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I've danced recreationally for about 18 years, also occasionally teaching, performing, or competing, but I found nothing familiar in this article. I imagine it

I've danced recreationally for about 18 years, also occasionally teaching, performing, or competing, but I found nothing familiar in this article. I imagine it might also be discouraging for many people to be informed by someone portrayed as a scientific authority that dancing ability is determined at birth. To keep it topical for HN, there is one thing I would say qualifies as a dance hack, although it sounds like a cliche, which is good posture. It should maintained not just while dancing but from the moment one enters the room. Although it's emphasized mainly in ballroom dance, it applies to any form. It works because we read it subliminally as a high status behavior, and faking it won't occur to the people who could most benefit by it.

wallflower 17y ago
Eighteen years. Wow. You are basically a professional dancer. Professional dancers should be able to 1) be able to perform or compete at a high level 2) teach and 3) dance socially. One thing I left out in my earlier comments is the people who have been dancing for a long time can inadvertently intimidate newbies - particularly for ballroom - because at the dance club they see these really experienced dancers glide across the floor - and they think - how can I dance with these people who are so good and/or dance on the same floor. The nicer dancers will ask newbies to dance because they remember when they were starting out, in simultaneous awe and intimidation. Another dance hack, especially for Latin dancing, is understanding the structure of the music so that you can predict changes in the music with good probability. For example, in Salsa music, listen for a change in the music, count 8 measures and anticipate a break, and if there is no break, count another 8 (16 total) and anticipate the break. Sometimes it gets to 24 before there is a break and followers love it when you can predict these breaks (dance to the music). It is actually a lot, lot harder to do this when you are social dancing and trying to protect your follower (crowded dance floor) - but it is doable. The other part is tempo changes - vary the speed of your moves to the tempo and feel of the music. Slow things down, speed things up.
vlisivka 17y ago
When I watching myself on video, I notice these things: 1) bad posture; 2) improper positions of head, hands, hips, foots, etc.; 4) small steps or movements without power; 3) incorrect movements or steps. So +1 on good posture, which is result of proper emotion. I even created special trainer for that. :-) PS. 4 years in ballroom sport dancing (10 dances).

wallflower 17y ago

Eighteen years. Wow. You are basically a professional dancer. Professional dancers should be able to 1) be able to perform or compete at a high level 2) teach and 3) dance socially. One thing I left out in my earlier comments is the people who have been dancing for a long time can inadvertently intimidate newbies - particularly for ballroom - because at the dance club they see these really experienced dancers glide across the floor - and they think - how can I dance with these people who are so good and/or dance on the same floor. The nicer dancers will ask newbies to dance because they remember when they were starting out, in simultaneous awe and intimidation. Another dance hack, especially for Latin dancing, is understanding the structure of the music so that you can predict changes in the music with good probability. For example, in Salsa music, listen for a change in the music, count 8 measures and anticipate a break, and if there is no break, count another 8 (16 total) and anticipate the break. Sometimes it gets to 24 before there is a break and followers love it when you can predict these breaks (dance to the music). It is actually a lot, lot harder to do this when you are social dancing and trying to protect your follower (crowded dance floor) - but it is doable. The other part is tempo changes - vary the speed of your moves to the tempo and feel of the music. Slow things down, speed things up.

vlisivka 17y ago

When I watching myself on video, I notice these things: 1) bad posture; 2) improper positions of head, hands, hips, foots, etc.; 4) small steps or movements without power; 3) incorrect movements or steps. So +1 on good posture, which is result of proper emotion. I even created special trainer for that. :-) PS. 4 years in ballroom sport dancing (10 dances).