Ask Rene’
Dear Rene’
I attend basic lesson WC Swing lessons as often as I can. Our club hires excellent instructors who patiently share their knowledge and skills. Can you tell me why only beginning dancers come to these valuable lessons? I have always been told to focus on my basics.
Dear Dear Wanna be,
Unfortunately, after a while, people think they know how to do WC Swing and turn their attention away from the basics to learning the flashier moves. The result is a dancer who has all sorts of “stuff” but who is off time, and who cannot do the variations well because they do not have a good foundation in the basics of the dance. I stop in and watch intermediate classes occasionally and can’t help but notice the number of people who have difficulty with the basic moves, yet think they are ready for intermediate material.
I spoke with a couple of national competitors a couple of years ago and both of them mentioned that they still take lessons and focus on basic steps, timing, and working at being a better partner … all the things that are taught in the beginner lessons. Even if you are an advanced dancer, you will learn useful tools at those beginning lessons.
Another reason for attending the beginning lessons is that you will give the beginning students inspiration and a goal. Remember when you first started to dance and how it was for you to dance with someone who knew the dance better, and after the music stopped and before the instructor said “Okay move to the next partner” he (or she) looked at you, smiled, and said, “Nice job”? Obviously you would not only be supporting the individual dancers, but the effort of the instructor, and your dance club
Notes for the beginners
 | When someone asks you to dance, the first words out of your mouth should be “Yes, I would love to”, not “Well … I don’ know … I’m just a beginner … “ |
| Remember to dance in the slot. |
| Cut down on laundry bills by spraying your blouse or shirt underarms with vodka as soon as you get home. The alcohol in vodka neutralizes the body chemicals that cause fabric to develop an unpleasant odor. |
| Ladies – If you like to dance, sit as close to the dance floor as possible. Don’t make the guys work to get to you. And you can ask the guys to dance… it’s one of our norms. |
