Is partner dancing misogynistic? At the very least, is it sexist? Given that the men are meant to lead and the women follow, one might think so. Not only that, but the men are meant to show the women off too. In some dances the man's frame is described as just that - a frame: through which the lady is viewed. Even the use of the word lady is a bit suspicious. I would not say that it is misogynistic or sexist. However, it is hard to say that when it comes to the roles between the sexes, it is not traditional.
This can be confronting for some of us. And it might even put you off partner dance. Given the many benefits that can come from partner dancing (including the simple fact that it is fun), this is a shame.
If you find this traditional attitude toward the role between the sexes off putting, but you still like the idea of partner dancing, then I can make a recommendation to you. This came from a dance teacher of Argentine Tango that I took classes from in Hong Kong when I was living in China.
Side note: when I was in China I found that Latin and Modern was done very well and that the Salsa scene was well developed; however, the rest of street Latin (including the tango) was not so developed, and I got my 'fix' in Hong Kong on the weekends. The instructor would travel to Buenos Aires once a year to keep up to date, and he was very keen on the whole culture around tango as well.
Back to the story: The instructor cited an article about how traditional Latin men (and their dances) were on his Facebook page. The article spoke about how a Latin man should always walk to the outside of the curb if he approaches a lady while walking along the side of a road and others things that by today's standard seem perhaps quaint, and maybe a little out of place.
The instructor did not dispute how this seemed, but he added his own thoughts: Thoughts that I think are an excellent guide for those of us slightly affronted by this attitude in dance. In a modern world where the traditional gender roles are often frowned upon in an attempt to achieve equality, we can sometimes feel that we have lost some of our identity. This might be our femininity if we are a woman or masculinity if we are a man. Dance offer a chance to explore and enjoy this without the fear of being judged.
Basically, we need to remember that it is just dance. While it might have elements not appropriate within modern society, it is only a very small part of that society. It can at times be more like acting, and it need not be an indication of how other parts of our lives should be played out. If you view it as a chance to explore another aspect of yourself (and maybe even reaffirm the way you live and act at other times), then it is beneficial to engage in these traditional gender roles for a relatively short time. Use it as a chance to better understand yourself.
If however, you still feel an urge to break away from the traditional roles while dancing, then a Lady can always try some hijacking. It's not common, but it is valid in a few dances.
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Showing posts with label Partner. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Partner. Show all posts
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Why Does Partner Dancing Feel Odd?
Have you ever thought that the way you're asked to move when learning partner feels odd? If you have then you're not alone. Many of us learning dance feel this way. At first, this might not seem like such a big deal. However, when we feel odd doing something, we are unlikely to keep doing it. This means that while we might dance well at first, we will soon regress to way of dancing that feel better, but aren't correct. Ideally, we want the correct way of dancing to feel like the natural way. In this article I will explain why partner dance can feel odd and what can be done to so that this will not adversely affect your dance ability.
A major part of the issue is body language. Many dance moves correspond to bold moves. Or perhaps other strong emotions. If you're not feeling those emotions, then there will be incongruence between what you're doing and feeling. This will definitely make you feel odd.
The other major part of the issue is that we're simply not used to the types of movement that are common to partner dance. This is a lot like when you first put on a pair of shoes and you notice that one is tighter than the other. It's also like when you wear a new watch or stop wearing a watch that you've been wearing for a long time. Another example that is perhaps more pertinent is that of people who still limp after having a hip replacement. The hip doesn't hurt, but they still limp. This isn't as common as it used to be because of better medical care, which in itself shows how hard it can be to change the way we move.
The solution to this issue is basically being aware of the issue. Once we know that feeling odd is OK, and not an indication that we are moving incorrectly, that feeling is less likely to affect the way we dance. Still, to be better partner dancers, we would rather it all feel natural.
The first step is to trust the teacher. When the teacher tells you that you're doing something right, then accept that it is right, no matter how it feels. The same goes for when they say it's not right and it still feels natural. You need to accept that your feel is not as good an indication of good couples dancing as is your teacher's observations.
The second step is to try to take on the emotions of the dance. It's always worth finding out what 'role' you're meant to play in a dance. Are you meant to be bold, submissive, aggressive or desired for example? If you try to take on this emotion, as opposed to whatever you happen to be feeling at the time, then your body language will fit with the dance moves.
The above two steps will do a lot to help. However, it sometimes helps to correlate the physical feeling with the looks. This is why dance studios often have mirrors. Put the effort into looking at yourself in the mirror when dancing or get a video of yourself when couples dancing. It will likely amaze you how different you look from how you thought you would look given how your body felt.
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A major part of the issue is body language. Many dance moves correspond to bold moves. Or perhaps other strong emotions. If you're not feeling those emotions, then there will be incongruence between what you're doing and feeling. This will definitely make you feel odd.
The other major part of the issue is that we're simply not used to the types of movement that are common to partner dance. This is a lot like when you first put on a pair of shoes and you notice that one is tighter than the other. It's also like when you wear a new watch or stop wearing a watch that you've been wearing for a long time. Another example that is perhaps more pertinent is that of people who still limp after having a hip replacement. The hip doesn't hurt, but they still limp. This isn't as common as it used to be because of better medical care, which in itself shows how hard it can be to change the way we move.
The solution to this issue is basically being aware of the issue. Once we know that feeling odd is OK, and not an indication that we are moving incorrectly, that feeling is less likely to affect the way we dance. Still, to be better partner dancers, we would rather it all feel natural.
The first step is to trust the teacher. When the teacher tells you that you're doing something right, then accept that it is right, no matter how it feels. The same goes for when they say it's not right and it still feels natural. You need to accept that your feel is not as good an indication of good couples dancing as is your teacher's observations.
The second step is to try to take on the emotions of the dance. It's always worth finding out what 'role' you're meant to play in a dance. Are you meant to be bold, submissive, aggressive or desired for example? If you try to take on this emotion, as opposed to whatever you happen to be feeling at the time, then your body language will fit with the dance moves.
The above two steps will do a lot to help. However, it sometimes helps to correlate the physical feeling with the looks. This is why dance studios often have mirrors. Put the effort into looking at yourself in the mirror when dancing or get a video of yourself when couples dancing. It will likely amaze you how different you look from how you thought you would look given how your body felt.
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Willpower and Partner Dance - The Simple Key to Better Lessons and Learning Faster
Do you ever find your mind wondering in your dance class? You know you should pay attention, and after you notice that you're not focused you put the effort into concentrating. However, it's not long until all of a sudden you notice that your mind is wondering again. And then not long after that, you notice that you've actually missed something important, and you're just not getting as much out of the class as you could or should be. Chances are that you have noticed this with things other than dance, but dance actually lends itself to this phenomenon more than many other activities. Fortunately, once you understand why this is the case, it is incredibly easy to deal with. In this article I am going to explain why you are more likely to lose concentration in a dance class and what can be done about it.
Willpower
Often, concentration in class comes down to willpower. You obviously enjoy dancing and you like seeing yourself improve. However, at times, when the instructor is explaining something you can feel like Charlie Brown talking to his teacher. You can hear that there is noise coming from their mouth, but it's just noise to you. This is normal. Whenever we need to be still and not active while another talks, our minds naturally wonder. It takes effort to keep this attention, and that means will power.
'So work on your will power' some will say. It's not that easy. An article in the January 2012 edition of New Scientist covered what was currently known about will power. The most interesting thing about it, I thought, is that will power actually uses energy. If you blood sugar levels are low, then we find it hard to maintain our will. This explains why some diets never work. You have little energy from not eating enough food, and this up quickly trying to maintain you will power to not give into the temptation of eating the food you love. Combine this with a diet and exercise regime, and you can see how failure is imminent. This is a slight digression, but it shows that will power (and concentration) very much needs energy.
Willpower and dance
Given that dance can be active it will burn some energy - energy that could be used to aide concentration. Think about when you have your dance lesson. It's probably later in the day. It is likely after work when you have already used up a lot of your energy reserves. So in a sense it is almost like your dance classes have been set up to make it hard for you to maintain the will to keep concentrating on the lesson. When you consider that it is just that, a lesson, then you realise that you might have an issue.
To improve your dance ability you are going to have to concentrate. You have probably already read about how dance is so good for us because it works both the body and the mind. As you now know, this is really going to use up your energy, and rob you of your ability to concentrate.
Maintaining your willpower
So you now know that you need to keep you willpower going if you're going to have effective dance lessons. You also know that the key to will power is energy. So the solution is obvious. You need an energy burst at the start of each lesson. I personally buy a hand full of Chupa Chups every now and then and have one before a lesson. Obviously, any lollipop will do - you just need something that will slowly release the sugar into your system during the class. If you want to be popular with other students or your teacher, then bring enough to share.
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Willpower
Often, concentration in class comes down to willpower. You obviously enjoy dancing and you like seeing yourself improve. However, at times, when the instructor is explaining something you can feel like Charlie Brown talking to his teacher. You can hear that there is noise coming from their mouth, but it's just noise to you. This is normal. Whenever we need to be still and not active while another talks, our minds naturally wonder. It takes effort to keep this attention, and that means will power.
'So work on your will power' some will say. It's not that easy. An article in the January 2012 edition of New Scientist covered what was currently known about will power. The most interesting thing about it, I thought, is that will power actually uses energy. If you blood sugar levels are low, then we find it hard to maintain our will. This explains why some diets never work. You have little energy from not eating enough food, and this up quickly trying to maintain you will power to not give into the temptation of eating the food you love. Combine this with a diet and exercise regime, and you can see how failure is imminent. This is a slight digression, but it shows that will power (and concentration) very much needs energy.
Willpower and dance
Given that dance can be active it will burn some energy - energy that could be used to aide concentration. Think about when you have your dance lesson. It's probably later in the day. It is likely after work when you have already used up a lot of your energy reserves. So in a sense it is almost like your dance classes have been set up to make it hard for you to maintain the will to keep concentrating on the lesson. When you consider that it is just that, a lesson, then you realise that you might have an issue.
To improve your dance ability you are going to have to concentrate. You have probably already read about how dance is so good for us because it works both the body and the mind. As you now know, this is really going to use up your energy, and rob you of your ability to concentrate.
Maintaining your willpower
So you now know that you need to keep you willpower going if you're going to have effective dance lessons. You also know that the key to will power is energy. So the solution is obvious. You need an energy burst at the start of each lesson. I personally buy a hand full of Chupa Chups every now and then and have one before a lesson. Obviously, any lollipop will do - you just need something that will slowly release the sugar into your system during the class. If you want to be popular with other students or your teacher, then bring enough to share.
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Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Understanding the History of a Partner Dance for Better Expression
Have you ever had a discussion (almost an argument sometimes) with someone about how a dance should be danced? I have seen it a few times. One person is talking about how a certain dance should be done and the other is thinking it should be done another way. I have noticed that most of the time each person is really just talking about their preference instead of about anything absolute. This is probably one of the things about partner dancing that a lot of us forget. As much as we like the idea of learning to dance 'the right way' all dances are constructs, and thus arbitrary. However, there are some rules on partner dancing in general and some rules for each dance. But even with these known there is still room for interpretation.
How do you determine if something is just interpretation or a deviation from the dance?
One of the best ways to be able to determine if you're dancing a partner dance within the spirit of the dance is to understand its history. You can always change things any way you want, but by understanding the history of a dance you can at least know if you have broken with the spirit or argue why you're still dancing 'properly'. In this article I will give a few example of how this can be used so that you can better understand how history can be used.
I actually first came across this method of understanding dance when a dance instructor told me about his experience with a woman who thought she was expert in salsa. This man had been dancing for a long time, was an instructor, and new how to salsa. However, this woman said to him, after dancing socially at a salsa function 'That not how you salsa!' She was certain that there was an exact way. However, as this instructor pointed out, 'salsa' means 'sauce' in Spanish because it was made as a mix of things. Thus, it is not a dance that is terribly strict. It is also a street dance, that means it has less structure to it. Thus, as long as you're in time and dancing to the rhythm of the music, then you're probably salsa dancing.
Another example I came across that showed how history helped was from an instructional video. The instructor was talking about Samba. He pointed out that when the samba was made in Brazil there was a large African influence. This gives samba music that heavy drum sound on the 2 and 4 beats. This also means that Samba should have an African like swing in the hips. This kind of guidance helps realise what you do need to do when dancing a dance.
The final example was one for the jive. Because Jive was developed by people who at the time had to work very hard for their money, when they hit the weekend it was like they had been released from prison. And that's how the jive should look and feel: like a man just out of prison.
There are many dances out there so it would get boring for me to go through each. However, you can always search them on the internet. Also, most national dance associations will have a book that explains not just the way each dance should be danced, but why it is like that, which usually comes from its history. If you can get such a book, then it can be very useful. Finally, any book on the history of dance can be very handy. So consider asking for one next time it's your birthday. You will be surprised at how often you want to refer to it - just to double check.
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How do you determine if something is just interpretation or a deviation from the dance?
One of the best ways to be able to determine if you're dancing a partner dance within the spirit of the dance is to understand its history. You can always change things any way you want, but by understanding the history of a dance you can at least know if you have broken with the spirit or argue why you're still dancing 'properly'. In this article I will give a few example of how this can be used so that you can better understand how history can be used.
I actually first came across this method of understanding dance when a dance instructor told me about his experience with a woman who thought she was expert in salsa. This man had been dancing for a long time, was an instructor, and new how to salsa. However, this woman said to him, after dancing socially at a salsa function 'That not how you salsa!' She was certain that there was an exact way. However, as this instructor pointed out, 'salsa' means 'sauce' in Spanish because it was made as a mix of things. Thus, it is not a dance that is terribly strict. It is also a street dance, that means it has less structure to it. Thus, as long as you're in time and dancing to the rhythm of the music, then you're probably salsa dancing.
Another example I came across that showed how history helped was from an instructional video. The instructor was talking about Samba. He pointed out that when the samba was made in Brazil there was a large African influence. This gives samba music that heavy drum sound on the 2 and 4 beats. This also means that Samba should have an African like swing in the hips. This kind of guidance helps realise what you do need to do when dancing a dance.
The final example was one for the jive. Because Jive was developed by people who at the time had to work very hard for their money, when they hit the weekend it was like they had been released from prison. And that's how the jive should look and feel: like a man just out of prison.
There are many dances out there so it would get boring for me to go through each. However, you can always search them on the internet. Also, most national dance associations will have a book that explains not just the way each dance should be danced, but why it is like that, which usually comes from its history. If you can get such a book, then it can be very useful. Finally, any book on the history of dance can be very handy. So consider asking for one next time it's your birthday. You will be surprised at how often you want to refer to it - just to double check.
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