3512 Good Point Gibson
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 17:22:31 -0700
From: Trini or Sean - PATangoS <patangos@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Good Point Gibson
--- Gibson Batch <gibsonbatch@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
I spend more effort avoiding salon dancers on the
floor than listening to my partner or the music.
There are a couple of salon-style leaders who have a
characteristic backward plunge of up to 10 feet, often
right into me or my partner.
Hi Gibson,
I guess you really are talking about people ramming
into you. Sorry I made that into a joke in my previous
post. I just dont see much of that any more. Here is
my serious advice:
1. Avoiding other dancers eventually becomes second
nature, and wont require any more effort than
avoiding walls and furniture, so allow yourself time.
The best thing to do is always keep your head up and
eyes looking out. If you can see any part of the
floor, youre looking down and you are vulnerable.
2. You are already a better dancer than the guy who
backs up 10 if you know not to back into the couple
behind you to avoid him. If you are not yet good
enough to stop him, then your best strategy is to
avoid him. Dont get in line behind him. Instead,
always try to dance behind someone who is better than
you. Another good strategy is to get together with a
couple of your friends, and dance in a pack. You all
protect each other, with the most experienced dancers
at the edges, and the beginners in the middle. Three
leaders working together can set the pace for the
entire ronda at a small to medium milonga.
3. If you do end up behind the back-stepper, make sure
he knows you are there. This means: crowd him without
mercy. If you are lucky, he will get frustrated and
run away from you. But even if he stays, he wont have
any room to build backwards momentum. This is only
useful against experienced dancers who should know
better. Dont ever crowd a beginner that would make
you the jerk.
4. Learn the change of front. If you cant avoid a
back-stepping menace, trade places with your partner
and take the hit to protect her.
5. Learn to be grounded. Not only will your partners
love how smooth and stable you feel, but light contact
with other dancers wont disrupt you, and heavy hits
wont knock you over.
6. When you have mastered steps 4 and 5, it is time to
give a little back to the community. Get behind this
guy and protect everyone else. After you knock him
over a few times, he will either learn to navigate, or
he will go elsewhere to dance.
Im half joking with number 6. Salon style leaders
used to back-step all the time around here, but I
hardly ever see it any more. And I have never had to
knock anyone over to change things. Options 3 and 4
have always been enough.
But I am serious when I say that it will get easier
and easier to avoid the bad dancers without breaking
your trance. It's much easier to train yourself than
to train everyone else.
Sean
Date: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 22:47:53 -0600
From: Chas Gale <hotchango@MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: Good Point Gibson
---Sean wrote---
"""Avoiding other dancers eventually becomes second
nature, and won't require any more effort than
avoiding walls and furniture, """
Sean, I haven't seen walls and furniture come at me menacingly since the
60s. Please tell me where I can get some of whatever you are smoking.
Chas "I wish my name was Gibson Batch" Gale
https://www.thetangohouse.com
