If you could tell a beginner One Thing...

[ducasi]

If there was one thing I could go back and tell myself when I was just stating out, it'd be "keep going, you'll make it". Fortunately enough people on the forum told me that and I did keep going.

I wonder if I'll ever make it...

[Lee]

For new guys: (as KatieR said) learn fewer moves but learn them properly and try to dance with the beat. oh and WEAR DEODORANT!!!!

For new ladies: Relax your arms, follow the mans lead, and if it goes wrong it his fault. oh and DON'T EAT GARLIC!!

Lee

[spindr]

Go to different venues, different teachers, different franchises, styles, etc. -- as soon as you feel confident enough -- it'll help your lead/follow immensely.

SpinDr.

[stewart38]

Ive been going only 4 weeks and look how well Ive done

Or relax and enjoy it

[Lee]

Ive been going only 4 weeks and look how well Ive done

I'll try that next time

[ElaineB]

As before and..........look at your partner, not over their shoulder or around the room........and if you can, try to smile!


Elaine

[MOD]

NO THUMBS!!

Went dancing last night and now got a bruise on my hand from an overeager lead!!

I wont run away, promise. I know Ceroc is a contact sport - occasional kicks in the shins both given and received are just part of it - but bruising on the hand I have to object to.

Relax and enjoy

[Baruch]

ALWAYS shower before dancing, use (and reapply during the course of the evening) antiperspirant deodorant, and take at least one change of shirt/top. This applies to BOTH sexes.

[Piglet]

Take note of the dance partners you get in class that lead well/ follow well and make sure you get a dance from them in the freestyle.
(Take note of the dance partners that didn't lead well/follow well and don't go looking for a dance with them in freestyle, but that's not to say you refuse them)

[Kay]

When I'm leading beginner ladies I always encourage them to smile - this in turn will make them relax - and hopefully help them to enjoy themselves.
Kay.

[David Bailey]

When I'm leading beginner ladies I always encourage them to smile - this in turn will make them relax - and hopefully help them to enjoy themselves.
Kay.

Excellent point - reminds me of an occasion related to me from last Friday.

One of the taxi dancers (female) at the venue was asked how to do a particular move by a beginner-y man - 5 seconds into the description, she realised with a sinking feeling that he was describing the Tunnel (or the Evil Tunnel, Move From Hell, to give it its proper name).

She tried to diplomatically tell the guy that "No woman likes that move", when one of the other taxi dancers (a man) thankfully came in and said to the guy "Don't worry about moves, the only thing you need to worry about is this."

He took the woman taxi dancer's hand, and then he smiled.

That was it.

[Tessalicious]

If you suspect that you might have issues with finding the beat or sticking to it, don't wear noisy clicky shoes, they will only accentuate the problem.

[thewacko]

look into my eyes and dance with me

and men . . .
look into the eyes of the lady you are dancing with cos at the time you are dancing with them they are the most important person in the world


and to both sexes . . .

dont go on Ceroc Scotland Forum or you too will be doooooomed

[robd]

Stand up straight.

[Andy McGregor]

One thing I've been telling beginner ladies recently is about asking guys to dance. New women are often reluctant to ask guys for a dance, especially the good dancers.

I tell the ladies to book their dances in the lesson. When they get a guy in the line that they'd like to dance with I tell the ladies to say something like "do you mind if I grab you for a dance later" or something similar. This seems to make it easier for them than walking up to a guy in the freestyle.

[Baruch]

Don't look at your feet, but give your partner eye contact.

[Saxylady]

give your partner eye contact.

Preferably not with your chin, elbow or fist.

[Whitebeard]

Preferably not with your chin, elbow or fist.

Or you'll end up on the bad lad list.

[Saxylady]

Or you'll end up on the bad lad list.

Oh no - I thought I'd finally escaped from the Limerick thread!!

[LMC]

B****y hell, I find myself agreeing with Andy M. Except I'm not going to restrict my advice to ladies as it applies to all...

Ask people to dance. As many people as possible. Everyone loves to dance with their friends and "good" dancers and 99.9% of people are sympathetic to beginners. Unfortunately, that means there's less left over for early intermediates - your smile needs to be known to make it easier for you to get the dances then. So take advantage of those first few weeks.