How to dance slow dances. Music and dance competitions and games at the New Year's party

Dating at dance school

The age-old question that every person returns to at least once in their life goes something like this: where to meet your soulmate?

If in the time of our parents it was possible to meet people in libraries, now this option is completely eliminated due to developing technologies

Cemeteries are also not bad, a classic of the genre, as they say. But let's face it. You are in your early 20s and you cannot and do not want to look for adventure in nightclubs. There is little left to do, either rely on your loved ones or friends who will invite you to your birthday, and you will meet there the godfather (godmother) of your cousin’s brother, or take the initiative into your own hands and act.

- this is exactly the place where single people often come, as a rule, not only with the goal of learning to dance. Many people try to change something in their lives through dancing (figure, social circle, way of thinking...) and, more often than not, they succeed!
Here is one of the best places where you can meet the opposite sex.

At least twice a week we meet in class, communicate, get to know each other, go to parties together, to nature, etc. The people you meet often become more than just acquaintances; in a relaxed atmosphere, you open up and feel confident and free.

So, before looking for a soul mate, let’s find out a few important questions for ourselves. Namely, the pros and cons of such dating.

Let's start by listing the positive aspects of relationships in dance lessons:

Everything that is passion for both strengthens the couple. If you two enjoy dancing, it will be a great way to strengthen your relationship.

It is a great luxury to have a training partner at home. You don't have to wait until your next lesson to start dancing.

In every relationship there is a “candy” period, and then everything returns to a calmer rhythm. In order to always be with emotions, you need to fuel the relationship with various outlets, parties, and entertainment. Here dancing is simply an irreplaceable option.

Now about the disadvantages of dating in class:

The first disadvantage is the difference in levels. If your partner is of a higher level than you, then at parties you will have to sit and watch as experienced partners invite her. It’s up to you to either progress and achieve results, or quit and leave.

The exact same situation will arise with a partner if the girl has a lower level. She will be forced to share her boyfriend with an incredible number of pretty, energetic, bright partners. This situation is also rarely painless.

If you do take a risk on such a relationship, it is worth remembering that spending a long time together can also be dangerous. Sometimes you need to do things without your significant other. Here your salvation will be different interests besides dancing (fishing, cross-stitching, skydiving, etc.)

Striptease, Strip plastic, Pillon

Striptease is the art of seduction... It is interesting because it can reveal femininity, sensuality and sexuality in the dancer. Becoming on par with a man, the woman of our time increasingly forgets to be a woman. Strip classes refresh your instincts, break the shackles of constraint, and teach you to express feelings and emotions. Pole classes, in turn, provide amazing physical training.

Difficulties: requires rhythmic gymnastics skills, good stretching and a beautiful figure.

Upper Break Dance, Dup Step, Popping, Electric Boogie

Dancers of these genres are real “dance magicians”, originating from the art of pantomime. What they do is amazing! Not for nothing, today there is no one cooler than breakers in modern dance. In their performances we see the highest level of control over the body, the most complex elements, so unimaginable that sometimes it’s even painful to watch. Delight bordering on horror!

Difficulties: To really achieve something in breakdancing, you need to dedicate yourself to it. And you need to be extremely careful, there are some injuries.

Go-Go, Waaking, Vogue

Just what you need for fashionistas who crave the stage! The highest degree of posing and acting. They play on the grace of shapes and lines, which advantageously reveal the beauty of a half-naked body. Vogue and Waaking are "pathos for white people." Vogue style is characterized by the posing of models, it imitates catwalk walking. The Waaking style, which took a lot from Vogue, is dominated by hand movements (the name itself translates as “waving hands”), many of the movements they borrowed from locking. Go-Go is a freer style, in which the previous two were mixed and elements of other styles, such as strip, were added. This is the most popular style of dancing nightclubs.

Difficulties: excellent physical qualities and moral readiness to perform on stage in practically underwear are required.

Jazz Modern, Contemporary Dance

A modern interpretation of ballet that preserves aesthetic traditions, but gives freedom and flexibility of technique, abolishing the rigid standards of the classics. These styles are based on choreography. Most higher educational institutions represent contemporary dance as Contemporary. But the paradox is that this genre is completely unsuitable for dancing to modern dance music. This is a purely stage dance technique.

Difficulties: to achieve success in this style, you need to practice since childhood.

Classic. Choreography

The highest “theatrical” form of choreographic art, the embodiment of the highest aesthetic ideals. This is an exclusively stage dance, focused on the viewer. It is characterized by strict standards and high requirements for performance techniques, many of which are carried out to the limit of human capabilities. In terms of complexity, the elements of ballet can only be compared with the elements of breakdancing.

Difficulties: professional ballet classes do not pass without a trace. Extremely high demands leave an imprint on the formation of the body, especially because you need to practice ballet from childhood, while the body is still pliable. Possible damage to ligaments, tendons, joints, overdeveloped individual muscle groups and much more.

Latin American dancing, salsa, hustle

These directions are extremely popular today. It's not just dancing, it's leisure, communication, discos. These styles bring people together: energetic, passionate movements, exciting swaying of the hips... Although these are mostly pair dances, they are organized in such a way that you can easily change partners and make new acquaintances. And they do not require special training; they are quite simple to learn.

Difficulties: at the initial stage, there are few difficulties for those who like it, the main thing is to find a suitable partner.

Lower Break Dance

The low break is a masterpiece of our time, bordering on the impossible, going beyond the limits of human capabilities. It incorporates the elements and style of Hip-Hop culture and is performed to DubStep or Hip-Hop music. The technical essence of the style is control of “torque” in all possible positions, i.e. continue to rotate when changing position on any support points, even on the head. This is the most complex acrobatics superimposed on the rhythms of music. Suitable for short, stocky dancers.

Challenges: It is extremely difficult to prevent injuries

Flamenco

Spanish folk dance with obligatory traditional costumes. Flamenco is particularly dramatic and attracts a fairly mature audience. It is a spectacular and expressive genre, filled with passion. He is characterized by a specific choreography of his hands, active tap-dancing trills and luxurious steps in the flounces of chic skirts in the gypsy style.

Difficulties: a keen sense of rhythm is required

Oriental dance, Tribal

The art of seduction, erotic dance of the East (ancient striptease). It is performed in specific costumes with ringing scales, which enhances the musicality of the dance and synchronization with the music. Oriental dance is rich in all kinds of techniques in plasticity, rhythm, and is replete with small details and decorations. Truly professional dancers fascinate with the beauty of the curves of their half-naked body and clear, finely drawn movements. Unlike other styles, “oriental dancers” delight with the expressiveness of their curvaceous forms and their ability to advantageously reveal the features of the female figure.

Difficulties: minor shaking, vibrations are harmful to the not yet formed female body.

Basics of modern dance, improvisation for the dance floor

Modern Dance Base- dance format for the dance floor, suitable for music of different genres. This is a universal dance technique that can be combined with any style, type and manner. There is no need to memorize dance sequences and choreographies; the dance is built on the principle of a designer: there are basic elements and rules for how they are combined with each other. Having studied several movements and learned how to combine them with each other, you can improvise to different music; several months of training are enough for this. The entire dance is based on rhythm, plasticity and coordination of movements.

Difficulties: to achieve beauty and ease in improvisation, it takes time to restore atrophied muscle groups.

Shuffle, House, ElectroDance, Tecktonik, C-walk

Active styles for expressive youth: techniques with swings and jumps to music with a direct rhythm. Extremely energy-consuming, attract a lot of attention and require a lot of space. You will be unlucky if you find yourself next to such a dancer on a packed dance floor, fortunately this does not happen often, but at street festivals these styles have become a hit! These techniques turn you on - you just want to join in and start dancing. But there are not enough dancers for long, because... the set of movements is not particularly large or varied, and all are quite energetic.

Difficulties: finding a place to perform them

R'n'B, Hip-Hop

Initially, R’n’B is the culture of funk, jazz and soul. She also contributed to the emergence of rock and roll. Subsequently, R’n’B and Hip-Hop began to actively mix, because they are both part of African American culture. Today, R’n’B as a dance includes any possible techniques, but all of them are performed in a particularly pretentious manner, in the obligatory ultra-fashionable outfit. R’n’B classes are an excellent solution for those who want to “show themselves.” This style gives self-confidence, a feeling of one’s own coolness and sexuality, it is a cure for complexes and insecurities, which young people so lack; that is why this is a purely youth movement.

Hip-hop, however, is a serious direction, where the pathos are justified by the really cool training of the dancers, who do not neglect breakdancing.

Difficulties: constant psychological pressure within the team, where the spirit of struggle and competition reigns.

Ballroom dancing

Pair dance with strict choreographic standards. Dancers are completely attached to their partner, who is extremely difficult to replace.
Flaws: injuries, occupational diseases. Considering that this is a professional dance for participation in competitions, the departure of a partner almost always entails the collapse of the dancer’s professional career.
Advantages: fully reveals the topic of interaction with a partner. The highest form of possible pair dance art.

Strip

This is the most ancient, and at the same time the most modern style of dance. It is constantly changing, as the standards of femininity and masculinity change. You can dance it in different ways, but the meaning does not change. This is a dance that arouses sexual interest, allowing you to enjoy your image, the effect you produce. This is the most emotional style of dance, in which the characteristics of male and female movements are maximally expressed. There is a very fine line here that separates the most beautiful and the most disgusting. Therefore, a highly qualified choreographer is simply necessary.

Club dance

The broad concept of “club dance” includes many movements of various styles. They can be performed synchronously or solo. Club dance today is divided into 2 directions: to music with a straight rhythm and to music with a broken rhythm. Straight rhythm is classic electronic music like Disco House, Techno, Progressive. Broken rhythm is a break beat, breaks, R’n’B, Hip-Hop.

Jazz - Modern

Originating at the time of the relevance of ballroom dancing, modern jazz is a combination of classical techniques, street dance styles, and jazz improvisation.

Top break dance

A combination of all “old school” styles, such as plastic, slides, king-tat, robot. Break Dancing is exciting, vibrant, and colorful. For this reason it has become very popular. Break dancing first appeared in the South Bronx (Big Up's to da Bronx!) in the 70s. At first it was danced on cardboard boxes laid out on the street, which turned the sidewalk into a stage. Street dancers mixed aerobatic dance with martial arts and disco dance, and each performer crafted his own style. Music flowed from portable stereo recorders. Now this is a personal way to get in shape and have fun!

Go-Go

A dance technique that allows you to excite a crowd of spectators using standard artistic techniques, wide, amplitude movements that capture attention, courage and play. One of the main elements of Go-Go is the expression of sexuality and a minimal amount of clothing.

Street dance

In the early 70s in the United States, a huge number of groups were formed dancing in the streets, which later turned into culture. It incorporates a popular form filled with elements of various dance styles.

Stage, power style of synchronized dance, allowing you to work on quality and endurance. A large number of synchronized sequences of popular movements and courage are presented.

Power dance style for the stage, where movements are performed with full force and at high speed. This style features a large number of “wide” movements, swings, rotations and turns.

Slide man (Moon Walk)

All kinds of moonwalks in all directions. This technique is perfectly combined with plastic. The style is based on moonwalks, which give the illusory effect of gliding across the floor. The style includes more than 20 types of gaits. Swimming or sliding on the floor is an illusion created with your feet. This creates the feeling that you are trying to go in one direction, but you are actually moving in another. A classic example of this effect is the 'Moonwalk' made by the famous Michael Jackson. Factual illusion is an old Pantomime trick.

Disco

As a result of the “psychedelic revolution” of the late 60s, a culture of music, fashion, and dance was formed. The manifestation of one’s individuality in this form is still relevant today. The disco style influenced many other styles that appeared later.

R&B

It has gained great popularity all over the world thanks to the music it is performed to. This super-fashionable dance trend helps you acquire not only excellent sports shape, but also provides an opportunity to show “aerobatics” in clubs. The style evolved from “Hip-Hop” and became more diverse and complex. The abbreviation “R&B” stands for “Rhythm and Blues”. As a rule, it is danced at the level of improvisation.

Trance

Trance, as a stylization of dance technique, with a softer nature of movements based on the specific features of electronic trance music, has mainly absorbed movements that can be performed by anyone without special physical training. This is a dance of deep feelings that are not always clear to others.

This chapter describes leading and following. Before moving on to a discussion of these important topics, it is necessary to define the terms used in the following...

The terms "leader" and "follower" do not necessarily correspond to a man and a woman, although in most cases they do. These terms are quite politically correct, but in the process of reading the paragraphs of this book you may come across the following synonyms: “partner and partner”, “gentleman and lady” and, perhaps, expressions close to them in context.

Some terms may not be entirely appropriate for you, but what can you do - social dancing is generally far from political correctness.

About leading and following

“If you don’t lead me,” my sister said, “I don’t move.” Fifteen years later, I still remember her words. During this time, I grew significantly in many of the social dances that I first learned through her, but two things she emphasized that still stick with me many years later... “If you don't lead me, I don't move!” » and “Don’t dance me into the furniture!”

The leading and following that takes place between two people on the dance floor can be analyzed down to the smallest detail and is perhaps the most complex form of communication that can occur between two members of the human race... At the highest and most well-developed level, this communication is exciting and gives an immensely pleasant feeling to the dancing couple. Leading and following are skills that require a clear mind, good cognitive abilities such as learning ability, recognition of movement patterns and non-verbal communication. When you watch a pair of champions in the Jack-n-Jill category, you feel that you are creating improvisation, which is a vibrant part of the art of dance.

There are many misconceptions about leading and following, expressed by both partners and partners. Less trained dancers sometimes think that their partner is only capable of limping on her own and the partner should bend her dance figure as he pleases. This is a big mistake. Even if some people can tolerate this situation at the initial stage of learning social dancing, it cannot last long - it is too hard for a man and too painful for a woman. The partner cannot control the placement of every part of the partner's body. A partner without good posture, correct position of the body and legs, and lacking tone in the arms is simply not able to behave. A partner without the same abilities will not be able to lead, since the partner will not be able to recognize the leading signals from the noise (and it may simply be physically impossible for her to do the required dance figure due to the obstacle of the partner). Driving should not be tiring, it is only exhausting when the partner is not being led. Driving is not tugging and pushing. This is a message of intent. Dance is an art form that does not require athletic skill.

Good leading/following is like a heart-to-heart conversation - you don't need to yell, you just need to speak quietly. As the dancers level up, all they need to do is whisper. Driving should not be regarded as “pulling and pushing.” Although some weak partners often say, “If I dance with a strong partner, I can be led,” they will need someone with the strength of Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime, and then after a good warm-up, to lead them around the dance floor. Similar suffering awaits the partner who gets a partner who has a vague idea of what leading is and cannot move to the rhythm of the music and has no idea what kind of torture he is subjecting his partner to. The partner's job is not to drag his partner all over the dance floor, nor is the partner's job to hang on to his partner or drag him around like a sack of potatoes. Leading and following is a dynamic process that requires partners to make large investments on each side. It is definitely possible to guide your partner through very intricate steps that she doesn't even know about, without significant force. This may not be within the capabilities of most men. However, if a partner wants women to compete with each other, just to get a lucky chance to dance with him, this is the first thing that must be learned. Skill, not strength, is what should be chosen.

A partner who claims that he can treat any partner well does not give a good reputation to his colleagues. Partners who claim that they can follow any lead also tarnish the reputation of truly well-behaved hookers. Experienced dancers will never say this because it is a lie. John Wood couldn't have become world champion with just any woman - Anne Lewis contributed to every little part of their success. To say that all a woman needs is a good leading partner is like taking away most of the credit from talented partners. It also places too much responsibility on men - it assumes that all mistakes are their fault. Sometimes partners say: “I’m just being fooled...”. This presents following as the simplest thing to do, which is usually not the case.

Partnership skills are vital to good dancing. It is very difficult to develop partnership skills when a couple is training on their own, since partnership is the most difficult element of training and can take many years to achieve perfection. Partnership does not mean “learning dance cues.” Partnership involves understanding how to make two individuals one, moving around a common center. In preparation for competition, dancers must work hard to improve their partnering skills, which is much more difficult for couples who are accustomed to “using each other” than for those formed from complete strangers. For example, when I'm training, working on my technique, the slightest change (such as a momentary delay in changing weight) completely throws my partner off. She starts complaining that I don't feel right, or she interprets the changes as leading to some other movement that I didn't intend. However, the same technique works great with other smart partners, with whom I often dance. Obviously, a long-term partner gets so used to his other half that any improvement or change is very difficult to accept. (I heard similar statements from Jim Maranto, a US champion ballroom dancer, about his partner/wife).

Even sports routines are carried out. Every athlete trained to “dance your part and let your partner dance her part, no leading required,” was taught incorrectly. The judges notice the differences between couples with a real "connection", leading/following, and couples who are simply moving according to their pattern. One of the athletes wrote: “Ballroom, like social dancing, depends on leading and following, even during competition. My standard ballroom dance partner and I have several pre-choreographed sequences that we use during competition, but I still depend on him to guide me to clearly know what we are doing, where we are going, what timing he is using now, and what his mood, expression, at the moment. Another athlete wrote: “Leading is definitely necessary, even in Latin sports where the routines are choreographed to the root. My partner and I spend countless hours practicing the little things, but that's only one aspect of the dance. Good leading and following is critical to Latin dancing, both for control and balance, and simply because good leading and following is a thousand times more enjoyable for both partners.” Even without dancing with anyone, you can see the difference between athletes who cannot lead or follow. Just watch how couples move in relation to others on the dance floor. Because they dance their own patterns, they have not developed or practiced the process of leading and following (which is necessary for the "dance floor feel" vital to avoiding obstacles and unexpected intrusions into the dance line). Even while performing a routine, there are still times when you need to unpredictably change direction or completely redo the routine because other couples are also dancing. Competition is not a place where leading and following should be absent. Even in Latin dances, and even if the couple knows their routine, the partner must lead. Most steps performed during dance competitions require special attention to leading and following. You can see this side of athletic couples who dance without any apparent effort, and this is due to the fact that leading and following is carried out.

Here's another side of good dancing, where leading and following occurs even when the couple is dancing side by side and not touching. This is not typical guidance; it is carried out by changing the posture of the body and fixing it with the eyes. During side-by-side dancing, the partner monitors the couples' movements and possible collisions and may adjust or completely change the routine accordingly.

In the Jack-n-Jill category, when you are performing with a regular partner, you can look quite modest, since the judging is heavily focused on determining leading/following. It is often noticeable when regular partners do a routine without leading/following. It is quite noticeable that the couple is doing a routine without the use of leading: they take synchronized steps, but they look like individuals, not like a couple. I often test my regular partner by changing our routine as we go. When there are other couples on the dance floor, you never know what can happen. You may need to avoid a collision, or someone will simply forget which piece is next...

Partners, to truly lead, you must know your partner's movements for each figure you lead her through. Leading and following are very different skills, and following in its smallest part is as difficult as leading. Recognizing dance figures in a noisy, moving environment is a very confusing task, which is equivalent to transferring a figure during dribbling. Of course, there is one thing that only the lead partner can do - “feeling the dance floor”. The leader is responsible for avoiding collisions, and this is a very difficult task, especially on a crowded dance floor and couples moving in different directions at different speeds. The partner has to do many things at the same time: listen to music, decide what to do to it, think about his own movements as well as the movements of his partner, monitor the movements of other couples... (this is not a complete list). And what's especially bad is when a partner starts his dance career, he needs to learn how to do it all at the same time. Naturally, the partner must also perform many actions, but the partner must not only perform, but also initiate them. In addition, there are many variations that differ only in the smallest details of execution, and the partner must take care of these details in order to clearly indicate which movement is required to be performed. And, of course, as a professional, he will maintain a casual conversation in a foreign language while leading dance figures of the highest complexity! :)

Following skills are just as important as leading skills. The dance is much more enjoyable when the partner gives only gentle, not strong, guidance to his partner, determining what he wants, and she perceives these body movements as guidance. For this to work, the lady must be sensitive and responsive to the sensations of leading, and not imagine that her partner must literally carry her through the dance. Following skill is greatly underrated. No matter how much I try to teach beginners how to lead and follow, I always have a hard time hammering home that dancing is a partnership—everyone in the pair must do their part or it will all fail.

Leading/following represents one way of communication (partner to partner), but truly good dancers on both sides put different forces into the dance at different times. And even if the partner (usually) controls the direction, timing and choreography, he should be aware of the partner's actions (how far away she is, whether she has finished the movement on her line, whether her weight is on the right foot to make the turn, and more other). This is vital, the woman follows, but the man must lead and follow, that is, the partner must know what the partner is doing and compensate.

The partner exercising creative control requires pattern-based thinking, with a descriptive frame that includes the dance floor, the space occupied by the couple, spatial relationships, and communication patterns between the two dancers. It appears that partners engage most in the latter component of the descriptive frame, that is, they respond to communication patterns. Following is more fun than leading because the follower (a) has much less room to move and (b) doesn't know what's coming next, so each dance becomes a "mysterious magical journey." Some partners note that the best part of following is being guided through shapes and steps that were previously unknown to her. When the lead is done well, a good partner will perform movements that are completely unexpected and unpredictable and with great pleasure.

Some partners complain about how difficult it is to perform the same repertoire of movements over and over again throughout the evening. They note that the partners have more fun because they dance different dances throughout the evening. However, one of the partners wrote: “A good leader will never dance the same thing with every partner. The path to this lies through changing the set of movements from one partner to another. When I dance with a beginner, it is difficult to distinguish me from a good beginner. When I dance with one of the champions (who I feel comfortable with), you can see a big difference. And, moreover, if you see me dancing with someone I have known well from dancing for years, it will also look different.”

In addition to studying the figures, the first priority should be to analyze the possibilities they provide for both the partner and the partner. There should be no mechanical execution of movements. Awareness of possibilities adds new horizons for the partner, who must have in her head the entire menu of possible movements at each point, not just the one that is usually used. Since the partner does not know what movement she will be led to next, she needs to be prepared for anything, and very quickly react to the situation and the signals received, aimed at ensuring that the action is performed without any additional discussions. This skill is, in some ways, very close to the spatial or “pattern-based” thinking of partners like “dance floor sense.”

What can be led and followed

One of the aspects of leading and following is what can be led and who can follow it. Some newbie students dance once a month at best and are more likely to learn to take lessons than to dance. However, these people are still in a better situation than those who dance once a month without lessons in between. One local teacher (Michael Gillon) identifies three categories of dance lead patterns:

Ones that everyone can follow (even someone off the street)
Those that can be followed by a follower who is familiar with the dance style, but does not know this pattern
Those for which knowledge of a given figure is necessary in order to follow

It is important to separate the figures for leading different level partners, since you will break your partner's heart and burn yourself with shame if you try to perform a type 3 figure with a type 1 follower.

One of my teachers gave me some great advice for dancing with less trained partners:

Adapt to their lesser skills in a way that makes your partners look good and doesn't minimize your dancing technique.
Keep an eye on your partner's balance at all times, since a partner who is out of balance can overwhelm the whole couple. If such a feeling of imbalance occurs during dance, it is necessary to give more support on your part.
It is thoughtless to adapt your dancing style to suit a less experienced partner. At the same time, dancing becomes a very difficult task compared to conventional dancing.
Create situations in which the lady cannot doubt your intentions - limit her choices.

Previously, I thought that in ballroom dancing there is little need for leading, since the partner is already ready for each next step, but this is not correct. If you are competing, you need to lead your partner well. She is possibly (most likely) a better social dancer than the average social dancer, and because of this she does a better job with poor direction. My partner and I agree that social dancing is a real test of your technique and professionalism. And, at the same time, just because I will not be able to perform some figures with any partner in social dances, we will not refuse them when performing the routine. When I get stuck in the thought of “I want to teach anyone” during classes, we cannot grow quickly as partners.

I think that dance skills can be divided into four levels:

Basic concepts (opportunity to lead a professional dance instructor)
Understanding (being able to guide a good amateur who also knows the steps)
Good understanding (ability to lead an amateur who doesn't necessarily know the steps but is a good dancer)
Master (the ability to lead almost any partner)

It's funny that I have the most success when I dance with people who haven't danced swing or Viennese waltz before. The swing is quite flexible to allow you to maintain tight control over what the lady does. The Viennese waltz is too fast for a lady to have time to make a mistake. However, in slower dances, where the partner has time to think and do what she thinks is right (instead of moving naturally), it is very difficult to lead a beginner in the right direction.

Mario Robau surprised me by saying that he would gladly give his two US Open trophies to dance well with any woman off the dance floor. One of the most difficult skills is the ability to dance well with any partner. It requires not only adapting your leading/following to your partner's style, but also adjusting your set of movements to your partner's capabilities. Mario told me that when he dances with a woman for the first time, he takes her through "test" figures, simple movements that she can follow but which show her ability to lead. After that, he selects only those movements that she can definitely follow. A novice partner will never suffer from dancing with Mario; he will always make her look good (as well as himself).

One of the common mistakes leaders make is trying to guide an inexperienced follower through complex movements. Experienced dancers should start simple, and work on more intricate movements when the new social dancer is ready for them. When you try to show off a fancy move you learned in the last workshop and your partner can't pull it off, you both look terrible... When you do the simplest moves with elegance and confidence and your partner is happy and in the groove, you both look fabulous. If your partner loses her rhythm during a change, it is very likely that she will not get into rhythm with the next movement, so make sure she is on the right foot before continuing the dance.

How partners can help new partners

Beginning partners need a lot of help. And the best way to help your partner is to follow his leading, even if it is not correct, as opposed to compensating for his bad leading.

Proper follow-through gives partners the right feedback. By feedback I don’t mean verbal criticism, but direct feedback in the form of: “What will happen if I press this button?”

If the partner does not lead or leads something else instead of what he intended to lead, the partner must not compensate for the mistake and do the figure to which she is led, she must not do anything more than what the leading indicates. In this case, the partner clearly sees the result of his conduct. If the partner compensates, she takes away the cause-and-effect feedback effect from the partner, and he will never be able to behave correctly.

It is dangerous to try to teach or be critical of yourself. Unless you are a teacher, of course, who knows what he is doing. If you just follow the lead, you don't criticize.

The fundamental question raised here is “how can dancers be most helpful to their partners?” I hope that common understanding can be achieved if everyone leads or follows to the best of their ability.

One of the most difficult problems for beginner partners, from tango to Lindy Hop, is that they don't follow through. They do not dance with their partners, but often watch instructors and other couples, but just as easily ignore their partners.

It is very difficult to lead someone whose body is twisted towards other couples or her feet. Sometimes I ask beginning dancers to provide verbal feedback about what is happening. If my partner doesn't even try to follow my lead exactly to the best of her ability, I won't compensate for any mistakes she might make and can concentrate more on my own dancing.

On the importance of dancing with beginners

There is no doubt that dancing with the best partner makes you look good, and that with such a partner you can concentrate on details, style and the like, simply because leading and following does not require much attention. At the same time, this is far from the best way to train leading/following skills. If a learning leader only dances with an excellent follower (or a novice partner dances with an experienced partner), they will not be able to develop good leading and following skills because they do not need it. A similar situation also exists when superior partners dance only with partners of their own level. Leading/following skills gradually degrade because they are not worked on much. After several months without the influence of beginners, you may be surprised that you cannot dance well with them, even if they perform quite well among beginners.

Learn how to dance by dancing better with more experienced partners. However, it is best to learn to lead/follow by dancing with less experienced dancers. Your skills will grow much faster when dancing with beginners compared to dancing with experienced partners. It's easy to lead/follow with the best dancer, all your weaknesses as a leader/follower are exposed when dancing with beginners. Dance with beginners and ask yourself why each poorly followed/followed movement doesn't work, and when you identify these mistakes, you will need to correct a lot of things in your dancing!

You cannot become a good dancer if you dance with only one partner. In this situation, you will learn to dance well only with each other, and all the mistakes and bad habits of your partner will become acceptable and unnoticed for you.

There is a special type of leader that comes across again and again if you've been dancing long enough: guys who only want to dance with the best followers because they believe that only such partners can match their high level of skill. This usually happens because only the best partners will be able to compensate for their mistakes or individual dance characteristics. Good partners make these guys look good even though their leadership is mediocre, but these leaders continue to think they are the best because they isolate themselves from feedback. The best test of the reality of things is to dance with a much less experienced partner. If no one but your best partners can follow your lead, I will politely suggest that you work on your leading skill. This type of thinking among leaders greatly harms their dancing. I've seen guys overestimate their capabilities and stop working on a technique too early. As a result, they need a lot of time to improve their leading skills.

For various reasons, people who want to take up dancing do not want to do it in special schools. In the age of progress, you can learn to dance on your own, at home. Many women do not intend to become professionals, but strive to lose weight and maintain their figure. Dancing classes at home will help you achieve your goal.

How to learn modern dance at home

Many people are interested in the question of how to learn to dance on their own at home. Street dancing, break dancing, Latin and oriental dances are especially popular. Each direction has certain features that distinguish them from other styles. Decide what you want to dance and the method of teaching dance (video lessons or instructor).

Choose a dance direction

Among the variety of styles and trends, the following can be distinguished:

Latin American. The direction is very popular. Rumba, cha-cha-cha, salsa and bachata are highly active and look very impressive. The principles of dance are based on simplicity, openness and emotionality of movements.
Oriental (belly dancing) is suitable for girls and women of any age. The structure of the figure and complexion for this style do not matter. The dance movements are smooth and mysterious.
Club modern dances are created to be performed on the dance floors of discotheques. When dancing, you need to carefully monitor the rhythm so that your movements exactly match the music. Club dances include:

hip-hop;
street jazz;
brakedance;
Go go;
funk.

National dances have gained great popularity. It is very interesting to join the culture of a certain people through movements. The most common are Irish, Indian dances, tango and flamenco.
Strip plastic is suitable not only for seducing men, but also for maintaining the shape of your body.
Ballroom dancing is useful for graduation, wedding or other special event. Beautiful, smooth execution adds sophistication and elegance to a person.
The famous ballet adds flexibility to a person not only while dancing. The grace inherent in ballerinas is also noticeable in everyday life. This style is very difficult for adults to learn, but you can borrow some connections.

You need to choose a direction for yourself in accordance with your musical preferences. If you don't like music, you won't be able to practice for long and won't get high-quality results. Character plays an important role when choosing a dance. If you are a modest person, choose a style with smooth movements; if you are an active person, choose a style with rhythmic movements.

Create a training schedule

When learning to dance, it is important to make your workload systematic. Creating a training schedule will help with this. At home it is more difficult to fight laziness, because the dance school requires payment, so the motivation to dance is more developed. It’s much easier to skip training on your own or with a guest teacher. Remember that you will learn to dance really beautifully only with discipline. The dance schedule can be whatever is convenient for you. The most common frequency is 2-3 times a week.

Types of homeschooling

You need to choose a dance training method in accordance with your budget and the required quality of training. You can easily learn how to dance modern dances at home for free using the Internet. By spending very little money, you can purchase full-fledged video lessons. If you want to study more seriously and are willing to pay a lot, invite a private instructor.

Dance tutorials

Video lessons are suitable for teaching how to learn to dance at home. It is also useful to read books to get a feel for the atmosphere and history of your chosen destination. In mastering dance on your own using training materials, you need to follow the following steps:

To start classes, you need to find videos with detailed lessons. You can find them on the Internet on the websites of dance schools, on social networks or on videos. The problem is that it is almost impossible to get a full course online, since they are posted for informational purposes to attract clients. If you want to fully master the desired style, purchase discs in the store.
When the manual has been purchased, create a study area in the apartment. You will need a large space and a mirror so you can monitor your movements.
Training should be carried out several times a week, mastering 2 classes at a time. First, repeat the movements after the instructor on the video, then try it yourself.

Private lessons at home

If you want to avoid going to school, but want to study with a teacher, you can hire a specialist privately. Please note that his services will cost you a lot, but the teacher will help you work on every movement and not miss training. If you decide to go this route, follow the instructions:

Check out the list of dance schools in your city. This can be done using the Internet.
Carefully read the reviews of those who study at this school regarding the teachers. If you cannot find the information, contact one of the students with this question.
When the teacher you need is found, take his phone number and call. During the conversation, find out about the price of classes and when you can meet.
When you meet, discuss the frequency of training and its duration. Find out what equipment you'll need for your workout.

What dance can you learn at home?

Today, stores and online portals offer many lessons. They will help you learn to dance Lezginka at home, oriental, Latin dances, and master modern styles. For those who want to travel back in time, classical and folk elements are suitable. A training video can be found for any style or direction you like.

Twerking for Beginners

How to learn to twerk at home:

Place your feet shoulder-width apart so that your toes are directly under your knees. Then do a deep squat and place your hands on your hips.
Start practicing your movements. To do this, place your thumbs on your tailbone and push it forward.
To straighten your hips back, do the same with your hip bones.
When the main ligament begins to form, place your hands on your knees. The wrist area should be facing outward. Gradually increase the pace of movements.

How to dance hip hop at home

To learn hip-hop at home, you need to master several basic elements:

Fundamental movements in dance: steps (steps) and swing. First, extend your right arm up and put your lower limb to the side so that your toe points to the right. Bend your leg and shift your body weight onto it. Lower your raised arm so that it is level with your shoulder. Turn your body to the left side, place your right leg on your toes, and bend your left. Make a sharp movement, lowering yourself to your right knee, while rounding your back. Try to reach the floor with your hands, then straighten up.
Turn your toes to the left, knees bent, support should be on your full foot. Place your hands with your fingers apart on your chest so that your elbows are parallel to the floor. Make a pressing movement with your hands, push your pelvis forward, round your back. Straighten your back, turning to the side, your arms should slide along your body to your waist. With the next movement, tighten your gluteal muscles, lift your pelvic region up, and round your back.

Oriental dance lessons at home

How to learn to dance oriental dances at home:

It's best to learn with an instructor or through video tutorials, but you can learn the basics on your own. Start your workout by slowly moving your hips in different directions, leaving your upper body motionless.
Continue moving your pelvis back and forth, gradually increasing the pace. Then try connecting the elements.
To make the dance look more impressive, put one leg forward and let your body make movements in the form of a figure eight, circle or arc. Leaning on your leg, try to make a wave, using your chest and stomach.

How to learn to dance the waltz on your own

Waltz is a pair dance. You can master it well only with a partner. You need to move in space counterclockwise, circling in the opposite direction. Each element must be performed to a clear rhythm that is easy to follow by counting to three. The man's left hand should be placed on the partner's waist, with the other he takes her hand. When your movements around the square become confident, start trying to dance in a circle.

Lezginka video lessons for men

There is no great chance that you will be invited to a social ball; you are much more likely to end up at a club or at a party of friends in another democratic setting.

The ability to dance will come in handy everywhere. Having mastered the technique, you will feel confident, increase self-esteem, improve your posture and figure, change internally, and feel incomparable pleasure. Find out which modern dances for girls are the most popular and where to learn fashionable dance moves.

Dance as a useful hobby

Control of one's body in dance is given to almost all people, but many are prevented from realizing themselves by excessive modesty. If you are shy in company and refuse men who invite you to dance, restructure yourself internally. Especially modest girls can try to learn how to dance modern dances at home by turning on their favorite music and improvising in front of a mirror.

This hobby is suitable for women of all ages, weights and body types. Don't be shy if you have a non-standard figure, curvy hips, large breasts or a protruding tummy.

Dancing is good not only for your mood and beauty, but also for good health. Thanks to dance movements, blood flow increases, lung function improves, and the heart strengthens. After regular exercise, posture improves, coordination of movements and the functioning of the vestibular apparatus are normalized.

For every girl and woman there is a suitable type of modern dance, in which it is easy to turn disadvantages into advantages. By dancing regularly, girls become more feminine, their gait and facial movements change. Choreography teaches the art of seduction and coquetry, playfulness and a confident look. At the same time, dancers know how to keep their distance and are never toys in the hands of a man.

Where to learn to dance quickly and beautifully

Eat two ways to learn to dance– independently and under the guidance of a teacher. The first option is ideal for those who once studied choreography, and now just want to master a new style. The second guarantees success for everyone.

Homeschooling and its features

For independent training, girls can use video lessons on modern dance, read books on choreography, watch films, study theory in magazines.

It is important not to neglect the recommendations of the virtual choreographer, but to strictly follow them. Even more important is to find good courses and materials for self-study. It’s better to choose a few, and only then weed out the extra ones, understanding the nuances.

To begin with, of course, you can do without a suit, but a suit helps you get in the right mood and immediately accustoms you to movements taking into account clothing. You definitely need suitable music; training lessons and a description of the dance will help you choose it.

For beginners, it is better to choose directions in which improvisation is allowed. As a rule, these are “originals” from street styles; they do not require special preparation, costumes or a partner. Having mastered the technique of free dance styles, you will feel confident on the dance floor.

It is more difficult to master classical styles, which require learning the position of the body, head, arms, basic positions and steps. Such areas require classes with a teacher at home or at school.

Training in schools and studios

If you are used to taking everything seriously and want to be not only a participant, but also the central link of the dance floor, then it is better to enroll in a modern dance school.

Advantages of studying in the studio:

Experienced teachers, in good schools - professional choreographers.
No need to think about where to find a partner or team for pairs and group dances.
Professional dance hall with mirrors, necessary music.
A special atmosphere and new friends with similar interests.
For girls, this is an opportunity to find a partner not only for a waltz, but for life.

To find out what services such schools provide, we called the studio Fashion Dance, working in Moscow, and asked a few questions.

What dance styles can you teach a beginner?

We have a lot of styles, ranging from waltz and tango, including ballroom and modern, fashionable Latin American and oriental dances, to go-go and erotic styles for special occasions.

So what, you can teach any girl to dance?

For each client we find the most suitable style for him, taking into account personal data and wishes. There are no people who do not know how to dance, this is given to man by nature, the main thing is to open up correctly.

What wishes do people come to you with most often?

The most popular trend among boys and young girls is modern dancing, older women want to learn belly dancing, and ladies who have free time in retirement are drawn to the waltz.

The global problem of modern youth is wedding. We have opened a course especially for newlyweds pre-wedding preparation, in which we stage a dance of the bride and groom, father and daughter, friends and girlfriends.

What do you need to start training and how much does it cost?

First you need to come to us and express your wishes. We help you navigate names and styles, and together we select a group and teacher. Everything else is individual, including prices. We have a lot of discount programs. Better go to the dance school website Fashion Dance, and if it’s not clear, call us, we’ll be happy to tell you everything!

Types of modern dances for beginners

It is easiest for beginners to master modern dance styles, which do not have clear rules of choreography. Small flaws here are practically unnoticeable; they are taken for improvisation and the girl’s personal highlights.

Free dance - the choice of dreamers

Free dance, also known as rhythmic or plastic dance, appeared at the beginning of the last century. The basis of this dance style is ballet, diluted with free movements from everyday life. The main essence of this direction is emancipation, energy, interaction with the environment.

In free dancing to modern music, improvisation, spontaneity, and creativity are encouraged. Perhaps this is the best choice for beginners, since there are no strict rules of choreography and technique, but there is an opportunity for self-expression.

Girls can perform free dances either alone or in pairs with a man. The absence of strict boundaries is a guarantee that you will not look like a bad dancer, because everyone can come up with their own moves.

Modernity as the choice of the free

Modernism arose against the backdrop of the denial of traditional ballet techniques. His credo is the rejection of canons and conventions, the embodiment new choreography. Modernity came to modern girls from the twentieth century. One of the founders of the movement was Isadora Duncan. Another dancer who contributed to the development and popularity of the style is Mary Wigman, who abandoned traditional beautiful movements in favor of unusual and even shocking ones.

Modern dance is danced barefoot, its main choreographer is nature. The technique cannot be called complex; the main component of success is the dancer’s emotionality. Sensuality in every movement is a guarantee of your own pleasure and the delight of others.

Electro - youth direction

Electro is one of the most popular trends in the list of modern dances for girls, accessible to beginners. In essence, this is a street dance, born in the middle of the last century to club music. Electro is danced more with the hands than with the body, so it is ideal for beginner dancers and people with poor physical fitness.

There are two directions:

Milky Way – calm movements, somewhat similar to the performance of an actor on stage. Each dancer’s performance is a small performance with a beginning and an ending. It is better to start learning to dance electro with this type, then moving on to a more complex direction.
Electro – active movements that smoothly transform into each other at high speed. The main thing here is to feel the music and understand what they are singing about in the song, so that the movements do not contradict the meaning.

Tectonics – dynamics and energy

Tectonic is another modern dance direction for girls and boys. Tectonic combines dance elements of techno, hip-hop, popping, and locking. True fans adhere to a certain style of clothing - skinny jeans, tight T-shirts, basketball-style sneakers. They are distinguished by futuristic hairstyles with gothic elements.

However, there are no strict requirements; you can dance tectonics in any clothes and with any hairstyle. Not only tight-fitting, but also loose clothing is allowed - hoodies, shorts, tops. Best suited for movement flat shoes.

It is customary to distinguish two groups of tectonics – hard and soft. Each group includes several types of dance. It is difficult to learn dance elements on your own; it is better to do it in a group or with a teacher.

Breakdancing is a favorite of the flexible ones

Breakdancing is a dance for modern girls who master acrobatics, which originated in the seventies of the last century. Breakdancing literally hit the masses with a wave in 1984 after the release of the film Beat Street. They began to dance it at discos, clubs and even at school parties.

Break is divided into two large groups - lower and upper:

The top break is similar to a popular disco dance. It is characterized by sharp clutching movements of the arms, legs and the whole body. The top break group includes many stylistic trends.
Lower breakdancing is more complex and filled with acrobatic tricks. It is danced on the floor and requires physical fitness and strength to hold the body up. This type of modern dance is more suitable for boys than girls.

Break clothes need to be as comfortable and convenient as possible. B-girls breakdance in beautiful sportswear from famous brands to look stylish and attractive. There are no problems with a short haircut, but those with long hair need to take care that the hair does not interfere with movements.

Hip-Hop – mischievous and rhythmic

Hip-Hop originated among the working class of New York in the mid-seventies. Within a few years it became part of youth culture in many countries. In the late nineties, Hip-Hop turned out to be a full-fledged component of the music industry. Nowadays, this trend is distinguished as a fashionable subculture; it is a popular style that has become a lifestyle for some.

Hip-hop dances to rhythmic music, including rap. The rhythm, as a rule, is set by DJs, and dancers need to have time to hear the music and think through movements to it.

Contempo - flight of the soul

Contempo successfully combines several dance styles. It attracts girls with its simplicity of movements and the ability to improvise. The founders of contemporary dance, including Isadora Duncan, did everything so that everyone could master this dance.

Contempo training should begin with the preparation of muscles, joints and ligaments. The essence is alternating tense muscles with sharp relaxation. Contempo is built on the contrast of falls and rises, characterizing contradiction and balance. It is better to dance barefoot, so that nothing interferes with freedom.

Hakka - the choice of modern girls

Hakka appeared in the eighties of the twentieth century, thanks to the hardcore musical direction. The energetic movements of this distinctively named modern dance are driven by the bass beats of heavy rock. This is one of the most emotional dance styles, requiring endurance and athletic training from girls.

During training, you can even lose weight, as a lot of energy is spent and calories are burned. Hakka strengthens the leg muscles, pumps up the thighs and makes the lower body more toned and slender.

At the same time, Hakku is easy for beginners to learn; it has few basic elements, and everything else is improvisation that fits within the framework of the style.

Go-Go - for disco stars

Go-Go originated in the mid-sixties of the last century; initially it was one of the ways to entertain visitors in entertainment venues, festivals, clubs, and discos. Go-Go came to Russia only in the nineties; it was actively used not only in clubs and discos, but also to attract attention to any public events.

There is no need to consider Go-Go as something obscene, a dancing woman is always remains inaccessible. In the early days of Go-Go, dancers were even hung in cages so that men would not even think about approaching them.

The ability to dance Go-Go is necessary for self-confident girls who love to attract attention and be in the center of events. Go-Go will be useful in a club or disco, it will teach you to catch the rhythm, control your warmth, play and improvise.

The best dance styles for women

For women who look at dance as a hobby and an opportunity for self-realization, there are many modern trends. You need to proceed from your existing skills and initial physical training. Gradually, the bar can be raised, moving on to more complex styles.

Oriental and Indian dances for beginners

Oriental charm will never go out of fashion, because the spirit of the East leaves no one indifferent. All are exclusively female, they are playful and light. Modern types are ideal for girls and women who cannot be classified as skinny - curvy shapes and even a protruding tummy are welcome. After just a few lessons, the plump girls forget about their complexes and present them as their advantages.

List of popular couple dances

Pair dancing, both ballroom and modern, helps girls quickly find a common language with men, teaches them to be in a pair, dominate and submit, depending on the situation. For shy girls and women, this is the best way to get rid of excessive modesty and awkwardness from a man’s touch.

The most popular modern couple dances:

Waltz is a slow one that does not lose popularity and is constantly evolving. The ability to dance a waltz is a sign of good form.
Tango is an ancient Argentine dance, which is still called modern. Today tango is divided into many types: Argentinean, Uruguayan, ballroom, Finnish and others.
Balboa - very close contact with the partner, the bodies should be pressed closely together so that there is no gap. There are not many movements, so this modern dance is great for beginners.
Rock and roll is a rhythmic couple dance with relaxed movements. Rock and roll requires acrobatic skills and long training, it is better to train with one partner as it requires a lot of support at a fast pace.
Flamenco is a vibrant cocktail of Moroccan, Spanish and gypsy motifs, full of improvisation and mystery.
Paso Doble is a dance style that resembles Spanish bullfighting. The man plays a bullfighter, and the girl plays a cloak or mulet in the hands of a matador.
Rumba is a dramatic dance of love to the rhythms of African drums overlaid with clave rhythms. Modern rubma is divided into ballroom, Cuban, African and gypsy.

When choosing a dance, focus on initial training, posture, endurance, and the functioning of the vestibular apparatus. This doesn’t mean that you have to limit yourself to limits, you just need to start small. You may need to do or first, and only then move on to dance exercises.

The list and descriptions of modern dances were prepared with the participation of Fashion Dance Schools. Especially for the online magazine “Women’s Hobbies”.