Sunday Dance Information Email 05-13-04

Hello Dancers,

Judy and I had a great time at the Eastern this year but as usual, it was equally nice to see home again. We danced late but still thought about what a good time we have every Sunday night.

This Sunday we are continuing with our country two-step lessons. Now is the chance to pick up some new moves, brush up on basics or just help the newer dancers out.

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Country Western Couples Dancer. (men)

When I write about Country Western Couples dancing some of you pretty much know the type of dancer I am referring to. For those who don't, here is my view and a view that was developed by observing and dancing around the Country Western dancers on the East Coast. I don't have much of a clue about the rest of the country so I would like to hear from the rest of you who have traveled more. Most of the male Country Western dancers that I have run across fall into two broad categories. Those that make dancing a conversation and those that make dancing a monologue. To put it another way, those who know how to lead and those who know how to push, shove and drag.

Judy and I happen to dance with a standard ballroom dance hold. That is how we were taught. We dance that way because it works with lead, follow and turns. We have seen many good dancers use a more "western" dance hold. It looked different but not all bad. They just had to do some quick arm work when the lady turns which wasn't often. Other than that, the dancing was very nice.

Back to the male Country Western dancer. Many C/W dancers start learning to dance in a bar or night club. If they learned from a teacher hired by the club they stand a pretty good chance of getting the basics right. If they learned from a pal or by watching others the outcome gets a little chancy.

Some of the most ugly C/W dancing that I have seen locally is with the butt out, head down, left arm straight out to the side, right arm (whole arm not just the hand) hanging on the lady. These guys usually race hell bent for the corner where they circle around several times before racing to the next. What is the girl doing? Mostly hanging on. Dancing like this is not and art, not a conversation, not comfortable and certainly not pretty. These guys don't want to learn differently because they don't care about all the things that matter to the other type of dancer.

The other type of C/W male dancer is the guy who saw a couple dancing around the floor that looked good. He also may have looked at the bad dancer and made an easy decision. Most of the local clubs have offered lessons in Two Step and other C/W dances at least once a week. With some good music you had almost the rest of the night to practice. Many of the good male C/W dancers learned in the clubs and have very little other training. The difference is that they care about the lead & follow. They take the time to make their dancing better. The best male C/W dancers are those who pay attention to what they are doing and how it affects their partner.

Does it take lots of formal training to become a good social C/W dancer? In my opinion no! What it does take is some basic lessons on the proper technique and lots of practice. Many C/W dancers seek out professional instruction in a dance studio. If they work hard the money spent is not wasted. They still need to do what any dancer needs to do. Pay attention and practice.

So for all of those who try to lump C/W dancers into one group please don't. As in Ballroom, Swing, Hustle, Shag, Latin or any other dance style there are good dancer and bad one.

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~~ From our mailbox this week:

}} Friday 04-16-2004 - "Dancing by Knight" Rumba lesson by Janice from 7:30 to 8:30, Social dance from 8:30 to 10:30pm, Call 497-2694 for information.

}} Saturday 05-15-2004 - "A Time to Dance" "Spring Ball" Starting at 8pm - This event will be held at the Philippine Cultural Center, 4857 Baxter Road, Virginia Beach. The dance show will feature Professional and Pro Am dance performances. Music will be provided by Allen Hedgepeth and "A Step Above". Tickets are $20 in advance or $24 at the door. Food and Drink included Call 490-8999 or email Judy & Walter for advance tickets.

}} Saturday 05-15-2004, PWP Chapter #166 will hold a dance at 8:00 at the Knights of Pythias, Azalea Garden Road, Norfolk. Music by the Continentals - Information may be had at 545-0386.

}} Sunday 05-16-2004 - "A Time to Dance" 6:30pm to 10pm - Walter & Judy's social dance - lessons (2) included. Mix of Ballroom, Swing, Latin and Country Western. Refreshments served $5.00/ per person Call 483-9410 for information.

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Quit griping about your church; if it was perfect, you couldn't belong.

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Walter & Judy Schultz

Home - 483-9410

Country-Western, Swing, Latin and Ballroom

Dance every Sunday night unless notified 6:30pm to 10pm

Held at "A Time to Dance"

Executive Cove Center - 5600 Va. Bch Blvd - Va. Bch

1/2 Block East of Newtown Rd.

Look for Executive Cove Center sign

$5.00 per person

Basic Lessons, Three Hours of Smoke Free Dancing

Drink and munchies provided

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