Back to Basics - The Importance of a Solid Foundation in Dance

When given the option between learning the basics and learning cool tricks, which sounds more fun? Tricks, of course! Just like kids want to be on a bike before the tricycle, and toddlers try to run before they can successfully walk, new dancers are usually a little over eager to get into complicated moves. Don't get me wrong, I love the excitement and gung-ho attitude, but sometimes we just need to take a step back and remind ourselves: awesomeness needs a solid foundation. Ask any basketball player if they picked up a basketball and immediately started doing slam dunks. My guess? Probably not. They spent time learning to dribble, pass, and doing free throws before they attempted a layup. Just like learning any new skill, we need to build a solid foundation to create a successful future. Whether you want to learn Tango or Two Step, here are the basics of every partner social dance that you need to have down before you can get to the super cool stuff.

Communication

Social partner dance is all about true lead and follow. This means that the man and woman have to communicate with one another without using their words. It's a lot harder than it sounds!! Leading and following uses an entirely physical language consisting of pressure and elastic tension. This allows the man to completely guide and shape the woman's movements as long as he is communicating efficiently and she is "listening." This is a crucial part of dance that has to be built early so that the more advanced moves can go smoothly. If you're still struggling to walk in a straight line together, with the man leading each step, the tricky moves will be that much trickier. 

Pro tip: Always go back to connection and communication exercises, even after you've been dancing for a while. Sometimes we can get used to our partners and build bad habits of assuming and second guessing instead of listening

Foundation steps

Consider the foundations like the alphabet of our dance language. These steps can seem basic - well, maybe not when you're first learning them - but they are the foundation of everything to come after. The basics give you your general rhythm and the shape of your dance. Even if you're dying to spin a girl 12 times, you have to learn how to properly spin her once first! By drilling in the basics, you can get comfortable enough in the dance to play with it and learn new moves much quicker.

Pro tip: Learning to Salsa dance? The crossbody lead is your new best friend. Seriously. You hate it now, but it's your best friend.

Frame

FRAME FRAME FRAME!!! I can not state enough how important frame is to successful partner dancing. The frame is literally your only source of communication between one another, so instructors (at least at Dance FX Studios) tend to really harp on it. When it is first learned, frame tends to be a little stiff. It is allowed to soften over time, but only if you maintain the structure and stability that frame is supposed to provide. Don't be surprised if you get frame adjustments even after years of dancing. Even the best dancers can get lazy sometimes, so we have to keep an eye on it.

Pro tip: Posture makes a big difference in a proper frame. You may think you're standing up perfectly, but pay attention if your instructor tells you otherwise.

There are plenty more to work on when learning to dance, but these are the biggest things you'll work on when you first start out. In all likelihood, you'll be working on all of these skills for longer than you think. Don't worry, it doesn't mean you won't learn other stuff, too! There's just always room for improvement. If you're looking to grow in dance and live near Mesa, Arizona, join us at Dance FX Studios. After 13 years serving the Valley, we still have incredible instructors offering private dance lessons to bring you from basic to incredible! Our goal is to get you comfortable and smooth on the dance floor, in whatever style of dance you like. Want to get started, but want to get your feet wet first? Our September group classes are starting next week, so you can get a feel for the studio with other dancers of all levels! 

How to Spot A Good Leader (on the Dance Floor)

Have you ever gone out dancing and spotted one couple on the dance floor that just looked AMAZING? Chances are, you can thank the guy for that. Now, don't get me wrong... The lady is doing her fair share of hard work to look good, but she can't do it without the help of a strong leader. No matter how pretty the painting, you can't look at it if there isn't a solid frame holding it up, right? Right. A good leader can be hard to find, but he is definitely worth the hunt. Here are a few helpful hints from the professionals at Dance FX Studios for spotting a great lead so you can guarantee yourself a phenomenal dance.

The lady looks comfortable and the dance looks easy.

If someone looks like they're trying really hard, they probably are. Dancing on a social floor isn't necessarily easy, but it should generally look that way. Whether you're Salsa dancing at a Latin dance club or dancing the Country Two Step in a local Country bar, a good leader is consistent in his lead and knows how to guide a woman properly. When a leader knows what he's doing, his follower shouldn't have to struggle to get through the dance. If the woman looks lost and confused, her leader is in all likelihood giving her mixed signals.

Now, a lady could look confused on the dance floor because she doesn't know how to follow. This only brings up my next point that...

He dances to his partner's level, not above it.

If a good leader is dancing with a less-than-experienced follower, he isn't going to try tons of crazy moves. Since it's his job to make the lady look great, a good leader will determine the level of his follower and go from there. By simplifying his moves, he can keep the lady looking and feeling good instead of one-upping her. If you know a lady isn't necessarily the best follower, but she still looks like a competent dancer, her partner is doing something right.

A good leader also knows how to up his game with more advanced followers. He can pull out the tricks AND lead them with the right lady. But be aware... Just because someone knows cool moves, it doesn't mean he knows how to lead him. If the lady is struggling with the basics of Swing dancing and her leader is trying to drag her through flips and tricks, he isn't a considerate leader. Be wary.

Ladies ask him to dance.

The biggest telltale sign of a good leader? He doesn't have to ask women to dance... because they ask him. I don't mean a random girl happens to ask a random guy who happens to be standing next to her. I mean ladies beeline toward him the second they see he is free for a chance to dance with him. You think I'm kidding? I'm not.  If a guy is a good leader, ladies will compete to dance with him all the time. Watch for it, and stand in line to snag a dance.

He acknowledges his mistakes.

I'll be honest... This doesn't really mean a guy is a good leader. This just means he's a leader I want to dance with. Bad leaders will blame you for their poor lead and good leaders will blame themselves even if it's your fault. If a turn isn't executed perfectly or they end up off the music, a good leader will apologize and fix it. If that happens, he's probably been trained properly through private dance lessons to know how lead and follow works. (Hint hint, guys: if you get to be in charge, you get to claim the mess ups. Sorry not sorry.)

If you're looking to become the leader on the dance floor that everyone wants to dance with, or the follower that every good leader wants to dance with, check out Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ. As the only social partner dance studio in Arizona, we focus on teaching true lead and follow techniques so you can be the best dancer out there. Although you can get a lot more out of the one-on-one experience of private dance lessons, even our group dance classes focus on creating amazing leaders and followers. Just off the 101 and the 60, Dance FX Studios is easy to access from Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, and Phoenix. Join us to become the best Latin, Country, Swing, or Argentine Tango dancer on the dance floor in Arizona!

The Do's and Don'ts of Social Dancing (Part 2)

Welcome to part 2 of Dance FX Studio's social dancing etiquette! Did you read our DO's of social dancing, yet? Okay, go do that first. Caught up? Good! Now that you know a few things you should be doing, let's move on to some of our DON'Ts for social dance - be it country, swing, ballroom, or latin:

Don't #1

DON'T ask if you don't know the dance.

Identify the dance style before asking for the dance. It's uncomfortable for both you and your partner to say "Let's salsa!" only to discover 30 seconds in that it's actually a bachata… and you don't know how to bachata. Listen to the music, find the rhythm, then ask for your dance once you know you're in familiar territory.  If you aren't able to identify the music yet, there's nothing wrong with asking others near you or sneaking a peak at what others are doing.

There's a part two to this one… Don't know how to waltz? Don't ask someone to waltz. Now, I don't mean "You're new to dance, so stay off the floor!" Advanced dancers are more than happy to help beginners through their basics. But walking on a dance floor without an inkling of what the dance even looks like can only lead to trouble. Be nice to your fellow dancers and take a group dance class or even private lessons first! It'll make you AND your new partner more comfortable.

Don't #2

DON'T dance above your partner's level.

I'm really happy you can do a triple free spin, a rag doll dip, and then flip me over your shoulder, I really am. But, dancing is a partnership, not a competition. If your partner is struggling with the basic, forcing them through crazy turns and tricks isn't your best option. Avoid the embarrassment and potential danger by keeping it simple and comfortable. You'll thank me later!

If they seem like they are a bit more advanced, ease into the harder moves. Test the waters a bit before throwing out multiple turns and harder leads/follows.

Side note: No flips or aerials on the dance floor!! With lots of people and little space, it is incredibly dangerous to you and those around you.

Don't #3

DON'T give lessons on the floor.

You are not a teacher, and (even if you are) the social floor is not a proper teaching space. Think about it - there is little room, it's impossible to hear, and no one asked you for a lesson. Even if you do have truly helpful info for your partner, unsolicited advise can make your partner feel uneasy. Social dance is supposed to be fun, so laugh off the mistakes and move on!

If your partner does ask for help, try to move away from the main dance area. Find a space with plenty of room, so you can break things down without getting in the way.

Now that you know some manners for the dance floor, come visit us at Dance FX Studios in Mesa, AZ and learn your moves! As I said earlier, you've gotta know the basics before you jump out on the floor, so check out our private dance lessons. We are conveniently located off the 60 near Tempe and Chandler, minutes away from Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Queen Creek. We teach everything from Jitterbug to Argentine Tango, so no matter what kind of music or dance you like, we've got you covered!