Dance Better Now

The killer secret to perfect timing in dance: The Downbeat and the Upbeat

If you are having troubles with timing, then this might be just the thing you need.

Much music comes is sets of two. There might be four beats to the bar, but there is usually a two beat pattern in there too. This excludes the Waltz.

Often the first beat (the downbeat) is stronger and deeper. Then the second (the upbeat) is often lighter and of a higher pitch.

Because this is a simple two beat pattern, it is often easier for those of us who are not strong with timing to pick it up. I wish I had have known about this when I was trying to work on my timing.

The reason why it is called the downbeat is because it occurs with a conductor moving his hand down. This downward motion is a stringer motion than lifting the hand so the beat can be thought of as a stronger (usually) beat.

I was introduced to this method of timing in dance by James Joseph in his book Every Man’s Survival Guide to Ballroom Dancing.

 

James likens the down beat to stopping your foot and the upbeat to clapping your hand.

If you are trying to work your timing for better dance, then try imagining how you would stomp and clap with the music. This is just a start, but it can be a huge start if you have trouble with timing.

Staring with just two beats is practically a guaranteed way for anyone (and trust me; I know how bad timing can be) to start to pick up on timing.

James’s book is aimed at ben, but it is ideal for beginners of any gender (despite the name) taking on partner dancing. It has a strong focus on musicality and learning. Not to mention some advice on posture and getting the confidence to dance at weddings.

If you’re looking for a unique and useful approach to learning dance, then I reckon James’ Every Man’s Survival Guide to Ballroom Dancing is an excellent buy.

Check out the video below if you're still struggling with the upbeat and downbeat.

 

 

Disclosure: If you buy anything via links on my blog, then there is a chance that I will get a commission.

Waltzing: A Manual for Dancing and Living - Review

Waltzing is a book dedicated to helping people better understand the Waltz so that they can not only dance the Waltz better, but simply dance socially better as well. It is written by Richard Powers and Nick Enge. Both are academics of Stanford university with a strong interest in social dance. Richard Powers has been reconstructing social dances from 1000s of historical dance manuals. The authors bring a very unique perspective on what social dance is and how it came to be. This is not something that is easy to find, and that alone makes the book ideal for any social dancer's library.

What's the intention of the book?

The basic aim of the book is to cover the origins of the Waltz and how it came to be what it is today. While it does this, the book also provides an explanation for social dance in general. From this base it can then provide advice on how to perform Waltz (and other) figures better. Not only does it help with the specifics of dance, but by understanding the origins of today's social dance it offers advice on how to approach dance depending upon what kind of dance you're interested in (dance sport, social dance and performance).

What does it offer a dancer?

After reading this book I was really happy with how much I had learned about what social dance is and how it had changed over the centuries and why. 

This understanding makes it much easier for a dancer to better understand why dance is the way it is and how to get what they want out of it. 

And that's what makes this book idela for a dancer. By itself it is an excellent resources that you can pick up at anytime, open to any page and read something useful. However, after you have read it, you will simply feel more comfortable with your understanding of what social dance it all about and what you want out of it. This comfort can make learning dance much more enjoyable and easier.

Is it easy to use?

The book is very well written and easy to understand. However, those section that try to explain how to do a figure really need figures. Often I simply couldn't work out what the authors meant when they were describing how to perform a figure. But this is not really the best aspect of the book. The best aspect of the book is explaining what dance is and it does that brilliantly so that anyone can understand it.

Would I recommend it?

Knowing the origin of something makes it that mush easier to understand and master. This book will, no matter the type of dance you like, help with this. It is also an easy and pleasurable read. You will easily get something out of it. For these reasons I would happily recommend it to you.

Where can it be bought?

You can buy this book off Amazon (that's where i bought it) via the link below.

  

If you’re like me, and you have trouble giving people gift ideas, then this is an ideal one.

Ballroom Dancing is not for Sissies – Review

Ballroom Dancing is not for Sissies (An R-rated guide for partnership) by Elizabeth and Arthur Seagull is one of the best books on dance that I have read in a long time. The reason for it being such a good book is that it has a very unique perspective while still working within the established ballroom system. While it provides advice based on the level a couple is at (bronze, silver or gold) is does this from a perspective of psychology and relationships/partnerships. The authors themselves are psychologists who entered the dance world as adults and progressed to amateur competition. This means that they know what it is like for you learning dance and that they have that extra insight into the partnership of dance that comes with an understanding of psychology. You can see now why it’s unlikely to be like any book you have read on dance before.

What’s the intention of the book?

The basic intension of the book is to help you realise what challenge partner dancing can be and to equip you as best as possible to take on that challenge. While it does cover issues associated with physicality, most of the focus is on the psychology. And in that aspect it offers some original and very useful insight.

It was not until reading this book that I realised how confronting dance can be. As Elizabeth and Arthur point out in the book ‘Dancing assaults our defences.’ Dance is so intimate that it can reveal ‘leftovers’ from our development as it takes us back to an earlier stage of development. We might all have different leftovers, but confronting them is one of the key things that can make dance a challenge for an adult.

Understanding this was interesting enough for me, but Elizabeth and Arthur then go on demonstrate how you can handle this assault and become a better dancer by apply the three Rs (respect, responsibility and responsiveness) to our dance. As I read this I could think of many times when I could have seen a much greater improvement in my dance by applying the methods covered in this book. I also saw and better understood the behaviour of other people that I know through dance.

Along with explaining how you can be a better dancer with the three Rs they also introduce other concepts of dance that were new to me. Their explanation of the shared mind in partner dance was a real insight and an excellent way to explain why there is a lead and follow in dance. They also take time to explain the nature of leading and following from different perspectives and in light of modern changing values regarding sexuality and equality of the sexes.

What does it offer a dancer?

After reading this book, I now know what I can do to improve how I approach dancing for better learning. I am sure that you will to. It also helps you develop a better attitude toward your own dance, your partner, your teacher and others in your dance community. At the end of reading this book, you will feel that you are not only a better dance student, but that you are wiser about dance and learning it.

Is it easy to use?

I found this book very easy to read and understand. Not only that, but once you have read the first two chapters you can pretty much pick it up at any page and understand what is in there so that you can make use of it. Thus it is an excellent book to have as a reference for when you have a problem in dance that you’re not sure about how to tackle.

Would I recommend it?

I usually think that each book has a set audience, teachers, beginners, performers, competitors etc. However, while this book is aimed more at partners who compete, I would say that this is a book that should be in every dancer’s library. If you do not have a library yet, then this would be a pretty good start.

Where can it be bought?

I bought mine from Amazon (see the link below), but I am sure that most book shops could get it in. The ISBN is 978-1-4392-1050-5.

If you’re like me, and you have trouble giving people gift ideas, then this is an ideal one.

Getting stronger abbs for better dance - a Review

Review – The Truth About Six Pack Abbs by Mike Geary 

One of the most important attributes of a good dance is a strong and capable core. If it is well developed, then you are better able to maintain good posture and top-line. If your core is capable, then you’re better able to isolate the top from the bottom and you can achieve much better hip movement.

In this blog post, I am going to review an e-book dedicated to helping people improve their stomach – The Truth About Six Pack Abbs by Mike Geary.

What’s the intention of the book? 

Mike Geary’s target market is actually people wanting to trim down to have a good looking stomach. The book is written for someone who is essentially vain and wants to become more attractive. Despite this starting point – it then takes the reader through the basics of exercise and the need to work the whole body as opposed to just one part of the body. Next it argues very convincingly that if one really wants that kind of a good looking body, then it’s time to watch what you eat and trim down. Nevertheless, it does cover a very comprehensive collection of exercises that are focused on the core, but still works the whole body. These exercises will definitely give you a good set of abbs, but the might not be visible. Finally, it covers things you can do to raise your metabolic rate to get weight down if you still need or want to. At the end of this e-book (close to 150 pages) there will be very few mysteries of weight control, diet and exercise for a fit and capable body that remain for you.

It’s basically written for someone who is vain and just wants good looking abbs, but then digs very deep and provides a comprehensive coverage of the needed information for a good looking and capable body.

What does it has to offer a dancer?

Certainly there is nothing wrong with losing weight if you want to be a better dancer. If you’re a little lighter, then you can move a little faster. Also, if you’re thinner, then you probably will feel better, and dance more confidently.

However, it really is the strong core that is what’s needed for good dance. The kind of core that switches on when you need it and is strong enough to move as you want for as long as you want. This is where the book really excels for the dancer. If you put the effort into following the exercise routine in the book, then (regardless of how much you each and whether you can see your abbs or not) you will definitely find that you can use your core for much better dancing.

Is it easy to use?

There is quite a lot of reading in the book if you want to take it all in. However, you always simply go straight to the exercise routines that are there. They range from the introductory to the advanced. It is obviously hard to exercise if that’s not your thing – there is no real easy way to get fit – but it can be hard to keep track of each exercise. You might need to keep going back to the e-book to look up the next exercise. But once you are familiar with the exercises it’s just a question of the effort you put in to the workout.

Would I recommend it?

When you by The Truth About Six Pack Abbs by Mike Geary, you also get another 6 related e-books on topics ranging from flexibility to balance to general fitness. The value for money is great. I have used the abb exercises and some of the other books. However, if you’re hoping to find an easy way to get a string core and hoping you can read until you have a strong core, then it’s not for you. Nevertheless, if you want to work out to strengthen your core, but just need to know the right exercises, then this is a perfect e-book to buy.

Where to buy

If you want to get better abbs for better dance and too look better, then you can buy the e-book here. For disclosure, if you do buy this e-book, then I will likely be financially rewarded by Mike in soem way.