YES! thank you Dave at least one of us is getting this all together! and yes i think that we should do this and it should happen VERY soon so who ever is owns this website do this and do this NOW!!!

I'm new to dancing.
I only found this site because I nearly broke my leg in the gym and my knee was swolen to twice it's size. I thought I might not be able to dance for a while but since I am a dance junkie by now that thought was painful. So I came here.

Yes when I had a first looked at the forum and saw all the "cbm and cbmp and pp etc" and everyone knew what they were talking about I freaked out. I had a long look at the dictionary on this site to translate a few of the discussions.
But when I looked again I noticed there were also people asking exactly the things troubling me (how do I stop my right shoulder from creeping up. how do I not mess up my frame).
For the forum to be alive we need both levels of discussion because if you want experienced dancers to be around to answer our questions they must have discussions as well that affect them.

I guess the forums behaves a bit like what we try to achieve in architecture schools - students of different level discussing work among each other and with their tutors allowing everyone to learn from everyone.

Quite a few of the regulars on this forum seem to be instructors themselves so I think they will be interested in your questions. It could help them understand what that one student has been doing wrong all the time.
I know from myself for example that when my dance teacher explains things to me they sound all clear and logical and I have no questions to ask. But after a week when I have tried to dance the steps with different ladies do I really understand what I am doing or realise that I dont have a clue of what I am doing. But a week ago I had told my teacher that all is fine, yes mam I understand, no problem.

Right need a quick shower before today's dance lesson ;)

Stavros, There are so many mistakes and so many answers that this site can only make suggestions non of which may be the solution to a problem,or a different answer may be needed for each student with a similer problem. The true answer lies with your coach. The question is how good is she and how good are you at listening ,practicing and following through with what she say's. Keep asking questions and then more question ,let her think you are stupid if that is what she want's to do. Never assume that you fully understand because there are so many levals of understanding when first learning to dance.

How easy is it to put into words what is felt in someone else's body?

If your question is nebulous then it's hard to refine what is happening in one person's body to what you are feeling.

If an answer is too deep or technical for you why not politely ask for clarification. It's unrealistic for an answerer to know exactly what you're wanting to hear.

It's a two way street here.

OB

It too know how the poster feels. I have been dancing for some time, but many of these conversations are beyond me.

However, I frequent this board often, because the more you read the postings, I find you do begin to comprehend and learn. I still cannot grasp all of the coversations, but usually walk away with something. I would encourage you not to get fustrated if you dont understand the subject... Just keep reading and your understanding some how becomes easier.!

Janet,

REC!

Thing is everyone brings their own experiences to what they read not the otherway round.

On an Internet forum how easy is it too tell if you're being too technical or not technical enough with an answer.

If you're complaining about an answer being to technical then your just slapping someone in the face who tried to help.

"Thanks. I don't understand quite what this is about. Could you explain it a bit more simply please?" would seem to be a bit better approach.

If you want less technical threads then it's up to the person who wants them to create them. I don't expect other people to dumb down for me. (Said with humour).

OB

Kimberly. For the beginner. First learn the correct terms for the alignments in the ballroom. Facing LOD ( Line of Dance ) Is of course exactly as it says. The same with backing LOD. Then there is facing wall or facing centre. To start a Natural Turn in the Waltz we start for the Man facing diagonal to the wall( which is half way between LOD and facing wall and is called Facing diag to wall with the LOD. The lady will be backing diagonal to the wall with the LOD. If you click on technical tips, and then Line of Dance on this site there is some information there. There is also a Diagonal to the centre with the LOD as well as diagnal to the centre against the LOD.
Here is a simple excercise which can be done at home with or without partner in a limited space.
Face diagonal to wall. Mans steps. Forward RF. ( no turning yet) side LF. close RF to LF on the count of three. Now do the same but going backward Back LF count one. Side RF count two. Close LF to RF count three. If you do exactly those steps but turning 3/8ths of a turn between each 123 you have completed a Natural Turn. The same if you start on the LF.facing this time Diagonal to Centre. Do a few forward and backward steps ( in a square ) and when you are ready put in the turns. All you need to join the two together is one Change Step which is simply Forward side together, without turning .
The Waltz (call it a box step ) Forward side together. Back side together is good to practice at any level of dancing. A chart of the direction of the steps in relation to the room should be in the front of any dance instruction book where alignments are required. There are no alignments in Latin Rumba Cha Cha etc. The above can seem a little complicated, but it isn't. If you are having trouble think of a compass. We have a North and a West and something in between which we call ( diag. to wall )Provided with your compass you are facing wall. I hope I got it all in. Keep Dancing.

OperaBob,
I dont think you either understood my post, or read it correctly.

I did not at all complain about the technical conversations on this board. On the contrary I was encouranging the new dancer that even if some conversations are beyond a persons techincal understanding, there is a great vaule in the postings, and eventually it becomes easier to comprehend and understand the more you read and come fimiliar with the terms....Geez, let up.

Operabob. No alignements in Latin? Gee I would love to see your Hockey Step.

Dave. There are no alignments in Latin. There is amounts of turn. I can start my Rumba or Cha Facing whatever way I wish. You could have your back towards me and I to you. To our side could be somebody facing us. This also goes for the Jive. Dances that go around the floor Samba or Paso do have progression in an anti -clockwise direction. But they can also double back on themselves. The misconcetion about this comes when the teacher lines the class up in a Cha , does a front and back basic and then a New York all facing the wall. In actuall fact if I do the correct amount of turn between the front and back basic ( a quarter of a turn ) the wall will be on my right hand side for a New York towards it. Having said that I could start my Basic facing Diag to wall, across the floor, or whatever suits. All the above just to say that if I do four Front and Back Basics I will have turned one complete turn .If I wish I can do three full Basics and then a New York. I'll leave you to figure out in which direction I am now facing for my New York, Spot Turn, Underarm Turn or whatever.