Hyperreal

JJ’s tonight… I got to turn up late for a change as we’ve finished practicing for the comp this weekend!

I would have been there earlier, but stuff at work kept me back… Instead I arrived mid-way through the intermediate class. Perfect time to do a costume check!

I’d brought along parts of my costume to try them out with my partner and see if the work well with hers. Seems to be all sorted… There’ll still be some decisions to make on the day, but I like not having everything decided.

So, with that all sorted, on with the freestyle! Danced with a few people I don’t regularly get the chance to. It was good, but it just goes to show how much some of my particular style varies from regular Ceroc moves taught in the classes. One girl apologised for getting something wrong saying “I don’t think I’ve been taught that move”. As I said to her – nor have I.

One girl had a problem with lack of frame, which (I’m told, and I believe too) my particular style really requires to get a good dance. But then another girl had too strong a frame and that caused problems too. I think the key is that the girl’s frame should match mine. The blocks and spins I do need a strong frame, but then I want to do a comb, and that requires a collapse of the frame. I try to adjust my lead and my frame to match the move I do and it can be frustrating dancing with someone who doesn’t match me.

They say that dancing with beginner and less experienced ladies helps improve your lead, but if how I like to dance doesn’t work unless they are a better follower, I’m not sure how that can improve my lead. Perhaps it’s in forcing me to find alternate moves which do work with beginners… But if these moves don’t fit with my style, could I be compromising my ability to dance as I want to dance…

Actually, now I think about it, I can’t really say that I have an ability to dance the way I want to dance. I do have an ability to dance the way I do. There’s definitely overlap, but there’s plenty missing…

Whatever. This wasn’t going to be a deep philosophical discussion into how I dance… So, back to tonight…

Freestyle finished up again at 10, and again I went downstairs for a bit after, but only had one dance, and didn’t stay long.

Good to see everyone though… Might go for the freestyle tomorrow, will see how I feel. Good night!