Posts tagged as:

ballroom dancing

What you need to know about asking her to dance

August 27, 2010

While approaching the opposite sex often has its risks, asking someone to dance is routine. A request for a dance is the perfect cover: there’s a script, which both sides follow.
You don’t have to be creative or cool about it; just follow the script. Even better, if you’re not a good conversationalist, that’s it; after [...]

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11 ways to be the ballroom dance partner women love–even if you can’t dance

August 20, 2010

First, don’t worry if  you can’t dance. If you’re at a social event, like a wedding, she probably can’t dance either. Nor can any of the other guys she’s dancing with.
Then, what you lack in skill you can make up for by impressing her with your character. Be confident, gentle, supportive, humble, generous, [...]

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Fake a ballroom dance with a “basic side step” (video: 2 min., 15 sec.)

February 6, 2010

A basic side step will work with most kinds of dance music, from foxtrot and rumba, to salsa and swing, to unfamiliar music (this video goes with the book so it’s also posted on the Freebie Video page):

Here are two reasons why, if you need a crash course in ballroom dancing, you should learn to [...]

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Survive a ballroom dance with “single rhythm” (video: 2 min., 41 sec.)

January 21, 2010

Single rhythm, one weight change in two beats of music (e.g., a STEP HOLD or a SIDE TOUCH, no weight change on the HOLD or the TOUCH), can be a lifesaver when you’re ballroom dancing (this video goes with the book so it’s also posted on the Freebie Video page):

Doing all single rhythm is the [...]

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Counting 32-beat major phrases (video: 6 min, 40 sec.)

January 15, 2010

Phrasing in ballroom dancing is an intermediate-level concept but I beg you, O Humble Beginner, to begin actively listening for the major phrases in all music (this video goes with the book so it’s also posted on the Freebie Video page):

This will help you to hear the sets of 8, hence, how to hear the [...]

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New videos – how to hear the beat in music

January 14, 2010

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Ballroom book and blog

December 31, 2009

I relaunched my website/blog—the thing you’re reading—this week on a new platform. I know, it looks a little dreary at the moment. It’ll be under construction for a few months so I’ll try to spruce it up. Hang tight.
My book is finally finished …[pop champagne corks]… Every Man’s Survival Guide to Ballroom Dancing: Ace Your [...]

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Beware of tempo

June 10, 2008

I have an issue with tempo.
I went through a long period where I could dance okay in class but I was terrible at a dance. Some of that had to do with a lack of familiar partners (read: my leading sucked and partners at a dance were not familiar with the step patterns I learned [...]

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