Six weeks into Dance lessons

DetroitDarin

I love it. First five weeks were some basic country dances - two-step and line dances. Last week we started swing. Holy cow that's a lot of foot action (for the pervs, not THAT kind ). I wonder who was the dude or chick that made that up back in the day. "Hey! Let's do this dance stuff, but the kicker is - you can NEVER stop moving your feet, even if you're doing stunts and *kitten*! woot!"

It's a work-out - although not intensive. The biggest aspect is my cute little dance instructor. I feel like a big goof next to her. She's a pro - and she definitely earns her money.

Anyone else new or just learning or want's to learn?

True story - a few weeks ago I was a little early and my instructor was teaching what looked like an 8 year old girl. They were doing ballet.

As she finished the mom walked in and told the girl "hey honey - I think it's this man's turn (gesturing at me). The little girl stopped and almost gasped...

"Uh...YOU are learning dance? What dance are YOU learning??" With the MOST-perfect "WTF" look on her face.

Being a 43 year old chubby guy learning Dance brings that reaction out in lots of people.

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synchkat

I'm jealous. I love dance classes.

Good for you. I bet its lots of fun

DetroitDarin

dude, I do that in bed. Before I got to sleep...if you know what I mean....

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DetroitDarin

of course I am ALONE in that bed...but still...

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DetroitDarin

GnothiSeauton23 wrote: »

It's a great way to meet people and get out of the house. I do mainly latin style dances (salsa, bachata) for about 6 years.

Keep it up! I think it's something you'll enjoy.

Thank you! My goal is to be generally non-embarass-myself level at a number of dances. I decided it's time to stop with the "oh no! I don't dance" bs.

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JessicaJS23

Been on my bucket list since I was a tyke thanks to this movie!

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DetroitDarin

JessicaJS23 wrote: »

Been on my bucket list since I was a tyke thanks to this movie!

Dude, go do it. Find time for what you want - don't wait until you're practically a geezer like me

JessicaJS23

DetroitDarin wrote: »

JessicaJS23 wrote: »

Been on my bucket list since I was a tyke thanks to this movie!

Dude, go do it. Find time for what you want - don't wait until you're practically a geezer like me

I am almost practically one! This is a small town .. I may just have to watch YouTube tutorials
That's awesome your taking them!

DetroitDarin

JessicaJS23 wrote: »

DetroitDarin wrote: »

JessicaJS23 wrote: »

Been on my bucket list since I was a tyke thanks to this movie!

Dude, go do it. Find time for what you want - don't wait until you're practically a geezer like me

I am almost practically one! This is a small town .. I may just have to watch YouTube tutorials
That's awesome you're taking them!

Watch 'em then. Or drive a ways. The idea is - regret is an SOB. And - wha? You're almost a geezer and you are - judging by that pic - in your early 20s?

girlinahat

Pretty soon this will be you....

I'm addicted to swing dance since starting classes a couple of years ago. Sunday I fly to Iceland for an entire WEEK of swing dance parties, and last weekend was nothing but Shag.

That'll be your life soon.

climbinggalaxy

I start next Tuesday with a wickid instructor! I'm so stoked! Pretty sweet to find this thread

DetroitDarin

girlinahat wrote: »

Pretty soon this will be you....

I'm addicted to swing dance since starting classes a couple of years ago. Sunday I fly to Iceland for an entire WEEK of swing dance parties, and last weekend was nothing but Shag.

That'll be your life soon.

I love that! This guy (john lindo) was my inspiration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIuSZznCWuk

Really great to see the atypical-sized guy out there workin' it.

This weekend I'm visiting a wcs event in Freiburg, Germany - there's no chance of participating, but I want to go and check out the scene.

climbinggalaxy wrote: »

I start next Tuesday with a wickid instructor! I'm so stoked! Pretty sweet to find this thread

WOOT! You'll have to keep us posted on progress!

My progress -since this thread I've had another lesson. I don't have any victories really -except things are starting to really come together. My legs and mind have a more-clear path of communication. I started to put-together little drills I'd been doing - balance and what-not mostly - and seeing how they affect how I move. I think WCS is more my flavour - but will keep learning east coast because...uh..because it's neat too?

girlinahat

Great to hear you're already travelling and @climbinggalaxy nice to see another convert to dance.

Over here in Europe (well the UK at least) we don't tend to use the West Coast or East Coast monikers. To us it's just Lindy Hop, as revived by Frankie Manning et al. So we tend to learn partner Charleston to start with, then Lindy Hop, which picks up Charleston steps at times, with some Lindy Charleston thrown in and jazz steps. The only other swing-type classes you'll get are jive and modern jive, plus the ceroc/leroc derivative, but the Lindy scene just tends to be full of Lindy Hoppers.

Then of course there's Balboa and Collegiate Shag for when the music gets faster.....

I love the social aspect, and the travelling aspect - there's constant festival weekends and the only limit is money and your calf strength. As to taking up dance as an 'older' guy - well tell yourself that learning dance is one of the BEST things for your mental and physical health.

DetroitDarin

^^ Got it! makes sense!

What I tell myself? "Darin, that looks like FUN. You like to have fun!"

Toss in a little bit of "Anything you haven't learned will limit you at some point" and...here we are

DetroitDarin

Over the weekend I visited a west-coast-swing championship. I went there not knowing how to dance. Came back with many new friends. Folks were eager to teach, more eager to get to know me. Felt like a family - complete with drama of course. But nonetheless it felt terrific. Next step is to find local instructors

DetroitDarin

Dance class 7 or maybe it's 8 last night.

Most fun yet. While I was off on some east-coast-swing, the 2 step was super fun. Got some spins and turns down fairly good.

Best part for me - knowing I will never have to be self-regulated to watching folks have fun like this. I'm not good yet, but to people my age who are scared to even start? I'm Fred Astaire.

Riffraft1960

I am an old man, who doesn't know how to dance anything (always wanted to take lessons, but feel awkward trying to learn). However, I go out just about every Saturday night and dance the night away with a number of different people. One of these days I may learn actual steps, but in the meantime I am having a blast.

saranne1015

I looove dancing, especially salsa. I was in Cali, Colombia (the salsa capital of the world) recently, and I had a blast.

DetroitDarin

@Riffraft1960 - A year from now you'd be glad you started lessons today

@saranne1015 - Yup! It's really fun; I'll learn that a bit, eventually

JukeboxHeroine

I started dance classes years ago and my partner bailed after learning the foxtrot and part of the waltz. I would love to do it again. Maybe someday.

DetroitDarin

i take private lessons; my instructor is my partner when needed

girlinahat

The best thing with learning swing where I am is you don't need a partner. You just turn up and they keep rotating partners during the class. That way you get to learn to respond to people differently and it keeps the style improvisational. Sometimes there's a lack of balance in the class - too many follows and not enough leads, but most workshops will aim to balance out the roles, plus you get a short chance to practice footwork on your own if you are without a partner temporarily.

I'm currently on party night five of dancing in Iceland...,

DetroitDarin

i'm considering a group-lesson plan to actually have partners...But the biggest thing is to simply learn everything I can so I can get to places like iceland for 5-day parties

girlinahat

DetroitDarin wrote: »

i'm considering a group-lesson plan to actually have partners...But the biggest thing is to simply learn everything I can so I can get to places like iceland for 5-day parties

eight dance parties (including a demo session in a bar) over a week's stay in Reykjavik and the West Fjords. I haven't danced for two nights and my feet are itching to get going again.

My tip for you is get social dancing as much as you possibly can - even if you think you can't. I held off from getting on the dance floor for so long and now I realise that is the BEST way to improve.

group lessons are good as you get to connect (physically) in different ways with different partners which helps you to understand what works and what doesn't. I had some great dances over the past week, and some pretty horrendous ones too. I also now know that my repertoire is quite small and that needs expanding.

DetroitDarin

You are my new fav dance buddy i havent met. Thank you!!

sallygroundhog

girlinahat wrote: »

The best thing with learning swing where I am is you don't need a partner. You just turn up and they keep rotating partners during the class. That way you get to learn to respond to people differently and it keeps the style improvisational. Sometimes there's a lack of balance in the class - too many follows and not enough leads, but most workshops will aim to balance out the roles, plus you get a short chance to practice footwork on your own if you are without a partner temporarily.

I'm currently on party night five of dancing in Iceland...,

in addition to the "Quote" "Insightful" and "Awesome" buttons, we now need one for "Jealous"

sounds fantastic!