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Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Dancespeak

On Oahu, we will change the Dance Speak to suit ourselves. You name it. I am glad some people are beginning to realize that some of the terms presented here have been there for some time in their dance experience. They have had to agree more or less with the meaning, but "social dance" is changing and some terms will become obsolete. Some of it may be expanded by anyone easily for more clarity. You may even write it up and share it with our fellow dancers.

"Social dancers do not worry much on what they want
from their dancing, they just dance."


Arm Waving; used mainly in competition and exhibition dancing. "Hey, look at me." Also used in countries where they are unable to achieve the Cuban motion adequately. Used extensively in the Orient where they are more accustomed to the use of the arms and hands more than the feet. In Hula, just beautiful. In Social dancing we keep it down to a minimum.

Ball: Several definitions, the front part of the foot. Also another word for fun. 'Having a ball." And from the Latin, Ballere, meaning to dance and presently meaning a formal dinner and party which may be attended by non-dancers.

Band: A group of musicians joined together for the purpose of producing music such as a Dance Band or a small orchestra.

Basics: Very important part of the "Dance." In classes, the beginners are looking enviously at the intermediates. The intermediates are looking enviously at the advance students. The advance students really are beginning to know what dancing is all about. Now they want to go back to learning the basics right. If you can dance basics good and you can dance to anything.



Beat: The essential cadence of marking time for dancing throughout the tune and continues with equal duration and force. Listening music may vary.

BPM: Beats per minute. 24 BPM in a Fox Trot is six measures. In a Waltz it is eight measures and in any two count it is twelve measures.

Big Band: The name applied to the large dance orchestras up to the 50s. Danced in the Big Ballrooms some holding thousands of dancers.

Body Lead: This refers mainly to the signals that are given to a lady through the body movement of the man. He learns to use his shoulders, upper body and head. Takes some time for the men to learn and the ladies are pure geniuses in following.

"An unexamined life is not worth living." – Socrates


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