Jumping at the GUU
The GUU tonight was jumping. Why can’t it be this crowded every week?
I had a brilliant night, though probably still didn’t get as many really good dances as on a typical Tuesday at RR’s (previously known as JJ’s.)
I can thing of a number of reasons for the extra attendance…
- I had said I was maybe going to be there less often.
- We had a different teacher and DJ. (normal DJ and teacher –>
) - There’s some great beginners coming up there.
- Some folks might have heard that other folks were going to be there…
- It’s a holiday week for schools, colleges and universities.
I think the most likely cause is that last one…
I arrived just in time to miss the Ceroc Essentials (not deliberately!) and take part in the beginner class. There were loads of folks, but no spare women. Most of the time is was even or one or two spare guys. Incredible.
This could be the biggest beginner’s class I’ve ever seen at the GUU, though it’s hard to tell as I’m normally down the front, not being rotated to see just how far back the rows of couples stretch…
Towards the end of the class, along with the announcements, the teacher gave us all a mini lecture about dips and drops and such, basically telling the beginner ladies to not put up with them if they are not happy with them. While I agree with the sentiment, I think it was maybe a bit over-baked, and might have had a negative effect, giving the impression of a bigger problem than actually exists. Better to tackle the offenders, rather than scare the potential victims, in my opinion.
Later in the intermediates class, when we were being taught a very small dip (more a lean), we got a comprehensive talk on safety, which I do think was appropriate, plus a brief caution to not do these kinds of moves on those who are not experienced, etc… I think this was useful.
Anyway, enough of that…
Let’s look at the moves… Again with built-in commentary…
First move elbow-hook. First move entry, but step forward to move into a more (what I would call) “cross-body lead” position. Lead back out, doing elbow-hook thing over girl’s R arm to bring girl round, put now spare LH on girl’s shoulder and spin girl CW out. There should be a weight transfer L->R as you lead the girl out into the spin so that you can move your L leg out of the way.
I don’t have any elbow-hooky moves in my normal repertoire, though I found myself throwing one or two in the other night… Maybe this move will help me do something sensible with them. Quite liked it.
Lady’s walk around… Exactly what it says on the tin. L-R, lead lady around you for a count of 4… Sex it up a bit with some hip action…
I quite often do something like this, but often don’t wait for the girl to come all the way round. Never figured out why… Must try harder, or at least give it some thought…
LH comb, spin. Simple LH comb, but spin/turn CW to allow the girl’s arm to slide down R arm to go R-R.
I liked this a lot. A couple of my partners in the class said I did this especially well, and as I finally seem to have found time for some combs in my rep., this will go well…
Sway into lean/dip. Sway, but on the step back, transfer girl’s RH into your LH, to bring her back round for a small dip. Back up, and bring your RH up to find girl’s L shoulder blade leading her from there to turn back out into a first-move type position. Obvious first-move like exit…
I found the transfer of hand in the sway difficult… A bit like the sway tornado, and even things like back-handers and neck-breaks… Otherwise, nice move…
That was the class… Onto the freestyle…
Music was really rather good… Can really only remember one or two songs that I didn’t really fancy…
Like yesterday, I danced with quite a few beginners (and before anyone says it or thinks it – not just the cute ones!) but had some crackin’ dances with a few of them, plus some truly awesome dances with some of the more experienced ladies (can I say that?) there.
Had 2 or 3 dances that really stood out. They were especially good as I hadn’t danced with each lady in question for unbearably long. Good to see them, good to dance with them… I’d have hated to miss that…
So, a good night at the GUU. Good to see some folks who don’t normally make it, shame that some that more often do missed it.
I expect to be back next week… We’ll see how it goes after that…
See you all in Aberdeen!
Tramp said,
April 13, 2006 @ 3:31 am
Hmmm. Over-baked. Not sure. The problem is, that generally, the people who do that sort of move with beginners, either aren’t at the class, or if they are, don’t bother listening to you anyhow.
The most serial offender for dips and lifts knows all to well that he shouldn’t be doing them, both with the people that he does them with, and also where/when he does them. But that doesn’t seem to stop him. The idea was to make sure that beginner ladies know that they don’t have to put up with it. Or even that what is being done is dangerous - if someone who looks experienced tells you that it’s fine to do that sort of move, as a beginner, you don’t always know that it’s not.
At Ceroc, there is the mantra that you’re never allowed to turn down a dance. While, in the broad sense, I agree with that statement, I do think that it does cause problems. Tell a beginner that they aren’t allowed to turn down a dance. Then someone who they don’t like dancing (for whatever reason) with asks them 3 times that night, and we’ll never see them again. I think that it’s important to make people (especially beginners) aware that, while the usual code is to accept an offer of a dance, if someone is doing things that make you uncomfortable, it is perfectly acceptable to refuse, or even walk off the dance floor.
Anyhow, moving on. Glad that you generally liked the moves and the music. I had a good night too. Except for having to keep an eye on someone else that I received 2 complaints about, and ended up having to do something about, rather than getting as many dances in as possible. The ones that I did have though were rather fun. Especially the double (and triple, and quadruple) trouble, and the partner swapping one at the end. Some of the dances with ladies were great too!!