Musings ::: 06.06.09

Dancing Deconstructed

This is for everyone (guy or girl) who is too shy to go out on the dance floor because "they don't know how to dance."

Disclaimers Galore: I make no claim to be a "good" dancer. Or even a "mediocre" dancer. Therefore, I won't even presume to teach people how to dance through this musing. However, I _do_ like dancing, and I also tend to think about it far too systematically. Thanks to the magic of the internetz, I can just build a conceptual toolbox and leave the actual instruction to people who are much better dancers than I.

A quick note: Dancing is about expressing yourself and having fun. It is not primarily about "impressing people / looking hot on the dance floor." While this musing should hopefully give you some ideas about how to do so, if you're only dancing to impress, wouldn't your time be better spent trying to impress people doing something you enjoy?

**updated 06.09.09** "But Harold," you ask, "freestyling is cool and all, but I want to look sexy on the dance floor." Personally, I find freestyling to be super fly, but if you want to look stereotypically hot, just find someone whose moves you like and watch. If you've figured out the building blocks below, you'll be able to take what you see and make it your own.

  1. Proto-basics - Things you can practice before you leave the safety of the wall.
    1. Listen - to the music
    2. Rhythm - learn to catch/count the beat. If you have touble hearing it, download Audacity and you'll be able to see each beat in the waveform as well.
    3. Clap / nod / snap to the beat
    4. Step to the beat - step (or step-touch), not sway. (you want to avoid the "tree in the wind" look)

  2. Basics - Time to get off the wall!
    1. Mindset: Remember to have fun! You're dancing for yourself, not for others.
    2. Mindset: If someone doesn't know you, who cares if they think you dance funny?
    3. Mindset: If someone knows you, would they care if you dance funny?
    4. Mindset: Don't rely on alcohol as a substitute for courage.
    5. Arms: Should not be plastered to your sides. Basic shoulder twists.
    6. Rhythm: Vary your movements between half-time, regular time, and double-time. (twice as slow, regular, and twice as fast.)
    7. Style: Look up and around. Don't stare at your own feet the entire time. Smile

  3. Building Blocks
    1. Body: Isolations - For body control and awareness - hips, chest, neck
    2. Body: Waves - Arm and Body
    3. Body: Hitting - how to add a little more "pop / punctuation" to your motion.
    4. Legs: Footwork - Ideas, , Glides, airwalks,
    5. Rhythm: Vary pace, tempo, smoothness, musicality - BeatRockers Podcast
    6. Practical: Mirrors are your friend. What you think your body is doing and what your body is actually doing don't always match up.
    7. Practical: Practice, practice, practice. Knowing how to wave and actually being able to make your muscles do it are two entirely different things.
    8. Style: Look around you and incorporate things you like into your own dancing. Eventually you'll develop your own style.
    9. Mindset: Dance confident, dance fun. If you're timid or bored, it will show in your dancing,
    10. Mindset: Experiment. Develop your own style!

  4. Concepts - The BeatRockers podcast is good for this.
    1. Style: Move with purpose: Movements can be hard or soft, but they should be definitive.
    2. Style: Don't be afraid of big movements. Small motions often look timid and indecisive.
    3. Style: Think about what shape your body is making. Does it have lines? Curves? Or is it nondescript?
    4. Style: What is the music doing? What is your body doing? Do they match?
    5. Practical: Cramped spaces feel "safe", but they also cramp your style.

  5. Styles - definitely not a comprehensive list, but some sources of inspiration. Videos are a great way to learn.
    1. krump
    2. house
    3. breaking
    4. liquid / rave
    5. popping / freestyle
    6. locking
    7. Cultural and folk dances: African tribal, Bhangra, Polynesian, Chinese traditional, Martial arts, Native American, Tap, Irish step, Ballroom and Latin dances, Swing, etc.
    8. A note on grinding: Grinding away with a member of the opposite sex may do wonders for your ego, but it doesn't do much to make you a better dancer.

  6. Etiquette
    1. Look out for your friends, particularly if they're about to be accosted from behind.
    2. Do not accost others from behind. Make eye contact (and make sure it's returned!) before dancing with another person.
    3. If you're dancing with someone, dance at a distance that s/he (and you) is comfortable with. Grinders, don't force yourself on people.
    4. *note*: Dancing with someone at a PG-13 distance requires a lot more skill than R-rated dancing, since you need to "connect" with your partner without an actual physical connection.
    5. Incidental contact happens. You don't need to apologize for every little bump, but it is appreciated if you step on someone's foot.
  7. One last reminder. Smile and have fun! If you're having fun, those around you will have more fun. Energy feeds off of energy.

~Hermit
06.06.09

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