chris and hannah, originally uploaded by p r o m i s e.I'm apologizing in advance for my anger and mild cursing, but I've just about had it with this damn town and it's horrible blues scene! I cannot believe the things that were taught during his class tonight. It frustrates me to no end that he teaches effing moves, rather than the flippin' basics of partner dancing and connection!! Argh... here are the descriptions for the classes:
JUMP SWING classes will give you the basic tools to dance to fast-tempo swing/rock/jump songs with EASE. In the first 30 mins, we'll cover the Rockabilly/East Coast basics, then in the last 30 mins, we'll learn a fun new turn, spin, dip or lift each week. No prior dance experience is necessary. Class is not progressive, so drop-in at anytime!
SULTRY SWING classes will give you the basic tools to dance to slow-tempo blues/soul/funk songs and make it look SEXY. In the first 30 mins, we'll cover the Slow Swing/Blues basics, then in the last 30 mins, we'll show you how to execute a sultry "Dirty Dancing" move to impress all your friends. No prior dance experience is necessary. Class is not progressive, so drop-in at anytime!
If you can't see the problem, allow me to point it out to you. Both classes are designed specifically for beginners and both have a specific focus on the moves that you will learn in the class. Come on, LIFTS and a SULTRY dance move (specifically for the "Slow Swing" portion).
Why is this bad? First, the Slow Swing was referred to as blues before and during the class, so I rated it as a Blues class. Second, he didn't teach a thing about connection to these beginners. What I believe to be most important in dancing was completely ignored as something they will learn later (if ever). And the excuse? That we probably will never see them again anyway.
WHO CARES?! At least they would be able to really connect with someone and move to the music, if the mood ever struck them in the future. Now, they can only move with the girls who came to the class and learned "how to follow" those specific moves. It makes me sad.
The third, and most heartbreaking thing to me, was how the dancing was promoted to the MEN throughout the class. Leads were always men and I was just acting like a man, since I had joined the leads. The moves that were taught were designed to pull the women closer, so you could connect in a "more romantic way" with them after rocking out to lindy.
The whole class felt like a speed-dating tutorial that would set them up for the rest of the night. I flat out refused to do two of the three moves he taught and I had to correct how the follows moved, with each new girl, since the basic side to side step was taught WAY wrong (he taught an effing STEP-TOUCH!! no, weight-transfer was mentioned AT ALL!!).
I feel like he spit on everything that I consider sacred about the dance and I am reluctant to return. But if I don't, only more will go away thinking as he is telling them about Blues. No wonder they think I'm a lesbian... He's telling them that Blues is all about getting closer to the girl so you can ask for her number!! ARGHH!!
If I want to get close to someone, who might be a good dancer, I do not hit on him while on the floor. The dance floor is a neutral space, of which we need to reinforce so we can trust our partners with our bodies. If we turn it into mating grounds, then the people, who are there simply to dance, would never be able to relax into the Blues music. I'm just dumbfounded... insulted... and tired of living here, when there is so little to nourish my Blues dancing ways.
*sigh*
No matter how hard I try
When he started sweet-talkin' to me
He'd come'n tell me "Everything is all right"
He'd kiss and tell me "Everything is all right"
Can I get away again tonight?
How well I remember
The look that was in his eyes
Stealin' kisses from me on the sly
Takin' time to make time
Tellin' me that he's all mine
Learnin' from each other's knowin'
Lookin' to see how much we've grown...
♫ Joss Stone
