Ok, I am helping my teacher to teach a beginners dance class, but its very big and she can't get round everyone in the hour, so I help her out.

But, I am finding it hard to explain:
1. The concept of an upbeat, they insist on starting on one instead of 4!
2. The concept of 3 beats in a bar instead of 4, ie, 3 for a waltz but 4 for everything else so far.

How do I help people with this? Bearing in mind some of them dont seem to be dancing to the music, but are being rather mechanical about things!

Thanks!

H.

What style of dancing, Helen?
How old the kids?
Do they do warm ups?
The best way to get people into a 3 beat thing is to come up with a little routine or set of steps - something that might get converted to a routine later.

I can sort of understand if they've been accustomed to dancing 2, 4 or compound 2 or 4 and they're v young and beginners so it has to be done with steps. (Or get them to conduct 3/4 "large" at first, perhaps as a second stage, feet moving to the side on the 2 & 3 to exaggerate it?)
I'm not sure about starting on an upbeat. Do you mean they start on a syncopated note? Or is the step/move an upbeat too.


Good luck. It sounds a nice little project.

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 4 2005, 11:06 PM)

How old the kids?

T'is adults Rhaps m'dear. Thats the problem! If it were kids I would get them to tap the rhythms!

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Feb 4 2005, 11:14 PM)

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 4 2005, 11:06 PM) How old the kids?   T'is adults Rhaps m'dear. Thats the problem! If it were kids I would get them to tap the rhythms!

honestly, can you not read the title!!

Uh oh. Silly me! You KNOW I'm no good at sightreading text.
Well, I am a little, um, you know, Friday night and me student friend here and a bottle of... never mind... thank you for your forbearance or fivebearance...

Maybe I should just ausgehen zum Bett...

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 4 2005, 11:20 PM)

Maybe I should just ausgehen zum Bett...

Ja

and why would you have a student around at this time of night

QUOTE

Well, I am a little, um, you know

Under the influence of alcohol? Or should that be under the affluence of incohol?

QUOTE

me student friend here and a bottle of... never mind... Â

Altogether now... Rhapsodin and ____ sitting in a tree.... *restrains self* Nope, mustn't be mean. *rocks back and forth*

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 4 2005, 11:06 PM)

I'm not sure about starting on an upbeat. Do you mean they start on a syncopated note? Or is the step/move an upbeat too.

What it is, is a kind of sway to the right on beat 4, and the routine begins on the first beat of the bar.

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Feb 4 2005, 03:25 PM)

QUOTE Well, I am a little, um, you know Under the influence of alcohol? Or should that be under the affluence of incohol? QUOTE me student friend here and a bottle of... never mind...   Altogether now... Rhapsodin and ____ sitting in a tree.... *restrains self* Nope, mustn't be mean. *rocks back and forth*

lol...

Hmmm.... maybe I should, um, sit in the wings for a while at this point.
LOLOL
(Bloomin made me blush. Sheesh, that don't happen often!)

(I'll give it some thought tho. I reckon it might resolve down to just single repetitive steps until they get the rhythm.)

Helen, what kind of dance is it or is it just basically an exercise class? If it's ballroom I cannot help in the least, sorry to say.

sincerely,
Sir Mustapha Prance.

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 5 2005, 04:42 PM)

Helen, what kind of dance is it or is it just basically an exercise class? If it's ballroom I cannot help in the least, sorry to say.

Ballroom and Latin.

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 5 2005, 04:42 PM)

(Bloomin made me blush. Sheesh, that don't happen often!)

*dies lauging* man that's made my day....! too funny...

for a waltz, you have one step flatfooted and two on the toes, yesno? can you get them to do that without the music to get the rhythm??? just a thought...

I have never understood how people can dance to music and totally ignore the beat - it confuses me!

QUOTE

for a waltz, you have one step flatfooted and two on the toes, yesno?

Not quite. Completely on the ball of the foot. Back on the ball of the foot, step to the side, close to the other.

QUOTE

I have never understood how people can dance to music and totally ignore the beat - it confuses me!

Me too, but aparently its possible!!!!!

QUOTE

QUOTE for a waltz, you have one step flatfooted and two on the toes, yesno? Not quite. Completely on the ball of the foot. Back on the ball of the foot, step to the side, close to the other.

Oh... it's been a while! Hmm. Was just wondering if you could somehow get them to *feel* the rhythm...?

QUOTE

QUOTE I have never understood how people can dance to music and totally ignore the beat - it confuses me! Me too, but aparently its possible!!!!!

I've seen it done too! I would find it *more difficult*...

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Feb 5 2005, 05:01 PM)

QUOTE QUOTE for a waltz, you have one step flatfooted and two on the toes, yesno? Not quite. Completely on the ball of the foot. Back on the ball of the foot, step to the side, close to the other. Oh... it's been a while! Hmm. Was just wondering if you could somehow get them to *feel* the rhythm...?

Other than beat it into them Im not sure!

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Feb 5 2005, 05:01 PM)

Me too, but aparently its possible!!!!![/QUOTE] I've seen it done too! I would find it *more difficult*...

According to my "mainstay" textbook, the definition of Polyrhythmic is:
Someone who can dance a quickstep to a waltz beat.

So...


I know, Helen - try them with the Rite of Spring.

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Feb 5 2005, 05:02 PM)

Other than beat it into them Im not sure!

there's an idea... *evil grin*

Rhaps.... hmmm... gotta be worth a try?


anyway I really have to go....

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 5 2005, 05:05 PM)

According to my "mainstay" textbook, the definition of Polyrhythmic is: Someone who can dance a quickstep to a waltz beat.

Right...

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 5 2005, 05:05 PM)

So... I know, Helen - try them with the Rite of Spring.

Whats "rite of Spring" ?

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Feb 5 2005, 05:16 PM)

Whats "rite of Spring" ?

Ballet by Stravinsky. Just ever so slightly more alive than Firebird.

People LOVE to dance to it!

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 5 2005, 05:05 PM)

According to my "mainstay" textbook, the definition of Polyrhythmic is: Someone who can dance a quickstep to a waltz beat.

What would 'monorhythmic' be then ?
Someone who can dance a slowstep ( opposite?) to a waltz beat or someone who can dance a quickstep to something in quadruple time?

QUOTE

What would 'monorhythmic' be then ?

someone who can put one foot in front of the other ??

Someone who has 2 left or 2 right feet?


V

QUOTE (maggiemay @ Feb 5 2005, 05:53 PM)

QUOTE What would 'monorhythmic' be then ? someone who can put one foot in front of the other ??

Yes, that could be it, so my dance level would be at the same standard as a 10 month old baby.

QUOTE (Rhapsodin @ Feb 5 2005, 05:20 PM)

QUOTE (Subatomic_Star @ Feb 5 2005, 05:16 PM) Whats "rite of Spring" ? Ballet by Stravinsky. Just ever so slightly more alive than Firebird. People LOVE to dance to it!

might be hard to waltz to it though...

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Feb 5 2005, 08:30 PM)

might be hard to waltz to it though...

Yes but you could do quite a good Charleston to the "Dance of the Adolescents in Part 1" I reckon. Don't try it backwards down the stairs though.

I tend to avoid charlestoning on stairs anyway, let alone backwards...

QUOTE (sarah-flute @ Feb 6 2005, 06:06 PM)

I tend to avoid charlestoning on stairs anyway, let alone backwards...

ah no, its great fun!