Hi,I am a beginner in ball room daning. Though I am really enjoying dancing, but I am not able to identify different beats (2,3,4 &1). If anyone can help me with this it would be great.Sankalp

sanks,We just had this discussion last week.IMO one thing that will help is to take some music and turn down all the treble.Listen to the bass line in the music especially for two particular patterns:BOOM, boom, boom, boom, BOOM, boom, boom, boom, etc.andBOOM, boom, boom, BOOM, boom, boom,etc.In the first pattern one in every 4 booms will seem a little stronger. In the second pattern one in every 3 seems stronger or louder. These stronger booms are the 1s.Practise walking or clapping the booms giving a little emphasis to the stronger ones. This will help you internalize the beat.OB

thanks operabob,that helped a lot .. but still have major confusion ... any more tips (actually i am from india, that's why finding it difficult)and do we have to count drum beats ??Sanks

Sanks,Listening to the drums can help too.The bass and the drums in most popular dance music is the foundation for the beat.Interestingly one of the differences between Argentinian Tango and International is that Argentinian generally places less emphasis on the bass. There is often no drums and bass notes are in the piano making them less bombastic.Counting can be helpful at first but it can also be somewhat defeating too. I had a strong background in music before dance. When I tried dancing it was a problem at first. As a musician I knew exactly where the beat was but I eventually learned dancers often treat the beat differently.Where the instrumentalist might play exactly "on" the beat dancers seem to dance "through" the beat. There seems to be more anticipatory movement preceding the beat.Also, while b'room music is in strict tempo dancers often add a lot of rubato. My instructors often talk about "fast quicks" and "quick slows".So I think, rather than counting the music, you'll want to find activities that help you internalize or feel the beat (just an opinion, others might disagree).Are you still in India? One thing I think might help is to find a course that emphasizes rythmical music actives like an Orff-Schulwerk class. Many colleges, community centres and local music schools offer them. You don't need to be able to read music to do these classes.I'm not sure if you noticed but pressing "Reply" (upper right) or "reply to this message" (lower left) will save you from having to start a new topic on the same conversation.OB

Ravs: Try listening to the music like it is a story. The story is "Usually" told or written, as it were, in sentences. The beginning of the sentence is "Usually" the 1 beat. The middle of the sentence or the thought or composition of the measures is usually the halfway point or the 4th measure but again the 1 beat.The end of the sentence is usually the 8th measure and again beginning on the 1 beat. Once you find the "beginning" of the thought you have found the beginning of the "sentence" and voila the 1 beat.Owen

What helped me was to try and make a strong downwards move with my arm - when the music seems to call for it. As if hitting a big drum. This tends to be on 1. :)

Later, you can dispence with the actual movement - but will still recognize it...

When you say 234&1 you are I take it refering to the Cha Cha. You will need to count with the music 234&1. It should be possible for you to find the beat one and then step off on two at the beginning. Another way of counting for you might be to count 2 3 Cha Cha Cha. "Cha Cha Cha" is your 4&1 transfering the weight on each step.
Good Luck