My little daughter and I had a sense of that too many things did not make sense in the film " Shall we dance ." Unlike the early series of ER, at least it is a combination of reality and art . I familiar with the environment of E & R , although it is too excited and too concentrated. If every minute working in such situation, it will be terrible hazard to both doctors and patients!
Lately, there were some programs about ballroom dance provided by " travelling and living ": 3 lucky persons selected had a chance to be trained by top dancers , (sorry , I prefer to enjoy the 2 male instructors , especially the Russian ,than the female)) for 5 weeks then they attended competition in U.S. The purpose I followed these programs was to find out how the fundamental basis were introduced by those structors. Unfortunately, it was hard to see.

ylchen

Don, I have a stupid question, I heard someone said : lady should keep longer right stretching line or a little bit higher right hip . If so, what is the length of a little bit ?
I am puzzled on it .
ylchen

Yichen. First to Dancer. The close up shot of Jennifer was as good as it gets.
Yichin. Your right hip will be a little higher that the left. To quote Richard Gleave from my tape he says the lady has two curves, a banana shape to the left and very slightly back. One shape without the other is no good. The head will be naturally to the left on a tilt. Keep the chin up without shortening the back of the neck. The stretch to the sides does not have a collapsed side. Think of a piece of cane which is bent. Each segment bends equally with the inside measurement still the same size as the outside. Hope this helps. Its much easier with a video to look at and to listen to.

Thank you very much . Don.

Don--
I'm not sure which close up of Jennifer Lopez you are referring to not that it really matters because all of her dance scenes were mediocre and screamed beginner. Sure she was on the good side of beginner, but by no means a champion dancer in any stretch of the imagination. If you want a comparison just watch any dance scene with JLo, then watch the small part Karina Smirnoff (a real professional dancer) has dancing with the crazy long haired guy. She has the poise and air or a pro (unfortunately not the same acting skills as JLo though).

Dancer.The scene which sticks in my mind was a close up head and shoulders of Jennifer dancing, or more like standing still. The dancing is Modern. I will have to watch the film again. It's been on our cable TV at least a dozen times. You must be sensible about this. Jennifer will never dance at Blackpool and Karina will never star in a Hollywood movie. I think you will agree that Richards top line was excellent with his left palm facing across the body as it should be and looking left as well as standing up straight, and not like others who have an anti- clockwise turn of the hand. Whoever coached them did a good job in my opinion, when you realise he also had to instruct them as beginners as well as the comedy roles and have them slowly improve. This would have to have been rehearsed before the movie started shooting.
Question. In one scene, in the background on a screen Fred Astaire is dancing with Cyde Charisse. Does any one know which film this was.

Richard looks like a good student; JLO is disgustingly bad.

Our coach told me that a lady's head should always be over her left hip. Also he emphasized the importance of keeping the joint between the legs and the torso flexible all the time. What do you think about that?

Dear Jild, Thanks for your advice.
The top of head may over left hip a little bit .and maitain flexible joints without broken side line should be kept in mind.
The angle of shin bone ,more forward thigh ( than male) + extend head left- ward, upward from one side temple generate lady posture( a llitle bit backward ) and bigger frame . Our center force (muscle tone due to pulling up and pressing in belly, squeeze force in center resulting from reactive force from the floor and weight dwon the shoulder helps to support head weight besides elbows. ( triangle )
How to use them appropriately in my each step to create natural feminine character is what I am learning. Fortunately, my coach is keeping his one eye on it .
Lady responses to man' posture and shape , and we are affecting each other.
Correct me , if my concept is wrong.
ylchen

Yichen. one thing that never is mentioned and that is , and particulaly in Latin, The muscles of your Buttocks (Bottom ) must be as tight as possible wilst dancing. The Buttocks must not be spread. They are toned at all times.