Topic: Dancing the Blues

[Matt E]

Hey,

Now I probably could put this under 'Other dance styles', but since there have only been three topics there ever I thought it might be better here!

Does anyone know of any Blues classes in Bristol or Bath? There was, fleetingly, a class at the South Bank Centre which whetted my appetite 

Thanks for the help!
m

[philsmove]

the nearest I can find is
Richard & Zoe (Ceroc Live)  Blues Workshop in Bournemouth on Sunday 26th July.

[Anita]

Yes--Ceroclive--lessons @ the Pavillion Bath-- often run Blues workshops so look on their website. Also Gary @ Riviera leroc Taunton used to run  a series of Blues workshops that I attended and remember as very good--so look on his website too 

[philsmove]

[jivedave]

I don't know why that style of dance would be particularly suited to blues music as opposed to some other slow tempo music but I somehow had the idea that when people talked of 'blues' music they meant something else, in a modern context (Like R&B in the 60s versus now). Anyhow before I display any further ignorance I just wanted to take the chance to post what I heard someone describe as the only true 'blues' (as opposed to Conservative ) single to make British No 1. (the music starts about 1:30):


and one more authentic:

[philsmove]

I don't know why that style of dance would be particularly suited to blues music

The Blues  ?

some other Blues Tracks



Almost Blue - Alison Moyet
Androgyne - Quartango
Aspettami - Pink Martini
California Dreamin' - Queen Latifah
CommeIl Faut - Carlos DiSarli
Con Toda Palabra - Lhasa De Sela
Fire - Coco De Mer
Fragile - Holly Cole & Jesse Cook
I've Got To See You Again - Norah Jones
Jesus To A Child - George Michael
Man's World - Natacha Atlas
Notas - Gotan Project
Nothing Else Matters - Apocalyptica
Piece By Piece - Katie Melua
Pretender Got My Heart - Alisha's Attic
Secret - Maroon 5
Shape of my Heart - Sting
Songbird - Eva Cassidy
Teardrop - Massive Attack
Time After Time - Eva Cassidy

over to you Andrew

[jivedave]

I think I'll 'desillify' what I put and just say that, as I suspected, what is now called blues music (according to Phil, anyway) is not what was once meant by the term. Sting, Katie (I didn't like the way her voice seemed to change pitch) , Norah, etc. - not my favs.

Dancing must be accorded the gravitas it is due ; after all there is nothing much else of any importance happening - I wonder where Kim might ship his first nuke export. The great, apathetic public might be rousing from their dreamland slumbers.

apologies to Matt E for the hijack/detour but dancing wouldn't be much fun without music.

[Matt E]

It's ok to talk about the music! Slow music, and particularly blues, sits well with me (not the same as saying I can dance it well).

What you say is true Dave, and Blues dance is now done other kinds of slow music, but it’s named ‘cos it started from Blues music. In the same way that Le Roc ('The Rock' in French- am I right?) was usually danced to Rock n' Roll/traditional RnB, but is now danced to many more styles than just rock. Music evolves, and dances keep pace.

I like Phil's list of music! Those tracks could be danced to Blues, but I think that few of those are what you'd call Blues music. Sting, Norah Jones, Katie Melua and the rest have blues influences, but are not Blues. Blues is Blues is still Blues, as it was back then. I don’t think it has changed, only influenced other styles. Nothing Else Matters is an interesting one... 6/8 time. I've never tried dancing to much except 4/4 time. There was a cabaret act at the Champs to that same track, but I didn’t think they carried it off well.

I liked those videos. I love Howlin’ Wolf. Blues only starts to really interest me from the 1940s onward, when T-Bone Walker pioneered the electric guitar in Blues music. I’m a big fan of the 60’s-80’s blues-rock mainly.

Thanks for the tips on Blues classes! Sadly, the Bournemouth class falls during a family holiday, and I’m quite upset. :'(
 m

[andrew_w]

Since Phil so graciously asked me to contribute ..........

"Blues" dancing / teaching in MJ circles interests me - primarily because for some reason there is an unneeded level of complexity and mistique that has become associated with it.

for many years people have danced "The Blues" either with or without any teaching (most without) but at the end of the day it is only about being able to control the movement - i..e. it's about lead and follow or call and response to use a jazz term.

Blues does not have a set of its own moves - you can dance any shapes you choose to BUT you need to be able to control your own movements and those of your partner at what is for most MJ dancers a tempo that is "Too Slow".

How Do You Learn To Dance The Blues? by dancing the blues!!!!!!!!
How Can I Get A Headstart? by learning to dance in a genuiene lead / follow environment and this is where stepping away from MJ has a benefit - take a ballroom class, learn Lindy, Salsa, WCS all rely on an understanding of the timing of footwork within the framework of the music and how that translates to the movements you and your partner make. If you have that level of understanding, then that's all you need to dance the blues - 'cos at the end of the day it's just dancing to slow music.

I won't add to Phil's list of tracks as I've been out of the DJing game for quite a while now but I would point out that they fall into two categories Slow Latin (for which you would be best advised to learn how to dance latin Ballroom) and slow RnB for which you would be best advised to learn a swing dance (WCS or Lindy would fit the bill)

[philsmove]

- take a ballroom class, learn Lindy, Salsa, WCS bill)

or Tango

Tango and Blues require a greater "connection" with your partner than is usually found in MJ

for more play  list look here

http://www.jivetango.co.uk/Music.html

[jivedave]

Some interesting points being raised - I find the timing values mentioned by Matt, particularly so (if i understood their meaning). Sometimes the tempo (or do i just mean speed?) of the music seems right but then it seems difficult to dance to.

I recall Ian Anderson joking when I saw 'jethro tull' perform in Bristol 3 or 4 years ago that 'living in the past'  was unsuitable for dance being (if i remember) 5 something time? - though it gets my feet tapping.

and i found a metronome of 5/8 time:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:5-8_rhythm_metre_meter_time_measure.ogg

I enjoy slow tracks as i get more thinking time and - especially nice at the moment - don't get so hot.

[Matt E]

Some blues humour!

http://www.bluesdance.org.uk/26839/index.html

"8.   A man with male pattern baldness ain't the Blues. A woman with male pattern baldness is. Breaking your leg 'cause you were skiing is not the Blues. Breaking you leg 'cause an alligator be chomping on it is."

I suppose you could dance to a 6/8 time song, because you can count it 1,2,1,2 really slowly. 5/8 is a dreadful time to have to dance to! Perhaps some latin dances fit it, I dont know, but I swear no Modern Jive would ever work! I even find counting it hard.

I do mean to try some new styles over the summer, and bring what I learn back to Jive. I decided yesterday that my goal is to have some silverware by the time I'm 30 :-p

[Matt E]

I think I've worked out that "Living in the Past" is 5/4 time. Don't see many of those! Being a young whipper-snapper, I'd never heard of Jethro Tull before.

[andrew_w]

I think I've worked out that "Living in the Past" is 5/4 time. Don't see many of those! Being a young whipper-snapper, I'd never heard of Jethro Tull before.

try "take five" by Dave Brubeck for more 5/4 excitement!

If you want to push it "Money" by Pink Floyd might just take the biscuit 7/4 & 4/4 mixed

(If it isn't regular e.g. "march time", "waltz Time", "four to the floor" you'll struggle to dance to it in any dance form)

[Matt E]

Out of interest, what do you mean by "march time"?