dancing with eyes closed

[Bordertangoman]

I danced (blues) last night with my eyes shut; and the 'I' that is my eyes disappeared and there was a lot more feel of the music and even my partner disappeared in favour of there being just music and moving.......

[pinkstuff]

My coach makes me do this quite often during lessons to help me with following/feeling the lead & music.  Makes a huge difference to dancing and the feeling is amazing.  Ability to hear changes completely but I really have to trust the lead 

[elisedance]

I would have my eyes closed all the time if I could.  For me thats what dancing really is and I used to - but its not great for competition so I have to stop myself from getting back in the habit by not allowing myself to do it at all.  Well, maybe only rarely

When I stop competing (~2,100) I'll never open my eyes again

[TangoDancer]

My partner does as well... to a fault. I have even been known to quite often. Amazing how I seem to know (most of the time  ) where I am. To bring blindfolds to class for the students is nothing foreign to my classes.

[QPO]

with out the visual you have to rely on the other senses. we had a blind dancer on our DWTS he did quite well but because he was blind from birth his movement was not fluid or natural has he had nothing to compare it to....he danced very stilted but I thought he did a great job. I am sure if he had more time he would have got better at it.

[elisedance]

we had a blind dancer on our DWTS he did quite well but because he was blind from birth his movement was not fluid or natural has he had nothing to compare it to....he danced very stilted but I thought he did a great job. I am sure if he had more time he would have got better at it.

I'm not sure I see the logic there (though I'm not saying you are wrong).  Why would a person blind from birth dance worse than one that became blind later? 

[QPO]

we had a blind dancer on our DWTS he did quite well but because he was blind from birth his movement was not fluid or natural has he had nothing to compare it to....he danced very stilted but I thought he did a great job. I am sure if he had more time he would have got better at it.

I'm not sure I see the logic there (though I'm not saying you are wrong).  Why would a person blind from birth dance worse than one that became blind later? 

because some people are visual learners  and have to copy what they see. hence to ape or imitate. Even though he has been blind since birth does not mean that he would not have been a visual learner but he has learnt to adapt.

[elisedance]

Ah.  Perhaps.  But can one be a visual learner if one has been blind from birth??
I would have thought that that would be pretty stunted - if not its inborn, genetic and unalterable. 

Interesitng question.....

OTOH if he was kinesthetic he would be totally in his element

[QPO]

Ah.  Perhaps.  But can one be a visual learner if one has been blind from birth??
I would have thought that that would be pretty stunted - if not its inborn, genetic and unalterable. 

Interesitng question.....

OTOH if he was kinesthetic he would be totally in his element

he was good a a sport and I cannot rember for sure, I think it was running... with his lovely dog!

[TangoDancer]

I've taught several blind students, and worked with Marlee Matlin on a film with deaf teens. Both were very educational experiences for all of us.

[elisedance]

I've taught several blind students, and worked with Marlee Matlin on a film with deaf teens. Both were very educational experiences for all of us.

and how easy was it for them - did any become serious dancers?

[shades of 'scent of a woman']

[TangoDancer]

No. they were all just social students. One of the blind guys did do comps. The kids were just there for the film, though some of them continued to dance.

[QPO]

Ah.  Perhaps.  But can one be a visual learner if one has been blind from birth??
I would have thought that that would be pretty stunted - if not its inborn, genetic and unalterable. 

Interesitng question.....

OTOH if he was kinesthetic he would be totally in his element

he was good at  sport and I cannot remember for which one, I think it was running... with his lovely dog!

[skipper]

Is someone able to talk about different learning styles? Especially kinesthetic...

[elisedance]

Thats me!  according to online tests I'm 80% K!