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Class of Friday June 18th

The purpose of dancing:
One f the main purpose of dancing, is to discover and own your body. Dancing has the capacity to develop your overall coordination and balance. There is a reason why professional dancers usually seem to have a more even gate when they walk.

Music and rhythm:
We have two feet. It’s only faire that we simplify dancing to basic a count of “1 and 2”(This might not be true for all dances) with even intervals between counts. Within the intervals we are allowed to add the embellishments that best describe the way we feel about the music we are listening/dancing to.

Counting is not for the weak:
When you are trying to figure out and absorb a new footwork pattern it it recommended to count out loud and not in your head. When you do that somehow you brain gets confused and you can’t get it right no mater how hard you try. The instructor is counting out loud for a reason. Do the same. You will progress faster.

Do what you say:
When you count “1”, put your foot down on “1” the same goes for the “2” count. Make sure you don’t step before or after the count. Your words must synchronize with your movement. It is the best way to help yourself progress into being a better dancer.

Dances and steps learned

Bachata
– Basic (Natural basic)
– Forward and back basic
– Left turn
– Right turn

Chacha
– Basic
– Lock step forward and backwards

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Music

Here is a playlist that’s currently available online to train your ears. The more attentively you listen to music the more you understand it and later possibly will enjoy it. Just like a language.

Bachata

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Displacement in dancing: The foot

In oder to move around when we dance, we use our feet. While every type of dance have a basic step, displacement has a basic technique. In order to understand such application, it is important to understand your feet and how they work when you stand walk or run.

The more is understood about your feet, the more fascinating it becomes and with that, comes the fun of true dance exploration.

This video goes over the anatomy of the foot and how it works (what does what and when). Pay attention to the way the foot behaves depending on which muscle is flexing.

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Music listening exercise

Here is a song for you to exercise your mind and ears, and also accustom yourself to some of the instruments that are used in Latin music. This song is reminiscent of classical music without compromising its Latin identity. It contains different layers of the Latin genre hiding beneath the flute.

Each participating musician is sharing their experience of the moment in the music; in how they play their instrument. The patterns may seem consistent, but if you listen closely, you can hear the slight variations giving away their emotions.

See if you can navigate the room where this song is being performed. Spend some time with each musician. Learn a bit more about the pattern they play with their instruments; about how the flow of music as a whole affects their mood and creative character.

Pick a musician and spend some time getting acquainted to them and their feelings. Can you feel their emotions? Are you two agreeing about how awesome this is? What’s her name? What does she play? Can you take over for him for just a second so he can grab some water?

If you didn’t feel impressed and made no friends, that’s okay, too. You can keep your distance and simply observe the instruments played and what they are doing.

Lastly, can you tell which one in the group is the glue that keeps them altogether?

By the way– you can still have the same experience when a singer is thrown in the plot. Just understand that he seems to be “the forefront” of it all, simply because he is speaking a language that paints our emotions in a more palpable way.

If we could talk to instruments, and they responded on their own to express emotions, we would not only marry women or men, but also instruments… More about this in an upcoming post!

Take note, and come share with the others. See you next Monday at 9PM!

*** Try to listen to this with a good pair of headphones, sound system or speakers so you can hear everything possible. Phone or laptop speakers might not do this song or yourself any justice.