I think that it would be a worthwhile exercise and helpful for new users to share some of our growth experiences in ballroom dancing.

Could you tell others about a particular figure (step pattern) which you and your partner found unusually troublesome, what turned out to be the problem, and how you resolved it?

Also, if there are figures which still give you difficulties, feel free to mention them as well.

One figure which caused me a great deal of grief is the Outside Swivel in the Standard Fox Trot. This move is is described in the manual as the end of a combination which begins with an Open Telemark and 1-2-3 of a Natural Turn.

My partner and I were always able to perform the first two figures easily (they're not difficult) but had trouble maintaining our balance during the swiveling action.

As it turned out, both my partner and myself were contributing to the instability with poor footwork.

On her swivel, my partner was drawing her left foot to her swiveling right foot too quickly.

I took the manual too literally when it says that the right foot moves "without weight" in front of the pivoting left foot.

When my partner kept her left foot back while swiveling and I applied some floor pressure with my right foot, the instability went away. It didn't "vanish" because she had to learn how far back to keep her left foot and it took me a few tries to determine exactly how much pressure to use with my right foot.

We're not good enough yet to say that we've "mastered" this figure but we can at least perform it competently without losing our balance.

jj

PS This thread is not intended to solicit instructional advice. Terence is correct when he says that a message board is not a studio.

jj, not sure if this is what you're looking for, but it's a problem area more related to keeping the beat and staying on time. I am pretty good at this in every dance except the Vienesse Waltz. Not sure why, other than I know the bpm is faster and maybe I just can't keep up over the long haul of a 3- or 4-minute song. I keep up in terms of getting through the dance, but if anyone was really paying attention, they would know that I was off with rhythm and tempo at least part of the time. I do OK in shadow practicing, not so hot with a partner. As my instructor has said a few times, probably only half-jokingly, "you're really great when you dance by yourself."

Actually, timing is always a good topic to discuss. I was told that it's the one aspect of dancing that cannot be taught.

Because it sounds as though your partner is slowing you down, you may want to have your partner spend some time practicing the VW alone as you do.

Also (and I hate to suggest this), try counting the beats as you practice together. It helps my partner on some dances even though it leaves me out of breath after four or five walls.

Finally, dancing three solid minutes of VW would kill some people. I usually stop after a couple of minutes and I've never had a woman ask to keep going.

Good luck.



jj

Outside Swivel . Man keep the right hip up to the lady. Let it drop and you are gone.

If the lead focuses on his right hip then he will not finish his pivot properly and his shoulder will not attain Promenade Position.

Other than to point out that your information is incorrect, I will not get into another pointless exchange with you.

It really gets tiring to see you spoil every thread with the same nonsense.

jj

Are you some sort of a nut. The advice given is straight off a dvd from one of the leading coaches world wide. If you think you know better then just carry on. If you have nobody there who can put you on the right track. i suggest you move or shut up.

Such a constructive and timely addition, Polished, good on you.

Anyway...

Promenade Chase in Int. Tango.

At first, it was just an unidentified abominable desecration of dancing.

Then, it became clear I wasn't closing at all.

Then, he was "helping himself around".

Then... I was fake closing again.

Finally, we managed to get it to look like a curving feather. I still feel like my thigh whacks his and intercepts his movement, because I forget to close, but I'm "helping", dammit.

Yes, we *do* have someone here helping us, we're also nuts, and no, we're not soliciting coaching from a forum. "Just Sayin', Is All..."

Spice World always puts me in a cheery mood.

My previous partner and I had a lot of trouble with this move. We would always get bogged down between the fourth and fifth steps. Even though we improved, I don't think that we ever became completely comfortable with it.



jj

Fallaway reverse.
This is a more basic thing, but hopefully will help some.
We had a problem with this for some time in tango- i was essentially turning away from my partner, so a following figure - say slip pivot - was very difficult.
Then we went to a workshop with Chris Hawkins. Almost as a throwaway line, he mentioned "of course, the man must think turn body to the right as his left foot is put back in promenade position (or similar words)". Otherwise he turns his body away from his partner. It's obvious isn't it? everything's obvious once you know it . Instantly our fallaways improved. I have to picture my body turning right as my left leg moves back.
Now it's automatic and our fallaways (not just tango) are much better. Onto the next problem

That's a particularly good piece of advice.

It's also important for the man to maintain the resulting shoulder alignment until the completion of the Slip Pivot (assuming that one follows).

Thanks.



jj