Points To Elaborate on in Dancing

A. Basic Steps Used in Dancing:

1. Walking (usually takes two beats of music).
2. Running (Usually takes one beat of music).
3. Side Steps.
4. Balance Steps.
5. Pivots.

B. The Five Positions of the Feet:

1. Feet Together (Starting Position).
2. Side (Feet Parallel).
3. Instep to heal (extended or open).
4. Forward or backward (walking or running steps).
5. Heel to toe (extended or open).

C. Four Directional Steps:

1. Forward
2. Backward
3. Side Left
4. Side Right.

D. Lead

The secret of leading is to know what you are doing. When you know the step patterns well, and only then, can you give a good lead. Hold firmly, but gently, with the right hand on the lady’s back. Only advanced intricate steps require a strong helping hand. Disguise all effort. Keep the body in good frame. Lead from the center. The lead will strengthen with use so co-ordinate hands and feet in the same movements. Stay away from trick or fancy holds. The use of proper shoulder leads which originate from the center make leading so much easier and eliminate much of the hand signals. Try to remember – the center moves first, the shoulders follow and only then do the feet move into action.

E. Styling And Footwork

1. Always hold your feet in one of the five positions.
2. Keep heels and knees fairly close together as you travel forward and backward.
3. Stand tall, think of reaching for the ceiling with the body for good carriage. Do not slump or consciously relax. Relaxation will come once you know what you are doing.
4. “Follow through” before changing directions.
5. Lift the feet off the the floor do not slide them.
6. Put vitality and life in your dancing. Be natural, be yourself.
7. Keep the upper body still unless it is needed to indicate leads.

F. Lightness

Perfect rhythm will help avoid heaviness. Lagging behind or pausing makes for heaviness. Dance mainly on the balls of the feet. Learn to step quickly. Know your own part well. This will eliminate tenseness. Your dancing will gain expression, animation, and spontaneity. Keep your arms up, do not lean or sag on your partner. Loosen up the muscles by learning all of the steps and dances as each dance loosens up different muscles. Train your feet to do the steps easily and smoothly to make them light and spontaneous. Confidence comes when you do not have to concentrate on the steps.

G. Following

Relaxation comes only when the body is supple. Practice alone. Strengthen foot muscles. Learn to carry your own weight and not lean on your partner . . Hold your arms up. Try not to think of your feet. Trust your feet to follow properly. This will occur naturally if you master your own part. Learn to lead a few. patterns so you will gain knowledge of leading as it help you to follow effortlessly. Perfect posture and good footwork helps to improve your balance. Take long reaching back steps. Keep the feet off the floor. Glide, don’t slide.

H. Posture And Frame

Stand tall, rise slightly, hold elbows equal, keep head up, chin high, chest out, stomach in, hips under in smooth dances. Make the body float on air. Bend knees only as much as you would in walking. Watch for graceful posture in the rhythm dances also.

Rhythm Perfect rhythm develops by accepting the loud beat in all dances. Tap foot in time to the music. Listen to music. Try to distinguish between slow and fast tempos. Do the step patterns alone until you know them well, then practice them to music, using the different tempos, slow, medium, and fast until you gain confidence.

Your rhythm may be dormant because you have no occasion to use it. Educate your feet to move in all directions to step in time effortlessly.

As you begin to distinguish between the different tempos of the music, try to get the same expression in your feet. You might pretend you are putting on an exhibition and use loads of styling! Interpret the music as characters in a movie would. Listen to the music. Make your feet and body respond according to what you feel. This is music interpretation. Of course you will have to scale everything down to fit what you can do on the social dance floor. But, in the meantime, have some fun with your own special ideas.

I. Balance

Rising too high on the toes will make you tense and off balance. Dance more on the balls of your feet. Avoid brusque sudden movement. Make your dancing a picture in motion. Knowledge improves balance, Make all of your steps in a definite direction.

Kelly Gellette is President of NTA. The NTA (National C/W Dance Teachers Assoc.) is a non-profit organization of C/W dance instructors and choreographers. For NTA information Contact Bill Teresco, 2nd V.P., 615 3 79-4564. For specific Information on your membership, write or call.- NTA, PO Box 39, Ekron KY 401 1 7, Ph. 502 828-8887.