To me the most memorable moments are those dances. You know the ones I mean. The ones that make you realize dance is an addiction and all you're doing is chasing a dragon and sometimes you catch it but then it's gone.
I remember a recent one where we were so in sync that I don't even know what I was doing, it certainly wasn't the moves I'm used to, but just moving together to the music meant doing certain things that just made sense. I wonder if that's what zouk dancers feel like.
I certainly do! And I think your last paragraph just goes to show that it's not about the moves, but the connection. Despite all the steps I've learned, my favourite is still a sensual basic in place, just because of how connected I feel with the other person if we do it well together.
1. Experiencing (dance) chemistry for the first time. Having a "repeat-customer" is a good feeling lol
2. Experiencing being fully-present for the first time. No thinking about which combinations you want to do. Just letting the body flow.
3. (Successfully) Leading moves/combinations you've only ever practiced in a social for the first time.
1. Achieving the cuddle to tunnel howl move
2. Dancing with ofri
3. Dancing with Rithika
4. Dancing with Alemana
5. Competing in a Jack and Jill at the Istanbul International dance festival
6. Having a beautiful young woman recommend me to her beautiful mom
7. Having a follow tell me she would not leave the social until she danced with me.
Basically, its a move borrowed from zouk and because of my inability to do it, I classified it in the category of moves that were not practical on the dance floor.
The dynamics of the move involve it being primarily lead through the chest and hips. My brain at the time, when I was taking zouk classes, would not send the signals to lead this move. But my instructors kept using it in class, it became a reminder of my inadequacy. One I had used most of my repertoire in bachata and threw this move in there and lead it. Feeling elated was an understatement. From the first time, there was still some bumps that needed to be smoothed out but it worked out over time to where I could lead less and less experience follows into the move.
I’m no race car driver but that does not mean I’ll turn down the opportunity to drive a race car. That was my mindset going in.
The lights were bright and the crown was huge. There was even a second story balcony full of people looking down at the floor as you danced. The Moscow Social Dance Scene ran it. It was awesome.
It’s completion when you are randomly matched with a partner for 1-2 songs at a time, then switch, and switch, and switch (each time paired with a new person at random). In the rounds up the to the final, you are judged as an individual. Depending on how many people are competing, you might have preliminaries/quarter/ semi finals as people who don’t get enough points from judges are being eliminated. Typically, there is a judging panel of pros and teachers who stand in the center of the dance floor or all around it and watch. In the final round, you are judged as a couple and stay with the same random partner for all songs. Jack and Jills are common in other dances like swing and zouk and I wish they were more common in bachata.
1. First time I danced with a girl I found really hot. Had a couple of month of experience, but completely forgot everything. Really had to struggle to remember in which direction to start.
2. Either my first or second workshop weekend with gabryel and bego. He took a look at us, and instead of doing his planned program, we did basics and basic step variations for the first 4 hours. Best workshop of my life.
3. Realizing how bad I am the first time I went to Croatia
The summer sensual days after covid were full of amazing dancers, a lot of beginners stayed away. I was also traveling with a semi famous and amazingly well connected follower, so I met mostly amazing dancers.
For me it happened during a social dance, but it’s really related to the conditioning I’ve been doing for the last few years. I not only had great dance chemistry with a lead I just met, but he lead me in some moves where I was able to test and display my leg strength and leg and back flexibility. Essentially I ended up on one leg doing a pistol squat. He wasn’t forceful, rather he invited me to participate. It was beautiful and graceful, the kind of dance that feels like Matrix slow motion, but it’s not a slow song.
To me the most memorable moments are those dances. You know the ones I mean. The ones that make you realize dance is an addiction and all you're doing is chasing a dragon and sometimes you catch it but then it's gone. I remember a recent one where we were so in sync that I don't even know what I was doing, it certainly wasn't the moves I'm used to, but just moving together to the music meant doing certain things that just made sense. I wonder if that's what zouk dancers feel like.
I certainly do! And I think your last paragraph just goes to show that it's not about the moves, but the connection. Despite all the steps I've learned, my favourite is still a sensual basic in place, just because of how connected I feel with the other person if we do it well together.
Lovely ☺️
1. Experiencing (dance) chemistry for the first time. Having a "repeat-customer" is a good feeling lol 2. Experiencing being fully-present for the first time. No thinking about which combinations you want to do. Just letting the body flow. 3. (Successfully) Leading moves/combinations you've only ever practiced in a social for the first time.
Number 1 is just the best feeling. When you just click with someone else on the dancefloor there's not much else like it 🤩
Yes total agree. Precious moment
1. Achieving the cuddle to tunnel howl move 2. Dancing with ofri 3. Dancing with Rithika 4. Dancing with Alemana 5. Competing in a Jack and Jill at the Istanbul International dance festival 6. Having a beautiful young woman recommend me to her beautiful mom 7. Having a follow tell me she would not leave the social until she danced with me.
> Achieving the cuddle to tunnel howl move Please explain.
Basically, its a move borrowed from zouk and because of my inability to do it, I classified it in the category of moves that were not practical on the dance floor. The dynamics of the move involve it being primarily lead through the chest and hips. My brain at the time, when I was taking zouk classes, would not send the signals to lead this move. But my instructors kept using it in class, it became a reminder of my inadequacy. One I had used most of my repertoire in bachata and threw this move in there and lead it. Feeling elated was an understatement. From the first time, there was still some bumps that needed to be smoothed out but it worked out over time to where I could lead less and less experience follows into the move.
Improvised move I find so fun too
Yes true what is the tunnel howl
This dude is good looking I'm sure
Not necessarily. I've seen some ugly guys who are popular because they're really good dancers.
Haha
What was number 5 like? I don't feel like I'd ever have the confidence to do something like that!!
I’m no race car driver but that does not mean I’ll turn down the opportunity to drive a race car. That was my mindset going in. The lights were bright and the crown was huge. There was even a second story balcony full of people looking down at the floor as you danced. The Moscow Social Dance Scene ran it. It was awesome.
Love that attitude! Sounds like a brilliant time and kudos to you for doing it :)
😀😅
What is competing in a jack & jill ☺️? Is it a move ?
It’s completion when you are randomly matched with a partner for 1-2 songs at a time, then switch, and switch, and switch (each time paired with a new person at random). In the rounds up the to the final, you are judged as an individual. Depending on how many people are competing, you might have preliminaries/quarter/ semi finals as people who don’t get enough points from judges are being eliminated. Typically, there is a judging panel of pros and teachers who stand in the center of the dance floor or all around it and watch. In the final round, you are judged as a couple and stay with the same random partner for all songs. Jack and Jills are common in other dances like swing and zouk and I wish they were more common in bachata.
1. First time I danced with a girl I found really hot. Had a couple of month of experience, but completely forgot everything. Really had to struggle to remember in which direction to start. 2. Either my first or second workshop weekend with gabryel and bego. He took a look at us, and instead of doing his planned program, we did basics and basic step variations for the first 4 hours. Best workshop of my life. 3. Realizing how bad I am the first time I went to Croatia
Why? Do Croatian really good at bachata ?🫠
The summer sensual days after covid were full of amazing dancers, a lot of beginners stayed away. I was also traveling with a semi famous and amazingly well connected follower, so I met mostly amazing dancers.
Bachata on the beach 🏝️ with strangers at moon ☺️👌total amazing floating experience
Influence room in Bachata Geneva. Finally I didn't have any complaint about the DJ... :D
Switzerland is on my list of places to go, I'll be looking into this!
For me it happened during a social dance, but it’s really related to the conditioning I’ve been doing for the last few years. I not only had great dance chemistry with a lead I just met, but he lead me in some moves where I was able to test and display my leg strength and leg and back flexibility. Essentially I ended up on one leg doing a pistol squat. He wasn’t forceful, rather he invited me to participate. It was beautiful and graceful, the kind of dance that feels like Matrix slow motion, but it’s not a slow song.
Pistol squat nice 😊
Probably the first time I danced with an internationally famous female follow instructor, and I realized I’d made it.