Dance Help urgent

Subject: Dance Help urgent
From: pavane
Date: 07 Feb 11 - 03:47 PM

I need someone to be able to teach me VERY BASIC dance, e.g. Waltz. Have got to go to celebrity charity dinner dance before end March, and would like to fumble my way through at least one dance with wife.I assume it will be that kind of dance, anyway - no more details. Based in Southwark weekday evenings.

My only dance experience is Morris!

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: pavane
Date: 07 Feb 11 - 03:48 PM

So if anyone can point me to the right place?

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: Bettynh
Date: 07 Feb 11 - 03:51 PM

Learn to dance online

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 07 Feb 11 - 04:37 PM

I wouldn't describe a waltz as basic. I've been trying to learn it for over half a century, and I still can't get it - I've only got two feet and there are three beats to the bar. And I know a Highland Dance gold medallist who can't do it either!

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: pavane
Date: 07 Feb 11 - 06:21 PM

Thanks Bettynh, but not really what I need - someone to tell me if I am doing it right.

Dave, what IS basic, then?

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 07 Feb 11 - 06:34 PM

If you watch Strictly Dumb Prancing, then nothing. Because a waltz is in triple time, you start each bar on alternate feet, and I can keep it up for a couple of bars,so I'm ok in the St Bernard's Waltz, but any longer and I'm either taking two steps (one-three) or four steps (one-two-three-and) to the bar. Dances like tangos are easier, foot-wise, but seem to require knowledge of a few moves.

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: GUEST,goodlife
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 06:05 AM

what' hard about a basic waltz man leads woman follow three steps one two feet together and practice with your partener still the same steps but go in a circle for a twirl if you want to be able to dance ballroom as in strictly come dancving i'm afraid you will have to take lessons which can take years and by the way a quickstep is just the same steps but faster no problem

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: pavane
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 08:07 AM

Not aiming for the Strictly final, just want to avoid embarrassment

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: pavane
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 08:08 AM

Can't rely on the wife, she's always telling me I'm doing it wrong...

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 08:14 AM

Come on over, Pavane- I'll be happy to teach you to waltz! New Hampshire isn't that far, is it?

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: Rockhen
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 03:00 PM

The way the waltz alternates, starting with different foot each 1 2 3 can feel a bit strange...if you are already OK with some types of dancing, does it help to think of it in 'lumps' of 6? L R together R L together, then start again? ( I am not sure if it matters which you start with, as long as you and your wife do opposite to each other!)
Can you find a couple you know who can already waltz and swap partners...purely for the dance, I mean! Most dance teachers would give you a one-off private lesson, I would have thought, if you really are desperate and don't mind paying for a single lesson, or maybe they would suggest a couple of their pupils, who would consider a cheaper version of a lesson?
When I first learnt, you started off by going around in a big circle so you didn't have to worry about turns and things.

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 03:02 PM

I would recommend taking a couple of lessons with your wife. mg

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: GUEST,AEOLA
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 04:31 PM

The man starts by stepping fwd with his left foot, the lady backwards on her right foot. As previously mentioned, fwd, side, together. Just keep the rhythm,   1,2,3..If you want to turn just take any steps but keep to rhythm and always come out of turn wth the basic fwd, side together. Commonly known as the Winter Gardens shuffle.(saturday night dances in Blackpool in the 50's ).Good luck!!

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: GUEST,999
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 04:33 PM

Hokey Pokey is a code name for the waltz.


Written By: Roland Lawrence LaPrise, concocted the song along with two fellow musicians in the late 1940s for the ski crowd in Sun Valley, Idaho. The group, the Ram Trio (with Charles Macak and Tafit Baker), recorded the song in 1949, and they were awarded U.S. copyright in 1950, Acuff-Rose Music Inc.

You put your right foot in,
You put your right foot out;
You put your right foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left foot in,
You put your left foot out;
You put your left foot in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your right hand in,
You put your right hand out;
You put your right hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left hand in,
You put your left hand out;
You put your left hand in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your right side in,
You put your right side out;
You put your right side in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your left side in,
You put your left side out;
You put your left side in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your nose in,
You put your nose out;
You put your nose in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your backside in,
You put your backside out;
You put your backside in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your head in,
You put your head out;
You put your head in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about!

You put your whole self in,
You put your whole self out;
You put your whole self in,
And you shake it all about.
You do the Hokey-Pokey,
And you turn yourself around.
That's what it's all about

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Feb 11 - 04:39 PM

Get into position by facing your partner. If you are the leader, place your right hand on your partner's waist slightly around the back and extend your left hand to your side with your elbow bent and your palm raised, facing her. With that hand, grasp your partner's right hand in a loose grip, and make sure your partner has her left hand on your right shoulder, with her elbow bent. She should mirror your movements.
2
On the first beat, step forward gracefully with your left foot. Your partner should follow your lead by doing the opposite of what you do on each beat - in this case, stepping back with her right foot.
3
On the second beat, step forward and to the right with your right foot. Trace an upside-down letter L in the air with your foot as you do this.
4
Shift your weight to your right foot. Keep your left foot stationary.
5
On the third beat, slide your left foot over to your right and stand with your feet together.
6
On the fourth beat, step back with your right foot.
7
On the fifth beat, step back and to the left with your left foot, this time tracing a backward L. Shift your weight to your left foot.
8
On the final beat, slide your right foot toward your left until your feet are together; now you're ready to start over with your left foot.
9
Repeat steps 2 through 8 turning your and your partner's orientation slowly to the left by slightly varying the placement of your feet.


Read more: How to Waltz | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4302_waltz.html#ixzz1DPDzRPnS


From the www

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: GUEST,goodlife
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 04:17 AM

wouldn't get very far with those instructions guest with no name

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: Dead Horse
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 04:43 AM

All the above is fine if you want to trot around with a number on your back.
Forget that stuff mate, just practise with a partner until YOU feel comfortable then, hey presto, your dancing!

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 05:54 AM

The easiest way - just go along to an Irish ceili where they do a mixture of ceili, set & old time dancing & you'd pick it up in no time! It might not be up to perceived ballroom standards but you'd get by & you never know, might even enjoy yourself!

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: Bert
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 11:17 AM

If you think a Waltz is difficult you should try a Hambo.

Subject: RE: Dance Help urgent
From: open mike
Date: 09 Feb 11 - 01:55 PM

just remember...the first step is BIG and the second 2 steps are little
BIG little little...BIG little little..

several internet lessons also add the "box step" which makes the pattern of steps go in a square...i think this is extra, as it is
confusing to make the count of 3 fit into a 4 sided figure..

as long as you and your partner are dancing the same pattern
it should work out o.k. the whole room will probably be rotating
(that is the people will be moving in a counter clock wise direction)

also -- each couple rotates in a counter (or anti) clockwise direction

as the entire room full of folks also travels counter/anti clockwise

the basic step is illustrated here..http://www.dancetv.com/media/Waltzbasic.mpg in the first part of this clip....when the box step part gets added it makes it more complicated...

good luck!