[Sportsandrec] dance lessons

Mon Dec 22 19:39:04 UTC 2008

Ashley,

As a youngster, I participated in tap, ballet, and jazz.
I was in numerous recitals to showcase all I was learning in those classes.
As an adult of 24 I am learning ballroom, the chacha, rumba and salsa.
I can now find my way around a dance floor, as well as use some of 
the vernacular discussed last night.
     10:46 AM 12/22/2008, you wrote:
>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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> kwormahb%40earthlink.net
> >>
> >>
> >> Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
> >>
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> >
> >
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>Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
>
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