Thoughts on Performances Courses

[toan-hoang]

Personally I do not see much value for a follow in practicing with a partner.

Practicing with a partner in a constructive way can produces fantastic results, it is more than just following, but also learning to identify where you can possible add your own styling without interrupting, experiencing different patterns and also aspects of salsa which is partner based e.g take spinning, solo spinning and spinning with a partner work are two completely different skills.

Private partner work practice should be supplemented with social dancing of course, but it is all about finding the right mix.

 

[toan-hoang]

no, its not a question of numbers IMO, its how you attach with the crowd. i think you are more likely to meet practice partner from a performance course. in socials, most of the time you say just hello (sadly)

Dude, be more social and chat to your dancers


On a serious note, when you are dancing on the social floor you will get more exposure to different dancers, all you have to do is ask. Where for a performance team you will get 20 people give or take, and 10 of the opposite sex... it is purely a matter of probability and statistics here. I got luck with the first performance team as I met my first dance partner (we now run a dance school together), but I think that was pure luck as I didn't really fancy partnering anyone else in the group.

 

[snowflake]

Dude, be more social and chat to your dancers


On a serious note, when you are dancing on the social floor you will get more exposure to different dancers, all you have to do is ask. Where for a performance team you will get 20 people give or take, and 10 of the opposite sex... it is purely a matter of probability and statistics here. I got luck with the first performance team as I met my first dance partner (we now run a dance school together), but I think that was pure luck as I didn't really fancy partnering anyone else in the group.

Nah sorry, I think Olam is right here. Looking for a dance/practice partner on the social dance floor, sure I have exposure to a much bigger number of potentials, but 95% of these are not interested in progressing their dancing by partnering up to practice. In a performance course you can expect that the majority of participants are there because they are interested in improving, so the pre-selection is done for you automatically.

Besides, if I started to talk to social dance partners about being on the lookout for a practice partner I think they would a) think I was coming on to them (depending on their age relative to mine) or b) be weirded out and scared off (I've been told often enough how scary I can be to some people, so I try to keep the scary stuff down)

 

[snowflake]

The BR world has them.. " Formation teams " .Heres the oddity; a "team " may win a world comp., take any couple out of that "team ", and place them in an open high level Comp., they are never up to that standard, without complete re - structuring .

This does not surprise me - imo working on and being part of a formation is a skill in itself. The bellydance groups who win competitions are not the ones who have the best individual dancers (ie soloists) and good soloists don't do so well in formation teams

 

[toan-hoang]

Nah sorry, I think Olam is right here. Looking for a dance/practice partner on the social dance floor, sure I have exposure to a much bigger number of potentials, but 95% of these are not interested in progressing their dancing by partnering up to practice. In a performance course you can expect that the majority of participants are there because they are interested in improving, so the pre-selection is done for you automatically.

Besides, if I started to talk to social dance partners about being on the lookout for a practice partner I think they would a) think I was coming on to them (depending on their age relative to mine) or b) be weirded out and scared off (I've been told often enough how scary I can be to some people, so I try to keep the scary stuff down)

I find that interesting, I used to get asked all the time if I wanted to practice and at one point it started to became a bit silly as there was so many offers.

You can tell those that want to get better and those that don't, those that are looking and those that just want to dance and enjoy, if you can't tell, just ask

If you go to a club and ask 100 people if they want to practice, you will get a better chance of a positive result than if you are stuck with 10 to choose from. Plus, there are loads of people that want to get better, but don't like the idea of performances course.

 

[olamalam]

toan, you are proving my point with what you've said.

1- social dancing is the place where people go for dancing. its very noisy and most of the time people spend their time with dancing. so you hardly know people.
2- whereas in performance groups you spend lots of non dancing time together as well. so you are more likely to know them.
3- people in performance groups are mostly at similar level and aims similar things.
4- even though you dont mean to find a partner, you will need to rehearse for the routine outside of group rehearsal times. its a good start.

as you mentioned statistics, statistically speaking, performance groups serves better as far as i could see so far.

 

[olamalam]

btw, if a girl asks me to practice out of club time, i would think:
%10 she wants to practice
%20 she is looking for free private class
%70 she is horny

 

[snowflake]

I find that interesting, I used to get asked all the time if I wanted to practice and at one point it started to became a bit silly as there was so many offers.

Well I can assure you no one has ever asked me if I wanted to practice . And I don't think anyone ever will, in a social setting. Maybe someone on a performance course would if I hinted?

If you go to a club and ask 100 people if they want to practice, you will get a better chance of a positive result than if you are stuck with 10 to choose from. Plus, there are loads of people that want to get better, but don't like the idea of performances course.

This is probably correct. But finding a practice partner is not my 100% exclusive objective, I also have to consider and nurture my future social dancing career. Asking 100 social dancing leaders if they want to practice would possibly find my elusive practice partner, but would also leave a different impression of me on all the good social dance partners who say no .

btw, if a girl asks me to practice out of club time, i would think:

%10 she wants to practice

%20 she is looking for free private class

%70 she is horny

My point exactly - spot on olamalam . I'm not going there !