Welcome to the OFB Dance Development Discussion Page.

 

We want our dance to be the best it can be for everyone involved.  There have been a number of great ideas for improving the quality of our dance, and ensuring that everyone feels safe and comfortable on the dance floor.

 

One idea was to offer advanced contra dance workshops periodically, to offer opportunities for dancers of all levels to learn new moves and fine-tune their dancing.

 

SO, what specific topics would be good for these advanced workshops?  What would you be interested in learning?  What do think would be good for others to learn?

 

Please add your ideas to this discussion.

 

HOW TO ADD YOUR IDEAS:

 

Simply click the EDIT button above.

Enter the password:  contradance

Type like normal.

Click SAVE!

Easy as a peanut butter sandwich!

 

 

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DISCUSSION:

 

 

SAFETY

Elbows

Twirling when there's not room

Swinging with arm too far out to side

Giving weight and mirroring strength - easing up if weight is not returned

Dancing with a stranger -- not sleazing those you don't know

Clogging on the contra floor -- appropriate stomping, being WITH the beat

If you can't do a move in balance, don't do it

 

 

ADVANCING YOUR DANCING SKILLS

 

OWN THE MOVE -- doing a move poorly doesn't score you gold stars, cool points, or impress your partner.  Let's learn how to really "own" these moves (that is, do them masterfully):

 

- twirl out of of swing -- on time!

- twirl instead of courtesy turn -- on time!

- spin out of an allemande -- on time!

- gypsy hey

- spinning in Rory O'More balance-and-slides

- hey for four

 

 

Swing dancing on the contra floor:

- lead and follow techniques - gender swapping for increased insight into the others' experience

- leading a rank beginner

- staying within your space

- dipping - very dangerous if done wrong!

 

 

Understand the timing of the music - how to know when to stop the current move and do the next one when the caller stops calling.

 

Teach beginners to count to themselves when learning.  1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8.  It creates a strong image of the timing in your head.  Also explain the basic math of the dance, 8 sequences of 8 counts each and the idea is to be on time for each.

 

Make the workshops a place to learn and practice flamboyant skills like different spins, twirls and twists, and subtle ones like leading a partners hand to the right place for the next move and the best angle to finish a spin for a following move.

 

Also practice on giving weight, and using weight to trigger moves like spinning a partner.

 

APPROPRIATE DANCE WEAR 

Skirts that twirl (for the ladies, but fellas can wear them too!)

Minimal arm jewelry, especially the kind that can catch on things, like your partner, your hair, your clothing...

 

 

Add more ideas!

 

Emphasize dancing smoothly. When newcomers skipping and jumping, take a moment to tell them to walk smoothly to the music. Tell them their movements should all be horizontal and not vertical.

 

Teach how to spin ... pivot on the ball of the foot, etc.

 

Mirror Exercise on giving weight ... have partners face one another. One leads and the other follows, but not touching, but very close, switch partners leading. Next, have them touch hands very lightly and try and follow ... switch follow/lead. Then be "natural" pushing against the other person with the same "weight" as you normally would dancing, then have them try to "match" the partner's weight ... if the other is lighter, pull back a little, if the other is more forceful be a little more forceful until the connection feels equal. Now play Mirror again, taking turns with lead and follow.

 

 

 

 

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