Lesson Update... It's all about Connection!

Hi all! I’m so sorry I haven’t had time to write. Seems I say that a lot lately…but I can’t seem to find the time as much anymore. As reported I’ve started my new job and things are going well. I’ve been able to continue my dancing and I’ve even attended quite a few of the group classes, which makes it so much easier to stay on target with my weight loss journey. I’ll get into group class details soon, but first I must tell you about lessons.

Lessons with RT have been good, we’ve been working on a lot of what he calls “Connection.” When I think of connection in dance I think of that really rare thing that happens with a dance partner when it seems like my lead and I are mentally in sink and it makes following effortless. It doesn’t happen a lot, but when it does it’s what dancing is all about! When RT talks connection, he means the more physical side of dancing, are we creating enough resistance and leverage so that it’s easier to lead or follow. Sometimes when he’s describing what needs to happen he talks about the kinetic and potential energy that’s created and how to use it. It seems that when my version of connection happens, RT’s type of connection is there too…he wants me to be able to find it consistently and not just on those rare occasions when I can let go and just dance.

The thing about learning connection is that it’s frustrating! There are moments when I think I’ll never get it, then I do, and I can’t figure out how… so we drill whatever step we’re trying to build connection in again. There are lots of times I feel like I’ll never get it, and even some times when I walk out asking myself why I ever started in the first place! It’s all a learning process, and I must evolve.

I do like learning connection though. It helps me be a better follow no matter who I dance with, if I’m creating the necessary resistance in my frame it makes following so much easier. Some instructors I’ve heard about will make sure that you look good on the dance floor with them. They’ll make sure you follow their lead no matter what, but the problem there is that when you go out socially or try to dance with someone else you feel like you can’t dance with anyone but your instructor!

My biggest issue with taking lessons with other instructors is that I don’t get as much out of them as I do with RT. If I’m taking a Salsa lesson for example, and I know I’m not doing something that RT and I have worked on, for example I feel the connection is off. I look for that instructor to call me on it. If they don’t, then I attempt to correct myself the best I can, and I might ask my instructor about it. I’ll point out that I’ve learned something like connection, or a particular styling that I’d like to work on, then that other instructor will make sure that I do it, but without telling them, they won’t say anything about it. I have to take control of my dance education to make sure I’m getting everything I can out of it.

So, developing connection is extremely important, for both leads and follows. If you’re taking lessons make sure you work on creating that tension or leverage, whatever your instructor might call it. It will make you a better dancer whether you are a competitor or social dancer.

Ongoing Battles... an Update...

So a bit ago I had posted that I didn’t know what I was going to be doing to continue my dancing… Well, I’m still not sure, but things may be getting easier. I recently accepted a new position at a different company that is going to set me off on the adventure of a life time! So that will make things easier… if I decide to continue it will be a little easier to afford, if I decide not to I’ll be so busy it will be hard to notice.

The OTHER ongoing battle with the weight has recently hit a total high point. I got three pounds down this week! YEA!! It’s the biggest weight loss drop in a long time. I’m so excited about it! RT has been happy for me too… it’s so nice to have that support around. My friends are wonderful about it too…but RT has been there since absolute day one… most of it has been his idea…when he challenges me I want to rise to that challenge… whether it be with dancing or with lifestyle changes. I have to tell anyone out there it CAN BE DONE… if you want to improve your overall fitness…no matter how you do it… whatever inspires you… you can do it!

I honestly thought it would be easier at this point… nearly two years into it…but hey a lifetime of bad habits are hard to break… I’m really glad I’ve got the support system I do. I will conquer this…all of it… and be a better person for it!

The Last Few Weeks… The Fast Forward Version…

Hi gang! Ok.. ok… I know... read now, yell at me later… it’s been FOREVER since I’ve told you guys what’s going on… Well… let me go over the last few social outings and group classes real quick…

TOGA Party at South Barrington…
The Captain and I ran down to one of our favorite places to visit FADS SB! They had a Toga Party…a theme we simply couldn’t pass up! I love dancing with these folks! Lots of couples, so no shortage of dance partners, and the staff is just too much fun! I definitely suggest stopping by and trying them out! I made MSU put a Salsa on for me and we had a blast! I also danced a Hustle with HBF and boy does that girl like to spin her follows! MSU and HBF also have a VERY cute swing routine that was just too much fun.

NERD Party at Buffalo Grove…
Break out the taped up glasses and the pocket protectors! We all gathered at FADS BG for a nerd party. The place was jumping! I spent a good portion of the evening dancing with a very nice guest he was a real sport! He was a pretty quick study on the basics of everything too. At one point RT picked me up for a Salsa… I was wearing my glasses (this detail will be important) and as we know I’ve grown rather fond of spinning…the faster the better… and RT is only to happy to lead me into all the spinning I can handle and then some! At one point I spun so fast that my glasses flew right off my face! The magic part of it is that as I saw them seemingly float in front of my face my left hand came up and snatched them right out of the air! That was the coolest thing! I don’t think anyone saw it though. I danced a hustle with another instructor and received compliments on my spins! One of my favorite student leads is back from a break and we pulled of some fun Meringue and Rumba stuff… so glad he’s back!

So parties people… you have to come to the parties! Check the websites for details!

GROUP CLASSES…

Ok so FADS BG has recently beefed up their group lesson schedule. Here’s the run down:

Monday 8pm - Social Latin… Mostly Salsa and Bachata... nice work out and good prep for when you go out to the clubs to dance some Latin! This class has been around for a while and I’m nearly always there.

Tuesday 8pm – Social Bronze… Haven’t had the opportunity to catch it, but I hear it’s a lot of fun! Great way to improve on some of your Social Dancing skills.

Tuesday & Friday 1:30pm Technique Class... Again, haven’t had the chance to attend being that it’s in the middle of the day, but I’ve heard nothing but good things about how this class can help you improve the finer points of dancing!

Wednesday- 1:30pm and 6:30pm Foot Strengthening. From what I understand this is a yoga style class designed to build strength in your feet and ankles… I may have to give this one a try, one of my ankles is giving me problems.

Thursday- 8pm International Latin… Learn how the rest of the world dances Latin! I am pretty regular to this class, it’s fun and a GREAT work out… I love learning about the way other countries do things!

Saturday- 11:15am Ballroom Workout… Well I try to make it to this one… I have a problem though…sleep.. I like it… and so I’ve only been to one so far, but boy does it live up to it’s name! Also a good way to focus on basic steps without focusing on technique too much. Perfect for all level dancers!

Ok! On to the next post!

The Last Few Lessons: Introducing Largo

Seriously I need to either stop dancing so much because it's eating into my writing time, or I need to sit down and find more time to write! I have to tell you that dancing lately could not be better! I will spend, in earnest, the next 24-48 hours updating on my activities of the last few weeks. Let's start with the lessons:

The last two weeks found RT taking some personal time. What's a girl to do when the only instructor she takes private lessons from isn't scheduling lessons? Why, begin working with another instructor of course! (If you'll recall, I found Buddy as a second instructor the last time RT was away from the "office".) Dancing must continue whether my instructor is available or not! This time I ended up with a true gem! He's new to our studio, but he's been dancing International Latin for around 14 years, and he's been an instructor for just about 4 years. So he's got the foundation behind him, and I must say he's adapted to the American Rhythm style really well. For our purposes here he will be called "Largo". (It took me a long time to think of an appropriate nickname for him... and I realize that the initialization of everyone can be confusing :-) )

Largo has been with FADS BG just over a month I think, I had a lesson with him when we first started, kind of a "getting to know you" sort of thing. I really enjoyed working with him! While RT was pretty insistent about Largo being my new second instructor but, I still only have a set number of lessons left, and I'm not entirely sure where my dancing is continuing so I was, and am, not ready to commit to another second instructor.

However, I did jump at the chance to work with Largo again when RT was on his personal time off. Our lessons together were spent getting to know each other, and my adjusting to his leading style. We really focused on the Rhythm portion of my dancing, which RT and I do anyway, but I loved getting a fresh perspective on where I need to improve. Largo has a similar keen observation style that RT has, but he notices different things first. For example RT is very much into making sure my feet are positioned right, and that weight transfer is correct that's first and foremost. Largo, picked up on my lack of arm styling first and made sure I was working my free arm as I should be. Largo also wants me to work my hips more (no surprises there)!

The one thing I made clear, as I always do when I work with someone new at this studio, is that I am there for social reasons before competitive ones. That doesn't mean I don't want to be a good dancer, or learn all the things the competitive students learn, it just means that I am taking a different perspective to my dancing education. Largo is the only instructor I've worked with that didn't question my statement of intent, he accepted it, and continued to teach me what I need to know. This put me at ease right away, I knew I wasn't going to have to justify my choices during my lessons.

Over the last two lessons Largo and I worked on a couple of dances a lot, West Coast Swing, Cha Cha, Rumba, and a little East Coast too. Largo's West Coast style is vastly different than RT, and I have only danced West Coast with RT...so it took some getting used to. Largo's leverage is MUCH lighter than RT. Which, after I adjusted worked out pretty well as I was asked (through the lead) to handle a lot of the steps on my own, where as sometimes the leverage RT and I create kind of carries me through. I learned a new variation on the whip that RT and I maybe touched on once or twice, but Largo and I didn't focus on new steps so much as working on the ones I already know.

Cha Cha wasn't that different, but again Largo had me working that free arm! He asked me several times why that arm "sleeps." I told him it was too much to think about, and he retorted by telling me to wake it up. (Great! I've only spent two lessons with the guy and already my excuses aren't working!) We worked on Cha Cha quite a bit, I think because it is similar to what Largo is used to with his International style, American Rhythm is different, but the overall concept of Cha Cha is the same. I am currently working on making sure I'm ready for any direction change when coming out of the basic, as I now know a step that requires me to move forward instead of the customary back. Oh we drilled that one a lot! I think I actually have it now!

We covered some East Coast Swing, which has the same "triple step, triple step, rock step" basic as the International Jive, but ECS it travels more around the floor, and isn't nearly as fast as Jive. Largo even reviewed some steps that I haven't been lead through in AGES! I was quite pleased that I remembered them! Oh! Most importantly to me is that we really worked on one of the steps that has me, pivoting I guess, with both arms above my head. I've always had trouble with this one, anytime both of my arms are above my head I seem to lose all sense of timing and it never ends right or feels correct. Largo was able to help me out and now, at least for this version, I can do it...stay balanced, and on time!

Rumba time! When Largo asked if I wanted to work on Rumba I totally started laughing! Then after receiving some odd looks from my new instructor, I explained that RT and I work on Rumba in EVERY lesson and it's sort of become a joke that we simply can't have a lesson without it. So then Largo insisted we work on Rumba, and we did. This dance didn't feel very different from RT, which was good. We worked on some steps that RT and I have covered, but haven't consistently practiced. A few of them took me a long time to get, but what I like is that we would finish and Largo would say if it was good or not, and then I would generally tell him what my perspective was on it, and we'd drill it until we were both happy with it. It was pretty amazing that in only two lessons we had developed a quick way of figuring out how to get things so we are both happy.

Largo is very good at taking care of his students too, he relies on reading expressions a lot... and if I looked stressed or out of breath he'd immediately ask if I needed water. Which I generally am not too stressed, or in need of hydration. Problem is I'm a bit of a drama queen with my expressions which made it a little harder for him to read me... but I explained myself. We had one instance where I was being lead through the round-about-crossovers (I'm pretty sure that's what it's called), where the follow is lead through three spins back and forth before ending in an open break of sorts. I hate this step, or I should say I never liked it because I couldn't spin correctly and I always feel out of control with it. Well I've also developed the habit of saying that I hate it when the lead starts, and I have a terrible miserable face for it too. Poor Largo thought he really upset me and stopped completely to apologize! I immediately brightened my expression and said it was ok. I then told him that he can't believe me when I say I don't like a dance step, he has to make me do it anyway! I also told him that if RT listened to all of my protests I wouldn't have allowed myself to learn half the steps I know! This made Largo laugh and he agreed to not listen to me when I protest against a dance step.

In two private lessons Largo and I have developed what could be the foundation to a good teacher/student relationship. I'll have to remember that if dancing continues at FADS BG I'll have to ask him if he'd like to be my second instructor!

Keep an eye out folks! I have socials to write about, and some new good group classes being offered too!