Every Man's Survival Guide to Ballroom Dancing

Do a “basic side step” to fake a ballroom dance ...

A basic side step will work with almost all kinds of music, from foxtrot and rumba, to salsa and swing, to unfamiliar music (this vid goes with the book so it’s also posted on the Freebie Video page):Two reasons why, if you need a crash course in ballroom dancing, you should learn to do a basic side step:It uses the versatile double—single—double—single rhythm pattern (that’s eight beats of music: STEP STEP—STEP HOLD—STEP STEP—STEP HOLD), which is easy and fits a vast range of tempos and music...

Marking Single Rhythm

A single rhythm is one weight change in two beats of music (double rhythm is two weight changes in two beats of music, triple rhythm is three weight changes in two beats of music). When trying to survive in ballroom dancing, you’ll use mostly singles and doubles. While a double rhythm feels kind of like walking because you step on every beat of music, single rhythm steps on every other beat of music so it’s a little trickier. This video demonstrates single rhythm.

Hear the Downbeat and Upbeat

While sets of 8 are the secret that defines the beat of the music, I feel the downbeat and upbeat are the secret to hearing the beat. Even if you can't hear it, beats are naturally paired, a downbeat followed by an upbeat. This video identifies the downbeat and upbeat.

Counting 32-Beat Phrases

While dancing to the 32-beat phrases is intermediate level material in ballroom dancing, I think beginners should begin to develop an ear for this stuff. The 32-beat phrase (four sets of 8) is the most common type of major phrase. Think of a major phrase as a "paragraph" of music. This video demonstrates counting 32-beat phrases.

Counting Sets of 8

Learning how to count sets of 8–a set of 8 is also called a mini-phrase–is one of the secrets to hearing the beat. Even if you can’t hear them, sets of 8 (sets of 6 in waltz) are in the music. Think of a mini-phrase as a “sentence” of music. This video demonstrate counting sets of 8.

Lead and follow: matching resistance in closed b...

In this video Skippy Blair shows how the leader and follower can create a dance “connection” in the “closed position” by “matching resistance.” This is a very important video for followers!In the closed position—the most common position used in partner dancing—the leader places his right hand over the lower portion of the follower’s left shoulder blade. To create the connection the follower must match the leader’s resistance by pulling her left shoulder back and down, pressing into the leader’...

Elbows down

In this video Skippy Blair talks about the importance of keeping your elbows down. A lot of stuff in dance is wicked hard to do, this one’s a cinch. Well, it’s easy to do but developing the habit to always do it is a little tougher.Keeping your elbows down affects your posture and frame. Posture and frame are important because they not only make you look good, they improve the dance connection with your partner. Pressing your elbows down will push your shoulders back and down, which helps to s...

Move Your Center First (video: 1 min., 28 sec.)

Your “center,” short for “center point of balance,” is located in your solar plexus. All dance movement should start and project from your center.There’s an old saying in dance, “foot follows frame.” Move your center first—not shoulders, hip or foot. Especially don’t move the foot first, which is the mark of a beginner. There’s more in Chapter 12, Movement and Timing (ihatetodance.com).Video courtesy of Skippy Blair (swingworld.com).

Sets of 8, heavy measure, light measure (1 min. ...

Listen for the “heavy measure”, beats 1 to 4, and the “light measure”, beats 5 to 8. The light measure is the thematic “conclusion” to a “set of 8”. Listening for the thematic conclusion is a good way to identify a “set of 8”.From Skippy Blair’s 2006 Summer Intensive, video courtesy of Skippy Blair.

Tempo - 112 Beats per Minute