Hyperreal

Just done my third full WCS class – good stuff.

Was lucky enough to have my own partner/chauffeur too.

The format was pretty much as before… Start with the “basics” routine that we have done the last two times I was there, then add on a variation to it, then after a break, do a couple more variations or different things, then another chance to practice.

I was no-longer the new boy – I think there were one or two guys, and my partner whose first night it was. Meant I got less personal attention, but that’s OK…

I don’t think I did so bad – better than last time – though I’m still making lots of silly wee mistakes and I’m sure my technique could improve a lot.

I still see the same sorts of problems though…

• I still have trouble remembering mid-routine what move comes next, and tend to panic. Not conducive to good leading…

  At one point we stepped through the “complete” routine – I can’t remember if that included the extra variation or not. After it all worked I said to my partner – that’s the last time I’ll get it right. And you know, I was right…

  OK, go ahead and criticise me for negative thinking, but I prefer to see it as honest critical analysis. Once the music starts, the tempo increases, and moves are called less, I have a tendency sometimes just to go blank – especially at the joins of the various parts of the routine that we worked on separately.

• Occasionally in moves like baskets or tuck turns, where I have to concentrate on what my arms are doing, I find that I’m on the wrong foot, or doing totally the wrong footwork.

  Fortunately it’s not so hard to fudge, and most of the time I can just let my feet do what needs to be done.

• Harder to fudge is when I get the footwork wrong on a more complex move than means there’s no way I’ll be able to be in the right place at the right time with my feet in the right places without some serious cheating.

  In particular we did two moves with a “back-together-forward” that I was having problems with last time. In fact, one was the same move, but I think I did a bit better with it this time. The other one was an exit from a stalker walk into a pose. I was rarely on the right foot for the walk anyway, but even when I was, I never once got the timing or footwork right for this move.

It wasn’t all negative though, I could see some definite improvement, and my partner was able to help me a little with some aspects of my lead and timing – especially in the basket.

Talking of my partner – this was her first full class, I think she’d only done the one class at Southport a few weeks back – she did really well I thought. I was dead impressed by her ability to adapt to WCS and follow so well.

She really enjoyed the class – I think we have a convert here!

I’ve still got an open mind and am waiting to be convinced. Actually maybe what I really need convinced about is that I’ll be able to dance this dance to any degree of proficiency. Most of the guys you see doing WCS are simply great dancers, and look good doing any dance, so it sets the bar rather high to aim for… Currently my Modern Jive abilities easy beat my WCS abilities, so if I want to enjoy, and provide an enjoyable dance, I’ll choose MJ. I wonder if I’ll ever be in a position to be able to make a fair choice between them…

Anyway, let’s get back to talking about the class for a bit…

The only other bit of “fancy footwork” was adapting a chasse-style triple step into a “run-run-run” triple step, where the feet “cross over each other”. Basically you turned the triple step into three short, quick, but fairly normal, steps. We were told this was quite tricky to get right, but it seemed straight-forward enough the once or twice I tried it. That said, we were told you could often try to do it, but still end up with a normal triple-step, so I’m not sure exactly what my feet were doing…

During the break between classes we got a bit of practice and a bit of freestyle… Again, like the first week, I didn’t stick to the routine – I’d rather test my ability to lead rather than my ability to remember sequences of moves. At the same time though I tend to do easy or fun moves and don’t practice the hard ones, so maybe sticking to the routine a bit more would be useful just to make sure I cover everything.

By the end we were shattered though, and let the rest get on with it while we watched, changing our shoes, and chatting.

So that was the last class until August. I’ve enjoyed these nights so-far, and I’m looking forward to going back in a month’s time…

In the new “term”, we’ve got a set series of improvers classes to look forward to which will presumably start slow, but build up a firm base of knowledge in us standing us in good stead to move forward…

There’s also monthly WCS tea-dances planned, in a location convenient for both Glasgow and Edinburgh West Coast dancers. I only hope that it is somewhere near a train station, and that it’s not the same weekend as the Ceroc tea dances, as they’ll get my support first.

The turn-out was very good this week – and there were several friends and familiar faces in the room. Good to see them all.

Thanks to them and, thanks to Graham and his demo, and to all the ladies who let me lead them during the class.

Lastly, big thanks again to my partner and lift-giver.

See you all again soon!