| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/17/2009 4:28:20 PM | I would be considered one of the silver haired dancers if I had hair. The number one role of the lead is to keep the follow out of traffic. The number two rule is to give her a good dance experience. I swing dance and salsa dance. Typically if I don't know the follow, I'll start with basic moves and then progress till I find her level of experience. Of course there are women that are better than I am and then I just do my best. Ballroom dance, especially salsa, should be lead with the least amount of pressure to get the job done. Typically I use one or two fingers when I'm dancing swing or salsa. Smoothness and clear signals works the best.
I also dance with beginners and give them lots of credit for showing up in spite of their abilities. We were all there at one time.
I don't teach from the dance floor unless I'm asked a specific question. After lesson dancing is done just for fun. There are a number of follows that are always saying they are sorry for missing a turn or something. I tell them that there are no sorrys and if they say it 3 times they have to buy me a drink. Of course this is just said in jest but it does free them up to just have fun and not worry what I am thinking.
By the way, I dance at the Century Ballroom here in seattle (not affiliated with CB) so if you come in on a wednesday or thursday or saturday you may find me there. | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/17/2009 4:33:56 PM | Gordon:
sounds like the ladies may be lining up to dance with you! And you are fine bald- I like the shaved bald look. Too bad you are on the other side of the country- I would dance with you | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/17/2009 10:20:51 PM | Joanne "Better not dance to the blues . "
I Remember dancing at the school sock hop . In "66" . I danced with a girl named Pat H. to a song by Lenny Welch " Since I fell For You ." It's still my favorite slooooow dance song . OOOO LA LA !!!!!!  Dancing you get to touch and be touched by another human . That don't sound like a big deal but it is . | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/18/2009 6:59:39 AM | I think as a single--that is what I miss most^^^the human touch. Thank goodness for my friends--we are one hugging bunch and I am going dancing tonight and will gladly dance with any silver haired dancing machine that comes my way--he better be able to hold his own! | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/18/2009 7:04:14 PM | | I don't think that I have ever done much twirling under the arm with the Waltz, Fox Trot, or even the Tango. HHmmm maybe you could show me those steps, but yea I agree there is nothing worse than a woman that says she knows how to dance but can't keep a proper frame, or doesn't remember which foot to start with. If the guy is counting the steps for you I suspect it is because you don't seem to know what you are doing, there are a lot of small signals we use to show step variation, stops, open breaks, and fith position, but if you don't know any of that it leaves us with little to do. Maybe the only steps you can follow are spins. This is one of the reasons I do not dance with anyone that isn't at least at a silver level. They don't know enough to really dance, just enough to complain. | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/18/2009 8:08:12 PM | I am not a gold or silver dancer . I will be passing on this gift of danceing , laughing and having fun on to the next generation . I really don't care if you are an expert. Most of the time I really don't tell anyone but thanks after a dance .Anyone wanting a dance in DFW area write me .
Dance like no one is watching | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/18/2009 8:27:54 PM | ....I do not dance with anyone that isn't at least at a silver level. ]
what the hell is a gold or silver level dancer?? Hmmm, maybe I am one & dont know it... nah- ^^^^ too arrogant(prior poster)
I danced swing for 2 mo before I took lessons. Picked it up rather quickly. People in my group are willing to show you new steps if you dont know them. 
I will dance with anyone at least once; its courteous & hey- they might be a GREAT dancer! | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/19/2009 1:58:03 AM | Recently, I attended a local dance event, and there was a 94-old gentleman, still walking, dancing, and twirling the ladies. Actually, he did a lot of twirling, and with a great gusto and finesse. All his 30-40 years younger partners seemed to like it.
Quite an inspiration! | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/19/2009 5:06:40 AM | | Gordon, A good dancer never out-dances his partner, strives to make to make his partner look good and has all the ladies eating out of his hand. You, darlin', sound like such a dancer. (I spend years as a ballroom instructor. Some of my more glamorous memories.) | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/19/2009 6:35:07 AM | If a man leads well and a woman will pay attention, she can usually dance any dance she does not know. If she makes a miss-step, it may be a new foot pattern in a stationary position or he did not lead well. An issue I have found is several men may have a different lead for stationary positions and it is hard to determine what he wants done. Normally, a man --with good dance manners--will ask you about those positions before trying them to determine if you know them. If you don't --again, if he had good dance manners--he will talk you through the steps and then pattern them again later in the dance to imprint them in your muscle memory.
The dancers were I go are always trying to help each other learn new steps. I often have men who will ask me to dance and ask how to do certain moves that they have seen me do with other partners. Dancing is definitely a pay-it-forward activity. I have run into dance snobs but I figure even they can teach me something. I am only as good as the partner I dance with. He is the frame and I am the painting--it is up to him to design the finished product. Women can certainly add flourishes--especially in the west coast and to a degree in others. Her hip movements and hands define the latin, elegant in the waltz. Even subtle movements of the head can add a touch to a dance. | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/19/2009 3:53:41 PM | | In competition there are different levels; bronze, silver, and gold, also there are international and American style. About showing new steps that was one of the things OP was complaining about, she don't want anyone showing her anything. Also if you don't know some of the signals used for stops and crossovers it get rather boring doing basic stuff. I'm not your teacher, and I've paid a lot of money to learn the proper way to dance, if you want lessons pay for them, don't expect guys to teach you on the dance floor. I've heard more women bit==== about the way other men dance, yet they have no idea just how bad they are themselves. BTW swing style dances are rather easy, and I would have no problem showing someone a new step if they know most of the basic steps, but how do you teach a silver twinkel into a natural turn if the person doesn't even know a basic twinkel? | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/19/2009 5:51:03 PM | I think some people need to learn basic dance manners before they learn the twinkles or the cuddles and then throw in some inside and outside turns, P-R turns......
Where I dance, we know who is willing to teach and who wants to learn, so lessons during dancing is a non-issue. That is what improved the style of a lot of us. | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/27/2009 2:39:56 PM | Went to an all day workshop in West Coast swing--new style for me(I dance other disciplines)-----went to the after class party, a younger man--probably in his early 40's ask me to dance. I reminded him he was much higher ranked than me and I was still learning WCS. He said not a problem. He led me in the same move 4 times in a row and then stopped dancing and said 'that is not what I wanted you to do'. My reply was it may not be what your brain was saying but it is what your arms were telling my feet. He just stood and looked at me.
Sunday, I went to a Tango workshop and all the men were quite a bit older and so gracious. The ladies were most helpful--I have found my new favorite dance. | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/28/2009 7:37:10 PM | If a person knows how to dance SILVER HAIRED or BALD HEADED I don't see any thing wrong with that.... I am more than 50 and I can give a solo showdown hiphop , latin dance,swing and jive ect.. in any crowd.....Eat your heart out Miss Stuffy.....  | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 7/28/2009 7:53:41 PM | i understand what you mean OP. santa cruz is a dancing county. many take lessons and are just fine on the dance floor. there are also many different kind of music venues. but, every now and then some socially misfit, control freak tries to get me on the floor and start mechanically moving me according to their preconceived "steps". having had enough of it the last time, when this creepy fellow ( a local singer no less) tried to put his clammy hands on my hips to show "me" how to move (a dancer since i came out of my mother's womb), i just stared at him fiercely and growled "chill, dude!". it happens rarely, but it's almost unbelievable, that someone would have the gall to push someone around, let alone not in time to the music! i'd say usually a measure of low self esteem as well.
as to those that are more into the steps and mechanics, if a couple, i 'd suggest lessons and practice together. otherwise, a person just has to have the call of the wild, and move with the music and with his/her own partner. this would not be considered ballroom dancing however. although, it can be done with both. i guess not many people have it in them. but certainly enough around where i live. alas, that is what kept my three year relationship afloat! another dancer. but, noticed he doesn't do it as well, now that i'm no longer his partner. so, maybe the chemistry also adds to the dance!
ps the latest fad around here is for the guys to "shave" their heads! so, it's not the silver hair that determines this scenario. | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 10/15/2009 2:55:11 PM | Some folks view dancing (and many other things) as competition or a chance to show off. They will always be rude, inconsiderate, and pretty much as described in the opening post.
If you want to be considered a desirable dance partner, do it for the fun. If you are at a different skill level than your partner, one of you has to adapt. If everyone on the dance floor (especially your partner) is having more fun because you are there, you're doing great. Otherwise, you are simply not a good dancer.
I learned dancing in '56 when being a gentleman (in all things) was an important thing to teach a young man. I am not so sure that the younger generations truly understand that being a good partner means showing your partner the best possible time. And, that is not just on the dance floor. | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 10/15/2009 3:21:59 PM | Dancing for me is for my fun...................that doesn't include being sweated on by some out of shape aged dance geek.
Oh that I could find a man my age to go to Hip Hop class with me. | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 10/15/2009 3:22:24 PM | "I think some people need to learn basic dance manners before they learn the twinkles "
I've taken ballroom lessons at several studios over the years. A good studio teaches the ballroom ettiquette. Since so many are navigating around the floor or dancing within their zone for a zone dance it is really important other dancers understand that there are 'rules of the road'. The better dancer in any couple is trained to dance to the level of the other dancer.
Even with years of training and skill, if a hotshot rude dancer were to take me out and fling me around and try to make me do what he wants and .., grrrrrrrr... I have been known to walk off the floor. grins. One should not tolerate such poor manners for the length of a dance. Maybe being left alone on the floor might give the person an inkling.
Best instructor I ever had said: The lead invites the follower to go a certain way. The follower tries to listen and follow and goes where they think they lead wanted them to go ... and the lead then makes what they did look good. | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 10/15/2009 3:24:50 PM | "santa cruz is a dancing county"
Love you my friend, but...................Santa Cruz Del Norte, Cuba is a whole different planet as far as dance style goes. | |
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| Silver haired dancing machines your thoughts.
Posted: 10/15/2009 3:54:50 PM |
I know you have all met them. People ( for me old guys) that have gone to years of
ballroom dancing. Seems to be the midlife thing to do. Well, sometimes they ask you to dance, and decide that they need to give you lessons, counting each step, swinging you around and around like a disco king, banging into people, dipping you, twirling under his arm , wayyyy too much. I kind of find the whole thing annoying on a first dance. Do some people actually like this? . First , it seems a bit attention seeking, and I just don`t think it is appropriate for a first dance when they know that you aren`t ballroom broken. Anyone else have this happen? Or am I just being stuffy?
You mean like this guy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEli2rrrJwI | |
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