How should a beginner International student approach the social dance floor?

I started learning American style first for about 10 months last year. I was disappointed with my local studio about the cost and lacking of supplemental teaching material such as books and videos. Then I met a couple in our social dance club 6 months ago who danced so smoothly and so standout in the crowd. Since then, my wife and I have been taking private International lessons from their teacher. We want to dance like them.

I consider myself between beginner and bronze level. So I can only speak from my limited experience. I always try to get to my dance club one hour before music starts. With the whole floor belong to us, we practice our standard dances: Waltz, Tango and Slow Fox Trot (our 'master' refused to teach us V. Waltz and Quick Step at the time being) with big stride without worrying about my floorcraft. When music starts and the floor gets crowded, I am in trouble.

It is too bad that there is no 'fast lane' in all my local social dance clubs here in southern Connecticut. Thanks for Frank's comment: mix International with American! Can someone tell me the rules or guidelines on how to mix? I guess if I found room, I'll try to do an International step. But International style has rigid alignment requirement (is it for beginner only?) and it is very hard for me to find room in the crowd and proper alignment at the moment.

I guess I have to 'tune down' the length of steps in order to fit the situation. But I feel compact steps will also 'slow down' the movement thus hurts the smoothness of the dance. What should we do?

I know we have to practice, practice. Now I post these questions and hope you will share your experience and knowledge on:

"How should a beginner International student approach the social dance floor to PRACTICE?"

Dave L.

Welcome to the world of dance in the US. There is no way that the two can coexist due to the fact that International Standard is a dance which generally zig zags down the line of dance where American smooth progresses directly down the line of dance. The result is a group of dancers who are constantly zigging into the LOD group. We have an additional problem with the way the american style dancers are taught by these "front end teachers". They do what I call chugging along. They have no swing or movement and so all of the dances look like a cha cha cha. This problem of mixing the styles is one of the reasons advanced dancers avoid socials. If you reduce the size of your figures you may suffer later. When you become more experienced, you will be able to reduce size while keeping the swing in your step, for now though this will be difficult. Also, with time, you will be able to adjust your alignment sufficient to be able to manoever through a crowd of chuggers. You will always have the problem of the "squirrel in the headlights" type who will scurry around in front of you until you bump into him. This again must be in their training because seldom will absolute beginners do this. Get your practice in as you do now, when the floor is nearly empty. Look for places which have dances which are not well attended and enjoy. You will be ostracised by many studio owners for the dancing you are doing but, strangely, they will come running to you for free showcases at their holiday parties if you get really good. My advice, get really good and be selective when asked to do showcases.

Hi David,
I really enjoyed your response. The vision of squirrels scurrying around the dance floor made me laugh right at my desk.
I also seldom go out dancing socially for various reasons. When I do, and a high-level dancer asks me to dance, they usually offer me the choice of 'American' or 'International'. I always choose American (since it's a social setting), and they almost always say "We'll do a mish-mosh." These guys have fabulous floorcraft and control of their momentum using both styles. One dance with them makes my night.

When I teach new students, I always go over the basics of ballroom etiquette (walk the lady onto and off of the dance floor, never turn down a man unless you have a Very good reason, such as he's known to hurt ladies with a rough lead, or he's intoxicated). I also explain to them that there are different 'lanes' of the dance floor, like a roller-skating rink (I use that analogy on people my own age - the younger ones just stare blankly at me ha ha). The center of the floor is for stationary couples, i.e. those who are doing a slow swing to a foxtrot. Then the oval around them would be the American style dancers foxtrotting. The outside lane would be for the International style dancers or higher level American style dancers who are really moving down the floor. If the floor is big enough this works, but we've all been on a smaller floor where accidents happen. Luckily most people in my area (Northeast) are very polite, and all will apologize, no matter who caused the crash. Sounds nice, maybe I should go out dancing sometime soon....

[This message has been edited by weddingdance (edited 06-30-2000).]