Passages » Learn Something

Structured Improvisation

Matt — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 05:00:49 +0000

Up to this evening our ballroom dancing classes have focused on the “structure” of the dance – the beat, dancing the box step, the under arm turn, and the quarter turn. Tonight we learned the forward and back progressions. This breaks us out of the box type movement and into using the full floor.

Doing this step solo wasn’t too hard. The same basic footwork patterns moving forward instead of just in a box. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. Breaking out of that “box” mindset after 2 weeks is hard. Moving in sync with your partner is challenging. And thinking ahead about when to turn, how to avoid other couples, in addition to the footwork is a lesson in improvisation within the confines of a structured set of movements.

As the lead, I’ve got a lot to think about now as I move with my partner around the floor. I’m sure it’ll feel more smooth with practice and the passage of time but for now I’m battling the “oops I’m at the wall now what?” kind of dancing. Luckily my partner is quite understanding since she’s learning how to be a follower. As I said in the last post, 2 type “A” personalities dancing together is interesting.

This structured improvisation that we’re learning must be like good Jazz music – the improvisation of Jazz working within the confines of the music structure. For type A’s, improvisation is something to get comfortable with.

And We’re…. Waltzing?

Matt — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:58:39 +0000

I had my first ballroom dance lesson last night and it was a blast! It’s a beginner’s class for about 2 months at The Moving Company’s Elm Street facility. There are about 8-10 couples in the class. My wife isn’t really into dancing (perhaps that’ll change) so she suggested I get one of her best friends to be my dance partner.

I haven’t taken any formal dance lessons since I had Cotillion in 6th or 7th grade – we learned the Hustle then. The beginner’s ballroom class is all about learning the Waltz and the Foxtrot. The first lesson was on the Waltz “box steps” and the underarm quarter turn.

Some observations from my end after lesson 1 on the Waltz:

It’s harder than it looks – there’s a lot to it for what seems like so few steps.
2 “Type A” personalities make for interesting dancing. Sometime I’ll have to be the “follower” just to see what it’s like.
It’s easier to keep time and footwork while looking ahead as opposed to looking down at the feet or at the head of my partner.
Starting out on the correct foot for that quarter turn will have to come from muscle memory since it feels completely “unnatural”.

The instructor is great and after an hour my partner and I were able to make it through a couple of rounds of the basic box with a passable underarm turn. Not bad for an hour’s work – and it was fun exercise.. better than the gym. I’ll have to invest practice time moving around the “box” alone. Perhaps I can get my wife to help me practice.

When I got home I did a few searches for “Waltz Practice”.. this one was interesting.. not exactly your basic “box step”, however.

Watch the Neck

Matt — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:51:42 +0000

My dad was a “jack of all trades” and he mastered a lot of them. He was always interested in music and played a number of instruments – harmonica, auto-harp, uke, dulcimer and banjo. I don’t know where he learned to play most of them, but I know he took banjo lessons at some point. He learned to play some tunes well enough to entertain guests, but I didn’t see him playing on it much in his later years.

Mom let me have his banjo and I’m trying to teach myself how to play. Unlike the uke, which he taught me to plunk, the banjo, as I’m learning, takes a lot more coordination. Left and right hand movements – whew!

I found an on-line series to get me going and have started to learn Cripple Creek. Seems like that’s a typical beginners tune. After plunking at it for few days I found myself watching my picking (right) hand a lot. I was having a hard time with the fret fingering on the left hand and just happened to start watching it instead of the right. Wow! My fingers mostly found their way and the cording was easier.

I’ve still got a long way to go, but it’s easier to play and watch the neck than watch the fingers.