Log In

Username:

Password:

   Stay logged in?

Forgot Password?

User Status

 

Attention

 

Recover Password

Username or Email:

Loading...
Change Image
Enter the code in the photo at left:

Before We Continue...

Are you absolutely sure you want
to delete this message?

Premium Membership

Upgrade to
Premium Membership!

Renew Your
Premium Membership!

$99
PER YEAR
$79
PER YEAR
$79
PER YEAR

Premium Membership includes the following benefits:

Don't let your Premium Membership expire, or you'll miss out on:

  • Exclusive access to over 1,620 video demonstrations of patterns in the full bronze, silver and gold levels.
  • Access to all previous variations of the week, including full video instruction of man's and lady's parts.
  • Over twice as many videos as basic membership.
  • A completely ad-free experience!

 

Sponsored Ad

+ View Older Messages

Re: Question on Terminology
Posted by socialdancer
7/3/2015  4:11:00 AM
Given my nickname on here I feel I ought to contribute to this thread.
I am a social dancer because I dance for my own and my partner's pleasure. I hope we look attractive to anyone who may be watching but that is not our aim in life.

It's just a personal thing but I do not like competitions, although I have organised several and even judged at one.

The comments about dancing against the line of dance are interesting and there are obviously wide global variations. In my experiend only competitors deliberately travel against the LoD. Social dancers may do so accidentally or as a result of bad teaching. The whisk would be a good example or underturning a figure leading to a poor exit line. My beginners suffer from this sometimes but they are programmed so that alarm bells ring in their heads immediately and they correct themselves as best they can. I have never collided with a social dancer but I have been hit by competitors, once while standing off the floor waiting to join in!

Getting back to the original question, ballroom dancing like any other sport or hobby is practiced at many levels like a huge pyramid. There are a few champions at the top, lots of very keen wannabees just below them, then come the serious hobbyists and at the bottom, supporting the whole lot are millions of people doing it for fun.

So I would call Case 2 social dancers and Case 1 Hobby dancers
Re: Question on Terminology
Posted by samueld
7/7/2015  12:01:00 PM
This is my final post on this subject.

Case 2: "regular social dance" or "social dance" for short

Case 1: "social dance with competition (or ballroom) style"
or
"competition style dance" for short
or
"ballroom style dance" for short

See my next post on "A Perfect Dance"




Re: Question on Terminology
Posted by TundraDancingGal
8/4/2015  7:27:00 PM
I'd say Case 1 is a Terrific Dance for Social Ballroom Dancers and Case 2 is a group of people who enjoy dancing. I was just at a "social dance' but the majority of people had decent technique with about 40% very good dancers. Mixed in were a few instructors and competitive dancers. I've been dancing for about two years and in the last 6 weeks have added private lessons to my group ones, to give you some idea of my ability. I love it, am improving and am am the mid-lower level of social dancing.

At this dance during our mixer I danced with about 10 different men. I couldn't figure out why I struggled with the waltz with 5 of them. I asked advice of a friend a bit more advanced than I, she explained that they probably had their tempo off, so it was a struggle for me. When I danced with the 4 gentlemen who had proper technique and tempo it was (obviously) so much more enjoyable. (the 10th leader was very sweet, but didn't realize he was doing a polka instead of a waltz). I'll be happy to dance anywhere and I'm always willing to learn, but being in a social group where people are adhering to the basics of technique is more fun and less stressful.
Re: Question on Terminology
Posted by DeepndSwamps
9/1/2015  1:51:00 PM
I seem to exist in another world.

My friends and I dance, some compete (two have competed in the Nationals and placed in their division), some compete at lesser venues, most of us have competed in more fun arenas (such as "team matches").

But, competitions are not that frequent, and we like to dance. So, we dance at street fairs, in honkytonks, at monthly ballroom events. I have even been known to do a little West Coast Swing in a coffee shop when the song was right.

I am mostly a social dancer, I don't like the competitiveness of competition.

So, I may dance with a complete 2-left-feeter or medalists. All I know is that I enjoy the dance.

Oh, to add one more note the Social Dance / Ballroom debate, where does street dancing come in? and when part of that dancing includes Zydeco or other local dances?

To paraphrase a song: "It's all about the dance, 'bout the dance. It's all about the dance".
Re: Question on Terminology
Posted by TundraDancingGal
9/2/2015  9:23:00 AM
I'm with Swamp. That's similar to our experience here in WI. I know there are some venues where the VERY good dancers go. Maybe I'll stop in some time, but I want to enjoy dancing, not feel intimidated. I'm happy to be in the middle of the pack. With a good lead I can look down right awesome, with someone my own level, it's acceptable. But EVERY time I dance with someone, I learn something-even if it's compassion and respect for someone willing to dance no matter what others think of them.
Copyright  ©  1997-2024 BallroomDancers.com