"Energy" Versus "Physical"

[Some guy]

They learned from Walter Laird, so I would say, "yes". 

[mayoz]

Thank you Some guy!

[QPO]

you know he a wealth of information!

[samina]

So, am wondering if I can get some people's eyes and opinions...would love to hear what others "see" in this vid (especially SG ) as far as Energy vs. Physical.

This vid of Bryan & Carmen was recently posted on another forum as an example of how Bryan's dancing kicks Slavik's & co's butt. But when I look at it, he seems heavy & labored in his movement, and he falls out of line or appears sloppy to me, as if he's not managing his balance or his weight well.

It seems like this could be an example of Energy vs. Physical. Or perhaps it's just a learning opportunity for me...

What do you see?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnUZu8oiXUs

[Some guy]

So, am wondering if I can get some people's eyes and opinions...would love to hear what others "see" in this vid (especially SG ) as far as Energy vs. Physical.

This vid of Bryan & Carmen was recently posted on another forum as an example of how Bryan's dancing kicks Slavik's & co's butt. But when I look at it, he seems heavy & labored in his movement, and he falls out of line or appears sloppy to me, as if he's not managing his balance or his weight well.

It seems like this could be an example of Energy vs. Physical. Or perhaps it's just a learning opportunity for me...

What do you see?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnUZu8oiXUs

I see only energy, no physical.  Slavik makes ballroom look like ballet, it's pretty to watch, no doubt.  I know a pro standard dancer who, by himself, or when he takes hold with his partner, looks better than any finalist there ever was.  However, he can only pose from beat to beat, he can't dance.  Ballroom dancing is about the couple, the connection between the partnership, and the energy you can produce together.  It doesn't necessarily mean "eye contact", it's the use of the common center, progressive centering, as well as directed energy. Slavik is probably the best looking dancer there ever was, but he's not the best partner dancer there ever was and his use of common center and progressive centering is nowhere near as good as Bryan's.  Does Bryan look as pretty in isolation?  My opinion is that he does not.  However, ballroom dancing to music and posing to each beat of the music are two very different things.  I'm not saying that Slavik only poses, I'm just saying that Bryan is better at the "dancing" aspect of it, and that's what got him to the top 9 times.  Would love to hear DRJ's opinion on this too, since Samina, DRJ, and I frequently see things very differently, or very similarly.  

[samina]

Cool, thank you, SG...I very much appreciate your input!

I remember my primary instructor saying that when he was younger he admired Slavik, but as he matured as a dancer it was Bryan who he admired most of all (in Latin, anyway).

I think I will spend some time watching Bryan's videos to acclimate my eyes to his energy and see what there is to see. There's always so much to watch for when making a study of such things...the partnering, as you've highlighted, as well as their feet, their connection, the exchange of masculine and feminine energies...and I'll be watching for more discernment regarding energy vs. physical.

Thanks again...

[drj]

I see only energy, no physical.  <snip>  Would love to hear DRJ's opinion on this too, since Samina, DRJ, and I frequently see things very differently, or very similarly.  

you rang?

Yup, differently again. Sorry, Sami, but as much as I love you, I can take or leave Slavik, but I can't take my eyes off Brian. All energy, perhaps, versus all planning/care/technique. I am not well versed in Latin technique, nor can I point to a place in the vid and say, "Here! Brian was off balance/sloppy/labored here!" nor can I say "here! Slavik was using the common center here!" But I can't take my eyes off Brian, and there is that in him that reaches out to me and gathers me in; Slavik repels. And no, that's not too strong a word. My eyes bounce away from him, when I'm watching his videos. In person may be different; I dunno.

[Some guy]

Cool, thank you, SG...I very much appreciate your input!

You asked!  I respond!... just like ballroom dancing! 

I remember my primary instructor saying that when he was younger he admired Slavik, but as he matured as a dancer it was Bryan who he admired most of all (in Latin, anyway).

Same for me.  I used to admire Slavik and a bunch of others.  I always liked Bryan but Slavik was the epitome to me.  Then things changed radically.

[drj]

gods walking the earth. so much energy on that floor, I'm surprised the lights didn't explode from the overload. but you can't tell me it's not also physical as all getout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AxQ4uycD8E&feature=fvwrel

perhaps I'm the only person in this community who never encountered this video before now. lucky me; I got to see it for the first time now! I think I'll watch it about a thousand more times, just to keep the contact high.

[Some guy]

gods walking the earth. so much energy on that floor, I'm surprised the lights didn't explode from the overload. but you can't tell me it's not also physical as all getout.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AxQ4uycD8E&feature=fvwrel

perhaps I'm the only person in this community who never encountered this video before now.

You haven't seen it before?!  Oh wow!  You sure were missing out!

It is physical, but it's different when the duality of mind and body is removed.  When you reach for a glass of water, you have one thought on your mind: to grab the glass of water.  We operate in "energy"  most of our lives.  Driving a car: we only think we need to go faster and our accelerator foot automatically gives us the desired speed.  We only think we need to brake and our body takes care of the rest.  What is meant by "physical" to me, as in the physical schools of thought, is when the thought exists, but then the brain starts to think about all the actions and muscles required to carry out the thought.  If you ask a physical dancer how to do a Rumba walk, they will explain it in avid detail.  However, if you ask them how they got out of bed, they will usually say, "I have no idea" because they never once stopped to analyze how they did that.  When leading a lady, in the energy schools, there's one thought: make the lady do a throwaway oversway.  In the physical schools, there is the idea of the throwaway oversway, then the brain shifts to thinking about all the actions required to produce that throwaway oversway.  Hence the reason it's not uncommon for Body School dancers, the first time around, to respond "I have no idea", when you ask them exactly how they did something they just did whether it's on the dance floor or off.     

[drj]

You haven't seen it before?!  Oh wow!  You sure were missing out!

It is physical, but it's different when the duality of mind and body is removed.  <snip> What is meant by "physical" to me, as in the physical schools of thought, is when the thought exists, but then the brain starts to think about all the actions and muscles required to carry out the thought.      

I understand that.  I see Thinking going on here, if I look closely. It's unusual for me to see that in Pino, in particular, imho. But I do see it. It seems like an overlay over the energy.

YMMV, obviously.

I think I'll go watch it again.

[Dora-Satya Veda]

It is physical, but it's different when the duality of mind and body is removed.  When you reach for a glass of water, you have one thought on your mind: to grab the glass of water.  We operate in "energy"  most of our lives.  Driving a car: we only think we need to go faster and our accelerator foot automatically gives us the desired speed.  We only think we need to brake and our body takes care of the rest.  What is meant by "physical" to me, as in the physical schools of thought, is when the thought exists, but then the brain starts to think about all the actions and muscles required to carry out the thought.  If you ask a physical dancer how to do a Rumba walk, they will explain it in avid detail.  However, if you ask them how they got out of bed, they will usually say, "I have no idea" because they never once stopped to analyze how they did that.  When leading a lady, in the energy schools, there's one thought: make the lady do a throwaway oversway.  In the physical schools, there is the idea of the throwaway oversway, then the brain shifts to thinking about all the actions required to produce that throwaway oversway.  Hence the reason it's not uncommon for Body School dancers, the first time around, to respond "I have no idea", when you ask them exactly how they did something they just did whether it's on the dance floor or off.      

In the Body School of Thought there is physical action just as there is in the Physical Schools. In the Body School of Thought as SG says it, there is no thought of what the muscle does to perform the task. The end result/task is the main focus and the body just does what it has to do to get the job done with minimum effort. The Physicals Schools work hard to get the job done and they think of every action needed to get the job done. To move the body does take physical effort. I don’t think that can be disputed. It is more about how much does the body do to get the job done or is it working super efficient and getting the job done with very little effort.

DSV

[QPO]

I understand this. ....I feel our dancing is moving to this level. Especially in our Waltz and Foxtrot...the others are not free flowing yet but if e can do it with both W & F I am sure we can do the same, it is trusting in yourself and the knowledge you have gained from your lessons.