Which comes first: dancing or technique?".

[Bordertangoman]

You can put the new topic in the light of, "Which comes first: dancing or technique?".  I used to think technique used to come first.  Little did I realize that dancing was the main point, and the technique will correct itself once the dancing is corrected. 

[elisedance]

You can put the new topic in the light of, "Which comes first: dancing or technique?".  I used to think technique used to come first.  Little did I realize that dancing was the main point, and the technique will correct itself once the dancing is corrected. 

hmmm.

[Spiral]

I would say dancing. Technique is important, but dancing is the reason technique was developed.

[elisedance]

I would say dancing. Technique is important, but dancing is the reason technique was developed.

Thats a great way to put it.    As you say, at its simplest form dance is just moving your body to a rhythm - internal or external.

But what about partnerdance.  Is it possible to move two bodies to a rhythm without some smattering of technique?  Here I mean the most rudimentary technique - which I'd define as a movement rule that is pre-agreed on.  I suppose the simplest partner dance is to walk forward side by side without even touching.  Technique?  Well one partner has to not move unless the other does or each partner must take one step to each rhythm....

I think the two are inseparable.  Any partnerdance (movement to a rhythm) requires some pre-arranged movement agreements - and those could be defined as technique...

[Spiral]

I would say dancing. Technique is important, but dancing is the reason technique was developed.

Thats a great way to put it.    As you say, at its simplest form dance is just moving your body to a rhythm - internal or external.

But what about partnerdance.  Is it possible to move two bodies to a rhythm without some smattering of technique?  Here I mean the most rudimentary technique - which I'd define as a movement rule that is pre-agreed on.  I suppose the simplest partner dance is to walk forward side by side without even touching.  Technique?  Well one partner has to not move unless the other does or each partner must take one step to each rhythm....

I think the two are inseparable.  Any partnerdance (movement to a rhythm) requires some pre-arranged movement agreements - and those could be defined as technique...

I understand what you are saying. It's hard for two people to move harmoniously, while in contact, without some conscious effort on at least one person. And that conscious effort can be called technique.

I think it depends on how you define dancing and technique. To me, dancing without technique is dancing without worrying too much about the mechanics of how the movement is achieved. Rather, it is doing what feels good and right within your body at that point in time. Dancing with technique is more conscious. It's about having a goal, eg. I want to do a faster cha cha basic, so I'll make my steps smaller.

Going back to the original topic. I think it's important to focus on technique while practicing but you need to remember that the main goal is to dance. Once you are on the competition floor, forget the technique and just dance your soul out

[Bordertangoman]

i reckon for some people they need the dance first..given many people are dance zombies they just need to wake up their bodies first and get into the music.

[skipper]

And how does one "wake the body up"??  Or perhaps how does body awareness happen??

Wouldn't both things fall under dancing and technique??

[elisedance]

i reckon for some people they need the dance first..given many people are dance zombies they just need to wake up their bodies first and get into the music.

I agree with Skipper - I'm not sure that 'waking up a body' is a 'just need'

[Spiral]

And how does one "wake the body up"??  Or perhaps how does body awareness happen??

[snip]

Turn up the volume on the stereo, turn off the lights, start dancing. No technique required

[elisedance]

And how does one "wake the body up"??  Or perhaps how does body awareness happen??

[snip]

Turn up the volume on the stereo, turn off the lights, start dancing. No technique required

Oh!  And all the time I was calling that something else ...

[Bordertangoman]

And how does one "wake the body up"??  Or perhaps how does body awareness happen??

Wouldn't both things fall under dancing and technique??

how does body awareness happen??

that is the sixty-four million dollar question..i'll get back to you on that..

[elisedance]

And how does one "wake the body up"??  Or perhaps how does body awareness happen??

Wouldn't both things fall under dancing and technique??

how does body awareness happen??

that is the sixty-four million dollar question..i'll get back to you on that..

and while you are at it, can you tell us how you got to the $64,000,000 fee?

[pruthe]

And how does one "wake the body up"??  Or perhaps how does body awareness happen??

Wouldn't both things fall under dancing and technique??

how does body awareness happen??

that is the sixty-four million dollar question..i'll get back to you on that..

and while you are at it, can you tell us how you got to the $64,000,000 fee?

Used to be $64,000 question with popular TV game show back when I was a kid. Guess inflation has kicked in since then, lol. 

[elisedance]

And how does one "wake the body up"??  Or perhaps how does body awareness happen??

Wouldn't both things fall under dancing and technique??

how does body awareness happen??

that is the sixty-four million dollar question..i'll get back to you on that..

and while you are at it, can you tell us how you got to the $64,000,000 fee?

Used to be $64,000 question with popular TV game show back when I was a kid. Guess inflation has kicked in since then, lol. 

maybe he'd settle for 64,000,000 PDO intenet hits instead - at least we might see that one day 

[Bordertangoman]

And how does one "wake the body up"??  Or perhaps how does body awareness happen??

Wouldn't both things fall under dancing and technique??

how does body awareness happen??

that is the sixty-four million dollar question..i'll get back to you on that..

and while you are at it, can you tell us how you got to the $64,000,000 fee?

Used to be $64,000 question with popular TV game show back when I was a kid. Guess inflation has kicked in since then, lol. 

its an American expression Shakesperae just said "Ay there's the Rub"

but that sounds rude these days