Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Bothersome Dance Habits

One thing I do not understand is why people who have almost no experience in ballroom find it absolutely necessary to give advice.  There are beginners doing perfectly well, and you either give them incorrect information, or you throw something absolutely unnecessary to know at their skill level to confuse them utterly.

Another thing which bothers me is how some people are absolutely oblivious to the other people dancing around them.  They just cruise around the floor and couldn't care less if they run into someone.  I of course always move to avoid them, but I find these people to be extremely inconsiderate and highly clueless.  If you are a dancer, please be considerate to those around you on the floor.  Remember, you don't own the dance floor!  Give everyone their space!

-Aaron Mullen

Kids Class Disbanded

So today is Tuesday, which is usually my busy day.  I think I said this last week, but Tuesdays have been dropping off slowly.  Now I really only have the 7 - 9 classes in the evening.  After my partner and I stopped dancing, Tuesdays lost 1.5 hours of business.  Also, there used to be a vibrant childrens class going, but they got bored because we always reset the class for the new kids coming in.  I mean, how many times can you possibly do the horribly boring American Foxtrot basic?  It gets frustrating after a bit.

I felt bad for the kids.  A lot of them wanted to move on to higher levels, but they were always held back by the newer kids.  Now no one shows up anymore.  It's a little bit sad.

Well, dance tonight.

-Aaron Mullen

Monday, July 30, 2012

Smooth and Standard (American and International continued)


Earlier I gave a simple definition of the difference between the American and International styles of dance.  Let me delve into the difference between the two similar divisions, Smooth, which is part of the American dance style, and Standard, which is part of the International style of dance.

American Smooth consists of Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, and Viennese Waltz, while International Standard consists of all these, with one addition: The fast and exciting quickstep.

Okay, with the exception of Quickstep, all the dances in both divisions have the same names.  They must be the same dances, right?  Wrong!  Here are the differences:

In Smooth, you are allowed to break the dance hold, simply meaning you can execute elaborate spins for the lady and all kind of other 'fancy' moves.  Also, Smooth figures tend to be extremely crude, not at all nice to lead or dance if you are a very experienced dancer, but to the inexperienced dancer, they are easy to pick up and start dancing right away.  This is why Smooth in my opinion should remain as only a social style.

In Standard, breaking the dance hold is not permitted, meaning there are only 2 dance positions, open (or promenade) and closed.  You are not allowed to break contact with your partner at any time, meaning no 'fancy' turns or such.  The figures have had much more thought put into them and require much more technical skill to execute, but, once mastered, are far more satisfying than any Smooth figure.

As I mentioned, in Smooth you are permitted to break dance hold and do all kinds of turns and spins.  I personally find these to be very inelegant and silly.  Anyone can do silly spins and twirl all around, but if you can make yourself look good while maintaining contact with your partner, which is required in Standard, it looks so incredibly wonderful compared to any silly spin in Smooth.

-Aaron Mullen

International and American

To the inexperienced dancer, the terms International, American, Smooth, Standard, Latin, and Rhythm can be extremely confusing.  Today I will attempt to clear up some of that confusion by specifying the difference between the International and American Styles of dance.

Simply put, American style dances are more for social occasions, although American is used in competition, while the International dances are far more structured and geared towards competition.

I will get into the differences in much more detail later today hopefully, then I will list the differences between the divisions within the American and International styles .

Off to dance in a few.  Working on more Foxtrot and Rumba.  Usually Mondays aren't too busy.  I like Mondays at the studio, it is usually very relaxed and not a lot of people.  I like peace and quiet sometimes.

Hope to post those differences later tonight!

-Aaron Mullen

Sunday, July 29, 2012

A Productive Visit

I forget if I mentioned this.  As you may know, I am an avid International Standard style dancer, but recently I have started working on my International Latin dance moves.  If you are unsure of what this means, basically I used to specialize in dances like the Waltz and Foxtrot, but now I am branching into the Latin dances, such as Rumba or Cha Cha.  I believe it is going well.  I have always been pretty decent at rotating my hips, so it seems a bit easier to me than Standard dances.

About a two weeks ago, a very accomplished dancer and teacher visited my studio.  He was a former Ukrainian 10-dance champion, which, if you didn't know, means he danced all the Latin and Standard dances, and he was the best overall in the country.  Pretty darned neat, huh?  Not only this, but he supposedly taught some of the pros on Dancing with the Stars.  Quite a good resume if you ask me.  He taught me Latin!  He is an excellent teacher, and a very good dancer.  He got me doing some difficult stuff very quickly.  Perhaps I can aspire to be like him one day.

-Aaron Mullen

I Need to Have Some Fun!

Hmm, I haven't really had a chance to enjoy Ballroom for a while.  It's always a practice or a lesson, or an internment, but I rarely go dancing for fun anymore.  I have to find someone who is willing to dance with me every once in a while.

-Aaron Mullen

Two Years Ago

Hello everybody,

I thought I would share a little something from two years back:


I am certainly much better at dancing now, but I don't have any recent footage of me, so this will have to do.  Honestly, I feel a little embarrassed about this video, but I hope you enjoy it.

-Aaron Mullen


Saturday, July 28, 2012

Ballroom as an Olympic Sport

From what I can garner, it seems that the WDF (World Dancesport Federation) has been recognized by the  International Olympic Committee as the as the sole representative body for Dancesport, which entails competitive ballroom dancing.  At least, this is what Wikipedia says.  Supposedly this has been the case since the 2008 olympics, and I have not heard anything about Dancesport becoming an official Olympic sport.  Hopefully this will happen within my lifetime.  I think I will look into this more to see whether Dancesport is anywhere near becoming an Olympic sport.


-Aaron Mullen

Another Day

Ah, yesterday was kind of an uneventful day.

I went to dance in the evening as usual.  Hustle first.  We went over what we did last week.  It included a Whip.  I really have no idea what the name of half the steps are.  I can do most of them, but I forget the names really fast, and then I forget the step as well.  I wish we would work on the same routine for at least three consecutive weeks.  Most people want to remember the steps, but we move onto the next thing so fast!  We all forget it after a week or so.  Oh well.

I almost lost the sheet of paper on which I had written the Bolero routine I would be teaching.  I freaked out, but thankfully I found it.  That was a $30 piece of paper!

Today I hope to just sit back and relax a bit.

On a side note.  The Olympics have started!  Hooray!  Maybe one day Ballroom Dance can be an Olympic event!  Ice Skating and Gymnastics are Olympic sports, why isn't ballroom?  I hear that this time around they are giving Ballroom some kind of trail run.  Not sure though.  I heard that a year ago or something and I never researched it.  Maybe I should look that up and post it here.

-Aaron Mullen



Thursday, July 26, 2012

Some thoughts

So today I am taking a private lesson on Bolero.  I think I figured most of it out by just watching, but I think it is best if I get professional instruction, so I asked my teacher to give me a lesson on Bolereo.

Also, I have to renew my USA Dance membership.  For some reason it was $75 last year to register an adult competitor, but THIS year when I get a college discount its JUST $20!  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!  Oh well, they should honestly pay competitors to dance, they're putting on a show for Pete's sake, and you're charging THEM to compete!??!!  I apologize, the whole Ballroom Dance hierarchy bothers me.

-Aaron Mullen


Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Bolero Continued

The major differences between Bolero and Rumba are:

Timing.  Bolero you hold the count of 2.  American Rumba you hold 4.  International Rumba you hold 1.  Confusing right?

In in Rumba there is no rise.  In Bolero there is a rise on the slow step, then a lowering on the next quick.

The hold is more like smooth and standard in Bolero, while Rumba is the usual Latin hold.

Lastly, Rumba foot placements and movements are very sharp, but Bolero is much smoother, more like a smooth or standard dance.

Interesting isn't it?

Aaron Mullen

Bolero

Got a job prospect on teaching Bolero.  Only problem is...  I don't know bolero!  Now I'm scrambling to learn some!

I am looking at it, and it is very different from Rumba, which many people usually compare it to.   I might do bolero instead of Rhumba from now on!  I really like the way it works!

Aaron Mullen

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

A new session

Another day at the studio.  Tuesdays used to be very busy days for me and I had an hour and a half session of practice in the afternoon, but as I stated before I currently have no partner, so now I have much more free time on Tuesdays.  This week my teacher started a new session, and we are working on that ever so excellently designed dance, The Foxtrot!  The flow and grace of this dance are unparalleled by other dances.  Hard to explain at 2 in the morning though.  I think I should go to bed.

Good night, or good morning.

Aaron Mullen

Monday, July 23, 2012

Opinions Opinions

At higher levels of dancing it is important to remember that almost everything is personal opinion!  One judge may like it this way, the other may like it that way, and yet another might like it another way!  Find a teacher you like, and try to stick with what he/she teaches.  Don't try and please everyone at once!

Update

Hello again,

Dance is looking to be quite interesting right now.  I currently have no partner, and I am searching around for someone who is willing to dance with me.

I am still interning at the studio every night for two hours and I still love helping the students to figure stuff out.  They don't need my help as much any more.  My instructor and I have brought them up to a level of skill where they can usually figure stuff out themselves.  It is satisfying to see them excel, but at the same time it is disappointing because they do not require my input as much.

I'm still looking to make money from teaching others ballroom, but now I do not intend to make a living off of it.  Making some good side cash is probably where I will go with this.  Of course, this doesn't mean I am any less enthusiastic about ballroom, I have only changed my goals.

Dance tonight as usual.  I hope it is productive!

-Aaron Mullen