champion some years ago and i wore boots with a heel for ease of tricks etc and believe me, my aknles and calves certainly ached by the end of a nights skating or after a show...

[Chris]

Originally posted by Mikey
the problem there Chris is most high heela damage wooden floors, hand made or not.. but whats more important as i am sure your partner knows.. it's the pressure dancing in high heels puts on a womans ankle !!!

I'm not a ballroom dancer (which she is) but they are de rigeur for ballroom, so I doubt if they damage the floor - and if they do then I for one would rather pay extra than have her dance in anything else.

If a woman wears high heels constantly her foot adapts. She is not comfy wearing anything else after a bit (especially perhaps if she does serious ballroom!)

[Chris]

In case any ladies are thinking of getting proper ballroom shoes made - the tailored fit and intrinsic design is such that you get almost continuous support from ankle to toe - this is very different from ordinary high heels. (I mention this from having heard it explained and demonstrated a number of times, not from personal experience of wearing them I might add!)


ps as most ladies know already, wearing heels also alters the shape and tone of your legs very nicely

[Dan]

Originally posted by ChrisA
Do you mean he's a mate of yours, or you just know him and he knows you?

Certainly if the former, you could have a word, surely?

Chris

Chris

I know him and he knows me, but we have spoken more than a few words. I do not know him enough to comment on his dancing styles. For some reason, this is a subject that few men will enter into seriously even among good friends - same as driving. If an acquaintance someone is doing something "wrong", you would have to be very sure that you know what you are talking about before you say something.

Andre

[Danger Mouse]

What's the worse injury you’ve suffered while dancing?

Apart from the usual bumps a bruises you get at a busy venue, my worse so far is a fingernail impaled in my chin.

[azande]

Originally posted by Danger Mouse
What's the worse injury you’ve suffered while dancing?

Apart from the usual bumps a bruises you get at a busy venue, my worse so far is a fingernail impaled in my chin.

Link

[Jon L]

On the last night of Bognor 2003 - I felt my back seize up, I tried dancing two nights later and it was still hurting. So I saw the physio who found by getting me to do some twists etc. That I had seized the lower left side of my back up

She unlocked me but I got my first ever jiving ban 1 week out!

Unfortunately if you do something like this, then it is still vunerable and there are certain jumps or lifts that I don't dance as they strain that part of the back.

Seriously my advice to anyone is if you think you have an injury get it checked out by the physio - It will cost you approx £35 but it's worth it.

[Jon L]

Moderators - this thread should be in 'Let's talk about dance' IMO.

[Nick M]

Originally posted by Jon L
On the last night of Bognor 2003 - I felt my back seize up,

I get this quite a lot, Jon, especially if I have recently come off a long haul flight. What I do nowadays is book in a preventative visit to the osteopath after any overnight flight, or massive amount of sittingin a car, to get my spine mobile again

[Danger Mouse]

Originally posted by Jon L
Moderators - this thread should be in 'Let's talk about dance' IMO.

Whoops! Sorry

[Danger Mouse]

Originally posted by azande
Link

Whoops! sorry

[jivecat]

whats more important as i am sure your partner knows.. it's the pressure dancing in high heels puts on a womans ankle !!! I was once told that the pressure could be equated to an elephant standing on a grape

I have received (and given) the usual quota of bumps and bruises whilst dancing, the most recent being a cracking black eye incurred during a rather over-enthusiastic extended man-spin (at least, I think that's what it's called, I don't usually bother my little head about the names, that's a man's job!) The guy whose elbow it was apologised profusely and was mortified- he's a lovely bloke and a great dancer and I certainly wouldn't bear him any ill-will.


At least I've recovered from the black eye. I'm far more concerned about ongoing foot damage. Since starting ceroc a couple of years ago I've developed a painful and swollen big toe joint on my right foot which I'm told is irreversible arthritic damage, caused by wearing HIGH HEELS. I think the worst damage was caused when I'd been dancing for 6 months to a year, was very keen and dancing a lot but hadn't bought any specialist dance shoes yet. My spinning technique was very poor and I found it very difficult to be obliged by my partners to do repeated or consecutive spins on my right foot when I knew I didn't have my balance or foot placement under control. I remember the feeling of my delicate little foot bones grinding unevenly into the floor but at the time I was always so high on adrenalin that I wasn't really aware of any pain! Think on, chaps.....

I think that the damage has stabilised because I now wear more sensible shoes (Aaargh!!! A lifetime of horrible puffy dance sneakers lies ahead) and I have tried hard to improve my spinning technique. I also restrict my dancing to twice a week in order to allow recovery time in between, which does not please me one little bit.

If anyone has had similar foot problems I'd like to hear from you, especially if you've found any solutions.

Lastly if anyone has discovered a type of flattish dance shoe which won't make me look like I have a huge, decaying fungus attached to the ends of my legs please let me know asap!