Rituals: Starting your dance session...

[elisedance]

How do you start your dance session?  BTM mentioned this on another topic and I've noticed that everyone has a way to get going.

I start by gently dancing backwards by myself, always with a waltz rhythm.  That loosens me up.  Then I do a few stretches, and leg bends - actually a lot of the latter almost as if I have to pump up my muscles.  Then I go back to dancing backwards by myself but this time more and more vigorously and with a LOT of heel turns.  I have a sequence that lets me do left and then right heel turns.  Pretty soon I'm lost in dancing with my amazing imaginary partner.  And soon enough I run into DP, curtsy and we start our joint session - which I'll describe anon....

[Bordertangoman]

 you didnt kill a chicken first?  shame on you..

[elisedance]

you didnt kill a chicken first?  shame on you..

well, curiously often I do - at least indirectly by my pre-practice chicken on a garden salad...

[QPO]

our first warm-up to dancing is always on our own. I do chasses and turns  around the floor and also do some backward walking. I then stretch the leg muscles bending from side to sides, taking my arm over my head and the other one down my leg. It is a ballet move not sure what it is called. then I try to do our routine on my own... it is good for balance to work by yourself. sometimes we spend longer on our own but generally  10-20 minutes tops.

[SwingWaltz]

Um by giving my partner a kiss on the cheek?

[Bordertangoman]

Um by giving my partner a kiss on the cheek?

  not unless its a SO

[dancinginthemoonlight]

When practicing by myself I usually start with some rumba walks for a couple of songs (I usually keep track of time by the number of songs I do as opposed to the amount of minutes I do something lol). Then I go through a basic routine focusing on different aspects individually (feet, knees, hips, etc.) sometimes without music and sometimes with music. Then I go through our actual routine with and without music. When I'm happy with that I move onto cha cha, then samba and then jive. Though sometimes, depending on the amount of time I have or the mood I'm in, I only get through a couple of dances at a time.

When I'm with my partner, we usually start by doing something basic without music in whichever dance we feel needs the most work first. Then we go through our routine without music and then with music. And then onto the next dance! When we dance together it is typically less structured than when I dance by myself because we each find different things that we want to work on.

[elisedance]

Um by giving my partner a kiss on the cheek?

  not unless its a SO

Why not??  I treasure each cheek-kiss I get...

[SwingWaltz]

Ok...seriously, we always start our practise with foxtrot. Just the basic bronze syllabus figures both in relaxed hold and in frame. It really gives everything a work out from head to toe.

[elisedance]

We always start with the 'basic 16' in waltz - at least twice round the floor.  For the same reason it works out everything and most important gets you in ballance. 

[QPO]

the only ritual that we stick to now with the warm-up is dancing on our own, we never start working together until we have done our warm-up routines. which I have mentioned before.

[elisedance]

the only ritual that we stick to now with the warm-up is dancing on our own, we never start working together until we have done our warm-up routines. which I have mentioned before.

No coffee first or candy bar

[QPO]

the only ritual that we stick to now with the warm-up is dancing on our own, we never start working together until we have done our warm-up routines. which I have mentioned before.

No coffee first or candy bar

No definitely not that is saved for after!

[elisedance]

the only ritual that we stick to now with the warm-up is dancing on our own, we never start working together until we have done our warm-up routines. which I have mentioned before.

No coffee first or candy bar

No definitely not that is saved for after!

OK, going to the washroom then?