Types of dancing (A short lesson for beginners)
By Victor Jean Ouellette
There is SOCIAL DANCING, (the singles scene stuff with regular fast dancing, touch dancing, disco dancing and slow dancing); SWING DANCING of many types (East Coast Swing, West Coast Swing, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Shag etc.,), AMERICAN BALLROOM (Social), INTERNATIONAL BALLROOM (British), LATIN dancing, SQUARE dancing, ROUND dancing, COUNTRY & WESTERN dancing, LINE dancing (performed as a group either alone or with a partner, in most all types of dancing), and lastly DIRTY dancing. Don't ask about the last one as that's only for a select few people who dare to get it on, on the dance floor.
The basic ballroom dances are; Fox Trot, Waltz, Swing, Rumba, Cha Cha, and Tango
Advanced ballroom would be the Quickstep
The basic Latin dances would be Rumba, Cha Cha, Tango, Salsa, Mambo, and Merengue.
Balboa can be danced to Latin music or to any other music where the beat fits. The Balboa is a fun sexy dance that brings you in real close to your partner. You can do it to fast music when you are at a venue that plays all fast songs most of the night. You'll have to learn this one for sure. The young people like to do this step to the Roaring 20's music.
The Eight Lines of Dance
From http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~acjeong/ (Not an active link any longer.)
The Five Foot Positions
From http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~acjeong/ (Not an active link any longer.)
Example applications of foot positions:
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Position #1: Closed position in Waltz.
Position #2: Side step in Waltz.
Position #3: Cha Cha chasse into cross-body lead.
Position #4: Forward step in Waltz.
Position #5: Slip pivot in Waltz, or progressive chasse in Cha Cha.
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Lead and Follow, Some Basics
From http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~acjeong/ (Not an active link any longer.)
Hauling your partner around the floor is tiring if the follower does not have frame.
"If you don't lead me, I'm not going to move."
"Don't dance me into the furniture honey."
The man has to learn to get rid of the noise from his signals.
The lady has to know that signals are a comin.
A good lead/follow is like a good conversation - you don't have to yell, you only need to talk.
Partnering skills are vital to good ballroom dancing.
Men, to truly lead well you must know the lady's part to every figure you do.
Giving Corrections to Leaders
By Victor Jean Ouellette
On the social dance floor giving corrections to leaders should only be done after the follower has made an assessment of the leader's ego status. Keep in mind that even on the social dance floor some leaders like to be given help. I for one, enjoy when a follower with more experience gives me suggestions. I am an intermediate level dancer so don't know much..... yet. Some men's egos are fragile and need to be left alone. It is up to the lady to assess this. Yes, some men are stone headed. It won't matter how delicate or diplomatic you are these SHM (STONE HEADED MEN) will not get it. Once you have identified an SHM, don't try to give corrections, just follow and do the best you can.
There are what are called teachable moments with people. Some people have learned how to create teachable moments and they have also learned how to avoid the non teachable moments. The problem is that some men are in permanent non teachable mode. What to do then? Well, you can try to shock them out of it. This will require sacrifice above and beyond duty, to achieve. You will have to take him aside make firm eye contact and then tell him the truth. You then run the risk that they will label you. Usually the label isn't very flattering. Most women don't want to take this approach, especially in the social scene. Keep in mind that dancing is supposed to be enjoyable and fun. So don't make a drag out of it by trying to teach someone something on the dance floor when their only interest is in impressing you with their dancing wiles, however meagre they may be. Remember, to that person, their own dancing skill is most impressive. When you find a person who actually enjoys giving and getting corrections on the dance floor then stay with them as they can be a pleasure to dance with.
The lower hand leads
By Victor Jean Ouellette
What does this mean? Some dance schools teach this rule. When a man holds a lady in the closed position, as in dancing slow, he holds her with two hands. Whichever hand is closer to the floor is called the lower hand. This hand is the one that will lead the lady. This means that if the man lowers his left hand when it is holding the ladies right hand, then this hand becomes the lead hand and she then expects to be lead by that hand. The exception would be when the man raises the hand to turn the lady.
Floor Craft!
From http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~acjeong/ (Not an active link any longer.)
The leader has primary responsibility for obstacle avoidance, and this can be a difficult task, especially on a crowded floor with couples moving at widely differing speeds.
Note that the lady does not "lead" when she is stepping forward. But, she is responsible for ensuring that the man does not back himself into other people or other obstacles. She does this by stopping him gently, if she sees he is going to bump into someone.
The man always initiates direction of movement, but the person moving forward dictates the size of the step.
Beginning men need a *lot* of help. And the best way their partners can help is to follow their lead, even if it's wrong, rather than "compensating" for a bad lead. If the follower compensates, she deprives the leader of this cause-effect feedback, and he'll never learn to lead properly.
Advice on Dancing with Those less Skilled than Yourself
From http://www.sit.wisc.edu/~acjeong/ (Not an active link any longer.)
 Accommodate their imperfections so they look good but do not minimize your technique.Become aware of their balance at all times because when they unbalance you, it is because they are falling out of balance themselves. If you can feel this happening then greater compression on your part is needed.
Reframe the dancing-"Heck if I can dance with those ladies and make them feel good then the easy to lead dancers are a snap." It then becomes a challenge rather than a chore.
Create situations whereby the lady has no doubt about your intentions: i.e. overstate the case with a clear direct lead.
One of the most common leader mistakes is trying to lead a less experienced follower through complex moves.
If the follower loses the beat on an underarm turn, it is very likely that she will be lost on the subsequent pattern, so make sure she is on the correct foot before you continue.
You learn how to dance better by dancing with more experienced partners. But you learn how to lead/follow better by dancing with less experienced partners.
There is a certain type of character (leader) that one encounters again and again if one has been dancing for any length of time: the guy who only wants to dance with the best followers because he believes they are the only partners who can match his high skill level. Often what is REALLY going on is that only the best followers can compensate for his mistakes or idiosyncrasies. They make him look good.
Dancing with poor to average followers is a good reality check.
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How long will it take me to start to really enjoy ballroom dancing?
By Victor Jean Ouellette
Dancing is like other complicated psychomotor skills. Golfing, racquet sports, and down hill skiing take about three years of regular practice to start to enjoy them. The same can be said for dancing. You can have fun learning and socializing, but to get the joy of 'moving-as-one' on the floor, will take about three years. To get to the point where, as a leader or follower, you can make a beginner look good, will take another few years. In the meantime, there is lots of fun to be had.
Danceline Studios
www.dancelinestudios.com Although this link is still active I believe the venue is no longer active. Please contact the site for an update.
Danceline Studios is our base for lessons. Once a month they have a dance. Our group is not affiliated with Danceline Studios, but a number of us take lessons there. This is quite old info now in 2022.
Contact Sheri Gay.
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