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practicing alone
Posted by addicted2dance
7/26/2005  10:11:00 AM
I'm new to ballroom dancing. Working on all 10 Intl dances. My only partner work is with my coach in class. Any suggestions on ways to practice that would be helpful when I do find a partner?
Re: practicing alone
Posted by dancer
7/26/2005  10:51:00 AM
It might be a while before you find a partner, but i have found that you don't really need a partner, *that* bad. You can practice by yourself quite successfully.
Obviously, you would want to work on lead/following. Don't know if you are a leader or follower but the leader can lead moves as requested by follower. The leader in turn can lead stuff that he is familiar with, have learned in class.
Re: practicing alone
Posted by addicted2dance
7/26/2005  11:45:00 AM
I should have been more specific. I'm a female, so that would make me a follower.
Re: practicing alone
Posted by Laura
7/26/2005  11:49:00 AM
I spent a good deal of time practicing alone at one point (and I should probably be doing it again these days). I was doing Standard, and would have my teacher give me "homework" to practice. Sometimes it would be exercises, sometimes it would be to just practice a certain figure or few. I also made sure I could dance my routines by myself, full out, to music, for whole songs without stopping. Doing this taught me a LOT about my own balance, alignment, and knowledge of the material I was working on.

I felt goofy at first doing it, but after a while I got so used to it that I would sometimes even dance by myself at parties!

Be careful when going backward
Re: practicing alone
Posted by ylchen-1
7/26/2005  8:28:00 PM
man of the same line.
Re: practicing alone
Posted by phil.samways
7/27/2005  6:18:00 AM
I'm a leader, buti hope my comments will be useful.
I've done a fair bit of dancing on my own. I find it's good for:
1)Learning and memorizing the basic footwork
2)eradicating bad habits which have been identified by a coach.

As an example of a good use of practising alone, i have problems with tension in my shoulders - especially in tango. So i practise small segments of tango with no distractions (no partner, no music) so i can focus on keeping my shoulders relaxed all the time. I'm still working on this.
Self-practice is really useful to cure problems and acquire new good habits in place of the old bad ones.

BUT BUT remember that dancing with a partner introduces a whole new dimension to everything and self-practice is only a start in developing good habits and skills
Re: practicing alone
Posted by owendancer
7/27/2005  6:41:00 AM
I agree with Phil. The biggest benefit of practicing alone is the memorizing of your footwork. One has to be aware though that new "Bad Habits" can occur simply because your shadow partner doesnt offer any feedback and of course does everything perfectly. Nothing beats a real partner in ridding yourself of bad habits and bolstering good habits.
Re: practicing alone
Posted by cdroge
7/27/2005  11:33:00 AM
Not true Girls, All my teachers have said the man mkes 90% of the mistakes, It's my wife who is perfect and is given three things to correct to my twenty. So perhaps if you can't find a teacher to dance with you should practice alone. Just kidding. You will make less of you own mistakes and dance all of his. Ha,HA
Re: practicing alone
Posted by Onlooker
7/27/2005  10:08:00 PM
Owendancer. This was given to me for dancing solo in Modern. Extend both arms straight out from the body( not strictly ballroom position) at shoulder level. Stick both thumbs up and make sure they stay the same distance apart. Dance the groups . Where it is particularly helpfull is on an Open Impetus. It lets one know where their partner is. Otherwise we are liable not to finish the move. (cut it short).

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