Comments on: Notes From The Lab http://seattlerueda.com/2008/10/notes-from-the-lab-2 A Space for Cuban Music, Dance and More Sun, 06 May 2012 02:13:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Ann http://seattlerueda.com/2008/10/notes-from-the-lab-2/comment-page-1#comment-175 Ann Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:51:55 +0000 http://seattlerueda.com/?p=250#comment-175 Yes, thank you, thank you Dennis. I love to dance Casino!!! I am one follow who is super sensitive to the force/torque in the hands. I have an overuse injury, and forceful pushing brings on pain. At first, I avoided Cuban Salsa because of the pushoff between partners. But it was because I was in a class of beginners, and beginner leads tend to push too hard. I have also danced with some of the best dancers who were over zealous on the hands (in that moment) and had to excuse myself. A great hand pushoff can be compared to a spring or a shock absorber. The lead actually meets the follow's hand with a certain "give" before gently pushing her hand away, as opposed to a forceful push that has more of an oppositional force to it and no give. An analogy would be to jumping on a trampoline verses the sidewalk.... barefoot. Yes, thank you, thank you Dennis. I love to dance Casino!!! I am one follow who is super sensitive to the force/torque in the hands. I have an overuse injury, and forceful pushing brings on pain. At first, I avoided Cuban Salsa because of the pushoff between partners. But it was because I was in a class of beginners, and beginner leads tend to push too hard. I have also danced with some of the best dancers who were over zealous on the hands (in that moment) and had to excuse myself.

A great hand pushoff can be compared to a spring or a shock absorber. The lead actually meets the follow’s hand with a certain “give” before gently pushing her hand away, as opposed to a forceful push that has more of an oppositional force to it and no give.

An analogy would be to jumping on a trampoline verses the sidewalk…. barefoot.

]]> By: Jain http://seattlerueda.com/2008/10/notes-from-the-lab-2/comment-page-1#comment-173 Jain Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:35:41 +0000 http://seattlerueda.com/?p=250#comment-173 Thank you Dennis!! This is why it is good for leads and follows to exchange places occasionally. I definitely notice when a lead is pushing/pulling me around the dance floor because he doesn't think I'm moving fast enough, or doesn't think I can make it to the correct position on my own... don't worry guys, your follow isn't going to desert you, we are taught to rotate around you! When I first started to learn to lead (and I'm still quite a beginner) I noticed that I was shoving follows around, too. But then I realized that rather than trying to make them move faster, I should help by moving myself the opposite direction so that we would end up in correct relationship on time. That doesn't apply to all moves, but it seems to help for many of them. Regarding turns, many leads with salsa roots want the follow to spin like a top - I never learned salsa-style dancing, and I don't do spins, and I think the walking-style turns are much nicer (my own casiono-roots bias). Both Betsy and Dennis have a lot of insight on what feels nice to a follow, thanks for spreading the word! Jain Thank you Dennis!! This is why it is good for leads and follows to exchange places occasionally. I definitely notice when a lead is pushing/pulling me around the dance floor because he doesn’t think I’m moving fast enough, or doesn’t think I can make it to the correct position on my own… don’t worry guys, your follow isn’t going to desert you, we are taught to rotate around you!

When I first started to learn to lead (and I’m still quite a beginner) I noticed that I was shoving follows around, too. But then I realized that rather than trying to make them move faster, I should help by moving myself the opposite direction so that we would end up in correct relationship on time. That doesn’t apply to all moves, but it seems to help for many of them.

Regarding turns, many leads with salsa roots want the follow to spin like a top – I never learned salsa-style dancing, and I don’t do spins, and I think the walking-style turns are much nicer (my own casiono-roots bias).

Both Betsy and Dennis have a lot of insight on what feels nice to a follow, thanks for spreading the word!

Jain

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