Very crowded floors

[cornutt]

I'm going to try to start some new topics in the social dancing area of PDO, which has been lagging a bit.  So here's one: coping with very crowded floors.  How does it impact your dancing?  Do you find there are things you can't do, or things you have to do, on a seriously crowded floor?  Do you enjoy dancing in a crowd, or do you prefer to wait and see if some of them will leave before you get out on the floor?

[QPO]

Lots of our comp friends use crowded floors to practice floor craft. they also use it to do basics very well....Have been on small comp floors with 8 couples so you have to learn to adjust.
It may not be the most enjoyable but it certainly tests your patience as as mentioned floorcraft

[elisedance]

I agree - its also a great place to practise ballance and smoothness since you are probably limited to starting steps.  I must admit that it can also be fun to try to negotiate the pack and find a little spot for an extra something - so you can add lead-follow to that.  Great for couples who spend too much time on routines...

[SwingWaltz]

When I go to socials with my DP, we never dance our routine. Most of the times we dance in relaxed hold too, other wise our frame would be too big for a crowded social floor. It's good to get our bodies in tune with one another.

It's fun interacting with the couple who's dancing beside you, even the little bumps can be fun! Also, when our friends from competition are there as well, we love to "pin" them to the corner. 

[cornutt]

I find that for waltz and foxtrot, there's a limit to how crowded a floor I can deal with.  If my brain is working particularly well on a given night, I can find my way through the nooks and crannies, but... it seems that I pick up bad habits from doing that.  Something about constantly having to change all of the angles.  So if the floor is very crowded, I have to drop back to American bronze style.  (Which has its merits, but it isn't the same.)  With other dances I can deal with it, although IMO, doing cha-cha or bolero or ECS when there's no room to move isn't very much fun.  

[Ginger]

We go to a place south of us once every so often to practice floor-craft and connection. The upside is that it's hella crowded but when they see "Ooooh, Them Bawlrewm Daincerz 're back, Paw!", a lot stop and watch... right in the LOD.

The downside is that it's not in a smoke-free building so by about nine-thirty, it's time to pack up and head to Wendy's for a frosty.

If it gets too crowded to do anything but sway, we just leave after "beating the zombies out of the graveyard", making a lap, and getting our fix.

[TangoDancer]

As Cornutt posted, this is what amer bronze is for. I even know of a comp that has what is called the "Social Ease" division, where they cordon off the floor smaller/smaller after each dance until all (latin/smooth, etc) are done. Fun.

[cornutt]

As Cornutt posted, this is what amer bronze is for. I even know of a comp that has what is called the "Social Ease" division, where they cordon off the floor smaller/smaller after each dance until all (latin/smooth, etc) are done. Fun.

I've done that!  Doing tango on a floor that's shorter than the normal length of one basic calls for a rather different set of skills.   

[TangoDancer]

Indeed.

[QPO]

 A crowded floor is great to learn to master for a comp...you need to be able to maneuver without upsetting your routine.

[Ginger]

Another solution is to just dance *muuuch* closer with your partner

[QPO]

yes that is an option but not on the comp floor ,big is better... and have to get used to that

[Lioness]

Another solution is to just dance *muuuch* closer with your partner

DP and I do that sometimes at socials...It works, but it's not good for working on frame.

[elisedance]

Another solution is to just dance *muuuch* closer with your partner

love it.  They should announce that when its crowed "Everyone, we have a crowd situation here, please glom onto your partner so that we can fit a another 30 people onto the 10'X10' floor...."

[Lioness]

Another solution is to just dance *muuuch* closer with your partner

love it.  They should announce that when its crowed "Everyone, we have a crowd situation here, please glom onto your partner so that we can fit a another 30 people onto the 10'X10' floor...."

Cue all of the lecherous men finding the prettiest partner, and all of the women 'Uhh..sorry...I really need to go to the toilet...'