[Sportsandrec] dance lessons

Mon Dec 22 18:46:27 UTC 2008

Hi LM,

Thanks.  I'm sure you did the cha cha well.  Glad this topic isn't repetitive since I think I asked a similar question but did not get many responses.  Since last year Haben and Carly have joined the list or at least you two say more making it seem you're new.  
Did you take dance as a child too?  Were they classes?  Which ones?

Ashley

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Lisamaria Martinez, NOMC" <lmartinez217 at gmail.com>
>Sent: Dec 22, 2008 12:22 AM
>To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
>Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] dance lessons
>
>Hi, this topic is great. Plus, I just went to a wedding on Saturday and got 
>a few comments on how well I dance. I love to dance and have no issues just 
>getting into the music. A lot of my ballroom lessons are easily applied to 
>dancing anywhere. You can get a cha cha beat out of Rob Thomas's Smooth or a 
>waltz out of Nora Jones' Come Away With Me. The cool thing is, you look like 
>you know hwat you are doing.
>
>Basically, Haben gave some really great advice about following and leading. 
>Unfortunately, you probably won't be the instructor's dance demo partner all 
>the time. However, you will almost always have a leader who you can learn 
>from. Also, ask the instructor at the beginning of every class to be 
>descriptive and establish vocabulary for certain movements so if she/he 
>refers to a certain move a week from now, you'll know what they mean. There 
>are many names to many dance steps so you should be able to pick up 
>bocabulary.
>
>My husband and I did a cha cha for our wedding. When we wowed the wedding 
>goers at my friend's wedding last Saturday, we didn't do anything fancy. We 
>could say things like, let's do a basic cha cha step with a half basic 
>leading into a turn. Or, we could say, let's do a cross body lead into a 
>turn. We're not totally compatible dance partners, so it helps both of us to 
>just stick to the basic and when we get fancy, to talk it out.
>
>Also, other advice is to feel someone's hand or foot if you just don't get 
>it. I had a blind tap instructor and she would feel our feet to ensure we 
>had the steps down. Often times, when I don't get a move I ask to feel 
>someone do it. Sometimes feeling the feet helps, but hands can substitute as 
>feet too. Ask someone to use their hands and show the dance steps by moving 
>their hands around. Or, have them move your hands in the steps your feet 
>should be taking. If you are a little shy, always be sure to ask before 
>feeling or only invite someone to show you something physically when and 
>only when you you invite them to show you.
>
>Just remember to have fun and relax. Ballroom dancing is definitely more 
>formalized then getting out on the dance floor and strutting your stuff, but 
>it does require some relaxing. You can't have stiff knees when doing the 
>salsa or the samba.
>
>I hope you decide to take the class.
>
>LM
> ----- Original Message ----- 
>From: <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>To: "Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List" 
><sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 8:08 PM
>Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] dance lessons
>
>
>> Haben,
>>
>> Thanks for sharing your thoughts.  I need to learn as you did by feeling 
>> the cues from my partner.  I could try being the demonstration, but I'm 
>> not sure i'd be the best example.  When I've danced in the past like at 
>> wedding receptions, I followed the lead by feeling their cues as you 
>> described.  I picked ballroom because its graceful and slow paced at least 
>> at the beginning.  Its not like say hip hop which is fast.
>> Thanks for your encouragement.
>>
>> I don't know how you do it being hard of hearing.  Can you at least hear 
>> the music to dance to the beat?  How much dancing have you taken?
>>
>> Ashley
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>>>From: Ashley  Bramlett <bookwormahb at earthlink.net>
>>>Sent: Dec 21, 2008 9:00 PM
>>>To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List 
>>><sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
>>>Subject: [Sportsandrec] dance lessons
>>>
>>>Hi all,
>>>
>>>Since new people have joined thought I'd ask this.  If you have taken 
>>>dance, private or class, what accomodations did you have?
>>>
>>>I want to take ballroom dance and once again my parents don't think its 
>>>doable.  It would be in a class.  Private lessons are expensive!  Anyway, 
>>>they think I'll be lost because its taught visually.  I said the 
>>>instructor would verbalize the steps.  My mom pointed out that likely 
>>>won't be enough and I need hands on guidance and cannot get individual 
>>>attention in a class.  The thing is that they may describe it but it may 
>>>be brief and fast.  That is why we think it may not be enough.  I have 
>>>trouble understanding lots of directions at once if its not slow.  So what 
>>>do you all think?
>>>I think its worth trying but I cannot seem to convince my folks.  I am a 
>>>young adult and don't work yet which is why they have influence on me. 
>>>Its unfortunate that I am not encouraged to try.  Those of you on the list 
>>>who were active as kids are the minority and you are so lucky.  Parents 
>>>generally think if you cannot see it you can't learn it.
>>>
>>>I think that's why partly many blind adults and kids are inactive.
>>>
>>>Happy holidays!
>>>
>>>Ashley H Bramlett
>>>Undergraduate Student
>>>Marymount University
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>>
>>
>> Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
>>
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>
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year