On the eve of becoming Bronze II Students
Apr. 29th, 2009 12:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hkellickThis is going to be one of those nobody may actually care what I post here, but I'm doing it for me sort of posts.
I found an Arthur Murray website which seems to have copied information I wish I'd copied when we first moved to Bronze I. Information such as.. what we'll learn as a whole in Bronze I and what specific moves we'll learn in each of the dances we'll learn.
With the fact that we're checking out tonight, and starting Bronze II soon, I both wanted to see what specifically we can expect, as well as.. well, what we've learned already.
Amazingly, in part because of Freestyles and in part because of just going to these Thursday Bronze I and II classes I go to (with or without K), I've been exposed to quite a bit of this.
So... for me...
Things we should have learned, in general, in Bronze I... (with commentary)
Bronze 1
1. Patterns (definition: The steps in each dance) - Yep. I'd say we've learned this. As of right now, I DEFINITELY know the basics of Foxtrot, Swing, Waltz, Hustle, Cha-Cha, Rumba and Tango and can do OK at the basics of Merengue, Samba and Salsa/Mambo
2. Lead/Follow (definition: Communication of directional movement and sensitivity to leads) - I've come a LONG way with Lead and Follow. When I first started I was a bit meek, but I've come a long way. I think this is as much a combination of learning to trust that your follow WILL follow and you won't step on her as.. getting comfortable with the dance and yourself dancing. Neither is inconsequential and I'm certain it took, for me, going out and dancing on my own Thursdays to help, especially with the comfort.. but once you've got that, you can lead.
3. Timing (definition: Dancing to the beat of the music) - Maybe I had a natural advantage here. As K points out, a lot of guys, even in Bronze I are... Timing challenged. But after years of DDR (as well as my modest musical background), picking beats out and following them is not that hard for me.
4. Six Directional Movements (definition: Forward, backward, to each side and turning right and left) - Yep. I've learned this. Also not necessarily as easy as you'd think, but with lots of experience and comfort, you got this.
5. Dance Positions (deffinition: Closed, promenade, open, parallel, side-by-side shine, etc.) - Well, I haven't come across all of these, but.. with exposure comes understanding. All promenade positions have your feet and your nose pointing in a sideways direction. All closed positions have you.. either in a frame or at least holding both hands. All open positions start out of frame or, at least so far, holding one hand (if any).
6. Posture (definition: Maintaining proper body position while moving ) - Still working on this one, honestly, but I've come a LONG way since I first started working on this. It's probably something I'm always going to be at least a little mindful of, because as a tall guy, I'm used to feeling like I have to shlump over to be closer to eye level with people.
7. Foot Position (definition: Position of one foot in relation to the other foot) - I haven't memorized these or anything, but I know enough to know the positions for the dances I do.
8. Footwork (definition: How you use your feet - inside edge, heel, ball, toe, etc.) - Yep. Once again experience. Tango uses the inside edge to close. Waltz and Foxtrot you move forward using a heel lead and move back using a toe follow.
9. Amalgamations (definition: Grouping patterns together) - Kind of obvious, because let's be honest, you probably aren't going to do one move, stop dancing and then start again and do another move, but important nonetheless. Part of a lead's job is to begin to visualize groups of pattens that work together and put them into action. We've done some work with this, and the more we know, the more work we'll do.
10. Balance (definition: Control of weight placement through good posture) - Working on this one too. We both still have the occasional balance issues, but.. we're getting better.
Things we will learn (just putting it out there, no comments yet. When I check out of Bronze Ii, maybe...)
Bronze II
1. Cuban Motion (definition: The leg and body action used in Latin dances)
2. Rise & Fall (definition: Raising and lowering the body through the use of legs and feet)
3. Maneuverability (definition: The ability to change directions comfortably and smoothly)
4. Control (definition: Maximum amount of movement with ease)
5. Tempos (definition: Adjusting to the speed of the music - slow, medium, or fast)
6. Rhythm (definition: Interpretation of the feeling of the music)
Now, going dance by dance. I'll mention each dance, the basic moves and any listed variations with a quick note on whether I know it or not...
Cha-Cha
Bronze I - teaches how to move to faster rhythms on smaller dance floors
Foxtrot
Bronze I - teaches how to move smoothly and rhythmically
Bronze I - introduces the basic tap timing that the man will continue to use on advanced patterns
Bronze I - teaches the compact foot positions necessary for dancing in nightclub situations or on crowded floors
Bronze I - introduces the use of tight, compact steps to help create rhythmical movement
Bronze I - develops the skill of leading or following through the movement of the body. These skills can then be applied to all dances.
Bronze I - develops the most basic element in good social dancing: knowing which foot to use on each step for proper weight changes
End of Post
I found an Arthur Murray website which seems to have copied information I wish I'd copied when we first moved to Bronze I. Information such as.. what we'll learn as a whole in Bronze I and what specific moves we'll learn in each of the dances we'll learn.
With the fact that we're checking out tonight, and starting Bronze II soon, I both wanted to see what specifically we can expect, as well as.. well, what we've learned already.
Amazingly, in part because of Freestyles and in part because of just going to these Thursday Bronze I and II classes I go to (with or without K), I've been exposed to quite a bit of this.
So... for me...
Things we should have learned, in general, in Bronze I... (with commentary)
Bronze 1
1. Patterns (definition: The steps in each dance) - Yep. I'd say we've learned this. As of right now, I DEFINITELY know the basics of Foxtrot, Swing, Waltz, Hustle, Cha-Cha, Rumba and Tango and can do OK at the basics of Merengue, Samba and Salsa/Mambo
2. Lead/Follow (definition: Communication of directional movement and sensitivity to leads) - I've come a LONG way with Lead and Follow. When I first started I was a bit meek, but I've come a long way. I think this is as much a combination of learning to trust that your follow WILL follow and you won't step on her as.. getting comfortable with the dance and yourself dancing. Neither is inconsequential and I'm certain it took, for me, going out and dancing on my own Thursdays to help, especially with the comfort.. but once you've got that, you can lead.
3. Timing (definition: Dancing to the beat of the music) - Maybe I had a natural advantage here. As K points out, a lot of guys, even in Bronze I are... Timing challenged. But after years of DDR (as well as my modest musical background), picking beats out and following them is not that hard for me.
4. Six Directional Movements (definition: Forward, backward, to each side and turning right and left) - Yep. I've learned this. Also not necessarily as easy as you'd think, but with lots of experience and comfort, you got this.
5. Dance Positions (deffinition: Closed, promenade, open, parallel, side-by-side shine, etc.) - Well, I haven't come across all of these, but.. with exposure comes understanding. All promenade positions have your feet and your nose pointing in a sideways direction. All closed positions have you.. either in a frame or at least holding both hands. All open positions start out of frame or, at least so far, holding one hand (if any).
6. Posture (definition: Maintaining proper body position while moving ) - Still working on this one, honestly, but I've come a LONG way since I first started working on this. It's probably something I'm always going to be at least a little mindful of, because as a tall guy, I'm used to feeling like I have to shlump over to be closer to eye level with people.
7. Foot Position (definition: Position of one foot in relation to the other foot) - I haven't memorized these or anything, but I know enough to know the positions for the dances I do.
8. Footwork (definition: How you use your feet - inside edge, heel, ball, toe, etc.) - Yep. Once again experience. Tango uses the inside edge to close. Waltz and Foxtrot you move forward using a heel lead and move back using a toe follow.
9. Amalgamations (definition: Grouping patterns together) - Kind of obvious, because let's be honest, you probably aren't going to do one move, stop dancing and then start again and do another move, but important nonetheless. Part of a lead's job is to begin to visualize groups of pattens that work together and put them into action. We've done some work with this, and the more we know, the more work we'll do.
10. Balance (definition: Control of weight placement through good posture) - Working on this one too. We both still have the occasional balance issues, but.. we're getting better.
Things we will learn (just putting it out there, no comments yet. When I check out of Bronze Ii, maybe...)
Bronze II
1. Cuban Motion (definition: The leg and body action used in Latin dances)
2. Rise & Fall (definition: Raising and lowering the body through the use of legs and feet)
3. Maneuverability (definition: The ability to change directions comfortably and smoothly)
4. Control (definition: Maximum amount of movement with ease)
5. Tempos (definition: Adjusting to the speed of the music - slow, medium, or fast)
6. Rhythm (definition: Interpretation of the feeling of the music)
Now, going dance by dance. I'll mention each dance, the basic moves and any listed variations with a quick note on whether I know it or not...
Cha-Cha
Bronze I - teaches how to move to faster rhythms on smaller dance floors
- Cha Cha Basic - Know
- Progressive Basic - If this is what I think it is, going forward and back, instead of left and right, KNOW it
- Cross Body Lead - MIGHT Know
- Crossover Break and Walk Around Turn - Know
- Continuous Crossovers
- Cross Over Double Rock
- Parallel and Crossover
- Open Break and Underarm Turn - Know
- Separation Break and Underarm Pass
- Peek-A-Boo
- Sweetheart
- Traveling Sweetheart
- Sweetheart Spins
- Chase - Saw once in class, could probably redo
- Change Step
- Mambo Points
- Flick
Foxtrot
Bronze I - teaches how to move smoothly and rhythmically
- Magic Step Forward - Know - For the record, Magic refers to a specific Foxtrot Timing...
- Swing Step
- Left Box Turn - Know
- Forward Change Steps - Know
- Magic Left Turn - Know
- Left Rock Ending
- Magic Right Turn - Know
- Right Rock Ending
- Promenade Walk - Know
- Promenade Outside Underarm Turn - Know
- Promenade Check - Know
- Junior Walk - Know and needed to do for Freestyles
- Senior Walk
- Swing and Underarm Turn
- Grapevine
- Grapevine Outside Turn
- Grapevine Inside Turn
Bronze I - introduces the basic tap timing that the man will continue to use on advanced patterns
- Tap Basic - Know
- Time Step
- Lady's Underarm Turn Left - Know
- Back Hand Change
- Waist Roll - Know
- Man's Underarm Turn Left - Know
- Alternate Turns
- Handshake Turn
- Syncopated Basic
- Syncopated Timing
- Traveling Time Step
- Left Side Basic
- Link and Throwout
- Reverse and Throwout
- Back Hand Change
Bronze I - teaches the compact foot positions necessary for dancing in nightclub situations or on crowded floors
- Rumba Box - Know
- Underarm Turn - Know
- Quick Chasses
- Cross Lead Box
- Cross Body Lead - Know
- Fifth Position Breaks - Know
- Open Break & Underarm Turn - Know
- Second Position Breaks
- Open Progressive Rocks
- Crossover Breaks - Know
- Cuban Walks - Know
- Open Cuban Walks - Know
- Underarm Back Pass
- Parallel Walks
- Promenade Swivels
- Left Spot Swivels
- Parallel Swivels
- Banquera Opening
- Rio Grande
- Curving Break
Bronze I - introduces the use of tight, compact steps to help create rhythmical movement
- Swing Basic - Know
- Right Turn Release
- Throwout
- Right Hand Throwout
- Underarm Turn Right - Know
- Underarm Turn Left - Know
- Back Hand Change - THINK I know
- Alternate Underarm Turn
- Handslides
- Sweetheart - Know
- Walks and Points - Know
- Points and Kicks
- Turning Kicks - Know, did for Freestyles
- Promenade Triples - Did in Class, might be able to redo
- Quick and Slow Promenades
- Traveling Basic
- Tuck In
- American Spin
- Continuous Tuck In
- Hammerlock and Sweetheart
- Sugar Push
Bronze I - develops the skill of leading or following through the movement of the body. These skills can then be applied to all dances.
- Tango Basic - Know
- Promenade Left Turn - Know
- Promenade Right Turn
- Back Tango Close
- Tango Rocks - Know
- Rock Turn
- Shadow Rocks
- Left Turning Rocks
- Rock and Box
- Medio Corte - Know
- Slow Left Rock Turn
- Quick Left Rock Turn
- Turning Rocks & Corte
- Flare Promenade
- Outside Underarm Turn
- Inside Underarm Turn
- La Puerta
- Triple Fans
- Slow & Quick Fans
Bronze I - develops the most basic element in good social dancing: knowing which foot to use on each step for proper weight changes
- Left Box Turn - Know
- Forward Change Steps - Know
- Right Box Turn - Know
- Cross Lead Box
- Underarm Turn Right - Know
- Left Side by Side Changes - aka Patty Cake, Know
- Parallel Right Turns
- Open Break & Underarm Turn
- Promenade Hesitation - Know. Also know one where K Kicks.
- Promenade Developé
- Arthur Murray Turn
- Kathryn Murray Turn
- Basic Twinkle - Did this in Class, could Redo
- Left & Right Twinkles - Know Left Twinkle
- Balance Steps
- Cross Over
- Change Turns - Need a reminder, but know
- Quarter Turns
- Two Way Turn - Know, had to do for Freestyles
- Parallel Changes
End of Post
