Topic: Wed 26-Jul-06

[jivedave]

Attended my 3rd freestyle 'class' last night (due to Steve's availability only alternate weeks) looking forward to having Derek play a couple of tracks to try for dancing. I was slightly caught by surprise when D. played a Family (who?) track - 'Burlesque' early on - so that i quickly 'grabbed' Helen who was on the door and made an attempt - it was a bit tricky and  too slow and H. having do her job didn't help - but it got me up and 'running'. The 2nd track (which i had requested) Tom Petty et al. - 'learning to fly' was also a bit slow but D. liked the sound and tempo as the room was warm (but well ventillated).

Sorry to 'go on' but i'm not asking for the Sudetenland - merely to try a little rock, blues, progressive music (even heard Greg Lake ** use the term - not 'prog rock' on the radio last week) though my initial effort suggests that tracks i thought too fast may be ok - hope to get, eg: Bad Company - 'good luvin, gone bad' played.

Back to the eve. - could have done with some more punters. I think this half-way-house format between lessons and dances is a good opportunity to try out moves - repeated some of Clifton's Monday moves and even got 'hey, mambo, italliano' to do the secret mambo move which i enjoyed (not sure if my partners concur). Perhaps some of the beginners should  be a littlle more adventurous and try the freestyles - they seem good fun.

** - don't worry, i won't be requesting 'twenty first century schizoid man' nor 'i believe in father christmas'

[andrew_w]

Sorry to 'go on' but i'm not asking for the Sudetenland - merely to try a little rock, blues, progressive music (even heard Greg Lake ** use the term - not 'prog rock' on the radio last week) though my initial effort suggests that tracks i thought too fast may be ok - hope to get, eg: Bad Company - 'good luvin, gone bad' played.

Many Rawk! tracks are a lot slower than you might think Learning to fly is about 112 BPM (120 is comfortable for Leroc). I'ts easy to misread the tempo of a tune when there's lots of action - Black Betty by Ram Jam is the just about the same tempo as Don't Cha by the Pussycat Dolls & Touch and Go Straight to Numnber 1

Having chosen a suitably tempo track - E.G. "Black NIght" by Deep Purple, you then have to ask is it a good dance song - In the case of Black Night I'd say "no it isn't" - the verse is fine but the solos are just too busy. And when you think about it music from that era just wasn't written with dancing in mind.

But it's not totally hopeless - I'm not averse to playing Rock songs "Brown Sugar" by the Stones, "Bad Case Of Loving You" by Robert Palmer, "Rock The Casbah" by The Clash, "Precious" by The Jam along with some gems that you probably haven't heard are all in my mind as tracks that might get dusted off this weekend in Portishead (depends on who turns up of course)

[jivedave]

I'd like to try Portishead but Saturdays are often difficult though i take the point about 'misreading the tempo'. I also remember Elaine talking about using other parts of the music than just the bass line when she did the class with Steve (if i understood the points).

When Clifton has a summer break, i'm going down to Jongleurs on a Tues., hopefully to see how Nick B. manages to keep moving whether the music is fast or slow, whatever.

Anyhow, i think it reasonable to 'experiment' a little at the freestyles which might not be the case at the 'formal' dances.

[John Gimber: Webmaster]

My own person view on dances: if the music's on, then dance the night away.  I wouldn't care if people were doing the conga around a dancehall so long as they do it safely and have fun!

John.

[Justine]

I agree john, its great to see people dancing and enjoying themselfs, no matter what level they dance at,
Its fantastic to see new beginners dancing as we were all there once, as long as you have a smile on your face, you look fantastic!!!

                                    Justine xx

                                                       

             

 

[jivedave]

re. john and Justine, the point i was trying to convey was that at normal dances with lots of people from hither and thither (or something) as frank spencer would say, the DJ is unlikely to take chances and play tracks that are  unfamiliar - i assume.

 beginners - i agree with justine ..........

...... Perhaps some of the beginners should  be a littlle more adventurous and try the freestyles - they seem good fun.

and the freestyles, being smaller and more 'informal' (people not dressed-up and not in competitive mode as at some dances) would be a good place to put into practice the moves learned.