| Archive for langcafe2.myfreeforum.org Come in and have your daily cup of languages! |
| Walker |
Gotta Dance!As I was watching some clips on youtube the other week I came across some incredible performances. David "Elsewhere" Bernal, for instance. Apparently this first clip is very widespread on the internet (it's what made him known) so maybe some of you have already seen it. But I was taken by it and it just happened to be what I'd been looking for.
David Elsewhere. The third dancer in the orange shirt... Here he is again doing some of the same moves and some different stuff. Here's another dancer. Watch the first minute or so -- a mannequin come alive. Getting to where those guys are would take a lot of practice, but I have a dream of one day being able to do something similar. Actually, my workplace (lab) is a good place to practice robot moves since there are so many robot arms and shit that make appropriate noices.  Sometimes I just can't help myself.
Anyhow, what kind of music do you prefer to dance to when you go out dancing? -- or when you dance at a party or at home for that matter. I like to dance but I've rarely done so in the past when we've been going out because I'm too shy a person. I've started to come around the past couple of years, though. The music to dance to when we go out to party is usually pop (or rock) music, which isn't very good dance music, really. I prefer something funkier that really hits that dance button. So tell us about your dance preferences and experiences. |
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| Deborah |
Walker, thanks for providing the name of the dancer in the orange shirt. Yes, I saw that clip when it first became a featured video on youtube, and I was astounded.
I only like dancing with a partner, and Latin dances are my favorite, especially salsa. I was born too late to do partner dancing in my formative years; the Twist was the new dance when I started junior high school. I didn't find my groove until the nostalgia trend brought back swing dancing, in the '70s. For the longest time I couldn't figure out why I couldn't just get up on the dance floor and dance (without a partner), because when I was in choreographed dances, I could do all the moves. Finally, I realized that I just don't enjoy dancing by myself unless it's a performance (and I mean a real performance). JThe only time I ever went to a disco was in (then) Leningrad. A friend of a friend of mine had a dance school where they gave classes in, among other things, hip-hop. A lot of this guys students were at the disco. Despite my many protestations, my hosts insisted I get up and dance. So I gave it a shot, even though I was 20 years older than most of the clientele and lots of people were staring at me. After probably less than a minute, I told myself it was ridiculous to be doing something I had absolutely no interest in doing, just to make someone else happy. So I sat down, thinking that that was on of the most embarrassing moments of my life. |
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| Uriel |
Can't dance. I mean severely dance-impaired. Can't even two-step. No rhythm whatsoever. So much for that Brazilian blood from my dad's side.... 
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| Pauline |
Wow!!!! I love those videos!!!! Especially David Elsewhere.
I've good rythm and I can make / copy many movements very well because before I've done gymnastic and also I'm double-jointed (hypermobile joints). Sometimes in my yoga class I can make those positions what the other people can't 
I like dance, but I didn't learn ballet and now I'm too old because you must be very young. I went to some lessons I think, but few and I forgot it. Wht a pity, I think as ballet seems a good basis - like for the music the piano. I learn belly-dancing and I tried hip-hop, but in the hip-hop class was too many people so I didn't return there. Also I've learned little bit salsa and merengue. Before I've learned other dances as well. I havn't so much energy as some years ago, so belly-dancing is nice because it's not high energy dance and mostly I can be in the entire lesson 1 1/2h. Those movements of David Elsewhere I'd like to learn and I think that I would be capable, but there aren't lessons!!
I can dance well but i've problems to remember the choreography, also I can't improvise at all and when the teacher tells us that we must improvise I don't know what to do and I feel embarrassed. If she would tell very clearly and with good structure then I'd prefer this. |
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| Yelina |
I never took dance classes (except once just for fun). It was hip-hop/ragga dance and I really enjoyed this moment. Not only for the dance, but also for the great moments I spent with someone really dear in my eyes.
When I go to the club, I try to dance on all kinds of music because the way I and my friends dance can suit these musics. Nevertheless, I don't like being watched dancing. I prefer when there's people on the dancefloor (though not too much because otherwise we can't move anymore!) 
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| Walker |
One of the things that used to make me (and still does sometimes) avoid the dance floor was that I didn't know how to dance. I took dancing too seriously, I guess. I wanted to have at least some basic knowledge and some structure. But it's like my friends always said -- nobody can really dance anyway so there's no way you're going to make a fool out yourself. Now I'm talking about places that we used to go to, where they didn't play any real/specific dance music. At the grand ball in High School we sure as hell had structure, though. There was a lot of practice and the result was a big peformance. It was the only time I've danced with a partner.
No, poor you! I've been dragged onto a dance floor a couple of times. Sometimes it's fun and sometimes it isn't. After a while you sometimes realize what you're doing, and what you're doing is repeating the same little moves over and over (like everybody else), and you wonder if there shouldn't be something more.
Babe, all you gotta do is shake your... I mean, just move around a little and you'll appear to be dancing. At least that's how it usually works here after what I've seen.
I read somewhere that dancing belly dance is supposed to be good for you. Apparently it's sensual and good for your spirit and it doesn't wear out your joints. Well, it's good that you've found a dance class you like! What's merengue?
I'm glad you liked the video clips. Pauline, the guy is self-taught. Here is an interview. Find inspiration and practice, practice, practice... It seems to me like you have great potential if you just put your mind to it.
Maybe you're just insecure? Have you tried improvising at home?
I too prefer if there's some people on the floor; if it's empty I generally avoid it. Hm, I'd like to see you and your friends do your thing!
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| Pauline |
Mostly it's very fun. Sometimes it isn't, for example there's a girl who doesn't never shut up and I want to tell her to shut her mouth!!! Fortunalty she doesn't talk with me. The teacher's mostly nice and good, the music's beautiful and the clothes also.
Maybe I spelled this incorrectly. It's a latin dance, like soemthing basic you can quickly learn before salsa.
thanks for the link to the interview. I've read some of it and it was interesting.
I'm very insecure, it's true, so for sure this will be the cause. I knwo that I'm the best dancer of my class despite I missed the half of lessons, but really my difficulty is to remember the choreography because my thoughts disappear so I can't remember those things. I watch the other girls and copy the movements but this isn't fun and you can't dance if you must look before you will know what to do. If the teacher doesn't clearly explain the movements it make me to get muddle up as well, because I can't undertsnad it when the one thing will continue to the next without some time between of nothing. Probably I'm very slowly thinking, but it's a good suggestion to try improvising at home and to practice those movements what I can remember as well. At least I can make the movements and the teacher says me that I'm doing well, and some girls can't make those movements at all for example with the hips or arms.
It would be fun to see a video of all the people here when they're dancing!!! 
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| Deborah |
Pauline, you did spell "merengue" correctly.
Here's some [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merengue_(music)]information about merengue[/url]. [I don't know why that link doesn't work, but copying & pasting the url does.] (Note that the article refers to the “English word meringue” without mentioning that it was borrowed from French.) Here’s the best example I could find of the couple dance type of merengue, which I suspect is the type Pauline learned, and is the type you usually see danced in company with salsa. There are videos with professional teachers demonstrating that get much fancier with steps, but I don’t think they look nearly as good as the girls in this video. This website has lots of videos of various merengue artists, from various periods, some of them with backup dancers, some with the singers themselves dancing. When I used to go to salsa clubs, I discovered that a lot of the salseros mayores turned up their noses at merengue, and if one was played, they'd leave the dance floor. Everyone else enjoyed it, though. |
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| Yelina |
Well, if it's to make fun of us, no way!! 
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| Walker |
It's good that you are able to copy other people's movements. That's a good start, at least. Can't you ask your teacher to give you the choreography written down on a piece of paper or something? Deborah, that dancing couple looked very nice, indeed. Nice to know that there is a latin dance that's simpler than salsa! And thanks for those other links.
Of course not! The only purpose would be to... study you! 
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| Pauline |
I think that she doesn't have the choreography written down. Probably I will remember it but it will take little bit more time I suppose. they don't tell me off or are annoyed with me, maybe they find I'm stupid I don't know it's better don't put my thoughts to it because then it wouldn't be possible to enjoy the dancing. Until now they didn't say /do something nasty to me. Deborah, the video was very similar with the Merengue to which I refered!!! Yes, I leanred the version with a partner. |
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| Uriel |
Especially if she's wearing the outfit in her avatar, eh? That might require intensive research.
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| Deborah |
Some years ago, at a music concert after either the Carnaval or Cinco de Mayo parade, I forget which, there was a dance contest onstage. All the talking was in Spanish, which I hadn't started studying yet, so I don't know whether it was called a merengue contest or a freak dancing contest, but the music they played was merengue, and the dancing couples did was primarily freaking. I don't know whether this was a typical thing to do to merengue. | ||||||||||||||
| Yelina |
Ok, so here is a video of the kind of things I could do.
Please, people under 18 are not allowed to watch it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeQcApI3YjU Seriously, I don't dance like this. I'm more discreete 
I don't wear such outfit to go clubbing (even if it's the kind of clothes I like!) But yeah, I always try to be sexy! 
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| Pauline |
but I watched it!!!!
It was very bad quality film and there was flashing lights; I suppose that they were the photos, but they were annoying. I wouldn't like at all to dance like this with people there!!! Of course it's not her hobby btu for earn some money. |
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| Yelina |
Yes, it's a bad quality video, but that's mainly for this I chose it, as I was sure the under age would watch it! 
The lights are not due to people taking photos. That's the spot lights. That's the only kind of light you have on clubs. Have you ever been to a club? |
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| Pauline |
If you will stick your tongue out at me I will get my green laser!!!!! 
no I havn't ever been to a club, so I didn't know those lights. |
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| Pauline |
I can tell you somethings about my dance lesson today!!
The girl who talks so much was talking very much again, but she told me that I make the dancing fantastic and the moves etc... one time she winked at me, then I saw that she was watching when I was dancing. So I'm thinking maybe she's gay. Until today she didn't talk with me, so it's a quite sudden difference!!! we didn't make some improvisation today because when the teacher asked all the people replied that they wouldn't like Also the choreography it wasn't necessary remember it because the teacher danced all the time
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| Deborah |
Or maybe she just thinks you're a good dancer. |
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| Yelina |
Maybe she'd like to become your friend. You know, that's not because a girl starts talking to you that she's gay. Have you never talked to girls you didn't know before?!?! I'm sure you did, and you're not specially a gay for this!
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| Pauline |
Yes, i would have think this, but she winked at me so it's why I was more surprised and was thinking that maybe she's gay.
I can't imagine that she'd like to become my friend. no, I havn't talked to girls I didn't know before. I've two friends so I talk to them (one girl and one boy) I didn't mean to be critical of her if she's gay!!!! Of course maybe she's not, I don't know!!! but this thread is about dance, not about gay: there's the gay thread for such a discussion
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| Walker |
But, of course! I take my studies most seriously. About that avatar, is that Pamela Anderson in Barb Wire?
Sorry, but what's freak dancing? |
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| Deborah |
My knowledge of what this is called is based entirely upon what I've come across on the internet. It's simulating sex while you're dancing. When I first heard about this trend, I always read that it was called freak dancing or freaking. Probably someone a bit younger can tell you what it's really called. |
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| Walker |
Okay... I think your answer here will suffice, actually. |
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| Uriel |
Get a few beers in me and I'll show you what it looks like -- that's the only kind of dancing I can do right!
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| Yelina |
Actually, I have no idea whether it's Pamela Anderson or not. I just chose this avatar because it suits me.
I've never heard about this, but it seems a rather pecular dance. I don't know if I ever could meet some adepts, but it must be funny to see!
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| Deborah |
And it may be the only kind of dancing that works with a few beers in you (or anyone else). No, I'm sure lots of people can dance with a few beers in them, but it generally doesn't work with partner dances. I went to a Cajun dance with a new boyfriend (this was his idea) and as soon as we got to the club, he told me I'd have to wait to dance with him until he'd had a few beers, otherwise he wouldn't have the nerve to dance. I cringed in apprehension as soon as I heard that, and my fears were justified. I was hauled all around the dance floor and was flung into several people. |
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| Pauline |
When I learned the merengue I've learned the dance steps, style etc... I didn't hear / know about freaking until I read the messages here. | ||||||||||||||
| Walker |
Reminds me of my dance partner at the ball in High School. She was so flabby and it was difficult to dance with her. You know, you're supposed to stand together a bit like a cone that's upside-down and hold one another in stiff sort of way, very firmly. But she never did that and I almost had to haul her around. Jeeze, the lactic acid in my arms! |
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| Deborah |
Yeah, it's really hard to lead someone who has totally lax arms. There has to be some tension in them, but "stiff" isn't how I'd describe it. It took me a few seconds to realize that the "upside-down cone" image refers to how you have to "give weight" and keep your upper bodies pulling away from each other a bit while your feet are close together.
Walker, have you ever done this type of dancing with someone who does it all correctly, so that it feels really smooth? I think that's one of the greatest feelings in the world. |
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| Walker |
Well, I recall that our teacher used the word "cone" when she explained to us how to stand like you described it.
I have! Well, not much but there was one waltz during which we switched partners. At one particular point during that waltz the penguins (us guys) tripped along the rows of princesses who then stood still, and then we stopped and did that may-I-dance-with-you thing and danced for a bit with our 'new' partner, before going back to the regular one. At practice I got to dance with at least two other girls (one of which was my 'other' partner during said waltz at the dance) and both of them did it correctly, and what a difference it was to dance with them. Yes, smoothly it went. It was suddenly so easy to dance! And that feeling was nice indeed. |
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| Elaine |
/sigh... One of my big regrets in life (LOL! As if I'm about ready to shuffle off this mortal coil!) is that I didn't take voice and dance lessons more seriously and rigorously. Then perhaps maybe I'd be doing something like this instead of pushing numbers and telling people what to do with their money:
And since I'm on the subject... I love love love Rita and Chita-- my sister song & dance Latinas-- who just so happen to be in 3 of my all-time favorite movie musical numbers. |
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| Deborah |
Elaine, what performance is the first "America" clip from? (I think Anita's costume is not improved by getting rid of the petticoats.)
In the first clip from Sweet Charity, I think all three women are excellent, but I really like Paula Kelly -- she's so strong! "Big Spender" is one of my favorite movie musical numbers, too. So is "America", although I think "Cool" is my favorite from West Side Story. |
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| Elaine |
It's from the 1980 Tony awards ceremony, with Josie de Guzman (Maria) and Debbie Allen (Anita), both of whom were up for the same award that night. I don't know how they categorize these things-- what the heck is a "Best Actress - Featured Role" (as opposed to "Best Actress") anyway? Yes, I think it would've been more dramatic if Ms. Allen had worn petticoats, but perhaps she wanted to show more leg. |
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| Elaine |
Does anybody here dance the tango? I've always wanted to learn how to do it and I've decided to finally take lessons.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEe2j43X-Ms http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3e_Rbts5Q9Q |
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| Liz |
I used to...it's cool apart from the way you have to break your neck...
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| Deborah |
Have a great time! I never did it because (1) being so tall, I'd always have to be stooping over to dance cheek-to-cheek and (2) I don't think I could keep a straight face -- I don't like doing dance that takes itself very seriously. | ||||||||||||||
| Liz |
Same here...I couldn't help laughing most of the time.
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| Walker |
"Gotta Dance"? Somebody's been liberated... Just kidding. I don't think I'd be able to keep a straight face either. In fact, when I'm on a dance floor I usually have to stop once in a while and giggle at the whole thing, including myself. But I reckon that tango would suit you, Elaine. Enjoy yourself! | ||||||||||||||
| Elaine |
I don't think I'd have that problem. I've had plenty of practice keeping a straight face when slapping my clients with a hefty service bill... SUCKERS!! LOL. I'm kidding. |
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| Julian |
Elaine, ˇestás buena mamacita!  I think you should go for it. You'll be great at it.
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| Deborah |
There's no question that you'll be great at it! | ||||||||||||||
| Elaine |
Thank you. That's so nice of you all to say. 
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