Ballroom dancing has always progressed from one stage to another and new classifications. Some of the young are always, even today, suggesting more stress on sweat than elegance. We can and should accept the different viewpoints. The steps matter but they are not essential. And dancing fads come and go, just part of our dance culture. However, the basic movements, the basic steps remain and there are so many we can devote a lifetime to perfecting them.
Then we have our own dialect which is a form of a language which is peculiar to our own social group - dancing. However this mostly applies to the disciplines of the American and International styles of dance. I introduce a small part, and some of which may becoming obsolete in this century,
Competition Syndrome: The perfectly normal desire of all dancers to learn and excel in the dance. This may be hidden in some cultures, but it definitely exists everywhere. In our partner dancing it is closely allied with the Exhibition Syndrome and could be minimized on the social dance floor.
Contrary Body Movement: The position of the body when either foot is placed across the front or the back of the body without the body turning. May be known as the Contra Body Movement in Hawaii.
Count: The use of numbers applied to dance movements to facilitate the learning process. It should be eliminated as soon as possible when the movements have been learned. Then you go strictly by the music, Whee!
Counterpart: The lady's movements when they are the mirror image of the man's.
Counter Promenade: The opposite of the Promenade - the man goes to his right. His left hip and the lady's right hip are in close proximity and the opposite side of their bodies are opened to form a compact "V".
Cuddle Position: Also known as skating position or Varsovienne. The lady is on the man's left or right, both facing the same direction. The man's right hand holds the lady's left. The man's left hand holds the lady's right.
"Social dancers don’t use a dance opportunity to “teach” their partner dance steps….
especially if their partner hasn’t asked for any help."
Then we have our own dialect which is a form of a language which is peculiar to our own social group - dancing. However this mostly applies to the disciplines of the American and International styles of dance. I introduce a small part, and some of which may becoming obsolete in this century,
Competition Syndrome: The perfectly normal desire of all dancers to learn and excel in the dance. This may be hidden in some cultures, but it definitely exists everywhere. In our partner dancing it is closely allied with the Exhibition Syndrome and could be minimized on the social dance floor.
Contrary Body Movement: The position of the body when either foot is placed across the front or the back of the body without the body turning. May be known as the Contra Body Movement in Hawaii.
Count: The use of numbers applied to dance movements to facilitate the learning process. It should be eliminated as soon as possible when the movements have been learned. Then you go strictly by the music, Whee!
Counterpart: The lady's movements when they are the mirror image of the man's.
Counter Promenade: The opposite of the Promenade - the man goes to his right. His left hip and the lady's right hip are in close proximity and the opposite side of their bodies are opened to form a compact "V".
Cuddle Position: Also known as skating position or Varsovienne. The lady is on the man's left or right, both facing the same direction. The man's right hand holds the lady's left. The man's left hand holds the lady's right.
"Social dancers know there are two ways to face the future. One way
is with apprehension; the other is with anticipation."
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