This one was posted in the latter part of 2000

Dances, Dances and More Dances

Yes, I know dances are the mainstay of our leisure activity, but is it necessary to learn so many?
Dances here, there and everywhere.  Instructors are under a constant pressure to teach the 'latest' dances - you really have to be a strong minded character to ignore the pressure and just do what you want to do and what you think is best for your class, even if it does go against the grain, i.e. teach what you want, when you want, albeit one new dance a week, three new dances a week or one a month!
I don't believe most dancers care when the dance was choreographed, and I don't believe many dancers want to learn more than one or two a week. I also believe that when one learns many dances a week, one is not really dancing the dance but going through the motions of the steps as it is impossible to FEEL the music and really dance the dance unless one is confident about the steps.
Unfortunately, the number of different dances being taught around the country now leads to a 'thinning' of any unity between clubs, which of course will make it even harder in the long term for visiting dancers to be able to dance the majority of dances at any social/function.
There is absolutely nothing anyone can do about it, as it is impossible to restrict. I would not want someone saying I can only teach a certain 10 dances, as the chances are I would probably hate 9 out of the 10 and would not deem them suitable for my classes.
I choose a dance based first and foremost on the music, and then the steps. It is a huge juggling act choosing easy dances and hard dances, and all those in between. I believe a 'true dancer' will dance, FEELING the music, irrespective of the steps being easy or hard.
FEELING it is what it is all about - NOT learning as many dances as possible in the shortest space of time.

Lynne

All replies are posted in the order in which they were received i.e. the most recent at the top

(8th Jan 2001)
No, I don't think there are, because everyone has the choice whether or not to dance them! I've been dancing for 4 years now, and the first thing that I look for is whether the music grabs me.
If it's a catchy tune, and just asks for you to dance to it, then I'm half way there. Sometimes I want an easy dance, a recent one that fits the bill is "Hasta La Vista", but sometimes I want the old brain to be challenged. I particularly like Phil Austin's new dance Bang! which is one of the 4 thousand choreographed to She Bangs.
I suppose I've learned about another dozen over the last month (I go to a lot of different clubs), but if they haven't interested me to dance again, I just don't get up when they come on. Surely we all have the choice to select what we want to dance to. Or don't we?
I went to several excellent social dances over the holiday period, and without exception, all the instructors had to cater for every ability level, and they did it very well, so when an easy dance came on, that had a catchy tune, or that I really liked I danced, if I didn't want to I chatted with friends.
What's the problem? Personally I think a lot of people gripe, when what they really want is an evening or class, tailor made just for them, with the dances they like, and any one else’s requests are a nuisance to them, if they don't like them or haven't heard them.
Surely there's room for give and take here. I will learn everything that's taught, but if I don't like it enough to want to dance it again, then I don't. Sure, sometimes this means that I might sit out half a dozen dances in succession, but that's rare, and if I do, well so what! Most social dance nights are at least 4 hours long, and if you have to sit out now and again, it's no big deal.
Sandra
Essex

Hi Sandra,
I couldn't agree more - everyone has a choice and you, as a dancer, seem to be pretty easy going if you sit out a handful of dances in a row that you don't know.
You state that you go to a lot of different clubs, so obviously you enjoy the variety and enjoy learning loads of dances (12+ in a month is a lot!). The majority of dancers go to one or two clubs, and learn on average one new dance a week, so their choice is naturally more limited, which in turn means that when they go to a social, their choice is limited even more, unless the instructors are all in unison with each other. You, quite rightly so, see it only from your point of view. As an instructor, we have to see it from all different viewpoints, and unfortunately, we do walk a tightrope in trying to please. Once you experience this first hand, I can assure you, this relaxed attitude takes on a different slant. But good for you - you sound like every instructor's dream.
Thanks for writing in. I appreciate it.
Best wishes,
Lynne

(20 Nov)
Hi Lynne,
Not only are there hundreds of dances around now but also in many cases there are 5 or 6 to one piece of music. When you go to a Social these days the floor has to be split about 10 different ways sometimes to accommodate every version of a dance - it's ridiculous. You are right -it is impossible to restrict but how I wish we could. I also take on board your comment about feeling the music and liking it but isn't that a wee bit subjective?
The answer is compromise because for all the dances you aren't that keen on you can make up for with one you love.
Suzanne McDowell
Aintree

Hi Suzanne,
Yes, you are right - it is about compromise. It is always about getting the balance right with regards which dances to teach, and teaching too many dances.
As for so many dances to one track - well it is almost a certainty that if a piece of music has massive airplay, combined with 'dance appeal' then the chances are that 'choreographers' will feel the need to 'write' to that piece of music. Personally, I feel the more commercially popular that piece of music is, the less staying power the dance will have so I far prefer to dance to music without this 'pop' appeal.
Thanks for writing in.
Lynne

(30 Oct)
NO...there are not too many dances being written.
Dance is an art form and choreographers have to be allowed to express their talents in the same way that the artist has to paint, and the writer has to write. They do it to express themselves, leave a mark on this world and to make all our lives richer. They do it to stretch us and help us achieve a new feeling, expression, passion or thought. So lets encourage those choreographers to keep those dances coming forever - it's new, exciting, varied, uncharted, a challenge.
It is the teachers who have to make choices and decide whether to teach a particular dance or not after considering ALL the factors like the level of the classes abilities, our own thoughts and what is happening on the social scent.
A hard task, but by no means impossible Lynne after all we are professionals and its what we do week after week.
Can you send John Higgins (Sept. 25th letter) to one of my classes - what a star! what a letter.
Cheers,
The Man In Black
www.justdancin.co.uk

Hi again!
You talk about feeling, passion and expression with regard to the choreographers - I am talking about all those emotions but in the context of the DANCERS.
If you are learning lots of new dances all the time, when do you get the chance to lose yourself in the music, fully confident that the steps you are taking are right? I want to share my passion and feel for a dance with my classes - that is a real driving force for me as a professional.
The trouble with teachers constantly being bombarded with SO MANY dances is the juggling act of teaching your classes sufficient dances that they can go to social nights and not spend the evening as spectators and teaching the dances that YOU, the teacher find exciting.
For me, just knowing hundreds of different sequences of steps is not line dancing - I want the dancers that attend my classes to feel the music and to interpret it as they wish.
Also, it is not possible to look at every dance that is now pouring in to the line dance world and heaven only knows we are probably all missing some outstanding dances - possibly by less well-known choreographers, in the melee out there.
One thing I can agree with you on - John Higgins is definitely a star!
Take care,
Lynne

(23 Oct)
Hi Lynne
I read Bryan's comments with great interest as I can relate to what he is saying. Like him, over the past few years, I have developed a huge need to DANCE, not just move my feet to the steps, and I am starting to learn that if a piece of music does not inspire me, then I will not dance the dance, no matter how popular that dance may be at the current time. It has taken a while for me to realise this, as I am sure you know - put any dance on, and I am there. Having said that, I am always happy to learn a new dance. Whilst I would like to give credit to so many of the choreographers around today, with dances around like 'Chilly Cha Cha' and 'Would You’ (to name just two) it is hard to believe that the line dancing market is 'thinning out.' These are the sorts of dances that can produce an extreme level of passion, and are of outstanding quality. The intensity of my feelings when I dance them means that I will always continue to try a new dance in the hope that it will produce that wonderful feeling again and again.
Love Karen
London

Hi Karen,
Thank you for letting us know your feelings. As I have said before, music usually governs a dance and 90% of the time will be the catalyst in your reaction to a dance. Having said that there is always the exception whereby the dance 'rules' the music - The Rose and Blue Finger Lou in my opinion are just two. That is why I feel one should give every dance a try that the instructor teaches (unless you absolutely HATE the music) and then see if that passion you mention is there. I don't think anyone is expected to like every dance - (remember, what you might like, another person might hate) especially with the glut of dances around. You dance with huge passion, which is reflected in your whole attitude and style.
Thanks so much.
Love,
Lynne

(17 Oct)
Dear Lynne,
When I started dancing (4 years ago) I had a great thirst for new dances but now things have changed because the way I dance has changed. What I mean by this is that in the first year or two I was dancing the dance, playing about a bit with the steps and improvising extra bits as I saw fit. However, I don't so much dance the steps anymore, I prefer to dance the music, the difference is one I'll try to explain as I see it.
When I learn a new dance I am concentrating primarily on the steps. As I become more comfortable with it I think less about the steps and develop a feel for how the dance flows to the music. Ultimately I will reach a point where I don't think about the dance steps at all because I will get totally lost in the music. Now I have come to realise that I ENJOY BECOMING LOST IN THE MUSIC MORE THAN I ENJOY JUST DANCING THE DANCE. It's a similar thing to putting headphones on, turning the volume up REALLY LOUD, grabbing my 'air guitar' and getting on with it. (God, I hope I'm not the only person who does this - I could sound like a right nutcase!)
I have a good stable of dances I can totally lose myself in. I still learn the new dances as they are taught, but my desire to learn them has diminished and actually I would prefer to dance my favourites to new tracks sometimes, rather than the dance newly choreographed because even an old dance feels different when danced to a new track.
Why is it necessary to create new dances every time a new track is released? Why not just match up a much loved existing dance and give it a new lease of life and a different feel whilst keeping the new music flowing. In Ballroom, there are only a few basic steps, but a huge library of music to dance them to, yet the dance has its own character depending on the music it is danced to.
Love,
Bryan Harris
London

Hi Bryan,
You raise some very valid points and I have to say I agree with your present outlook totally. There is a big difference between dancing a dance (just dancing the steps) and feeling a dance. If one feels a dance, and by that I mean losing yourself in the music, and gaining that 'high' then one doesn't need to keep learning new dance after new dance, as the sheer volume would make it impossible to really FEEL the music because your mind would be so busy concentrating on the steps. However, many quite clearly do not feel the music or want to feel the music but would prefer to just dance the steps, as you describe. You have made the distinction very clear.I do not teach as many dances simply because it is essential that I feel that 'high' is being achieved. I also do try and put different music to old dances and although sometimes it works perfectly, other times, it just doesn't work, even though it probably fits perfectly (it might even have the same BMP). However, your Ballroom analogy is accurate and that is why Ballroom will stand the test of time whereas, I am sad to say, line dancing won't.
As for playing 'air-guitar' and feeling the music that way - I identify totally. You are not the only nutter around.
Thank you for your amazing support.
Love,
Lynne

(3 Oct)
Hey Lynne, good for you!
Someone has to make the decision and if you were to listen to everyone you would be teaching about 20 dances per session ranging from the boring to the downright dreadful! Stick to your guns girl.
Anyway, after seeing your picture in this month's Linedancer I don't care if you teach the Electric Slide all night – I’m coming along to your class anyway!!
Tony Lewis (aka The Stud !)
Essex

Gosh Tony, you charmer - are you saying you are going to come all the way from Essex? Well I have to warn you - photos can lie >g<!!
Thanks for your kind words and I look forward to meeting you.
Cheers,
Lynne

(3 Oct)
Hi Lynne,
Just wanted to ask one ? I'm from a small town. And I am in a linedance group, & we do go out & perform. We go to big cities like Palm Springs & San Deigo. My ? is these people will do the same 5 dances the whole night we are there. If we are there for 6 hours or 4 hours, they will do the same dances over & over. I just don't understand this. We do a different dance to every song that they play. I thought we could pick up on some new dances but no way.
Thanks for your time
Teresa
Imperial, California USA

Hi Teresa,
Thank you for writing to me. I would go crazy doing the same dances over and over. I share the same sentiment as you. I think that would be incredibly boring.
Your dance group sounds great.
Best wishes,
Lynne

(3 Oct)
Hello Lynne,
So if I come to your class I will only be dancing the dances you like and nothing else? What happens if a really popular dance appears on the scene and you don't happen to like it? Does that mean your class has to suffer by not learning it. If that's your attitude no wonder you find you don't know any dances when you dance elsewhere?
Nina Thurlowe
Norwich

Hello Nina,
What makes you think I only teach dances I like?
There are many I know I will like but my classes won't and therefore don't teach them. However, it is a question of balance - if I can't relate to a certain dance at all then you are right - I won't teach it. But there are so many dances around that really, in the larger scheme of thing, that dance won't really be missed. As for the dancers not being able to dance elsewhere - well I think that applies to many dancers these days, irrespective of whose class they attend. I am fully aware of what is happening on 'the circuit' and just choose to pick a dance to teach in the same way that many other instructors choose.
Regards,
Lynne

Hi Greta,
I work in a similar fashion. Sounds like you have a sensible Instructor >g<. I guess it all depends on the type of class one is catering too as well.
Thanks for writing in.
Regards,
Lynne

(25 Sept)
The problem I think lies with the magazines. If they just printed 2 or 3 dances per issue then the pressure would be reduced. I think that some instructors use these publications like bibles and rush to teach every dance printed.
Noelene Byrne
Belfast

Although I do think the magazines print too many dances each month, I don't believe it would stop the number of dances out there - especially because the internet offers so many thousands of dances and gives all choreographers an opportunity to air their dance.
It is a nice thought though.
Thanks,
Lynne

(25 Sept)
Hi Lynne,
In response to your latest Viewpoint, I am firmly in agreement with everything you say. As a relative newcomer to Line Dancing, my general attitude is to just have a go. I don't believe that you can restrict the number of dances anyway.
The objective, at least for myself, of doing what I am doing is to create a contrast to the other priorities in my life and if it is something that takes you into another world, if only for a couple of hours each week and it provides a release, then it should be given the platform to flourish. It also provides me with a social forum as well and the good thing is if I don't feel happy or comfortable with a particular dance, I can observe others doing it or attempt it again at a later date.
Thanks once again for Wednesday night's classes.
John Higgins
Wembley