What's Your Dance of Choice? Green and Yellow Dance Event

[Kathleen]

With so many threads detailing dance styles I thought it would be fun to have a place where people can talk about the type of Dance they like to do. Have you taken any formal classes, or do any training for any style, or do you just play around and do what feels fun?

[Karasayl]

I've actually have been taking ballroom dance classes: waltz, foxtrot, swing, and tango, and so far I have to say that I really enjoy the tango. I can be aggressive and just have a good time with it 8). West Coast Swing can be enjoyable, but only single step. Not into triple step because well...i just feel it looks silly  ::)

 

But when I really think about it, dancing is very closely related to swordfighting. Modern dance still has a lot of many aspects lost when sword fighting because more sport based with 'classical' sport fencing. That as it is, to also improve core strength and agility, I really think learning ballet would be very benefical.

[Kathleen]

I once took a 2 month belly dancing class, but it got cancelled about half the time so I didn't really get what I could have out of it. I thought it was really fun and I learned I had muscles where I didn't think I had muscles before!

 

I also went to one Zumba class which was fun, but I couldn't get to any more. They are really fast paced and some of the dances are hard to pick on fast but I got in the swing of most of the really fast. It was more an excersize class where you dance than an actual dance style, but hey, dancing for fun is dancing for fun!

 

I also took a week of hip hop once in high school...that was...entertaining!

[Kathleen]

How long have you been doing ballroom? Oh, and I am so jealous by the way!

[Karasayl]

haha why be jealous? :)

 

*think* I think I've been dancing ballroom since March actually. Enough time to get basics down, but certaint could use to refine my technique more. I know theres a zumba class before my foxtrot class...and it really does look just like an exercise. I have decided to stay away from hip hop dance tho...mostly as i hear melodies more than beats.

[Kathleen]

I'm jealous because I've been wishing I could take Ballroom for years, but we have no place (that I know of) and I don't have the time or moolah for it. Plus I wouldn't have anyone to dance with, my hubby doesn't dance at all. We didn't even have a dance for our wedding *sniffles*. Yeah, I'm not a hip hop person either..I can do it, but it's not something I enjoy or would do for the fun of it.

[Karasayl]

Haha well I will say, I dont really *ENJOY* dancing, except for tango. Dancing as I see is all about making the woman shine....I mean have you noticed how mostly women enjoy dancing and guys generally don't? But if I had to think of a way to convince other guys to take dancing, especially husbands, just tell them its the one time where they can be in control *grin*  :P

[Onis OLeia]

I love both classical ballet and free dance. The latter is not like freestyle. It is more of a drama dance, where you make your own choreography and mix many different dance styles. Often you tell a story through the choreography, but that is not a must.

[Kathleen]

Ok, I may be way off here as I know almost nothing about dance, but is free dance kind of like what you would see in So You Think You Can Dance? I know they do choreo from dance types but for things like the auditions process?

[Onis OLeia]

Most of the people I've seen on auditions for So You Think You Can Dance have a tune from a specific genre of music. They're often inspired by either hip hop, jazz, a Latin kind of music, or something else. In free dance you actually don't necessarily need any music, but you can if you want to. I used ballads a lot when I danced it.

[Kathleen]

kind of like interpretive dance?

[Onis OLeia]

Yes, kind of. It does not have to be interpretive though, as I already mentioned. You can use many different forms, mix styles and either have a story or not have a story. This is why it's called free dance.

[Kathleen]

It sounds fun!

[Reyn]

Other than pole dancing, I've done... line dancing... =P But I always wanted to learn how to dance for real! And since I did gymnastics as a child it turns out that pole dancing is a nice sort of intermediate between the two =P

 

 

I also dance at the goth club =P haha!

[Bela_theDo]

Ah...I really like to learn pole dancing now...but..oh...well I will throw the idea to the next year as I always do,since I have to study *pouts*. I had ballet and then cha cha lessons before I had an operation...then I turned back to cha cha,then had to stop because I had to study again for my exams.I am thinking of turning back yet again,but it has been too long. And I've had a lesson or two in Bachata,and Tango.

[Kathleen]

How long have you guys been taking lessons of all your dances? Have you ever performed for a crowd?

[Bela_theDo]

I took cha cha for 4 years...ballet for 3. Had performed various times,yep  :D Wish I could go on,though.

[Panchi]

well I had been taking Kathak classes, I just left them in June. Kathak is a dance in which a story is revealed through steps. and dance and swordfighting, i never had a sword but I agree they are same. Dance helps in understanding actions and acting on reflex. It once helped me that I was feeling sleepy in Singing class and had a nap and no one knew because i was singing on reflex. For me dance should me mild but with some steps there should be fastness or something not easy.

[Dahmir]

I actually dont know how to dance but i do want to learn how to. I'm artistically talents, a bit musically talented but not in the dancing field.  ::)

[Kathleen]

Being musically talented may help the dancing if you get proper training. I have the problem of being musically deficient. makes it hard for me to learn dances and timing of the movements.

[Kathleen]

Last Day of the Event. It came so quickly, I hope you all enjoyed it! Feel free to throw in your last minute comments to any conversations!