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What is the ideal stance for a Lindy Hopper in your opinion, and how big of a part does coordination play in becoming a better dancer
In my opinion the ideal stance for a lindy hopper is that which allows him or her to achieve the most natural motion in the steps for his or her style.
And yes, coordination plays an enormous part in becoming a better dancer.
In my opinion the ideal stance for a lindy hopper is that which allows him or her to achieve the most natural motion in the steps for his or her style.
And yes, coordination plays an enormous part in becoming a better dancer.
D***!!! Well put.. you are wise beyond your ears.. err I meant years.. Boom!.. Bam!! Over just like that.. I think that was the best response I have ever seen posted,.. this thread is now closed!! Just kidding.. but I seriously think it was perfectly put
ElChuy:In my opinion the ideal stance for a lindy hopper is that which allows him or her to achieve the most natural motion in the steps for his or her style.
And yes, coordination plays an enormous part in becoming a better dancer.
Well said! That's what I was going to say, but you said it with about 1/16th the words.
To expound a little on what makes or breaks a good stance for lindy hop... whether you're standing up straight, you're in the "athletic" stance bent way down, or somewhere in between what is important is where your weight is. Keeping your back straight, stomach in and shoulders back all play a big part in this. I am certainly no expert in perfect weight placement, but it's something I am working on and am thinking about a lot.
So, whaddya all think... how does weight placement play into the stance? Any tips on achieving ideal weight placement?
D*** guys.. evryone in Utah has come a long way.. I remember asking this same question like 3 years ago and the only thing people said was.. Stand up straight, back straight, knees locked, like if you were getting ready to go marching... Hmmmm??? Don't know about that one.. sweet stuff.. I tend to do the stance thing automatically now.. howveer I ask this because sometimes people ask me what their stance should be and I think about what's the best way to describe it.. having everyone's imput is very helpful
okay..so..uhh...yeah...never got beyond the whole "be vertical to the ground" part...yes I did some serious depth measurement by landing on my booty quite a few times...I still do...BUT I LOOKED GOOD LANDING MY A** ON THE FLOOR !
I know I have a really bad habit of bending over, though it seems necessary with shorter follows. I was actually thinking about stance issues on the floor tonight.
SpecialK:I know I have a really bad habit of bending over, though it seems necessary with shorter follows. I was actually thinking about stance issues on the floor tonight.
I know what you mean and it's a hard thing for us tall leads. I still fight with it. It is not, acceptable to slouch or to lean over the follow to try to reach. Look for video clips of tall leads and watch how they dance. You wont see them slouching, letting their shoulders out or leaning over. By leaning over I mean moving your center of gravity up and towards the follow. Your center of gravity should be lower and away from the follow.
Some really good leads to watch for a good stance:
Peter Strom (somewhere around 6'5"[Emoticon not found]
Todd Yannacone (somewhere around 6'3"[Emoticon not found]
Skye Humphries
Andy Reid
Nick Williams (tall)
Kevin St. Laurent (tall)
Just plain trying to have good posture is probably the main thing that has helped me. Both on and off the dance floor.
Okay...so what about tall girls who have to dance with short guys...?
Ladies ? your view on this....
Yeah good point.. what about the tall ladies that have to dance with short guys like me... (that would be almost every girl out there)
being a somewhat taller follow (in the swing dancing community, at least) this is what i (think) i do when i dance with shorter guys. i have never seen video of myself swing dancing, so i don't know if i these suggestions make me look like a moron when i dance. so, take it with a grain of salt.
i think what pop said applies to tall follows as well. i also try and keep my shoulders level with my lead without leaning forward or slouching, if he's not too much shorter than me. if he is a lot shorter than me, i still try and dance more into the ground, but i don't want it to look like i'm obviously compensating for the height difference.
when i'm dancing with a lead about my height or taller, i can get away with kind of wrapping my left arm around his back in closed position, but i try not to do this with shorter leads. a bal teacher of mine said that it looked pretty overpowering. instead, i rest my left arm on his right.
i also notice that, in turns, i tend to bend my knees more than i do with a taller lead so that way i can get under his arm without clotheslining myself. i've also done this with newer/tired/drunk leads, who don't lift their arm high enough.
[/my two cents]
I find this a very interesting topic. First off, I think I do try and adjust a little bit while dancing with shorter/taller follows. I'm thinking about the two extremes (Jenny or Katie on the short end and Amanda on the tall end)
I also find that sometimes the music and dance also dictates my stance. I find myself standing up straighter during a Westie song or when dancing West Coast. I remember having a more athletic stance during the faster Lindy songs. Is that bad? Should musicality dictate a dancer's stance?
Buzz:I remember having a more athletic stance during the faster Lindy songs. Is that bad? Should musicality dictate a dancer's stance?
In my opinion, absolutely. Musicality for me is adjusting one's dancing to each aspect of the song. Rhythm, genre, tempo, the general feel of the piece... all of these can and I think should influence the way you dance. That is what musicality is. And if your dancing is being influenced and changed by what you interpret through musicality that will naturally influence your stance. If you are moving differently, your stance will neccesarily be different as well. It just goes to reason...
If your stance is exactly the same each and every song it probably means that you are not incorportating a lot of musicality to your dancing because it's likely that you are not adjusting to the individual songs.
Sweet, you guys are all knowing
I'm trying to imagine a more "athletic" stance to a westie song. [Emoticon not found] That's be pretty funny.
Oh wait, that's how I dance westie songs.
[Emoticon not found] PTS has no musicality o/` teeheehee! ::pointing finger mockingly at PTS::
i.rage:Okay...so what about tall girls who have to dance with short guys...?
Ladies ? your view on this....
avoid them like plague. well, that's what I do [Emoticon not found]
jerk.jpg
traci:i also notice that, in turns, i tend to bend my knees more than i do with a taller lead so that way i can get under his arm without clotheslining myself. i've also done this with newer/tired/drunk leads, who don't lift their arm high enough.
[/my two cents]
does this also keep you from getting kicked in the head? [Emoticon not found]
Amen about the good posture thing. Ria totally singled me out on that issue during the 20s Charleston lesson at Harlem Nights [Emoticon not found] [Emoticon not found] [Emoticon not found]
Really.. singled you out cause you had good posture?.. lucky foo
bobthecow:traci:i also notice that, in turns, i tend to bend my knees more than i do with a taller lead so that way i can get under his arm without clotheslining myself. i've also done this with newer/tired/drunk leads, who don't lift their arm high enough.
[/my two cents]
does this also keep you from getting kicked in the head? [Emoticon not found]
that and i stopped trying out "cool moves" with buzz. [Emoticon not found]
t_roach:[Emoticon not found] PTS has no musicality o/` teeheehee! ::pointing finger mockingly at PTS::
Just cuz my musicality is different than your musicality...
[Emoticon not found]
Ria got me on posture too!
Word.. me too.. a lot of teachers get on me for my posture
Hey boog...it is becaus eyou are brown isn't it ? You stick out like an egg plant in a sea of rhubarbs or carrots...I like rhubarbs though...but carrots taste good too....
Whatever kind of sea you feel comfortable in Boogs...yeah...stick out...
traci:bobthecow:traci:i also notice that, in turns, i tend to bend my knees more than i do with a taller lead so that way i can get under his arm without clotheslining myself. i've also done this with newer/tired/drunk leads, who don't lift their arm high enough.
[/my two cents]
does this also keep you from getting kicked in the head? [Emoticon not found]
that and i stopped trying out "cool moves" with buzz. [Emoticon not found]
And our dancing has never been quite the same... sad...
Sometimes you have to brave the kicks in the head to improve I guess.
Or as someone once said
someone:"Pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses our understanding."
In this case, the shell might be your skull, no?
Buzz:Or as someone once said
someone:"Pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses our understanding."
In this case, the shell might be your skull, no?
[Emoticon not found] lol!!
Yes yes.. an eggplant
Quite frankly, I agree with traci. I like my brain safe in my intact skull.
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