Foxtrot - advanced

[Some guy]

Thanks DSV!  This thread has really helped me solidify my position.

[Dora-Satya Veda]

We then tried FT again - it was nothing short of a total revelation and change.  I suddenly got it.  The man leads through the base of my spine; my legs joints operate totally loosely - and the there was absolutely no effort, just delicious motion accross the floor being free while being led.

Its most astonishing that every lesson I feel as if I am a totally different dancer.  Things that I used to worry about - steps, maintaining contact, frame etc etc - they are still there but they are also so trivial to the fusion of two people dancing together...

Ah, you developed dangling legs ......Can’t wait to hear when you report you have no legs....

Dancing is truly amazing when you start focusing on your own jobs and not your partnes jobs.

[Dora-Satya Veda]

Thanks DSV!  This thread has really helped me solidify my position.

You are very welcome SG. Glad to have been able to help.

[elisedance]

Congratulations!  That's great news!!!  You got it MUCH faster than I did!!!

Perhaps, but I cheated - I dance with a guy who understands   I can't say this enough, I just died and went to heaven.  We have no debates about L or R brain thinking - all I had to do was tell him that I learn by doing and I dance in the moment - and that was it.  We have routines but if either of us is going to forget it its him - cause I don't know if from the outset    Its early days (we've only done the routine once) but I think I am even going to follow QS, something I swore I would never be able to do. 

[cornutt]

I tried some of this in my lesson tonight, but we were working on some other issues (swing and sway) and I found that thinking about this was getting in the way.  I'll try again in a later lesson.

[Dora-Satya Veda]

Perhaps, but I cheated - I dance with a guy who understands   I can't say this enough, I just died and went to heaven.  We have no debates about L or R brain thinking - all I had to do was tell him that I learn by doing and I dance in the moment - and that was it.  We have routines but if either of us is going to forget it its him - cause I don't know if from the outset    Its early days (we've only done the routine once) but I think I am even going to follow QS, something I swore I would never be able to do. 

Whether you feel you cheated or not, you got it. Many people don’t get it even after “cheating”. I must say, I also felt like I had died and gone to heaven.
My partner was totally RB and my dance “parents” taught me totally RB. I actually didn’t even know, when I was competing, that there was another way of learning or doing. It was not until I retired that I found out there was factual information and a systematic way of understanding the information.
We also had routines but we never danced routines other then in shows. My partner got so into the moment and the music that the steps would change to fit whatever he felt at that very moment.
I don’t think you should worry Elise, I am sure you are going to be able to respond to his information in QS as well. Be careful with the word “never” as you are soon going to be doing things that is way beyond what you can imagine as of now. Be open and ready to make know the unknown.

Dora-Satya Veda

[TangoDancer]

The int'l slow fox (silver american when danced well) is every serious dancer's favorite dance.

....in an everyday fight with argentine tango.......... 

[mayoz]

In 2008 blakpool congress,Jonathan Crossley said something about compression and shape.is it the same principles? because
you accumulate the potential energy and use it next,slow it down and stretch it out. please correct me if I'm wrong!
« Reply #42 on: May 07, 2009, 10:40:22 PM »

[TangoDancer]

Both exist; seperate from one another, yet feeding each other.

[mayoz]

Both exist; seperate from one another, yet feeding each other.

Thank you TD,Elisedance,DSV and eyery one there. I'm geting many ,many valuable information here and learning a lot!

[elisedance]

terrific mayoz - and don't be afraid to share your experiences, its the best way to learn....

[mayoz]

I'm getting a lot of contradictions of my previous method of late!  Dancing with pro is focused on maintaining your own balance at all times - very little mutual balance (which is what I am used to). 

So with that intro - I think it critical that during the feint your centre stays where it is - the forward motion you get by bending the knees is countered by a slight backward motion of your body - think of a limbo dancer (hey, thats a great analogy and I just made it up!).  I wish I knew what the lead was doing at that time but have not found out yet - all I know is that without it he's not a happy camper..

I used the analogy of limbo dancing just last week with three of my students. You are basically lowering vertical and the falling across the floor vertically. My “mother” use to say “you don’t go down to move, you movement takes you down”. My “father” use to say “You should never bend your knees, but when you have a fallen across the floor letting your legs divide, you will appear as if, you have bent the legs. It is an illusion that very few understand and therefore many cause great stress on their knees.” 

You should learn to fall and become fearless of falling to dance this way. I will have to show you ones we meet. I can show you with all my students, they all know how to fall.

Dora-Satya Veda

Black pool congress 2008 , Jonathan Crossley demo how to do "slow" of Foxtrot, Because of "slow" is spelled s, l, o, w , he used the idea when he demo with his partner, with feet together, he started to "bend" his knees and said "s",then step out  said "L", weight on the foot with "O", feet togrther again on "W". The qusestion is "was he bending hes knees or because of slow or divided motion.

[elisedance]

I used the analogy of limbo dancing just last week with three of my students. You are basically lowering vertical and the falling across the floor vertically. My “mother” use to say “you don’t go down to move, you movement takes you down”. My “father” use to say “You should never bend your knees, but when you have a fallen across the floor letting your legs divide, you will appear as if, you have bent the legs. It is an illusion that very few understand and therefore many cause great stress on their knees.” 

You should learn to fall and become fearless of falling to dance this way. I will have to show you ones we meet. I can show you with all my students, they all know how to fall.

Dora-Satya Veda

I just happened on this again what, 8 months later and I think I really understand much better now.  Recently I have been amusing myself by looking at youtube videos and trying to see if the couple is lowering to move or move to lower.  Its much more obvious in some dances than others - and I think the foxttrot is the most extreme becaues of its slow action and relatively small amount of rise and fall.  Lateral falling is exactly what it is - DP and I no longer think of lowering at all  - all the lowering you need will occur as a result of the fall and step.  Its so counter to almost all of the teaching I have had and yet so logical once you get it. 

I remember a great topic on DF called looking at the ceiling where dancepro replied that she actually remembers looking at the floor more - and the suprise it generated.  I think this is its equal and more - I spend more time rising now than lowering...

[Dora-Satya Veda]

I just happened on this again what, 8 months later and I think I really understand much better now.  Recently I have been amusing myself by looking at youtube videos and trying to see if the couple is lowering to move or move to lower.  Its much more obvious in some dances than others - and I think the foxttrot is the most extreme becaues of its slow action and relatively small amount of rise and fall.  Lateral falling is exactly what it is - DP and I no longer think of lowering at all  - all the lowering you need will occur as a result of the fall and step.  Its so counter to almost all of the teaching I have had and yet so logical once you get it. 

I remember a great topic on DF called looking at the ceiling where dancepro replied that she actually remembers looking at the floor more - and the suprise it generated.  I think this is its equal and more - I spend more time rising now than lowering...

Yeaaahhhhh hallelujah, her eyes are uncovered *looking to the sky*. Well done Elise.  You are actually seeing what some couples take decades to learn (let alone lots of money). You are beginning to sound like the great Body and Square dancers of this world. Now all you have to do is get it in the body and get consistent. I am sure you will see great results in the near future with that approach. You have done so well, keep up the good work.

DSV

[TangoDancer]

I used the analogy of limbo dancing just last week with three of my students. You are basically lowering vertical and the falling across the floor vertically. My “mother” use to say “you don’t go down to move, you movement takes you down”. My “father” use to say “You should never bend your knees, but when you have a fallen across the floor letting your legs divide, you will appear as if, you have bent the legs. It is an illusion that very few understand and therefore many cause great stress on their knees.” Dora-Satya Veda

- DP and I no longer think of lowering at all  - all the lowering you need will occur as a result of the fall and step.  Its so counter to almost all of the teaching I have had and yet so logical once you get it.

Had a similar conversation just last night re this same thing as it applies to tango. The class was shocked that tango is not meant to be danced around in a Groucho Marx croutching - squatty thing.